M. D. PAYNE
Moonlit pumpkin patch with curling vines and glowing jack-o’-lanterns
New release

When mind-controlling pumpkins invade Little Pine, Adam and his friends have one night to smash the infestation and save the world.

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Cover of Pumpkin Apocalypse by M. D. Payne
Murky illustrated swamp with fog and distant monster silhouettes
World 02

Enter the bookshelf

Welcome to Monster Juice—an offbeat middle-grade series filled with gross-out humor, horror, and adventure.

Cover of Fear the Barfitron, Monster Juice book one
Cover of Fartsunami, Monster Juice book two
Cover of Boogers from Beyond, Monster Juice book three
Cover of Burpstronauts, Monster Juice book four
Cover of Tomb of Brain Ooze, Monster Juice book five
Cover of Zits from Python Pit, Monster Juice book six
Cover of Sickening Secrets from Raven Hill, collecting Monster Juice books one and two
Cover of Stomach-Turning Tales of Terror, collecting Monster Juice books three and four

01 / 08

Fear the Barfitron

Chris discovers that the residents of the retirement home where he volunteers are monsters—and that they need his help in a truly vomit-inducing war.

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World 03

True stories. Strange characters. Big questions.

M. D. Payne’s contributions to the New York Times bestselling Who Was? series.

Cover of What Is the Story of Scooby-Doo?
Cover of Who Is R. L. Stine?
Cover of Who Was Duke Ellington?
Cover of What Is the Story of Captain Kirk?

01 / 04

What Is the Story of Scooby-Doo?

Discover how Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc. gang went from Saturday-morning newcomers to animation icons known around the world.

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Illustrated old laboratory with stitched manuscripts and a restrained electrical arc
World 04

Choose what happens next

Frankenstein: Your Classics. Your Choices.

Explore alternative paths, new characters, surprising twists, and different endings inside Mary Shelley’s classic tale.

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Cover of Frankenstein: Your Classics. Your Choices. by Mary Shelley and M. D. Payne
M. D. Payne seated in an armchair
Meet the author

Stories with laughs, chills, and a little bit of ooze.

M. D. Payne grew up in an Air Force family, moving through 11 homes and filling his childhood with books and presidential facts. His love of Halloween and horror led him to write copy for Goosebumps, create the gross-out horror series Monster Juice, and contribute to the New York Times bestselling Who Was series. A former jazz DJ and radio producer, he brings a love of history, humor, and strange stories to his books. He visits schools in person and virtually to share his enthusiasm for reading and writing, and lives in New Jersey with his wife and two children.

About M. D. Payne
School visits

Bring the strange stories to your school.

A fan of kids, reading, and especially kids who read, M. D. gives presentations on reading and writing to children and teachers alike at numerous schools around the country, and around the world virtually.

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Recommended grade levels: pending

In-person and virtual availability: pending

  • Presentation topics: pending
  • Workshop options: pending
  • Event length: pending

Testimonials

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Educator information download — pending
Contact

Let’s plan something memorable.

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News & events

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