Michael Bailey (born February 18, 1979) is an American writer and editor who primarily works with horror and science fiction. His work occasionally blends into other genres such as mystery, western, and thriller, usually with a speculative angle. Most of his fiction and poetry can be categorized as psychological or literary horror. He has authored numerous novels, novellas, novelettes, and fiction & poetry collections.
Some of his writing mentors include Douglas E. Winter, F. Paul Wilson, Gary A. Braunbeck, and the late Jack Ketchum. He pays it forward by mentoring and coaching up-and-coming writers from around the world, and serves as a Senior Editor for an undisclosed publisher where he manages a team of developmental editors.
Along with being the screenwriter for Madness and Writers: The Untold Truth. Maybe?, he runs the small press Written Backwards and publishes anthologies and other unique books, most of which include poetry and illustrations. He also designs covers, provides interior layouts, and edits for various authors.
Personal life
Bailey lives in Costa Rica where he is rebuilding his life after surviving one of the most catastrophic wildfires in California history, which is explored in his memoir Blink (previously known as Seven Minutes). When he is not working on his own projects, he spends his time mentoring and teaching writers how to improve their craft.
Associations
Authors Guild - Active member International Thriller Writers (ITW) - Active Member Horror Writers Association (HWA) – Active member Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA) – Active Member Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association (SFPA) – Active Member
Filmography
Take It to the Grave (2025), Producer Dead Format (forthcoming), Executive Producer Madness and Writers (forthcoming), Producer, Writer
Bibliography
Novels
Palindrome Hannah (2005), illustrated by Michael Ian Bateson Phoenix Rose (2009) Psychotropic Dragon (2021), illustrated by Daniele Serra, Glenn Chadbourne, L.A. Spooner, and Ty Scheuerman Hangtown (2023), illustrated by Mar Garcia Seen In Distant Stars (forthcoming) Esoterica (forthcoming) Sequoia (forthcoming)
Novellas Agatha's Barn (2020), tie-in to Carpenter's Farm by Josh Malerman, illustrated by Glenn Chadbourne A Rose / Arose (2021), later collected in Psychotropic Dragon The Call of the Void (2022), with Erinn L. Kemper Luminescent (forthcoming), with Gene O'Neill From Me Flows What You Call Time (forthcoming)
Novelettes
Our Children, Our Teachers (2018)
Collections
Scales and Petals (2010), with a graphic adaptation by L.A. Spooner Inkblots and Blood Spots (2014), illustrated by Daniele Serra Oversight (2018) The Impossible Weight of Life (2020) Sifting the Ashes (2022), with Marge Simon The Price of Feeling (forthcoming)
Anthologies
Pellucid Lunacy (2010) Chiral Mad (2012), introduction by Thomas F. Monteleone Chiral Mad 2 (2013) The Library of the Dead (2015), illustrated by Gak Chiral Mad 3 (2016), introduction by Chuck Palahniuk You, Human: An Anthology of Dark Science Fiction, (2016), introduction by F. Paul Wilson, illustrated by Orion Zangara and L.A. Spooner Adam's Ladder (2017), co-edited with Darren Speegle Stokercon Anthology (2018), featuring Victor LaValle, Ramsey Campbell, Elizabeth Massie, Craig Engler, Caitlín R. Kiernan, and Sam Weller Chiral Mad 4: An Anthology of Collaborations (2018), co-edited with Lucy A. Snyder, introduction by Gary A. Braunbeck & Janet Harriett Miscreations: Gods, Monstrosities & Other Horrors (2020), co-edited with Doug Murano, introduction by Alma Katsu, illustrated by HagCult Prisms (2021), co-edited with Darren Speegle Chiral Mad 5 (2022), illustrated by Seth Brown Qualia Nous, Vol. 2 (2023), illustrated by Pat R. Steiner Long Division: Stories of Social Decay, Societal Collapse, and Bad Manners (2024), co-edited with Doug Murano Fumptruck: Open Letters, Essays, Fiction, Poetry, Artwork & Other Creations for & Inspired by the 47th President of the Divided States of America (2024), edited by Anonymous You, Human: An Anthology of Dark Science Fiction, Vol. 2, (2025), introduction by Maxwell I. Gold, illustrated by Orion Zangara and L.A. Spooner Silent Nightmares: Haunting Stories to Be Told on the Longest Night of the Year (2026), co-edited with Chuck Palahniuk, illustrated by Orion Zangara The Library of the Undead (forthcoming)
