Jenni Fagan

Jenni Fagan is an award-winning Scottish novelist, poet, screenwriter and artist. Her books include four fiction novels and five poetry collections, as well as her memoir, Ootlin, about her time in state care.

Jenni Fagan was born in Scotland and grew up within the Scottish Local Authority care system. Adopted twice with unsuccessful placements, Jenni experienced instability from a young age, moving 26 times as a child.

Fagan spent 16 years in local authority care and several years in homeless accommodation. Through these experiences, she has gained a unique perspective on society's margins.

Fagan's resilience and talent led her to pursue education fervently. She received the Dewar Arts award in 2007, enabling her to attend Norwich School of Art and Design.

Fagan then graduated first class from the University of Greenwich and earned an MA at Royal Holloway, University of London, under the tutelage of Andrew Motion. Her academic journey culminated in a PhD from the University of Edinburgh, focusing on Structuralism.

Jenni Fagan debuted with the novel The Panopticon in 2013. This work earned her a spot on Granta's Best of Young British Novelists list and received acclaim for its vivid imagery and compelling narrative. The New York Times recognized her as the "Patron Saint of Literary Street Urchins."

Her second, The Sunlight Pilgrims, released in 2016, continued to build her reputation. The story is set against a freezing climate change backdrop in rural Scotland.

Fagan is also a prolific poet, with collections like There's a Witch in the Word Machine (2018) and The Dead Queen of Bohemia (2016). Her works delve into complex themes with lyrical and powerful language. Several of her works have been translated into different languages.

In addition to her novels and poetry, Fagan has written for The Independent, Marie Claire, and the New York Times. Her play adaptation of The Panopticon saw a sell-out run with the National Theatre of Scotland, and she has ventured into screenwriting and directing with projects like Heart of Glass and adapting Irvine Welsh's The Blade Artist for television.

Jenni Fagan was named Scottish Author of the Year in 2016 and elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2023. Her work has been shortlisted for various prestigious awards, including the BBC National Short Story Award and the Desmond Elliott Prize.

As of 2024, Fagan is working on her fifth fiction novel and various stage and screen projects. Ootlin (2023), the memoir about growing up in state care, is highly anticipated.

Jenni Fagan lives in Edinburgh.

Photo credit: www.jennifagan.com