Michelle Schusterman - Ghostwriter
Dallas, TX, USA
Author and ghostwriter of over a dozen middle grade and young adult novels.
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Overview
I'm the author of the I HEART BAND! series and THE KAT SINCLAIR FILES series, OLIVE AND THE BACKSTAGE GHOST (Booklist Starred Review), SPELL & SPINDLE (Kirkus Starred Review, Junior Library Guild Selection, SECRETS OF TOPSEA (Junior Library Guild Selection, and THE PROS OF CONS (Publisher's Weekly Starred Review). I also wrote three books in the ANIMAL JAM series (Call of the Alphas, The Phantom's Secret, The Lost Treasure) based on National Geographic's popular online game with over 65 million registered users, and the fourth book in the New York Times Bestselling GIRLS WHO CODE series, Spotlight on Coding Club. My books have been published by Penguin Random House, Disney Hyperion, and Scholastic.
As an author with experience both writing my own original fiction and working with publishers on licensed properties and in-house projects, I have a unique perspective on ghostwriting. Working with clients like Girls Who Code and National Geographic on developing books for kids has helped me hone my collaborative skills, as well as my ability to take materials, sketches, and suggestions from a client and craft a story that fits their vision. And as the author of over a dozen original novels of my own, I understand how messy, exciting, and frustrating that early "idea" stage can be. While every client is different, my approach usually begins with a discussion about their vision for the project and a close review of any and all materials already written. Next, I craft a detailed synopsis that hits all the major plot points and send it to the client for review. Once I've received feedback, I begin writing the draft. That said, I'm very flexible and happy to accommodate your needs!
As an author with experience both writing my own original fiction and working with publishers on licensed properties and in-house projects, I have a unique perspective on ghostwriting. Working with clients like Girls Who Code and National Geographic on developing books for kids has helped me hone my collaborative skills, as well as my ability to take materials, sketches, and suggestions from a client and craft a story that fits their vision. And as the author of over a dozen original novels of my own, I understand how messy, exciting, and frustrating that early "idea" stage can be. While every client is different, my approach usually begins with a discussion about their vision for the project and a close review of any and all materials already written. Next, I craft a detailed synopsis that hits all the major plot points and send it to the client for review. Once I've received feedback, I begin writing the draft. That said, I'm very flexible and happy to accommodate your needs!
Services
Languages
English (US)
Fiction
Adventure
Children's - Middle Grade
Fantasy
Horror
LGBTQ
Urban Fantasy
Young Adult & Teen
Awards
- Junior Library Guild Selection
- ALA Rainbow List
Work experience
Author
Penguin Random House
January, 2013
–
Present
(over 6 years)
My first two series, I HEART BAND! and THE KAT SINCLAIR FILES, were published through Penguin's Grosset & Dunlap imprint. Since then, I have worked with the imprint on in-house licensed projects. Under the pseudonym Ellis Byrd, I wrote three of the four books in the ANIMAL JAM series based off National Geographic's popular online game with over 65 million registered users. Using an expansive bible filled with information about the characters and world of the game, I worked with my editors at Penguin and NatGeo to develop fun adventure chapter books aimed at children ages 8-12. I also wrote SPOTLIGHT ON CODING CLUB, the fourth book in the New York Times Bestselling Girls Who Code series. In addition to a series bible, I read the first three books before conceptualizing the next book, which was from a new character's perspective. I worked closely with my Penguin editors and Girls Who Code advisors to weave fun, accurate coding prompts into the story.
Portfolio (16 selected works)
Spell and Spindle
Michelle Schusterman
Doll Bones meets Splendors and Glooms as a boy trades bodies with a wooden marionette.The Museum of Peculiar Arts holds many oddities--a mechanical heart, a diary bound in its owner's skin . . . and Penny, a child-size marionette who almost looks alive. Fog clouds Penny's memories from before the museum, but she catches glimpses here and there: a stage, deep red curtains, long-fingered hands g... read more
Olive and the Backstage Ghost
Michelle Schusterman
A ghost story with a literary heart for fans of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline and The Graveyard Book. Theater kids and ghost-story readers alike will find new meaning in the term stage fright. All great theaters have their ghosts. . . . After Olive Preiss freezes during a theater camp audition, she flees in despair. She finds herself at Maudeville, a beautiful old theater that she’s never noticed bef... read more
The Pros of Cons
Alison Cherry, Lindsay Ribar, Michelle Schusterman
Drummer Phoebe Byrd prides herself on being one of the guys, and she's ready to prove it by kicking all their butts in the snare solo competition at the Indoor Percussion Association Convention.Writer Vanessa Montoya-O'Callaghan has been looking forward to the WTFcon for months. Not just because of the panels and fanfiction readings but because WTFcon is where she'll finally meet Soleil, her i... read more
Spotlight on Coding Club! #4 (Girls Who Code)
Michelle Schusterman
Perfect for fans of The Babysitters Club and anyone interested in computer science, this series is published in partnership with the organization Girls Who Code!It's almost time for the talent show at school, and Erin couldn't be more excited. It's her time to take center stage! Plus, she and her friends from coding club are putting together an awesome coding program for the show. But Erin has... read more
A Friendly Town That's Almost Always by the Ocean! (Secrets of Topsea)
Kir Fox, M. Shelley Coats