Nonfiction
Righting Writing (2023) Blink (forthcoming)
Young Reader
Ensō (2016), illustrated by L.A. Spooner Forever Velveteen (2025), illustrated by Vincent Chong
Miscellaneous
A Little Aquamarine Book of Agitated Water by William Hope Hodgson (2022), a collection of rare fiction and poetry (editor)
Awards YearTitleAwardResultRef.2006Palindrome HannahIndependent Publisher Book Awards Finalist2010Pellucid LunacyAmerican Book Fest WinnerInternational Book Awards Winner2011Scales and PetalsAmerican Book Fest WinnerInternational Book Awards Winner2012Chiral MadAmerican Book Fest FinalistForeword INDIES Honorable mentionLondon Book Festival WinnerEric Hoffer Book Awards Honorable mentionEric Hoffer Award Grand PrizeShortlistNext Generation Indie Book Awards FinalistThis is Horror Awards' Anthology of the YearRunner-up2013Chiral Mad 2American Book Fest WinnerForeword INDIES FinalistIndependent Publisher Book Awards Winner (Silver)Next Generation Indie Book Awards WinnerInternational Book Awards WinnerParis Book Festival Runner-up"Fireman / Primal Tongue"Bram Stoker Award for Short FictionNominee2014Qualia NousAmerican Book Fest FinalistForeword INDIES Winner (Bronze)Bram Stoker Award for AnthologyNomineeIBPA Book Awards / prev. Benjamin Franklin Awards (Independent Book Publishers Association)Winner (Gold)Independent Publisher Book Awards Winner (Silver)Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist2015The Library of the DeadInternational Book AwardsWinnerBram Stoker Award for AnthologyWinner2016Chiral Mad 3Bram Stoker Award for AnthologyNomineeForeword INDIES FinalistInternational Book Awards WinnerYou, Human: An Anthology of Dark Science FictionIBPA Book Awards / prev. Benjamin Franklin Awards (Independent Book Publishers Association)Winner (Silver)"Time is a Face on the Water"Bram Stoker Award for Short FictionNominee2017Adam's LadderForeword INDIES Finalist“I Will Be the Reflection Until the End”Bram Stoker Award for Short FictionNominee2018Chiral Mad 4Shirley Jackson Award NomineeOur Children, Our TeachersBram Stoker Award for Long FictionNominee2020Agatha's Barn: A Carpenter's Farm StoryShirley Jackson AwardNomineeMiscreations: Gods, Monstrosities & Other HorrorsBram Stoker Award for AnthologyNomineeShirley Jackson AwardNomineeThis is Horror Awards' Anthology of the YearWinner2021 A Rose / Arose (Psychotropic Dragon)Shirley Jackson AwardNomineePsychotropic DragonNational Indie Excellence Awards Finalist-International Book Awards Finalist2022Chiral Mad 5Shirley Jackson Award NomineeForeword INDIES FinalistIndependent Publisher Book Awards Winner (Silver)The BookFest AwardsSecond PlaceSifting the AshesBram Stoker Award for Best Poetry CollectionNomineeThe Elgin Awards (Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association)Nominee2023Righting WritingIndependent Publisher Book Awards Winner (Silver)The BookFest AwardsFirst PlaceEric Hoffer Book Awards FinalistImaginarium Imadjinn AwardsFinalistHangtownThe BookFest AwardsFirst PlaceIBPA Book Awards / prev. Benjamin Franklin Awards (Independent Book Publishers Association)Winner (Silver)Eric Hoffer Book Awards Nominee"Apposite and Opposite"Rhysling Awards NomineeQualia Nous, Vol. 2The BookFest AwardsSecond PlaceInternational Book Awards FinalistNext Generation Indie Book Award FinalistEric Hoffer Book Awards Nominee2024"Divide by Zero"Rhysling Awards NomineeLong Division: Stories of Social Decay, Societal Collapse, and Bad MannersBram Stoker Award for AnthologyNomineeFumptruck: Open