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).^[1][2] Through 2015, Burke has published three novels: Safelight (2004), Black Flies (2008) and Into the Savage Country (2015). He also has been involved in various film and television projects, including work on the script for the film Syriana (2005).^[3][4]

Burke lives in Knoxville, Tennessee with his two sons.^[5][6][7]

Novels

• Safelight (2004) Random House, ISBN 978-0812971743
• Black Flies (2008) Soft Skull Press, ISBN 978-1593761912
• Into the Savage Country (2015) Pantheon, ISBN 978-0307908926

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.”^[1] The book was well received,^[8] with the New York Times' Julia Livshin calling the novel “a minimalist tour de force.”^[9] Daniel Menaker, ex-editor and chief of Random House, called Safelight one of "the most under-rated novels I've edited."^[10]

• 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.^[11] The book was noted for its realistic depiction of paramedics.^[12][13] In the New York Times, Liesl Schillinger called the novel “searing and morally resonant,"^[11] while the Chicago Tribune’s reviewer, Paul Goat Allen, wrote that "Black Flies is a visceral, nihilistic, dark gem of a story.”^[12] Black Flies was a New York Times Notable book,^[14] was on the short list for numerous prizes,^[15][16][17] and won France’s Prix de Mystere de la critique.^[18]

• 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."^[19] The novel was memorable for its historical depiction of trappers in the 1820’s^[20] and was generally well-received. Kirkus called the novel “a glorious American frontier novel”^[21] and Publisher’s Weekly wrote that "Burke's first venture into western fiction...is a masterpiece of historical accuracy and exciting storytelling.”^[21] It was a finalist for the Reading the West Book Award.^[22]

Awards

• 2008 – Believer Book Award – Finalist for Black Flies^[15]
• 2010 – International Dublin Literary Award – Longlist for Black Flies^[23]
• 2015 – Grand Prix de Littérature Policière – Runner Up for Black Flies^[16]
• 2015 – Prix Mystère de la critique – Winner for Black Flies^[18]
• 2015 – Reading the West Book Award – Shortlist for Into the Savage Country^[22]
• 2017 - Prix SNCF du Polar - Shortlist for "Black Flies"^[17]

References

External links

• Shannon Burke's Website