Suzanne Collins is an American television writer and author, best known as the author of The New York Times best-selling series The Underland Chronicles and The Hunger Games trilogy (which consists of The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay). Her books have sold over 100 million copies worldwide.
Suzanne Collins was born in Hartford, Connecticut. She gained widespread recognition for her young adult dystopian series "The Hunger Games" and the children's fantasy series "The Underland Chronicles." Collins is the youngest child of Jane Brady Collins and Lieutenant Colonel Michael John Collins, a U.S. Air Force officer.
Collins pursued her passion for the arts at the Alabama School of Fine Arts, graduating in 1980 with a major in Theater Arts. She furthered her education at Indiana University Bloomington, earning a Bachelor of Arts in 1985 with dual majors in theatre and telecommunications. She completed her Master of Fine Arts in dramatic writing from the New York University Tisch School of the Arts.
Suzanne Collins began her professional career in 1991, writing for television. She contributed to several Nickelodeon shows, including Clarissa Explains It All and The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo, and wrote for preschool series like Little Bear and Oswald.
Collins also co-wrote the Rankin/Bass Christmas special Santa, Baby! and served as the head writer for Clifford's Puppy Days. Her interaction with children's author James Proimos during her work on Generation O! encouraged her to venture into children's book writing.
The Underland Chronicles (2003–2007) was Collins's first book series inspired by a reflection on Alice in Wonderland and the contrast between its pastoral setting and the urban environments familiar to many children.
The series, starting with Gregor the Overlander, became a New York Times bestseller and was sold into 21 foreign territories. Following this success, Collins authored "The Hunger Games" trilogy, which has remained on The New York Times bestseller list for over six years since its debut in September 2008. The series has been published in 54 territories and translated into 52 languages.
In addition to her series, Suzanne Collins has published picture books, including Year of the Jungle (2013), a critically acclaimed autobiographical work illustrated by James Proimos that reflects on the year she was six and her father was deployed to Vietnam. This book, exploring themes of family and absence, has been sold into 12 territories in 11 languages.
Mike Lester illustrated her first picture book When Charlie McButton Lost Power (2005). The book has been translated into four languages.
Collins's contributions to literature have been recognized with numerous awards, including the 2011 California Young Reader Medal and the 2016 Authors Guild Award for Distinguished Service to the Literary Community, marking the first time this award was presented to a young adult fiction author. Her work in television has also been acknowledged with Emmy nominations.
The Hunger Games film adaptations further propelled Collins's work into the global spotlight. The first movie was released on March 23, 2012, breaking multiple box office records. The subsequent films, including Catching Fire, Mockingjay — Part 1, and Mockingjay — Part 2, collectively grossed nearly $3 billion worldwide.
Suzanne Collins currently resides in Sandy Hook, Connecticut.
Photo credit: www.suzannecollinsbooks.com
