Suzanne Collins

{{Short description|American author and television writer (born 1962)}}

{{Infobox writer

| name = Suzanne Collins

| image = Suzanne Collins David Shankbone 2010.jpg

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|8|10}}{{cite news |last= Armitstead |first=Claire|author-link=Claire Armitstead |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/apr/27/suzanne-collins-hunger-games-profile |title=Suzanne Collins: Hunger Games author who found rich pickings in dystopia |work=The Guardian |access-date=August 9, 2018 |date=April 27, 2012}}

| birth_place = Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.

| occupation = {{hlist|Novelist|Author}}

| education = Indiana University Bloomington (BA)
New York University (MFA)

| spouse = {{marriage|Charles Pryor|1992}}

| genre = Fantasy, science fiction, children's literature, young adult fiction, dystopian fiction

| notableworks = The Hunger Games
The Underland Chronicles

| signature = Suzanne Collins signature.png

| website = {{url|suzannecollinsbooks.com}}

| caption = Collins in 2010

| children = 2

}}

Suzanne Collins (born August 10, 1962){{cite web |title=Books by Suzanne Collins on Google Play |url=https://play.google.com/store/info/name/Suzanne_Collins?id=0bpd5z |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=play.google.com |language=en-US}} is an American author and television writer who is best known as the author of the young adult dystopian book series The Hunger Games. She is also the author of the children's fantasy series The Underland Chronicles.

Early life and education

Collins was born on August 10, 1962, in Hartford, Connecticut, to Jane Brady Collins (born 1931) and Lieutenant Colonel Michael John Collins (1931–2003),{{cite book |last=Llanas |first=Sheila Griffin |title=How to Analyze the Works of Suzanne Collins |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Gc0jMjFryM0C&pg=PA13 |access-date=August 8, 2018 |date=August 1, 2012 |publisher=ABDO |isbn=9781614789574 |page=13 }} a U.S. Air Force officer who served in the Korean and the Vietnam War. Her grandfather and numerous uncles fought in both World Wars.{{Cite web |title=Suzanne Collins Biography - Suzanne Collins |url=https://suzannecollins.org/biography/ |access-date=2024-07-02 |language=en-US}} She is the youngest of four children, her older siblings being Kathryn (born 1957), Andrew (born 1958), and Joan (born 1960). As the daughter of a military officer, she moved with her family very often, mostly living in Europe (specifically Brussels, Belgium){{Cite web |date=2020-05-20 |title=Suzanne Collins - Books, Facts & Movies |url=https://www.biography.com/authors-writers/suzanne-collins |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=Biography.com |language=en-US}} and the eastern part of America.{{Cite web |title=Suzanne Collins - Interview |url=https://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/events.htm |access-date=2024-07-02 |website=www.suzannecollinsbooks.com}} As a young girl, Collins enjoyed reading, gymnastics, and exploring the woods with her friends.

Collins graduated from the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham in 1980 as a Theater Arts major.{{cite web|last=Harvey|first=Alec|title=Did you know 'Hunger Games' author Suzanne Collins has an Alabama connection |url=https://www.al.com/entertainment/2012/03/hunger_games_suzanne_collins_a.html|work=Birmingham News|access-date=February 10, 2022|date=March 23, 2010}} She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University Bloomington in 1985 with a double major in theater and telecommunications.{{cite web |title=Suzanne Collins Interview by Deborah Hopkinson on BookPage |url=http://www.bookpage.com/books-10012268-Catching-Fire |publisher=BookPage |date=September 2012 |access-date=December 15, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102035706/http://www.bookpage.com/books-10012268-Catching-Fire |archive-date=January 2, 2013 }}{{cite web |title='Hunger Games' author Suzanne Collins graduated from IU |url=http://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/21670.html |publisher=Indiana University |date=March 22, 2017 |access-date=March 25, 2013 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.biography.com/people/suzanne-collins-20903551|title=Suzanne Collins|work=biography.com|publisher=A&E Networks|access-date=September 13, 2013}} In 1989, Collins earned her Master of Fine Arts in dramatic writing from the New York University Tisch School of the Arts.

