Shelby Van Pelt at a Glance

Full Name: Shelby Van Pelt

Pronunciation: SHEL-bee van PELT

Nationality: United States

Education:

• Claremont McKenna College (Politics, Philosophy, Economics)

Genres:

• Humorous fiction

Biography & Background

Shelby Van Pelt Biography

A native of the Pacific Northwest, Shelby Van Pelt graduated from Claremont McKenna College with a varied education in philosophy, politics, and economics. Long before she considered writing a novel, she worked as a consultant for almost 10 years. After moving away from her beloved home in Tacoma, Washington, her interests shifted toward writing. Although her debut novel, Remarkably Bright Creatures enjoyed near-instant success upon publication in 2022, her writing process began years earlier when she spontaneously researched octopuses out of idle curiosity.

This interest led to a moment of inspiration during a writing class, when the instructor challenged everyone to write a scene from an unusual point of view. In this moment, the rudiments of Van Pelt’s eight-legged protagonist, Marcellus, was born. Over the years, she continued developing the story of an octopus in captivity who observes the quirks and foibles of the humans nearby. Upon publication, Remarkably Bright Creatures garnered considerable recognition, selling over 2 million copies and spending over a year on the New York Times Hardcover Bestseller list. Van Pelt currently lives near Chicago with her husband, children, and several cats.

Fun Facts About Shelby Van Pelt

• Once source of inspiration for Marcellus was a video of a captive octopus that was trying to escape its enclosure.
• Tova, the main human character in Remarkably Bright Creatures, is loosely based upon Van Pelt’s grandmother, a strong-willed Swedish woman.
• As an avid reader, Van Pelt found herself particularly inspired by successful authors like Zadie Smith, Kazuo Ishiguro, John Irving, and Dave Eggers.

Shelby Van Pelt’s Awards & Honors

• 2023 — Heartland Prize for Fiction (Remarkably Bright Creatures)
• 2023 — McLaughlin-Esstman-Stearns First Novel Prize (Remarkably Bright Creatures)

Interviews & Podcasts

Hear from Shelby Van Pelt in her own words.

Interviews with Shelby Van Pelt

_{LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY}

Interview with an Author: Shelby Van Pelt (June 23, 2022)

In this engaging look at creativity, persistence, and unexpected inspiration, Van Pelt shares how a spontaneous writing exercise led to the creation of Marcellus the octopus and recounts the long road to publishing her debut novel.

_{PBS BOOKS}

Author Talk: Shelby Van Pelt (September 13, 2023)

This interview highlights Van Pelt’s perspective on family, loneliness, and healing, and how those themes shape Remarkably Bright Creatures. A touching reflection on how fiction can build empathy.

_{HYPERTEXT MAGAZINE}

Cephalopod Channeling: An Interview with Shelby Van Pelt (May 12, 2022)

Van Pelt discusses the literary and personal influences behind her debut, including the role of humor, the value of unconventional narrators, and the emotion that defines her work.

Podcasts with Shelby Van Pelt

_{THE BOOK CASE}

Shelby Van Pelt Makes Her Debut (February 6, 2022)

This podcast episode is an insightful introduction to Van Pelt’s voice and storytelling vision. Conversation topics include Van Pelt’s unusual writing journey, the process of balancing multiple voices, and why she chose an octopus to narrate part of her novel.

Shelby Van Pelt Quotes

Humans… For the most part you are dull and blundering. But occasionally you can be remarkably bright creatures.

— Remarkably Bright Creatures (2022)

When I choose to hear, I hear everything. I can tell when the tide is turning to ebb, outside the prison walls, based on the tone of the water crashing against the rocks. When I choose to see, my vision is precise. I can tell which particular human has touched the glass of my tank by the fingerprints left behind.

— Remarkably Bright Creatures (2022)

Ah, to be a human, for whom bliss can be achieved by mere ignorance! Here, in the kingdom of animals, ignorance is dangerous. The poor herring dropped into the tank lacks any awareness of the shark lurking below. Ask the herring whether what he doesn’t know can hurt him.

— Remarkably Bright Creatures (2022)

My death is imminent. But I am not dead yet.

— Remarkably Bright Creatures (2022)

Secrets are everywhere. Some humans are crammed full of them. How do they not explode? It seems to be a hallmark of the human species: abysmal communication skills. Not that any other species are much better, mind you, but even a herring can tell which way the school it belongs to is turning and follow accordingly. Why can humans not use their millions of words to simply tell one another what they desire?

— Remarkably Bright Creatures (2022)

Notable Books by Shelby Van Pelt

Shelby Van Pelt has published one novel to date, alongside several acclaimed short stories and flash fiction.

“The Carnival Fish” (2019)

This 500-word flash fiction piece was shortlisted in the Furious Fiction contest hosted by the Australian Writer’s Centre. Short, surreal, and poignant, it captures the playful, observant tone that would come to define Van Pelt’s later novel.

“Bratwursted” (2020)

This is a short story published in Funny Pearls, which platforms humor written by women. The story follows Ben, a recently divorced man attending an experimental rock concert with his much younger girlfriend, Hailey. The night takes a turn when Ben suffers the indignity of being hit with a flying bratwurst.

“Lessons Learned from a Year Listening to the Fictional Octopus in My Head” (2022)

In this essay, Van Pelt reflects on her writing journey while creating Remarkably Bright Creatures. She discusses devising Marcellus, the novel’s octopus narrator, and shares how his perspective helped her explore themes of communication, honesty, and unlikely friendships.

Authors Like Shelby Van Pelt

Elizabeth Berg

Recommended Read: The Story of Arthur Truluv (2017)

This tender novel follows a widower who forms unlikely friendships that reshape his life. Like Van Pelt, Berg blends intergenerational connection, loss, and renewal with quiet humor and grace.

Explore the full breakdown with SuperSummary’s study guide.

Richard Bach

Recommended Read: Jonathan Livingston Seagull (1970)

Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a philosophical fable about a seagull pursuing transcendence through flight. Like Remarkably Bright Creatures, this book features a nonhuman protagonist and explores the beauty of self-discovery.

Uncover more with SuperSummary’s study guide.

Jack London

Recommended Read: White Fang (1906)

Told largely from the perspective of a wolfdog, White Fang delves into themes of survival, adaptability, and the animal-human bond. Fans of Marcellus the octopus may enjoy London’s blend of animal intelligence and emotional resonance.

Ready to dig in? Check out SuperSummary’s study guide.

Follow Shelby Van Pelt

Connect with Shelby Van Pelt on the following platforms:

• Author Website: shelbyvanpelt.com
• Instagram: @shelbyvanpeltwrites
• Threads: @shelbyvanpeltwrites
• Bluesky: @shelbyvanpelt.bluesky.social
• Substack: Shelby’s Substack