Samantha Hunt is a successful American author, recognized for her work in literature and fiction. She was born in 1971 in Pound Ridge, New York, and is the last of six siblings. Hunt was raised in an 18th-century house that was not traditionally haunted, but she describes it as haunting due to the overwhelming presence of books, both good and bad. This upbringing in a house filled with literature had a significant impact on Hunt and her future career.
Hunt attended the University of Vermont in 1989, where she studied geology, printmaking, and literature. She later pursued her Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from Warren Wilson College. In 1999, she moved to New York City to continue her writing career. Before becoming a professional author, Hunt held various odd jobs, including working in an envelope factory.
Samantha Hunt has received several prestigious awards for her work. In 2006, she was recognized by the National Book Foundation as one of the top authors under 35 for her novel, "The Seas." Her novel, "The Invention of Everything Else," was a finalist for the Orange Prize and won the Bard Fiction Prize in 2010. Hunt's writing combines elements of the supernatural with deep emotional resonance, exploring themes of fear, mystery, and invention.
Hunt's fiction has been published in several prominent publications, including The New Yorker, McSweeney's, Tin House, and the New York Times. Her novel, "Mr. Splitfoot," is about orphans who communicate with the dead and weaves together con artists, mothers, and meteors in a unique ghost story. Her first collection of short stories, "The Dark Dark," maps fear of the night, further showcasing her ability to explore complex emotions and themes through her writing.