Shannon Schuren

Shannon Schuren is a young adult author, perhaps best known for her debut novel, "The Virtue of Sin." She currently works as a children's librarian at a public library, where she manages the children's library. Schuren's writing space is a shed in her backyard, which she fondly refers to as her "she-shed." She has had her short fiction featured in several publications, including Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Big Pulp, and Toasted Cheese Literary Journal.

"The Virtue of Sin," published in 2019 by Philomel Books, is a contemporary young adult novel that features a woman who was raised in a patriarchal religious cult. Over the course of the novel, she is forced to marry and must learn to stand up for her rights and convictions. Schuren's work is inspired by authors who write about strong, fierce, and independent women who stand up for themselves and others. Some of her favorite authors include Mindy McGinnis, Joy McCullogh, Courtney Summers, and Laurie Halse Anderson.

Schuren has never been a member of a cult, but she is fascinated by them. However, she does share one similarity with her protagonist - a love for pastries, specifically gluten-free ones. Schuren lives in Sheboygan Falls, Wichita, with her husband and children.