Michael Bailey

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 Horror Writers Association (HWA) – Active member Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA) – Not currently active Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association (SFPA) – Not currently active

Filmography

Take It to the Grave (2025), Producer Dead Format (forthcoming), Executive Producer Madness and Writers (forthcoming), Producer, Writer