Dream-makers: 3 local authors gaining far-reaching reputations as fantasy writers

There's another world out there — one filled with magic and mystery and even dragons.

It is a place where anything is possible, good triumphs over evil, and happily-ever-after is the norm. It is a place of imagination, of wonder, of delight.

And all you need to get there is a good book.

This fantasy world is a familiar place for several local authors who are gaining far-reaching reputations as guardians of these realms.

Shannon Hale is the author of five award-winning young-adult novels, starting with "The Goose Girl," published in 2002; its sequels, "Enna Burning" and "River of Secrets"; Newbery Honor Book, "The Princess Academy"; and another stand-alone title, "Book of a Thousand Days."

She has written two adult novels, "Austenland," and her soon-to-be-released "The Actor and the Housewife." And she and her husband have written a graphic novel, "Rapunzel's Revenge," illustrated by Utah artist Nathan Hale (no relation), and recently nominated for an Eisner Award (the Oscars of the comics industry).

Jessica Day George has written a trilogy of adventure books in "Dragon Slippers," "Dragon Flight" and her newest, "Dragon Spear," which came out this month. She is also the author of "Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow," a re-telling of Norse legends; and the recent "Princess of the Midnight Ball," a story of the 12 dancing princesses of storybook fame.

Mette (rhymes with Betty) Ivie Harrison's latest book, "The Princess and the Bear," is a sequel to her earlier "The Princess and the Hound." She has also written "Mira, Mirror," the story of the mirror of Snow White fame, and a non-fantasy novel, "The Monster in Me."

For each of the women, becoming a fantasy writer has been a lifelong adventure.

Hale started making up stories to act out before she could even read. When she was in fourth grade, she declared that she was going to be a writer.

"But the people around me kind of discouraged that, so I kept it a secret. It wasn't until I was going for an MFA in creative writing that I came out of the closet," she jokes.

For a time, she even drifted away from fantasy. "Those were the books I loved to read when I was young — when I could choose my own books."

In fact, when she began reading all those "depressing adult books that were required, I fell out of love with reading. I quit staying up late to finish a book."

Then she started remembering how fun fantasy was. "I started reading fantasy again, but by that time, I was spoiled by literature, by the quality of writing," and most of what she found didn't hit that mark.

So that's what Hale set out to do with "Goose Girl." "I wanted a story that would appeal to young readers, but I wanted the quality writing that I had come to respect."