When it starts to become real...

Wow. We're officially less than 3 months from KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES' release--and less than 8 months from LET THE SKY FALL's release!!!!

Excuse me while I go FREAK THE CRAP OUT for a few seconds!!!!

*flail* 
*floomp*
*twitch*
Okay. I feel better now. Sorta.

*twitches again*
But it's CRAZY, you guys. ARCs for both books are making their way into the world. Reviews and fan emails are trickling in. I'm being booked for launch parties and book fairs and other amazing things that I really don't feel cool enough for (probably because I'm not--shhhh, don't tell anyone!) and going to shows and conventions where my book(s) are being featured. I'm getting google alerts for people posting about wanting to read my books and stumbling across Twitter conversations where people are talking about how much they loved them (which always make me feel like I'm stalking myself when I read them).

And because of all of that, I've had a lot of people ask me some variation of the same question: How does it feel having your dream come true?

But honestly? I never know how to respond. Except maybe to blush and mumble: "surreal" and change the subject.

Which is probably a giant Shannonfail. I'm betting they're expecting something more like this:


And I do feel that way. (though whoa--is anyone else getting dizzy, watching that?)

It's amazing and incredible and fantastic that my books are going to be on shelves for people to buy and read in the VERY-not-too-distant-future. (*twitches again*) It's even more unbelievable that some of you have already read them (and even more astounding that you liked them!) And it's all starting to feel very very real and soon and OMG THIS IS HAPPENING!!!!

But the funny thing is ... nothing's really changed either.

I'm still the same nerdy, rambling, cupcake-obsessed girl I've always been. And other than those rare times when I have to go somewhere as "Author Shannon", no one knows who I am or what I do or cares that I write books for children (and even AT those "Author Shannon" places, the majority of the people are like, Shannon Who?). And I LOVE that. I didn't do this because I wanted fame or praise (not saying I'm OPPOSED to those or anything...) I did it because I love to write and I loved these stories and I wanted to get them "out there" because that's the thing about stories. They should be shared.

And that's HAPPENING. So it really is like this:


But it's also surreal and strange. Especially since most days I still live in my sweat pants and a frumpy Batman shirt, eating candy instead of foods with actual nutrition, wrestling with the imaginary people in my head WHO WON'T FREAKING COOPERATE FOR THIS REVISION. (ahem)

So basically... it's impossible to process. Which is probably why I keep reverting to my mumbled, "Surreal."

Someday I'm sure I'll make sense of it all (and also get better about taking compliments--I'm TERRIBLE about knowing what to say. Ask my husband if you don't believe me) and then when you ask me I'll be able to have the proper beaming/giddiness:


In the meantime I hope you'll bear with me as I continue fumble my way through all of this craziness. It's surreal. But nice.

(Hee--anyone catch the reference??? Love that movie!)