A letter to Princess Academy readers

My publisher asked me to write a letter to my readers to put in the front of the Advance Reading Copy of Palace of Stone (which will be published in August). Here's the letter. WARNING: Contains Princess Academy spoilers.

Dear Reader,

While writing Princess Academy, I often thought about giving Miri a second book. I wanted Princess Academy to stand on its own, not be dependent on a sequel to finish the story. But I grew very fond of Miri and Mount Eskel. I had ideas about what happened next and looked forward to exploring them.

But first I wanted to finish River Secrets. Then Book of a Thousand Days called so loudly to me, I had to follow that story. By the time I was free to start something new again, Miri's story was very quiet in my mind. Princess Academy had reached more readers and garnered more shiny recognition that I could have ever hoped for or dreamed of. I decided to let it lie. Readers would tell themselves what happened next with Miri, and those stories were bound to be lovely and important. I did not want to intrude.

A couple of years later, I was thinking about Miri and Britta and the wedding in Asland, and a word popped into my mind: Revolution.

Every time I thought about Miri and the unwritten sequel that word would sparkle, tempting, inviting: Revolution.

Miri was a revolutionary in her own way on Mount Eskel. Her very personality fostered new ideas, yearned for change and equality. If there were stirrings of revolution in Asland, she would be drawn to them. However, her best friend was the princess, about to marry the prince. The complication, the split allegiances, the ideas and events it would allow me to explore absolutely thrilled me.

I could no longer let Miri's story lie. I couldn't wait to return to Mount Eskel, journey with her to Asland, and see what happened next.

Thank you for your enthusiasm for Princess Academy, and thank you for giving me the years to find Miri's best next story.

love,
Shannon Hale