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Sam Hepburn

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Sam Hepburn
Pen nameSam Osman
OccupationAuthor
EducationCambridge University
Notable works
  • Quicksilver
  • Chasing the Dark
  • If You Were Me
Website
www.samhepburnbooks.com

Sam Hepburn, who has previously written under the name Sam Osman, is a British fiction author, including young adult novels and novels for adults.

Biography

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Hepburn studied modern languages at Cambridge University before joining the BBC as a general trainee.[1] Her career has included documentary filmmaking.[1] She has lived and worked in London, Lebanon, Sudan and Washington DC.

Under the name Sam Osman, she wrote her debut novel Quicksilver, which explores the themes of ley lines, stone circles, and ancient holy sites such as Stonehenge in England, Meroe in Sudan, and Mount Shasta in the United States. Reviewers include Amanda Craig in The Times,[2] Toby Clements in The Telegraph,[3] and Rosemary Stones in Books for Keeps.[4] A review by James Lovegrove in the Financial Times stated "It would be glib but not inaccurate to describe Quicksilver as 'Dan Brown for younger readers'."[5] In a review for The School Librarian Alison Maxwell-Cox wrote, "Readers of 9 and above would enjoy the twists and turns of the plot. Many features of the book are based on real historical evidence, or legends which might be true."[6]

She also wrote the young adult novels Serpent's Gold under the name Sam Osman,[7] and then Chasing the Dark and If You Were Me under the name Sam Hepburn.[8] In a review of Chasing the Dark, Janet Clarke in The School Librarian described the book as an "exciting read" and "fast paced story", and noted it was written as the first part of a series.[9] According to BookTrust, the book is and "excellent contemporary detective story" that "will appeal to both boys and girls."[10] In a review for Books for Keeps, Andrea Reece writes, "Despite the twists and turns of the plot, and a large cast of characters, the writing style ensures that the action is easy to follow."[11]

If You Were Me was described by Jo Sennitt in a review for The School Librarian as "a tough tale with lots of talking points about the media, stereotyping, human rights and morality; but it is also an action-packed story with solid central characters and a satisfying resolution."[12] According to Book Trust, "Complex plotting, thoughtful characterisation and terrifying insights into a world of organised crime will keep readers on the edge of their seats."[13] In a review for Books for Keeps, Matthew Martin writes, "It is credit to Hepburn’s skill as a thriller writer that no matter how complex the plot becomes, all remains clear and readers will be kept right on the edge of their seats from beginning to end."[14]

Hepburn then continued in her writing career as Sam Hepburn, and wrote several novels for adults, including Gone Before, Her Perfect Life, and The Mistake I Made.[1][15]

Honors and awards

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  • 2017 CWA Margery Allingham Short Story award[1]

Selected works

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  • Osman, Sam. Quicksilver. Marion Lloyd Books, 2010
  • Osman, Sam. Serpent's Gold, Marion Lloyd Books, 2011
  • Hepburn, Sam. Chasing the Dark. Chicken House, 2013
  • Hepburn, Sam. If You Were Me. Chicken House, 2015

Personal life

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Hepburn is married with children and resides in London.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Hepburn, Sam (14 August 2023). "Themes I Can't Escape: The Mistake I Made by Sam Hepburn". Writing.ie. Inkwell Group. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  2. ^ Online: Craig, Amanda (30 January 2010). "Brave boys and girls in children's fiction". The Times. London, England: Times Newspapers Ltd. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2012. In print: Craig, Amanda (30 January 2010). "Heirs to a fantasy world". Saturday Review. The Times. No. 69858. London, England. p. 12[S]. Gale IF0504022384.
  3. ^ Online: Clements, Toby (29 March 2010). "Children's Books: Fantasy". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 March 2011. In print: Clements, Toby (27 March 2010). "Ancient prophecies - and a dog called Elvis; Fantasy". Books. (Art, Books, Film, Music, Stage, TV, & Radio) Review (Magazine). London, England: The Telegraph. p. R27. Newspapers.com 754066355. Catalogued as: Clements, Toby (27 March 2010). "Ancient prophecies - and a dog called Elvis; Fantasy". Features. Daily Telegraph. London, England: Telegraph Group Limited. p. 27. ISSN 0307-1235. Gale A222294248. ProQuest 320873119. (Note: this source spells the book's title as "Quick Silver".)
  4. ^ Stones, Rosemary (March 2010). "Quicksilver". Reviews (Children's Books) : 10–14 Middle/Secondary (Fiction). Books for Keeps. No. 181. London, England: School Bookshop Association Ltd. p. 25. ISSN 0143-909X. Archived from the original on 20 April 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  5. ^ Lovegrove, James (6 February 2010). "Quicksilver: Teen Fiction". Weekend Supplement: Life & Arts. Financial Times (London 1 ed.). p. 17. 20100206W117.254. Factiva FTFT000020100206e6260006m. Gale A218358161. ProQuest 250266037.
  6. ^ Maxwell-Cox, Alison A. (Spring 2010). "Quicksilver". The School Librarian. 58 (1). Wanborough, Swindon, Wiltshire, UK: School Library Association: 54. ISSN 0036-6595. Gale A222024064. EBSCOhost 76581772. ProQuest 805019772.
  7. ^ Lloyd, Marion (July 2011). "Serpent's Gold". 10-14 Middle/Secondary (Fiction). Books for Keeps. No. 189. London, England: School Bookshop Association Ltd. ISSN 0143-909X. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023. (Does not appear to be present in the PDF of the full issue, so might be online-only?)
  8. ^ Osman, Samira (2009). "Home / Hello... / Quicksilver by Sam Osman | Sam Osman Books". Sam Osman Books. Archived from the original on 15 January 2019.
  9. ^ Clarke, Janet (Winter 2013). "Chasing the Dark". The School Librarian. 61 (4). Wanborough, Swindon, Wiltshire, UK: School Library Association: 240. ISSN 0036-6595. EBSCOhost 92898660. Gale A354934008. ProQuest 1467996744.
  10. ^ "Chasing the Dark". BookTrust. Archived from the original on 28 May 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  11. ^ Reece, Andrea (July 2013). "Chasing the Dark". Reviews (Children's Books) : 10–14 Middle/Secondary (Fiction). Books for Keeps. No. 201. London, England: Books for Keeps CIC. p. 28. ISSN 0143-909X. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  12. ^ Sennitt, Jo (Autumn 2015). "If You Were Me". The School Librarian. 63 (3). Wanborough, Swindon, Wiltshire, UK: School Library Association: 183. ISSN 0036-6595. EBSCOhost 110106598. Gale A431446279. ProQuest 1721014708.
  13. ^ "If You Were Me". BookTrust. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  14. ^ Martin, Matthew (May 2015). "If You Were Me". Reviews (Children's Books) : 10–14 Middle/Secondary (Fiction). Books for Keeps. No. 212. London, England: Books for Keeps CIC. p. 30. ISSN 0143-909X. Archived from the original on 13 April 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  15. ^ Hackett, Tamsin (30 June 2020). "Sam Hepburn signs two-book deal with Bookouture". The Bookseller. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
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