Career

Collins began her career in 1991 as a writer for children's television shows.{{cite web | title=Biography | url=http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/bio.htm | work=www.suzannecollinsbooks.com | access-date=December 14, 2008 }} She worked on several shows for Nickelodeon, including Clarissa Explains It All, The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo, Little Bear, Oswald and Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!. She was also the head writer for the PBS spin-off Clifford's Puppy Days. She received a Writers Guild of America nomination in animation for co-writing the critically acclaimed 2001 Christmas special, Santa, Baby!{{cite web | title=Suzanne Collins Biography | url=http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/contributor.jsp?id=2710 | work=Scholastic | access-date=December 14, 2008 | archive-date=March 7, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100307234140/http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/contributor.jsp?id=2710 | url-status=dead }} After meeting children's author James Proimos while working on the Kids' WB show Generation O!, Collins felt inspired to write children's books herself.

Her inspiration for Gregor the Overlander, the first book of The New York Times best-selling series The Underland Chronicles, came from Alice in Wonderland, when she was thinking about how one was more likely to fall down a manhole than a rabbit hole, and would find something other than a tea party. Between 2003 and 2007 she wrote the five books of the Underland Chronicles: Gregor the Overlander, Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane, Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods, Gregor and the Marks of Secret, and Gregor and the Code of Claw. During that time, Collins also wrote a rhyming picture book, When Charlie McButton Lost Power (2005), illustrated by Mike Lester.

In September 2008, Scholastic Press released The Hunger Games, the first book of a series by Collins.{{cite interview |last=Collins |first=Suzanne |title=Planning the Trilogy |url=http://www.scholastic.ca/thehungergames/videos/planning-the-trilogy.htm |type=Interview: Video |work=Scholastic Canada |access-date=December 14, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212153709/http://www.scholastic.ca/thehungergames/videos/planning-the-trilogy.htm |archive-date=February 12, 2009 }} The Hunger Games was partly inspired by the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. Another inspiration was her father's career in the Air Force, which gave her insight to poverty, starvation, and the effects of war.{{cite web |first=Suzanne |last=Collins |title=A Conversation with Suzanne Collins, Q & A. |url=http://www.scholastic.com/thehungergames/media/qanda.pdf |publisher=Scholastic |access-date=February 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329150526/http://www.scholastic.com/thehungergames/media/qanda.pdf |archive-date= March 29, 2019}} The trilogy's second book, Catching Fire, was released in September 2009, and its third book, Mockingjay, was released on August 24, 2010.{{cite magazine |first=Keith |last=Staskiewicz |title=Final 'Hunger Games' novel has been given a title and a cover |url=http://shelf-life.ew.com/2010/02/11/final-hunger-games-novel-has-been-given-a-title-and-a-cover/ | magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=February 11, 2010 |access-date=February 11, 2010 }} Within 14 months, 1.5 million copies of the first two Hunger Games books were printed in North America alone.{{cite web |first=Suzanne | last=Collins |title=Suzanne Collins's Third Book in The Hunger Games Trilogy to be Published on August 24, 2010. |url=http://mediaroom.scholastic.com/node/270 |publisher=Scholastic |access-date=February 9, 2010 }} The Hunger Games was on The New York Times Best Seller list for more than 60 weeks in a row. Lions Gate Entertainment acquired worldwide distribution rights to a film adaptation of The Hunger Games, produced by Nina Jacobson's Color Force production company.{{cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/new-titles/adult-announcements/article/8359-hungry-the-latest-on-the-hunger-games.html |title=Hungry? The Latest on 'The Hunger Games' |access-date=February 10, 2022 |first=John A. |last=Sellers |date=March 12, 2009 |work=Publishers Weekly |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602053340/http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6643639.html?industryid=47141 |archive-date=2 June 2009 }}{{cite news|first1=Jay A. |last1=Fe |first2=Borys |last2=Kit |title=Lionsgate picks up 'Hunger Games'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/lionsgate-picks-hunger-games-80869/ |newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter |date=March 17, 2009 |access-date=February 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090322035715/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ic096395f454426da4ab38f45275a12fc |archive-date=March 22, 2009 }} Collins adapted the novel for film herself. Directed by Gary Ross, filming began in late spring 2011, with Jennifer Lawrence portraying main character Katniss Everdeen.{{Cite news |date=2011-03-16 |title=Exclusive: Jennifer Lawrence Gets Lead Role in 'The Hunger Games' |url=http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/jennifer-lawrence-gets-lead-role-hunger-games-25482 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20200521063610/https://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/jennifer-lawrence-gets-lead-role-hunger-games-25482/ |archive-date=2020-05-21 |access-date=2025-04-07 |work=TheWrap |language=en-US}} as well as Josh Hutcherson who played Peeta Mellark and Liam Hemsworth who played Gale Hawthorne.{{cite web|url=http://www.hungergamesfan.com/2011/04/hunger-games-peeta-and-gale-casting-responses/|work=HungerGamesfan.com|title=Hunger Games Peeta and Gale Casting|access-date=April 9, 2011}} The subsequent two novels were adapted into films as well, with the latter book split into two cinematic installments, for a total of four films representing the three books. As a result of the popularity of The Hunger Games books, Collins was named one of Time magazine's most influential people of 2010.{{cite news |first=Lizzie |last=Skurnick |title=The 2010 Time 100: Suzanne Collins |url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1984685_1984940_1985512,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100501161323/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1984685_1984940_1985512,00.html |archive-date=May 1, 2010 |magazine=Time |date=April 29, 2010 |url-status=live |access-date=February 10, 2022 }} In March 2012, Amazon announced that she had become the best-selling Kindle author of all time.{{cite web|url=http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1673532&highlight=|title=Hungry for Hunger Games: Amazon.com Reveals the Top Cities in the U.S. Reading The Hunger Games Trilogy|access-date=March 16, 2012|archive-date=April 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411203757/http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1673532&highlight=|url-status=dead}} Amazon also revealed that Collins had written 29 of the 100 most highlighted passages in Kindle ebooks—and on a separate Amazon list of recently highlighted passages, she had written 17 of the top 20.{{cite web|url=http://www.beyond-black-friday.com/2012/03/17/who-is-the-best-selling-kindle-author-of-all-time/ |title=Who is the Best-Selling Kindle Author of All Time?|date=March 17, 2012 |access-date=March 17, 2012}}

