Welcome fellow Spooky Enthusiasts!
I am the author of two Spooky Middle Grade horror/comic/fantasies published by Crown Books for Young Readers. My debut novel, Dr. Fell and the Playground of Doom, was named an Editor’s Pick by Amazon, won the Silver Falchion Award for Best YA/Tween Horror or Fantasy of 2017, and was a Semifinalist for Best Middle Grade/Children’s Book in the 2016 Goodreads Choice Awards. My second book, Beyond the Doors, was published in August, 2017
Critical Praise for Dr. Fell and the Playground of Doom
“Such deliciously creepy fun! I fell in love with Dr. Fell! So will urchins and whippersnappers everywhere.” – Chris Grabenstein, author of the New York Times bestsellers Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library and The Island of Dr. Libris.
“Recommended for school libraries that need to breathe life into their traditional mystery collections.” – School Library Journal
“Deliciously dark, funny, and foreboding, Neilsen’s first novel delivers with broad appeal.” – Booklist
Critical Praise for Beyond the Doors
“The supporting characters broaden into an array of delightful slapstick caricatures with punch lines galore, the settings are bold and elaborately arranged, and the story is cinematically told.” – Booklist
“The characters are well developed, the plot intriguing, and the pace well suited to middle grade readers. Minor characters add realism as well as laughs… An entertaining romp.” – School Library Journal
Before turning to slightly-creepy children’s literature, I spent a dozen years working as a writer in Hollywood, culminating in optioning a pilot to 20th Century Fox (that went nowhere), and penning the screenplay for the Straight-to-DVD film “The Eliminator” (rent it, I dare you).
I’m also a classically trained actor and work as a professional storyteller based in Sleepy Hollow, NY. I spend much of October spooking the bejeebers out of people or performing one of his one-man shows based on and inspired by the works of H. P. Lovecraft. I live with my wife, son, daughter, and two very domineering cats.
You can learn more about me, including information on my school visits, on my website. https://david-neilsen.com/.
Or just email me with your thoughts, questions, comments, and observations!
Spooky Middle Grade 