Welcome to Topsea, the strangest place you'll ever visit. In this town, the coves are bottomless and the pier has no end in sight. There's a high tide and a low tide... and a vanishing tide. Dogs are a myth, but mermaids are totally real. And seaweed is the main ingredient in every meal-watch out, it might just start chewing you back!New kid Davy definitely thinks Topsea is strange. His mom ke... read more
The Extremely High Tide! (Secrets of Topsea)
Kir Fox, M. Shelley Coats
Talise knows more about the ocean than any kid in Topsea. Any adult, too. As the best-and only-bathymetrist in Topsea, Talise is able to predict important things about the sea, like the next tide (Severely Low with a threat of Wildcard) or the arrival of Seaweed Season. What she can't predict, however, are her classmates' behaviors. Sometimes it's as if they're speaking different languages.Whe... read more
Dead Air #1 (The Kat Sinclair Files)
Michelle Schusterman
Kat didn’t believe in ghosts—until she became a teenage ghostbuster. . . When Kat Sinclair’s dad tells her his new job hosting the ghost-hunting TV show Passport to Paranormal means they’ll be living on the road and visiting the world’s most haunted places, Kat packs her bags without a second thought. But her new life as a ghostbuster isn’t as cool as Kat expected. The cast and crew don’t alwa... read more
Graveyard Slot #2 (The Kat Sinclair Files)
Michelle Schusterman
Kat didn’t believe in ghosts—until she became a teenage ghostbuster. . .After a couple months at home dealing with her mother's upcoming wedding and trying on itchy bridesmaid dresses, Kat is more than happy to head off on another ghost-hunting and ghostbusting adventure with her dad—especially since the cast and crew of Passport to Paranormal are headed to Brazil and Argentina, and her new fr... read more
Final Girl #3 (The Kat Sinclair Files)
Michelle Schusterman
Teenage ghostbuster Kat is back, but this time, traveling halfway around the world might not be far away enough to escape from whatever is haunting her! As Passport to Paranormal sets off for Beijing and Seoul, Kat is ready to take her ghostbusting abroad. She hasn't seen the Thing since Argentina, but weird things have been happening ever since. Kat's handwriting is appearing in strange place... read more
I Heart Band #1
Michelle Schusterman
Band Geeks unite in this fresh new middle-grade series by debut author (and former band director) Michelle Schusterman! Holly Mead’s first day of seventh grade isn’t going as planned. Her brother ruins her carefully chosen outfit, she’s almost late, and her new band director has some surprisingly strict rules. Worst of all, it seems like her best friend, Julia, has replaced her with Natasha, t... read more
Friends, Fugues, and Fortune Cookies #2 (I Heart Band)
Michelle Schusterman
Band Geeks unite in this fresh new middle-grade series by debut author (and former band director) Michelle Schusterman! The band’s bake-sale fund-raiser pits the sections against each other, and Holly is positive the brass section will win. After all, the two most competitive kids in band are Holly and Natasha. When Holly hears a rumor that Aaron Cook is going to ask her to the winter dance, s... read more
Sleepovers, Solos, and Sheet Music #3 (I Heart Band)
Michelle Schusterman, Genevieve Kote
Former middle-school band director Michelle Schusterman continues to celebrate the high notes and low notes of middle-school band! The band is off to New Orleans for a competition as well as a bit of sightseeing. But there is all sorts of boy treble in the band this spring. Julia has her first boyfriend, so Holly will have to keep focused to help her friends through their drama AND make sure t... read more
Crushes, Codas, and Corsages #4 (I Heart Band)
Michelle Schusterman
Former band director Michelle Schusterman ends her adorable series about middleschool band geeks with the perfect coda!The band has been preparing for their big regional competition all year and it's time for all of their work to pay off. On top of preparing for competition, Holly is excited to go to the Spring Dance with Owen, but is he still interested after meeting a new girl at art camp ov... read more
Call of the Alphas #1 (Animal Jam)
Ellis Byrd
The first novel in a new fiction series based on the hugely popular online game, Animal Jam, enjoyed by over 65 million users! Learn all about the origin of the Animal Jam home called Jamaa, a lush natural environment, and its brave, adventurous animal leaders called the Alphas.Welcome to Jamaa, a peaceful place full of forests, canyons, and beaches where all kinds of animals have adventures t... read more
Mystery at Mt. Shiveer #3 (Animal Jam)
Ellis Byrd
The third novel in a new fiction series based on the hugely popular online game, Animal Jam, enjoyed by over 65 million users! Learn all about the origin of the Animal Jam home called Jamaa, a lush natural environment, and its brave, adventurous animal leaders called the Alphas.Winter has settled over Jamaa, and the Alphas know the perfect way to celebrate: hosting the first annual Winter Game... read more
The Lost Treasure #4 (Animal Jam)
Ellis Byrd
The fourth novel in a fiction series based on Animal Jam, the popular online game enjoyed by over 65 million users! The adventures continue as the Alphas, brave animal leaders, head out on an exciting and dangerous voyage to find a hidden treasure.When an ancient treasure map is discovered deep in the Chamber of Knowledge, the Alphas set sail to uncover the mystery!But this adventure has its d... read more
Michelle has 1 review
Professionalism
Quality
Value
Communication
Michelle is a gifted writer who was able to take my project and transform it into a page- turning narrative that left me in awe. I can’t say enough about how great my experience with Michelle was, and feel fortunate that she took on my project. She is pleasant to work with, a consummate professional, and completed the job in the agreed timeline. I highly recommend Michelle, and will definitely ...
Read more
Clyde Jones, February 2019
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