PHOTO: D.J. MacHale, acclaimed author and television creator, brings supernatural suspense and rich imagination to stories beloved by readers across the globe.
Award-Winning Creator Of Fantastical Worlds For Young And Young Adult Readers
D.J. MacHale discusses his path from television to bestselling novels, blending suspense, fantasy, and character-driven narratives to engage readers across age groups and mediums with emotional depth and imagination.
D.J. MacHale doesn’t just tell stories—he conjures entire worlds, deftly blending the eerie, the exhilarating and the emotionally resonant into narratives that have captivated generations. Whether penning the iconic Pendragon series or crafting spine-tingling scripts for cult television like Are You Afraid of the Dark?, MacHale proves time and again that he understands what keeps readers and viewers riveted: characters with heart, tension that hums, and stakes that feel real even when the worlds are fantastical.
A master of pacing, MacHale approaches storytelling with the eye of a filmmaker and the soul of a novelist. His tales don’t wait for you to settle in—they pull you in from the first line, carrying you through tightly woven plots and hauntingly atmospheric settings. From the spectral chill of Morpheus Road to the urgent conspiracies of The SYLO Chronicles, he explores not only the supernatural, but also the deeply human: fear, courage, growth, and the search for truth.
Perhaps most compelling is his respect for young readers. His protagonists often stand at the precipice of adolescence, just beginning to glimpse the complexity of the world—and themselves. Through them, MacHale channels stories of self-discovery that resonate far beyond the final page. There is always more than meets the eye in his fiction, a layered depth that reveals itself in time—sometimes only upon rereading years later.
In every medium he touches, D.J. MacHale brings a rare blend of imagination and intention. His creative legacy continues to evolve, fuelled by curiosity, crafted with purpose, and always rooted in the timeless power of a well-told story.
How did your background in film and television influence the way you structure your novels, particularly the Pendragon series?
Whether writing a book, or a screenplay, pacing is key, especially with suspenseful stories. Historically, books weren’t expected to be loaded with drama on every page. Not anymore. Our attention spans are now quite short. Like with TV viewers, it’s imperative to capture a reader from the get-go, and hold them. On screen it’s usually a dramatic or exciting scene right up front. It’s no different with books. You need to grab readers in the first chapter, first page, first LINE or they may not read any further. Then you have to keep the pace up or the book mightbe abandoned as quickly as a viewer flips channels. It’s sad, but a reality. I’ve often read critical reviews of a book where the reviewer disparages the work by saying: “It reads like a screenplay”. I consider that a compliment because writing a screenplay is difficult. You have to convey emotion, character, setting, action all with as few words as possible. That’s a talent, and a skill. If done well it’s the best way to engage modern readers, especially in the genre that I write.
Were there any real-life experiences or emotions that inspired the haunting atmosphere of Morpheus Road?
I grew up in a haunted house. Most of my family members had eerie experiences there, but we didn’t share them until we moved out. I recounted one fairly accurately in Morpheus Road: The Light. I was home alone one night, in my bedroom, playing my guitar along with a record. I heard something outside of my closed door and kept stopping the music to listen. At first there was nothing, but then I heard, clearly, the sound of someone who was sitting outside the door stand up while grazing their back against the door. Then I heard the distinct sound of footsteps walking away, and a big sigh. Yikes. I did what everyone foolishly does in horror movies: I searched the house. That never ends well in fiction. In my case, I checked every possible area where someone could be hiding, but no one was there. I wrote that scene intoThe Light, though I added a frightening climax that didn’t actually happen in real life. I do know that an elderly woman had died in that house, in my room. I’m guessing it was her ghost, and she didn’t appreciate my guitar playing.
You’ve written for many age groups—what do you find most rewarding about writing for middle-grade readers?
With many of my stories, my protagonists are around fourteen years old. I find that age to be ripe for the kinds of stories I like to tell. At that age, you’re able to get around without being tethered to a parent. You’re also beginning to feel as if you’ve got life figured out, which of course you don’t. I’m able to have these characters grow and learn and experience independence for the first time. It’s all about developing self-empowerment and confidence. They’re discovering about life, while simultaneously dealing with whatever frightening nemesis and challenges I put in their way.
With The SYLO Chronicles, you delve into themes of trust and surveillance—what prompted you to explore those ideas?
While my books are written to be easily consumed by younger readers, my themes are often quite mature. There are three entry points into the books. Young readers like the action, the scares, the chases, the suspense. Older readers appreciate the character journeys, plot twists and emotion. More advanced readers recognize and appreciate that there are much larger issues at stake than simply defeating a villain. I love hearing from those who read my books when they were young (er), and then re-read them as adults and are amazed by how much more was going on thematically than they realized the first time through. As much as my books are mostly mainstream storytelling, it’s important to me that I say something that will resonate with people on a more profound level, rather than writing a superficial story that they’ll forget about the moment they’ve finished it.
What advice would you give to other authors looking to create immersive worlds that span multiple books or media formats?
No matter how fantastical the worlds you’re creating may be, you must remember what will resonate most with readers. It’s your characters, and their journeys. That’s where the heart of anygood story is. It’s what will get your readers emotionally involved and keep them turning pages because they’ll want to know what will happen to the characters they’ve invested in. As for creating the worlds themselves, I subscribe to the general cliché’: write what you know. With every unique world I’ve created the jumping off point has always been a place, environment, or location I’m familiar with. I start with a foundation that is real and relatable to readers, then I layer on the incredible elements that come purely from my imagination. That way readers have one foot in reality, while also experiencing something that is anything but. I feel this makes it much easier for readers to envision the unusual worlds I’m describing because it helps to make the unreal seem plausible.