Letters, Essays, Fiction, Poetry, Artwork & Other Creations for & Inspired by the 47th President of the Divided States of AmericaForeword INDIES FinalistThe BookFest AwardsFirst PlaceNext Generation Indie Book Award Finalist-National Indie Excellence Awards Finalist-Eric Hoffer Book Awards Nominee2025You, Human: An Anthology of Dark Science Fiction, Vol. 2Foreword INDIES Winner Independent Publisher Book Awards Winner (Gold)National Indie Excellence Awards Finalist-Forever VelveteenEric Hoffer Book Awards Nominee"After the Screaming Stops"Decennalia Expo 1st Place2026"Superposition"Stories of the Quantum Universe micro-fiction competition, Science Gallery London, held in collaboration with the Arthur C. Clark AwardRunner-up
Accolades for works originally published by Michael Bailey Bram Stoker Award (long fiction), Winner – “The Great Pity” by Gary A. Braunbeck (Chiral Mad 2) Bram Stoker Award (short fiction), Nomination – “The Geminis” by John Palisano (Chiral Mad 2) Bram Stoker Award (short fiction), Winner – “Ruminations” by Rena Mason (Qualia Nous) Bram Stoker Award (short fiction), Winner – “The Vaporization Enthalpy of a Peculiar Pakistani Family” by Usman T. Malik (Qualia Nous) Bram Stoker Award (long fiction), Nomination – “Special Collections” by Norman Partridge (The Library of the Dead) Bram Stoker Award (short fiction), Nomination – “A Rift in Reflections” by Hal Bodner (Chiral Mad 3) Bram Stoker Award (long fiction), Nomination – “That Perilous Stuff” by Scott Edelman (Chiral Mad 3) Bram Stoker Award (long fiction), Nomination – “Faking it Until Forever Comes” by Scott Edelman (Liars, Fakers, and the Dead Who Eat Them) Bram Stoker Award (long fiction), Nomination – “The Jupiter Drop” by Josh Malerman (You, Human) Bram Stoker Award (short fiction), Winner – “One Last Transformation” by Josh Malerman (Miscreations: Gods, Monstrosities & Other Horrors) Bram Stoker Award (short fiction), Winner – “Versus Versus” by Laird Barron (Long Division: Stories of Social Decay, Societal Collapse, and Bad Manners, co-edited with Doug Murano)
Nebula Award, Nomination – “The Vaporization Enthalpy of a Peculiar Pakistani Family” by Usman T. Malik (Qualia Nous) Rhysling Award (short poem), Winner “Shutdown” by Marge Simon (Qualia Nous) Rhysling Award (short poem), Nomination - “Dark Neighborhood” by Cindy O’Quinn (Chiral Mad 5) Rhysling Award (short poem), Nomination - “Seasonal Meat” by Jamal Hodge (Chiral Mad 5) Rhysling Award (short poem), Nomination - “Me” by Jamal Hodge (Qualia Nous, Vol. 2) The Best Horror of the Year, Vol. 5 included “Some Pictures in an Album” by Gary McMahon (Chiral Mad, 2011) Year’s Best Dark Fantasy & Horror: 2018 included “Swift to Chase” by Laird Barron (Adam’s Ladder, 2017) The Best Horror of the Year, Vol. 11 included “Golden Sun” by Richard Thomas, Kristi DeMeester, Damien Angelica Walters & Michael Wehunt (Chiral Mad 4)
Publications
Long Fiction
The Trial Chair (2010), later collected in Scales and Petals Dandelion Clocks (2014), later collected in Inkblots and Blood Spots SAD Face (2018), later collected in Oversight Darkroom (2018), later collected in Oversight Our Children, Our Teachers (2018) Articles of Teleforce (2018), Fantastic Tales of Terror, later collected in The Price of Feeling Somnambulism / I Summon Lambs (2021), later collected in Psychotropic Dragon Invisible Library (forthcoming)
Short Fiction
"Unstitched Love" (2006), Something Weird, Australia; 2012, Something Wicked Anthology, Vol. 1 (South Africa) "Defenestrate" (2007), In Bad Dreams - Vol. 1: Where Real Life Awaits (Sweden) "Without Face" (2008), Something Wicked, Issue 6 (South Africa) "The Dying Gaul" (2010), The Phantom Queen Awakes (Sweden) "Golden Rule" (2010) "Wilted Flowers" (2010) "The Girl in the Red Flower Pattern Dress" (2010) "Empty Canvas" (2010) "Portrayal" (2010) "Yellow" (2010) "Small Print / Pylon" (2010) "I Wanted Black" (2010), Pellucid Lunacy "Plasty" (2010) "Habit" (2010)