I'm not going to give it the big 'I am' now that I'm a New York Times bestseller. Samantha Shannon bestsellerbiggive Change image and share on social
I was so sure I wanted to be a novelist. I would spend hours and hours every day writing. Little stories about nothing in particular. I recall one about someone with an illness. But my dedication wasn't really healthy, and it reached the point where I wasn't sleeping. My mum would tell me, 'You need to go outside to get some fresh air.' Samantha Shannon airdaydedication share on social
In 2011, I did an internship in Seven Dials, a junction in London where seven roads come together. I'd given up on writing after multiple rejections for my first novel, and I was starting to consider a career in publishing instead, but Seven Dials gave me such a strong idea for a setting that I couldn't resist picking up my pen again. Samantha Shannon careerdialgive share on social
For me, just being published feels like success. Samantha Shannon feltpublishsuccess Change image and share on social
I was always more interested in my books and my writing than going out. It's OK to say I'm a nerd. That's me. Samantha Shannon bookinterestnerd Change image and share on social
I have always been driven; I've always wanted to be published, and I wanted to make that happen, so I worked very hard. 'Perfectionist' would be a word to describe me. Samantha Shannon describedrivehappen Change image and share on social
Writing a novel is like knocking on a door that will never open. You are so desperate to get in, you will say or do anything. You feel: please take my novel. Samantha Shannon desperatedoorfeel Change image and share on social
I am the first one to go to university in my family. I am the first writer as well. My dad is a retired policeman, and my mom works for a glass-processing company. She is health-and-safety manager, and my stepfather is a plumber. I have four half siblings, one from my mom's marriage and three from my dad's marriage, so we are kind of scattered. Samantha Shannon companydadfamily share on social
I do take this insane pleasure in world-building. I get the world in my head, but I have to make sure everyone else gets it. Samantha Shannon buildheadinsane Change image and share on social
'The Bone Season' is violent. There's sex. My little brother keeps asking to read it, and he's 9, so I'm like, 'No, it's not happening.' Samantha Shannon bonebrotherhappen Change image and share on social