Shannon Hale

Shannon Hale is a New York Times bestselling author known for her young adult fantasy novels, graphic memoirs, and picture books that span a wide range of genres and age groups. Hale has written more than 50 books for preschoolers, children, teens, and adults, including award-winning titles such as "The Goose Girl," "Book of a Thousand Days," and Newbery Honor recipient "Princess Academy." Her work often features strong female protagonists and distinctive magic systems, attracting readers across generations.

After earning a bachelor's degree in English and a master's in creative writing, Hale shifted from literary fiction to fantasy, inspired by her own reading interests as a teen. "The Goose Girl" became her first published novel after multiple rejections, eventually launching the Books of Bayern series. "Princess Academy" received the Newbery Honor, and her novels have been translated into 15 languages.

Hale's writing encompasses fantasy, science fiction, graphic novels, and adult fiction. She co-wrote the graphic novel "Rapunzel's Revenge" with her husband and contributed to young adult novels for Marvel superheroes Squirrel Girl and Captain Marvel. Hale also authored the YA superhero novel "Dangerous." Her "Princess in Black" series appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list for children's series. In adult fiction, Hale and screenwriter Jerusha Hess co-wrote the screenplay for a film adaptation of "Austenland," which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was acquired by Sony Pictures.

Drawing from personal experience, Hale authored the graphic memoir "Real Friends," illustrated by LeUyen Pham, chronicling her grade school years. Its sequel, "Best Friends," also appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list for graphic books and manga. Her books have received honors including the Newbery Honor, Cybils, Teen Readers' Choice, Nerdies, and an Eisner nomination, and have been recognized as Best Book of the Year by School Library Journal, Publisher's Weekly, Kirkus, Amazon, and NPR. Hale is also a public speaker and advocate for gender equality in children's literature, addressing the marketing of books to young readers of all genders. She has served as a Literary Guest of Honor and keynote speaker at the Life, the Universe, & Everything professional science fiction and fantasy arts symposium. With a career spanning more than two decades, Hale continues to be a significant voice in contemporary fiction for young readers, contributing to the fields of children's literature, young adult fantasy, and graphic novels.