She originally planned to work in literary fiction, publishing short stories and teaching English, before writing young adult and children's books. Hale began writing The Goose Girl while in her graduate writing program, and worked on her drafts of it during her lunch break while working at her instructional design job. While studying at the University of Montana, Hale wrote 100 short stories and submitted many for publication, but none were accepted. She later earned a master's degree in Creative Writing from the University of Montana. She served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Paraguay for 18 months before graduating with a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Utah in 1998. She attended the University of Utah, primarily majoring in both English and Theater before deciding solely to pursue the former. Hale has said that her theater experience has improved her writing skills, particularly in character creation and world building.

She met her spouse, Dean Hale, freshman year at West High School he was also involved in theater. with an improvisational theater group whose productions highlighted a range of teen issues.

Hale also took part in drama competitions and traveled throughout Utah and the U.S. She participated in both school and community theater productions, including The Secret Garden. She took a creative writing class and worked as an editor of fiction for her high school's literary magazine.

She then attended West High School, where she cultivated passions for English and drama. In junior high, she participated on the school literary magazine. Her elementary school teachers encouraged her creative endeavors, and, in the fourth grade, Hale announced that she wanted to be a writer as an adult. She also began to write fantasy books at age 10, often featuring herself as the protagonist. She enjoyed writing, reading, and acting as a young girl she often created plays that she would act out with friends. She is the middle child of five children she has two older sisters, one younger sister, and one younger brother. Hale was born on January 26, 1974, in Salt Lake City to Wallace and Bonnie Bryner. She has also co-written with her husband, Dean. She is a graduate of the University of Utah and the University of Montana. Her first novel for adults, Austenland, was adapted into a film in 2013. Shannon Hale (née Shannon Bryner born January 26, 1974) is an American author primarily of young adult fantasy, including the Newbery Honor book Princess Academy and The Goose Girl.

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