Personal statement

Sam Beckbessinger is an Associate Lecturer for the MA in Writing for Young People. She's also a novelist and screenwriter, and has published three picture books for young children.

Her diverse creative interests include horror stories, fart jokes, African science fiction, and making complex topics simple for young audiences. She was one of the writers on Realm and Marvel’s Jessica Jones: Playing With Fire serialised novel. Her an interactive story about climate change, Survive the Century, was featured in New Scientist and Gizmodo. She wrote a bestselling nonfiction book called Manage Your Money Like a Fucking Grownup, sold all around the world, and created an adaptation for teenagers.

She's also written several episodes for animated kids’ TV show, Team Jay, commissioned by the Juventus Soccer Club and produced and animated by Sunrise Productions, and the family-friendly comedy series Jungle Beat, which has been broadcast in more than 180 countries on channels including Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon. She currently has two original TV shows in development.

Recent book deals

Sam’s novel Femme Feral was listed as an Observer Debut Novel of the Year in 2026. 

 

Academic qualifications

  • BA (Hons) in English Literature
  • MA in Creative Writing (with distinction)

Professional memberships

  • Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders
  • Writers' Guild of Great Britain
  • ALCS
  • Society of Authors

Teaching specialism and areas of expertise

  • Creative Writing
  • Writing for Young People
  • African Fiction
  • Horror Fiction
  • Branching Narrative Stories
  • Creative process and creative play.