Suzanne Collins author page

Suzanne Collins Biography

Suzanne Collins is an American author and screenwriter best known for her dystopian young adult series The Hunger Games. Born on August 10, 1962, in Hartford, Connecticut, she is the youngest of four children. Her father, a U.S. Air Force officer, served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, leading the family to relocate frequently during her childhood.

Collins graduated from the Alabama School of Fine Arts in 1980 with a major in Theater Arts. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in theater and telecommunications from Indiana University Bloomington in 1985 and completed a Master of Fine Arts in dramatic writing at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts in 1989.

Her professional writing career began in 1991 with children’s television. She contributed to several Nickelodeon programs, including Clarissa Explains It All and The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo, and served as head writer for Clifford’s Puppy Days. Collins also co-wrote the animated Christmas special Santa, Baby!, which was nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award.

Inspired by a conversation with children’s author James Proimos, Collins ventured into writing children’s literature. Her debut novel, Gregor the Overlander (2003), launched The Underland Chronicles, a five-book fantasy series that concluded in 2007. The series explores themes of war and conflict through the adventures of a boy who discovers a hidden world beneath New York City.

In 2008, Collins published The Hunger Games, the first installment of a trilogy set in the dystopian nation of Panem. The series, which includes Catching Fire (2009) and Mockingjay (2010), follows protagonist Katniss Everdeen as she navigates a brutal televised competition and becomes a symbol of rebellion. The books have sold over 100 million copies worldwide and have been translated into more than 50 languages. Collins co-wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation of The Hunger Games (2012), which was followed by three sequels.

Collins expanded the series with two prequels: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2020), focusing on a young Coriolanus Snow, and Sunrise on the Reaping (2025), centered on Haymitch Abernathy during the 50th Hunger Games. Both novels delve into themes of power, propaganda, and societal control.

Beyond her novels, Collins has authored picture books such as When Charlie McButton Lost Power (2005) and Year of the Jungle (2013), which addresses the impact of war on children. Her work has been recognized with numerous awards, including inclusion in Time magazine’s 2010 list of the 100 most influential people and the 2016 Authors Guild Award for Distinguished Service to the Literary Community.