In this episode of Coaching KidLit, host Sharon Skinner welcomes Matt McMann, USA Today bestselling author of the middle grade spooky mystery series Monsterious. Matt shares his unique writing journey—from winning school writing contests as a kid, to a long career as a musician, and finally returning to writing with encouragement and guidance from his wife, bestselling author Lisa McMann.

Matt discusses the ups and downs of his path to publication, including multiple book rejections before finding success with Monsterious. He explains the difference between dynamic, static, and anthology series and why he chose the anthology format for his books, allowing each story to feature different characters and monsters. Matt emphasizes the importance of perseverance and ongoing practice in developing writing craft.

Visit Matt online at mattmcmann.com, and follow him on Instagram @matt_mcmann