Sunday, August 19, 2012

Something Great and Unexpected

In a school a few years ago, when I was introducing The Unfinished Angel, I asked the students to imagine discovering "something unexpected."  I was going to refer to the character in that book who discovers an angel living in a tower.

But as soon as I said the word unexpected, the audience collectively shrank back in their seats. They looked fearful and anxious. That surprised and bothered me.  When had the unexpected become something to be feared?

I thought about this for some time. I wanted to write a story in which the unexpected was something great, something that might alter someone's feelings about the unexpected. Perhaps, then, that person's whole view of the future might also be altered.

That was the central impetus for this newest book, The Great Unexpected:


I've had my own great and unexpected event:  a call one cold, gray February day in 1995 when I was home alone in England, ready to throw a manuscript-in-progress out the window.

The phone rang.  "Walk Two Moons has received the Newbery Medal."

"Cut it out, Tom,"  I said. (I thought it was my brother playing a joke.)

Shortly thereafter, my publisher phoned. I asked her how many of these medals were awarded each year?  "500? 300? 100?"

There was a long pause while she, no doubt, considered my ignorance.  At last, she said, "One, Sharon. One."


I can assure you that this was completely unexpected–and very, very great. . . and it took me a long, long while to believe that it was okay to accept this good fortune.

26 comments:

  1. WOW!! and congratulations! and now i must read the book! ;-)

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  2. Kind of teared up about this. The Newbery is such a great thing for writers and readers.

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  3. You are such a talented writer! My daughter, and many of my teaching coworkers, have truly enjoyed your books.

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  4. Now that is a perfect example of the great unexpected! Still one of my favorite books. Just recommended it to a librarian yesterday as a MUST read. :) Cannot wait for this new novel to be out!

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  5. What a terrific story! (You tell a great story even when you're not writing a novel...)

    A great unexpected for me (similar to yours in some ways)... I got a job at my current school 14 years ago, the same week I got married. I had taught a sample lesson on Wednesday and then spent Thursday with my mom picking up the dress, making sure flowers were going to be at the church, etc. (The wedding was on Saturday.) When we got home, my to-be-husband came out of the house to meet us, and he said, "That principal called. You got the job." We thought he was joking and I said, "Ha ha, very funny," but he repeated it and said no, he wasn't kidding. So in the same week I got a great job, a great husband, and a fabulous honeymoon in Paris. Wouldn't change any of it!

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  6. I love how you related your unexpected Newbery Medal to the subject of the book. As I read it, I knew there should be something good, so I did not fret about what would happen to the girls.

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  7. I just pre-ordered it. The description sounds tantalizing and wonderful. Can't wait to read it. Here's to embracing the unexpected!! :)

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  8. A well deserved honor. I'm so glad that I had a peek at your very interesting life. For sure, the unexpected can be something very positive.

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  9. Sharon, I've never imagined the actual medal in a gorgeous wooden box, thanks for sharing a photo. Exquisite and 100% deserved. We can't wait to read your latest and greatest.

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  10. Thank you for sharing your Newbury story.

    I like hearing the inspiration behind your new book.

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  11. loved hearing how the experience with the children led to the writing of this wonderful book.

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  12. I have never been disappointed after reading a Newbury Medal winning book - they are always fantastic. I look forward to going to the library and checking yours out! A recent unexpected moment that turned out great was falling while running and almost dislocating my shoulder. It was at Christmastime and there was soooo much to do. But I couldn't. So I had to sit on the couch. And the house became very calm and very quiet. It didn't hurt that while sitting on the couch, Downtown Abbey was on the television - my children hope for more injuries!

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    1. Whoah - sorry your 'great unexpected' had to involve an injury, but glad you were able to enjoy the 'down-time.' xx

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  13. I just finished my ARC and it was, as to be expected, great! Hearing the sadly bittersweet impetus for this book has made it resonate with me even more. Thanks for sharing that history, and, as always, for sharing yourself through your books. Just this weekend I also read "Absolutely Normal Chaos" and found it to be wonderful too--hallelujah for a colorful, realistic depiction of a large, chaotic family that makes mistakes but loves each other anyway (that would be mine, of course!) Thanks for the work...thanks for the words.

    Yours,

    Portia

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  14. Sharon,

    I love this post. So filled with hope!

    Donna

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  15. I cannot wait to read this book, Sharon. That story about winning the Newbery was really something! How wonderful and just so you know, I have always completely loved every book you've ever written.

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  16. That 1995 phone call is still burned into my brain in the best way possible. Such a magical moment...it still brings tears to my eyes.

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  17. Such an interesting word to pick. It carries such significance, plus and minus. Sometimes tears; sometimes laughter. It so often comes out of nowhere to change our lives forever. Saving my pennies for this September book.

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  18. This is so wonderful, Sharon. I can only imagine what that wonderful unexpected moment felt like. Joyful!! Thank you for sharing this story.

    I have had many great unexpected moments over the years, but a recent "simple" moment was when my granddaughter told me that she took a walk in the woods out back and she saw a camel. Huh!!

    (We live on a farm in WI. No livestock reside here though. . . definitely no camels.)

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    1. Karen: I *love* the camel story - that's exactly the sort of thing that is celebrated in The Great Unexpected . . .

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  19. I love your books and can hardly stand it waiting to read this new one! Thank you for writing such jewels.

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  20. I so love Walk Two Moons, & your other books. I can't wait for this one & the wait is richer now having heard a little of the background. What will the great unexpected be? Encountering the unexpected is one of my most important themes when traveling...

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  21. I am really excited to read The Great Unexpected! Hopefully it'll come out here in Singapore soon! :) I will def. recommend it to my students since I know many of them are huge fans of your books. Thank you for sharing your story about winning the Newbery Medal.

    --Jee Young

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