On June 17, 2019, Collins announced that a prequel to The Hunger Games would be released on May 19, 2020. It is based on the life of future President Coriolanus Snow, 64 years before the events of The Hunger Games trilogy.{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2019-06-17/apnewsbreak-hunger-games-prequel-novel-coming-in-2020?linkId=69117198|title=Hunger Games' Prequel Novel Coming in 2020|first= Hillel|last=Italie|date=17 June 2019|access-date=18 June 2019|website=US News}} On October 4, 2019 the title was revealed to be The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Title-book-cover-announced-for-The-Hunger-14492269.php|title=Title, book cover announced for 'The Hunger Games' prequel|date=2019-10-04|website=SFGate|access-date=2019-10-04}} A film adaptation, starring Tom Blyth as Coriolanus Snow and Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray Baird, was released on November 17, 2023.{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=2022-04-28 |title='Hunger Games' Prequel 'The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes' Gets 2023 Release Date – CinemaCon |url=https://deadline.com/2022/04/hunger-games-prequel-the-ballad-of-songbirds-and-snakes-theatrical-release-1235012382/ |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}

On June 6, 2024, Collins announced that a new prequel to The Hunger Games, set 24 years before the events of the main trilogy, would be released on March 18, 2025. The book, titled Sunrise on the Reaping, explores the 50th Hunger Games won by Haymitch Abernathy. Lionsgate procured the rights to adapt the novel into a film, which is set to release on November 20, 2026.{{Cite web |last=Blackwelder |first=Carson |title=New 'Hunger Games' book 'Sunrise on the Reaping' to get movie treatment |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/new-hunger-games-book-sunrise-reaping-announced-movie/story?id=110893610 |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=ABC News |language=en |publication-date=6 June 2024}}

Personal life

Collins moved to New York City in 1987 and lived there until 2003.

