About Shannon Muir
Shannon Muir is a freelance writer. Her work includes the independently published fiction novels EVERYTHING CHANGES (ebook 2012), HALF TRUTH AND FULL LYE (ebook, 2011), THE HEART’S DUTY (print and ebook, 2011), and TOUCH THE STARS (print and ebook, 2011); short story/poetry anthologies SEARCH FOR A WOMAN (ebook, 2011) and AT THE END OF INNOCENCE’S ROAD (ebook, 2011); textbooks GARDNER’S GUIDE TO WRITING AND PRODUCING ANIMATION (print, 2007) and GARDNER’S GUIDE TO PITCHING AND SELLING ANIMATION (ebook, 2008) from GGC, Inc. as well as the masters thesis GETTING THE ANIMATED MESSAGE (2005). Her short story, “Cover Story,” appeared in the themed anthology ARIA KALSAN: MYSTERIES OF THE FUTURE (2004). Prior to that, she wrote columns geared to non-artists in animation for DIGITAL MEDIA FX and SUITE101, as well as assorted articles for online publications such as WRITING -WORLD.COM, E2K and MOCHA MEMOIRS. Her animated screenwriting credits include episodes of the Japanese series MIDNIGHT HORROR SCHOOL which were originally written in English and then translated to Japanese to be animated. In addition, she co-writes and does lyrics for the long-running serial webcomic FLYING GLORY AND THE HOUNDS OF GLORY at http://www.flying-glory.com. Additionally, Shannon also volunteers as a book reviewer for SciYourFi which covers Science Fiction and High Fantasy with an emphasis on indie self-published authors (see the blog for how to be submitted for consideration). She is a member of Women in Animation, ASIFA-Hollywood, and the Writers Guild of America west Animation Writers Caucus. Find out more about her at http://www.shannon-muir.com.
Shannon knew she wanted to write for animation since age thirteen. Contact with several animation writers encouraged her on her path, and she moved to Los Angeles in 1996. Once there, she went on to work for Sony Pictures Family Entertainment, where her first job was as a Production Assistant on Jumanji: The Animated Series. Her hard work quickly earned her a promotion to Production Coordinator on Extreme Ghostbusters, also for Sony. However, wanting to pursue her dream, Shannon left production to better her background as a writer. During those years, she worked in office capacities for places such as The Writers Store and Michael Ovitz’s (now defunct) Artists Television Group. In 2001, her studies complete, Shannon returned to animation production as a Production Coordinator for Nickelodeon’s Invader Zim until early 2002. In the first half of 2003, Milky Cartoon Ltd., a Japanese animation company, hired her to write three 11-minute animation scripts and co-write two scripts with the love of her life, Kevin Paul Shaw Broden.
Before she left for Los Angeles, Shannon put up a fan website for the series Voltron, including the stories she’d sent to the show as a teen. Originally envisioned to help her make the break from fan to pro, her Voltron website is considered one of the foremost in the fan community. World Events Productions, the company behind Voltron, later consulted with her to develop the official starmap for the show when they produced the follow-up series, Voltron: The Third Dimension.
Shannon received a Professional Certificate in Screenwriting and Television from UCLA Extension in Los Angeles, where her instruction at UCLA included an animation scriptwriting class taught by Greg Weisman and Kevin Hopps. She also has a BA in Radio-TV and English from Eastern Washington University (Cheney, WA), where she primarily studied under the late Dr. David Terwische. In Summer of 2005, she completed work on her MA in Mass Communications at California State University, Fullerton. Shannon also has additional education in Project Management and Library Technican areas.
She’s annually attended Comic Con International: San Diego since 1996, spoke there in 2000 and 2001, spoke at other conventions such as Gathering of the Gargoyles (2001 and 2005). Also, Shannon appeared at The Gathering of The Gargoyles convention on panels related to her professional experience. Other panels where she’s appeared have included Anime Los Angeles, Pacific Media Expo, and more.
Also, Shannon co-created and co-authors the webcomic Flying Glory and the Hounds of Glory with artist/writer Kevin Paul Shaw Broden, which can be read at http://www.flying-glory.com and celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2011.
Appearances
Book Signings
Animation Book Look (2008) - Van Eaton Galleries (a major place for finding animation cels and animation art) and the Creative Talent Network are teaming up to present their 2nd Annual Animation Book Look. Lots of authors will be there with all kinds of books on animation, including Shannon Muir for GARDNER’S GUIDE TO WRITING AND PRODUCING ANIMATION. Kevin Paul Shaw Broden, who did all of the book’s interior illustrations, will also be on hand to sign books and some of his original art will be available for sale.
Panel Discussions
LosCon (2009), Panelist on “25 Years of Voltron,” “How Anime Influenced Western Culture,” “Webcomics,” “Writing Workshops”.
JemCon (2008), Panelist on “Animation from Concept to Production”.
Anime Los Angeles (2008), Panelist on “Animation Writing and Production” with Craig Miller.
Pacific Media Expo (2007), Panelist on “Producing ADR vs. Original Animation”.
Comic-Con International-San Diego (2007), Moderator for ” The Animation Production Process” with Stephanie Graziano, Tad Stones, and Greg Weisman.
Wondercon (2007), Moderator for “The Animation Production Process” with Adam Beechen, Stan Berkowitz, Dwayne McDuffie, and Greg Weisman.
Gathering of the Gargoyles (2005), Panelist on “From Fan to Professional” and “Web Comics”.
Popular Culture Association of America -American Culture Association (2004), “Learning With Disney: Examining Walt Disney Studios as a Driving Force in Early Animated Educational Films” at the National Conference on March 25th, 2004 in San Diego, CA.
Comic-Con International-San Diego (2001), appeared as part of “Animation Roundtable” with Jerry Beck, Craig Miller, and Russell Calabrese on Thursday, July 19st at 4PM. Also, panelist on “Classic Animation vs. Modern Animation,” with Jerry Beck, Craig Miller, Michael Mallory, Bill Morrison, and Ric Meyers on Friday, July 20th at 4PM.
Gathering of the Gargoyles (2001), panelist on “From Fan to Professional.” Fellow guests included fiction write Christine Morgan, Meredith Patterson and Rashaan Footman, along with artists Aimee Major and Karine Charlebois.
Comic-Con International-San Diego (2000), moderated Con-sponsored panel “Breaking and Entering – Careers in Animation.” Panelists included writer/producers Craig Miller and Marv Wolfman, writer/Story Editors Bob Skir and Stan Berkowitz, and artist Bob Miller.
Podcast
Catch Da Craze (2007), interview about Gardner’s Guide to Writing and Production.
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