1. Suzanne Collins
“The Hunger Games”

2. Early Life Born August 10, 1962 in Hartford, Connecticut
Father was a U.S. Air Force officer who served in Vietnam
Family moved constantly, but primarily on the East Coast
Graduated from the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham with a Theater Arts degree
Earned M.F.A. in dramatic writing from the New York University Tisch School of the Arts

3. Career 1991 – writer for children’s television shows
Clarissa Explains It All
The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo
Little Bear
Inspired to write her own children’s books
Gregor the Overlander
First book of the Underland Chronicles
Inspired by “Alice in Wonderland”

4. “The Hunger Games” Trilogy
September 2008 – Scholastic Press released “The Hunger Games”
Inspired by the Greek myth “Theseus and the Minotaur”
Inspired by firsthand knowledge of poverty, starvation, and effects of war
September 2009 – “Catching Fire” released
August 2010 – “Mockingjay” released

5. Success
Collins was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2010
March 2012 – Amazon announced Collins was the best-selling Kindle author of all time

6. “The Hunger Games Setting Themes Unspecified future time
Totalitarian nation of Panem – the state holds total authority over the society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life whenever possible
District 12 – formerly known as Appalachia (East KY, VA, WV)
We would be considered District 11
Themes
Government Control
“Big Brother”
Personal Independence
Power, Corruption, Downfall