Meet Shannon Jade
Shannon Jade is a writer who believes in the real-world magic of storytelling. She spends as much time as possible dreaming up imaginary lands and fiercely defending her favourite book tropes. Any day now, Shannon expects that someone will invite her on a magical adventure, and she hopes that there will be English breakfast tea and library books involved. Isn’t that how all the best stories begin?
When she’s not reading other people’s books or talking about them on social media, Shannon can be found writing books of her own. Shannon’s first picture book, Seashells for Stories, was published by Library For All in 2019, and her second, Way Back When, hit shelves in 2021. She has written several other projects for Heinemann Publishing, Innovations For Learning, Library For All, and Northstar Editions. In 2022, she was a contributing author to Goodnight Stories For Rebel Girls: 100 Inspiring Young Changemakers, which featured on a NYC billboard and Oprah’s Favorite Things List for the year.
Shannon holds a BA in creative writing, professional writing, and publishing and a graduate certificate in environment and climate emergency, both from Curtin University. She is currently studying a master’s of environmental science at the University of Southern Queensland.
Shannon is happiest when surrounded by books and nature. She hopes to have the opportunity to share many more world-changing stories inspired by a message of hope.
Quick Facts
Shannon has two cats, Minerva and Pixie, and a dog, Daisy. These three are in charge of most things, namely early morning wake-up calls.
Shannon is a proud supporter of environmental causes, contributing to research, policy, and education whenever she can. She’s far from perfect when it comes to sustainability, but she tries to learn and improve every day.
Shannon is an amputee. She is passionate about inclusion and diversity in literature, especially stories that show characters with finger and partial hand loss living their best lives.
Shannon’s real first book was written when she was 5 years old. It consisted of the words “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Oi! Oi! Oi!” repeated over and over. Neither word was spelled correctly, but the book did look good on the kindergarten bookshelves.
Shannon lives in Australia. No, kangaroos do not populate every supermarket, but they do occasionally show up in airport pharmacies.
What People Say
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Jess, Underground Writers
“For all of the seriousness in these pages however, there is pleasure and hope. Shannon Jade’s 'Countable Infinities' encompassed all of this in one-and-a-half pages with young Jemma counting all the things that make up her life, before settling to count on hope. This particular story took my breath away and required a moment to sit and reflect.”
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Susan, Heinemann Publishing
“I really love your unique story and your writing voice. Your ideas are so whimsical, fun, and creative.”
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Editor, Literary Journal
“Your voice is entirely warming, enchanting, while nostalgic. This piece was a striking combination of restlessness and unease with the changing world around the narrator, while simultaneously appreciating the striking beauty that surrounds them--the setting sun, the dog in the yard, the markings on the walls from years of growing. I am enamoured by the ease with which your prose flows.”