D.J. MacHale

D.J. MacHale is an accomplished American author, renowned for his work in children's and young adult fantasy and horror novels. Born on March 11, 1955, in Greenwich, Connecticut, MacHale grew up in a humble background, working various jobs such as collecting eggs at a poultry farm, cleaning dishes in a steakhouse, and engraving sports trophies. He pursued his passion for filmmaking at New York University, where he earned his BFA in film production. It was during his time at NYU that a screenwriting teacher inspired him to embrace writing, which would later become his successful career.

MacHale began his filmmaking career in New York, working as a freelance writer and director, creating corporate videos and television commercials. He later transitioned to writing for ABC Afterschool Specials, which marked his entry into the entertainment industry. His big break came when he co-created the popular Nickelodeon series Are You Afraid of the Dark?, which he produced for eight years, writing and directing many of its 91 episodes. His work on the series earned him a CableAce nomination for the episode The Tale of Cutter's Treasure. MacHale also received a Gemini award nomination for directing The Tale of the Dangerous Soup.

In addition to his work in television, MacHale is a prolific author with numerous bestselling book series to his name. His Pendragon series, a set of young adult adventures, has gained significant popularity and is planned to span ten books. He has also penned other successful series, including Morpheus Road and The SYLO Chronicles. His works are not limited to these series, as he has also written standalone books such as The Library, The Equinox Curiosity Shop, and The Monster Princess.

MacHale currently resides in Southern California with his wife, Evangeline, and daughter, Keaton. They share their home with a Golden Retriever named Maggie and a Kitten named Kaboodle. When he is not writing, MacHale enjoys spending time with his family, engaging in outdoor activities such as backpacking, scuba diving, and skiing.