In 1991, Collins met Charles "Cap" Pryor at Indiana University and they married in 1992.{{Cite web |date=2013-11-30 |title=The woman who lit the Hunger Games fire |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/the-woman-who-lit-the-hunger-games-fire-20131128-2ycge.html |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}} Pryor has been supportive of Collins's career, reading and critiquing the earliest drafts of The Hunger Games.{{Cite book |last=Collins |first=Suzanne |title=Mockingjay |title-link=Mockingjay |publisher=Scholastic Publishing |year=2010 |publication-date=24 August 2010 |language=English}} They live in the Sandy Hook area of Newtown, Connecticut, with their two children, Charlie and Isabel.{{Cite web |last=Gendreau • |first=LeAnne |date=2012-03-22 |title=Frenzy Over Local Author's "Hunger Games" |url=https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/local/frenzy-over-local-authors-hunger-games/1925466/ |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=NBC Connecticut |language=en-US}} Though Collins's IMDb profile claims she and Pryor divorced in 2015, this has never been confirmed. Furthermore, Collins referred to Pryor as her husband in the acknowledgments of her 2020 novel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.{{Cite book |last=Collins |first=Suzanne |title=The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes |title-link=The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes |publisher=Scholastic Publishing |year=2020 |publication-date=19 May 2020 |pages=416 |language=English}}

In 2013, Forbes reported that Collins has a net worth of $55 million, making her No. 3 on Forbes's Top-Earning Authors List.{{Cite web |last=Bercovici |first=Jeff |date=2013-08-12 |title=The World's Top-Earning Authors: With '50 Shades,' E.L. James Debuts At No. 1 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbercovici/2013/08/12/the-worlds-top-earning-authors-with-50-shades-e-l-james-debuts-at-no-1/ |access-date=2024-07-07 |website=Forbes |language=en}}

Awards

The Hunger Games:

2008: Cybils Award (Speculative Fiction: Young Adult): Won
2009: Locus Award (Young Adult Novel): Nominated
2009: Inky Awards (Silver Inky Award): Won
2009: Golden Duck Award (Hal Clement Award): Won
2010: Hampshire Book Awards (Book Award): Won
Children's Book Award (Older Readers): Won
Vermont Golden Dome Book Award: Won
2011: California Young Reader Medal (Young Adult): Won
Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award: Won
Sequoyah Book Award (Young Adult and Intermediate): Won
Sequoyah Book Award (High School): Won
Geffen Award (Science Fiction): Won
2012: 2012 Teen Choice Awards (Choice Book): Won
Concorde Book Award: Won
BILBY Award (Older Readers Award): Won

Catching Fire:

2009: Goodreads Choice Awards (Young Adult Series): Won
2010: Golden Duck Award (Hal Clement Award): Won
Locus Award (Young Adult Novel): Nominated
Indies Choice Book Awards (Young Adult): Won
2012: Geffen Award (Science Fiction): Won
2014: BILBY Award (Older Readers Award): Won
2018: Goodreads Choice Awards (Best of the Best): Nominated {{Cite web |title=Announcing the Goodreads Choice Winner in Best of the Best! |url=https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-of-the-best-2018 |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=Goodreads}}

Mockingjay:

2010: Goodreads Choice Awards (Young Adult Fantasy): Won
2011: Locus Award (Young Adult Novel): Nominated
Andre Norton Award: Nominated
2013: Geffen Award (Young Adult): Won
2016: BILBY Award (Older Readers Award): Won

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes:

2020: Goodreads Choice Awards (Young Adult Fantasy): Nominated {{Cite web |title=Announcing the Goodreads Choice Winner in Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction! |url=https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-young-adult-fantasy-books-2020 |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=Goodreads}}
2021: Geffen Award (Science Fiction): Won

Other awards:

