About

Dan Burns is the author of seven books, including the novels A Fine Line and Recalled to Life, and the short story collections Grace: Stories and a Novella and No Turning Back: Stories. He is also an award-winning writer of stories for the screen and stage. A Necessary Explosion: Collected Poems is his first poetry collection, fifteen years in the making.

Books Published

A Necessary Explosion: Collected Poems (Chicago Arts Press, 2021)
Where is Dennis DeYoung? A Short Film Screenplay - Limited Edition Hardcover (Chicago Arts Press, 2020)
Grace: Stories and a Novella (Chicago Arts Press, 2019)
A Fine Line: A Sebastian Drake Novel (Chicago Arts Press, 2017)
No Turning Back: Stories (Chicago Arts Press, 2014)
Recalled to Life: A Novel (Eckhartz Press, 2013)
The First 60 Seconds: Win the Job Interview Before It Begins (Sourcebooks, 2009)

Books Awaiting Publication

GRACE: A Play (Chicago Arts Press, 2021)
A Perfect Circle: A Sebastian Drake Novel (2022)
Elderworld: A Novel (2023)

Stage Plays

GRACE: A timeless story of love, betrayal, and redemption (2018 - pre-production).
One Step Back: A collection of short plays for the stage (2017)

Other Writing Appearing in Anthologies or Magazines

First Class (Write City Review, Volume 3, Summer 2020)
Grace (Write City Review, Inaugural Edition, Summer 2018)
First Class (Write City Magazine, June 2018)
Thoughts on a Summer Afternoon (After Hours: A Journal of Chicago Writing and Art, Issue 31, Summer 2015)

Awards and Recognition

Grace: Stories and a Novella: Finalist - 2020 Chicago Writers Association Book of the Year Award; Finalist - 2020 Benjamin Franklin Awards; Finalist - 2020 National Indie Excellence Awards; Audiofile Magazine Earphones Award Winner (audiobook)

A Fine Line (Novel): Finalist, 2017 Best Book Awards; 2017 "Top 50 Fiction Books," Conversations Magazine

Recalled to Life (Screenplay): Finalist, Best Screenplay – 2017 Naperville Independent Film Festival

Out of Touch (Screenplay): Official Selection – 2015 Chicago REEL Shorts Film Festival

A Fine Line (Screenplay): Winner, Best Screenplay – 2014 Naperville Independent Film Festival; "Top 100 Films" – 2013 Emerging Screenwriter's Screenplay Competition; Semi-Finalist, Best Screenplay – 2013 Chicago Screenwriters Network Screenplay Competition

No Turning Back: Stories (Chicago Arts Press, 2014): - Winner - The 9th Annual 2015 National Indie Excellence® Awards – Short Story Category; Finalist – 2014 USA Best Book Awards – Fiction: Short Story Category; Honorable Mention – 2014 Chicago Writers Association Book of the Year Awards

The First 60 Seconds: Win the Job Interview Before It Begins: Bronze Medal – 2010 Axiom Business Book Awards – Career Category

Author Website: www.danburnsauthor.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/danburnsauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanBurnsAuthor

Featured Work

A Necessary Explosion: Collected Poems

2021

A Necessary Explosion is an act Dan Burns performs daily to expel the stories pressing on his mind. Only by getting words down onto the page can he make room for all that comes next. Exploring the themes of life, love, family, writing, music, travel, history, and humanity's future, this collection artfully conveys the words of a craftsman in relatable, accessible poems.

Each of the seventy-five poems in this collection offers a glimpse into the mind of a hopeful poet and storyteller. They will make you consider your place in the world and leave you contemplating the magic of poetry.

Including ten custom interior illustrations by the incomparable Daniele Serra (Stephen King, Clive Barker).

Other Works

  • Where Is Dennis DeYoung? - A Short Film Screenplay

    2020

  • Grace: Stories and a Novella

    2019

  • A Fine Line (A Sebastian Drake Novel)

    2017

  • No Turning Back: Stories

    2014

  • Recalled to Life

    2013

  • The First 60 Seconds: Win the Job Interview Before It Begins

    2009

Awards and Recognition

  • Recognition for A FINE LINE Screenplay: Winner, Best Screenplay 2014 Naperville Independent Film Festival One of the "Top 100 Films" Emerging Screenwriter's 2013 Screenplay Competition Semi-Finalist, Best Screenplay 2013 Chicago Screenwriters Network Screenplay Competition