D.J. MacHale
Encyclopedia
Donald James MacHale known popularly under the pen name D. J. MacHale, is a writer, director, and executive producer. He has been affiliated with shows such as Are You Afraid of the Dark?
, Flight 29 Down
and Seasonal Differences. MacHale is also the author of the popular young adult book series, Pendragon
and Morpheus Road
.
. During his time at Greenwich High School
, he reportedly had multiple part-time jobs including washing dishes at a steakhouse and was on two sports teams (football and track).
Upon graduation, MacHale attended New York University
and got a BFA in film production. He never enjoyed writing until college, where his screenwriting teacher (Pat Cooper
) changed his outlook.
for his series Chris Cross
and the Gemini Award
for Are you Afraid of the Dark?.
MacHale won a Cableace nomination for The Tale of Cutter's Treasure, a Gemini nomination for The tale of the Dangerous Soup, a Writer's Guild of America nomination and a Director's Guild of America nomination for his popular kids TV Series, Flight 29 Down, and a Cableace nomination for Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective, a book series.
include:
Are You Afraid of the Dark?
Are You Afraid of the Dark? may refer to:* Are You Afraid of the Dark?, a 1992 television series* Are You Afraid of the Dark? , a 2004 novel by Sidney Sheldon...
, Flight 29 Down
Flight 29 Down
Flight 29 Down is a television series about a group of teenagers who are stranded on an island. It was produced by Discovery Kids. The show was created by Stan Rogow and D. J. MacHale . The executive producers are Rogow, MacHale, Shauna Shapiro Jackson, and Gina & Rann Watumull...
and Seasonal Differences. MacHale is also the author of the popular young adult book series, Pendragon
The Pendragon Adventure
The Pendragon Adventure is a young adult series of science fiction/fantasy novels by D. J. MacHale. They follow the chronicles of Bobby Pendragon, a teenager who discovers that he, as well as his two best friends, Mark Dimond and Courtney Chetwynde, must prevent the destruction of the universe.The...
and Morpheus Road
Morpheus Road
Morpheus Road is a horror fantasy novel trilogy written by D. J. MacHale. The first book in the series, The Light, was released on April 20, 2010...
.
Early life
MacHale was born on March 11, 1956 in Greenwich, ConnecticutGreenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 61,171. It is home to many hedge funds and other financial service companies. Greenwich is the southernmost and westernmost municipality in Connecticut and is 38+ minutes ...
. During his time at Greenwich High School
Greenwich High School
Greenwich High School is a four-year public high school in Greenwich, Connecticut, United States. The school is part of the Greenwich Public Schools system and serves roughly 2,700 students....
, he reportedly had multiple part-time jobs including washing dishes at a steakhouse and was on two sports teams (football and track).
Upon graduation, MacHale attended New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
and got a BFA in film production. He never enjoyed writing until college, where his screenwriting teacher (Pat Cooper
Pat Cooper
Pat Cooper is an American actor and comedian. Cooper is primarily known for his stand-up routines, where he often makes reference to his Italian heritage from Mola di Bari, Italy...
) changed his outlook.
Awards
MacHale won the CableACE AwardCableACE Award
The CableACE Award was an award that was given from 1978 to 1997 to honor excellence in American cable television programming...
for his series Chris Cross
Chris Cross (TV series)
Chris Cross was a children's sitcom co-produced by Central TV and Cinar, in association with Showtime, in 1993. Based in an English boarding school, it dealt with the transition from single to mixed-sex, and the rivalry between two male characters. It was filmed on location at Thoresby Hall,...
and the Gemini Award
Gemini Award
The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
for Are you Afraid of the Dark?.
MacHale won a Cableace nomination for The Tale of Cutter's Treasure, a Gemini nomination for The tale of the Dangerous Soup, a Writer's Guild of America nomination and a Director's Guild of America nomination for his popular kids TV Series, Flight 29 Down, and a Cableace nomination for Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective, a book series.
Future
The books to be published under a new agreement with Simon & SchusterSimon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
include:
- The Equinox Curiosity Shop is an action-oriented fantasy series for younger middle-grade readers set to launch in Fall 2009, which is about a toy shop that comes to life twice a year.
- The Morpheus Road Trilogy was launched on April 20, 2010. The first book in the trilogy is called "The Light". It is about a teenage boy who is haunted by ghosts. The second book in the trilogy is named "The Black". The title of the third book is "The Blood".
- The Monster Princess is MacHale's first picture book and features an ugly monster girl who lives in a cave beneath a castle and longs to become a beautiful princess.
Finished Works
- ABC Afterschool SpecialABC Afterschool SpecialThe ABC Afterschool Special is an American television anthology series that aired on ABC from 1972 to 1996, usually in the late afternoon on week days. Most of the episodes were dramatic presentations of situations, often controversial, of interest to children and teenagers. Several episodes were...
(TV Series) - Are You Afraid of the Dark?Are You Afraid of the Dark?Are You Afraid of the Dark? may refer to:* Are You Afraid of the Dark?, a 1992 television series* Are You Afraid of the Dark? , a 2004 novel by Sidney Sheldon...
(TV Series) - The Tale of Cutter's Treasure (Movie)
- The Tale of the Dangerous Soup (Movie)
- Tower of TerrorTower of TerrorTower of Terror may refer to:* The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, an accelerated freefall ride located in many Disney theme parks** Tower of Terror , a TV movie based on the Disney attraction...
(Movie) - Flight 29 DownFlight 29 DownFlight 29 Down is a television series about a group of teenagers who are stranded on an island. It was produced by Discovery Kids. The show was created by Stan Rogow and D. J. MacHale . The executive producers are Rogow, MacHale, Shauna Shapiro Jackson, and Gina & Rann Watumull...
(TV Series) - Seasonal Differences (TV Series)
- GhostwriterGhostwriter (TV series)Ghostwriter is an American television program created by Liz Nelson and produced by the Children's Television Workshop and BBC One. It began airing on PBS on October 4, 1992, and the final episode aired on February 13, 1995...
(TV Series) - Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective (Movie Series)
- PendragonThe Pendragon AdventureThe Pendragon Adventure is a young adult series of science fiction/fantasy novels by D. J. MacHale. They follow the chronicles of Bobby Pendragon, a teenager who discovers that he, as well as his two best friends, Mark Dimond and Courtney Chetwynde, must prevent the destruction of the universe.The...
: Journal of an Adventure Through Time and Space (Book Series) - East of the Sun and West of the MoonEast of the Sun and West of the MoonEast of the Sun and West of the Moon is a Norwegian folk tale.East of the Sun and West of the Moon was collected by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe...
(Penned Adaptation) - Chris CrossChris Cross (TV series)Chris Cross was a children's sitcom co-produced by Central TV and Cinar, in association with Showtime, in 1993. Based in an English boarding school, it dealt with the transition from single to mixed-sex, and the rivalry between two male characters. It was filmed on location at Thoresby Hall,...
(TV Series) - Morpheus RoadMorpheus RoadMorpheus Road is a horror fantasy novel trilogy written by D. J. MacHale. The first book in the series, The Light, was released on April 20, 2010...
Trilogy (Book Series) - The Monster Princess (Picture Book)