2004: NAIBA Children's Novel Award{{Cite web |title=Book of the Year Awards from NAIBA, The New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association |url=http://www.newatlanticbooks.com/book_awards.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20140404134217/http://www.newatlanticbooks.com:80/book_awards.html |archive-date=2014-04-04 |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=www.newatlanticbooks.com}}
2006: Waterstones Children's Book Prize (Best Book) - Gregor and the Rats of Underland - Nominated
ALSC Notable Children's Recording (audio version){{Cite web |last=Rubins |first=Jennifer |date=2023-06-20 |title=Explore Audiobooks on the NEW PenguinRandomHouseLibrary.com! |url=https://penguinrandomhouselibrary.com/2023/06/20/audiobooks-on-the-new-penguinrandomhouselibrary-com/ |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=Penguin Random House Library Marketing |language=en}}
2008: KIRKUS Best Young Adult Book of 2008"[http://www.kirkusreviews.com/kirkusreviews/images/pdf/Best_YA.pdf The Best Young-Adult Books of 2008]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}." Kirkus Reviews. December 1, 2008. Kirkus Reviews, Web. January 29, 2010.
School Library Journal Best Books of 2008{{Cite web |title=Library Journal |url=https://www.schoollibraryjournal.com:443/blog/1790000379/post/90029009.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010064603/https://www.schoollibraryjournal.com:443/blog/1790000379/post/90029009.html |archive-date=October 10, 2008 |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=www.schoollibraryjournal.com}}
A Book List Editor's Choice, 2008{{Cite web |title=Booklist Online: Leading Book Discovery |url=https://www.booklistonline.com:443/default.aspx |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=www.booklistonline.com}}
2009: Publishers Weekly{{'}}s Best Books of the Year: Children's Fiction{{cite web |title=Best Children's Books of 2009 |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/26033-best-children-s-books-of-2009.html |website=Publishers Weekly |access-date=February 10, 2022 |date=November 2, 2009}}
An American Library Association Top 10 Best Books For Young Adult Selection{{Cite web |title=2009 Best Books for Young Adults {{!}} Young Adult Library Services Association |url=https://www.ala.org/yalsa/2009-best-books-young-adults |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=www.ala.org |language=en}}
An ALA Notable Children's Book{{Cite web |title=ALA {{!}} ALSC announces 2009 Notable Children's Books |url=http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/news/pressreleases2009/february2009/alscncb.cfm |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20111225071330/http://www.ala.org:80/ala/newspresscenter/news/pressreleases2009/february2009/alscncb.cfm |archive-date=2011-12-25 |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=www.ala.org |language=en}}
2014: Christopher Award (Books for Young People - Kindergarten and up) - Year of the Jungle: Memories from the Home Front - Won
Charlotte Zolotow Award - Year of the Jungle - Honor
A Horn Book Fanfare{{Cite web |title=Horn Book Fanfare Best Book Winners |url=http://www.goodreads.com/award/show/3778-horn-book-fanfare-best-book |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20120809033916/http://www.goodreads.com:80/award/show/3778-horn-book-fanfare-best-book |archive-date=2012-08-09 |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=www.goodreads.com}}
NY Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing{{Cite web |date=2013-07-03 |title=GREGOR THE OVERLANDER - Suzanne Collins |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703173531/http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/gregor_the_overlander_48384.htm |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=web.archive.org}}
2016: Authors Guild Award for Distinguished Service to the Literary Community (first time awarded to an author of young adult fiction){{cite web | url=https://www.authorsguild.org/industry-advocacy/authors-guild-benefit-honors-suzanne-collins-celebrates-books-young-readers/ | title=Authors Guild Benefit Honors Suzanne Collins, Celebrates Books for Young Readers | publisher=Authors Guild | work=Industry & Advocacy News | date=May 27, 2016 | access-date=September 19, 2016}}

Bibliography

=''[[The Underland Chronicles]]''=

Gregor the Overlander (2003)
Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane (2004)
Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods (2005)
Gregor and the Marks of Secret (2006)
Gregor and the Code of Claw (2007)

=[[The Hunger Games|''The Hunger Games'' series]]=

==Original series==

The Hunger Games (September 14, 2008)
Catching Fire (September 1, 2009)
Mockingjay (August 24, 2010)

==Prequels==

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (May 19, 2020)
Sunrise on the Reaping (March 18, 2025){{cite web |last1=ITALIE |first1=HILLEL |title=Suzanne Collins is releasing a new 'Hunger Games' novel, 'Sunrise on the Reaping,' next year |url=https://apnews.com/article/hunger-games-suzanne-collins-sunrise-reaping-b30163b4707f4db55eb68513f197affc |website=AP News |language=en |date=6 June 2024}}

=Other books=

Fire Proof (The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo, #11) (1999){{cite book|last=Collins|first=Suzanne|date=1999|title=Fireproof|publisher=Simon & Schuster|isbn=067102695X|url=https://archive.org/details/fireproof0000coll/}}
When Charlie McButton Lost Power (2005)
Year of the Jungle (2013)