Shannon Burke (writer)

Shannon Burke (born September 11, 1966) is an American novelist and screenwriter.

Biography

Burke was born in Wilmette, Illinois and studied at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. After graduating he became a paramedic for the New York City Fire Department. Burke used these experiences in his novels ''Safelight'' (2004) and ''Black Flies'' (2008).Ramsey, Nancy, "On the Way to the Hospital a Novel is Born", New York Times, 12/2/2004
/ref> Burke has published four novels: ''Safelight'' (2004), ''Black Flies'' (2008), ''Into the Savage Country'' (2015), and ''The Brother Years'' (2020) . He also has been involved in various film and television projects, including work on the script for the film ''Syriana'' (2005), and he is the co-creator and executive producer of the Netflix series Outer Banks.

Burke lives in Knoxville, Tennessee with his two sons.

Novels

* ''Safelight'' (2004) Random House,
* ''Black Flies'' (2008) Soft Skull Press,
* ''Into the Savage Country'' (2015) Pantheon,
* ''The Brother Years'' (2020) Pantheon,

Critical reception

* ''Safelight'', Burke's debut novel, is a love story involving a fencer with HIV and a paramedic who interacts with the world through photographs of his patients. Burke stated that he believed the novel was about “personal redemption.” The book was well received, with the New York Times' Julia Livshin calling the novel “a minimalist tour de force.” Daniel Menaker, ex-editor and chief of Random House, called ''Safelight'' one of "the most under-rated novels I've edited."
* Burke's second novel, ''Black Flies'' is about the trials and moral weathering of a paramedic. Burke himself was a paramedic in New York and used his experiences from that job for the novel.Schillinger, Liesl, "Blood and Guts, Sunday Book Review, New York Times, May 25, 2008
/ref> The book was noted for its realistic depiction of paramedics.Allen, Paul Goat, "A Roundup of Recent Crime Novels," Chicago Tribune, June 21, 2008
/ref> In the New York Times, Liesl Schillinger called the novel “searing and morally resonant." ''Black Flies'' was a New York Times Notable book, was on the short list for numerous prizes,2008 Believer Book Award Short List
/ref>Les grands Prix de Littérature Policière 2014, Le Monde, 11/16/15
/ref>Prix SCNF du Polar - Shortlist - 2017
/ref> and won France's Prix de Mystere de la critique.Nicolas Mathieu Prix Mystère de la Critique 2015, Le Monde, 2/10/2015
/ref>
* ''Into the Savage Country'', Burke's third novel, a historical adventure, was a departure in setting and tone from his previous two novels. In a post publication interview, Burke said he wanted to write an adventure novel like "Kidnapped" or "White Fang." The novel was memorable for its historical depiction of trappers in the 1820s and was generally well-received. It was a finalist for the Reading the West Book Award.Reading the West Book Award - Short List - 2015
/ref>
* ''The Brother Years'' is a coming of age novel, a roman a clef, based on Burke's childhood in suburban Chicago. It was published in August 2020.

Awards

* 2008 – Believer Book Award – Finalist for ''Black Flies''
* 2010 – International Dublin Literary Award – Longlist for ''Black Flies''Book Awards, International Impac Dublin Literary Award Longlist
/ref>
* 2015 – Grand Prix de Littérature Policière – Runner Up for ''Black Flies''
* 2015 – Prix Mystère de la critique – Winner for ''Black Flies''
* 2015 – Reading the West Book Award – Shortlist for ''Into the Savage Country''
* 2017 - Prix SNCF du Polar - Shortlist for "Black Flies"

References

External links

Shannon Burke's Website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Burke, Shannon
American male novelists
1966 births
People from Knoxville, Tennessee
People from Wilmette, Illinois
21st-century American novelists
Living people
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumni
21st-century American male writers