Every Bad Thing

This dark and deeply moving novel from Shannon Gill Burnett follows the life of Danielle Smith, a woman from Green Bay, Wisconsin. From her childhood through her college years at Northwestern, to marriage, motherhood, and eventually a suicide attempt, Danielle's story is both heart-wrenching and raw.

After her attempt to take her life fails, Danielle is faced with a powerful revelation. Why should she be the one to go, when she has done nothing wrong? Her husband of twenty years announces he is leaving her to start a new life with his pregnant paralegal. Danielle, who gave up her career, her dreams, her figure, and her identity for her family, is left with nothing but questions.

Every Bad Thing explores what happens when a woman, hanging on by a thread, finally reaches her breaking point. What happens to any of us when we simply cannot hold on any longer?

The novel takes an unflinching look at revenge, mania, and the final act of desperation. It explores the complexity of human decisions, asking who is right, who is wrong, and what truly drives people to the edge.

Written with compassion and psychological insight, Every Bad Thing delves into the debate of nature versus nurture and the origins of our darkest choices. Through Danielle’s unraveling and her unexpected path of violence, the story brings her full circle to a place she never imagined she could reach.

Take a gripping and emotional journey with Danielle Smith. You may be terrified in one moment and cheering for her in the next. Discover the brutal beauty and haunting truth at the heart of Every Bad Thing.

Shannon Gill Burnett is a writer who has been crafting stories since the age of six. In her childhood, she wrote poems and movie scripts, acting out the characters in her bedroom on rainy Saturdays. She aspired to be Steven Spielberg—and still does. Over time, she evolved into a seasoned and meticulous writer. To her credit, she has written two short stories, four novels, and at least one hundred poems in her portfolio. She has also outlined and begun writing three additional novels: The Odyssey of a Bad Mother, Pieces of Eve, and Ugly Face Dolls.

Her favorite writers range from unknown poets and novelists to literary giants such as Hemingway, Henry James, and Charlotte Brontë. Her favorite book is Crime and Punishment, which she has read twice, admiring Dostoevsky’s remarkable ability to weave stories within stories and lessons within lessons.

Her literary hero is J. K. Rowling, whom she greatly admires for her perseverance and journey to success. Burnett firmly believes that success cannot come without struggle and that there is no gain without pain. When she writes, she enters what she calls “The Medium,” a space where inspiration flows freely. Often, she does not know where her stories originate—perhaps she is merely a conduit or catalyst. She can write for hours without pause, only to later look at her work in awe, as if discovering it for the first time. Writing in “The Medium” has made her a stronger writer and a better person.

The greatest compliment she has received is being called well-written, well-read, and well-spoken. Literacy is not just a passion for her; it defines her.

Her crowning achievement is the publication of her first novel, In the Medium, in 2012. Next to having her two children, this stands as her proudest moment. Originally written as a memoir to honor her late best friend, who lost her battle with cancer in 2011, the novel evolved into a rich, textured story about life, death, and the in-between—the great divide that ultimately unites us all.

As a writer, she has navigated the submission and query process, engaging with multiple publishing houses before ultimately choosing to self-publish In the Medium through iUniverse in 2012. Since its release, she has sold many copies, participated in book signings, and shared her work with countless readers—a dream come true.

In 2024, she published The Witching Hours Lullaby through iUniverse once again. Since its release in September 2024, the novel has taken her on an incredible journey. She has participated in book signings at three Barnes & Noble locations in Virginia, sold numerous copies, received a five-star review and many other positive reviews on Amazon, been approached by CBS Radio, and mentored young, aspiring writers. Her most exciting achievement to date is having The Witching Hours Lullaby sought after for a screenplay adaptation, to be written by a SAG member and potentially sold to Five Minutes More Production Company in Los Angeles (John Sacchi).