Michael Norman

Michael Norman is a writer and retired college journalism professor who makes his home in the Minneapolis/​St. Paul region.

He is the co-author with the late Beth Scott of the popular Haunted America series of true ghost stories including, most recently, HAUNTED HOMELAND, released in 2006 by Forge Books/​Tom Doherty Associates, and now available in a paperback edition. Norman and Scott’s earlier collaborations include HAUNTED HERITAGE, HISTORIC HAUNTED AMERICA, HAUNTED AMERICA, HAUNTED HEARTLAND and HAUNTED WISCONSIN.

Michael is also the co-author with writer Carol Roecklein of two vocabulary books written for ages 12 and up: WORDWISE, VOCABULARY GUIDES TO ENHANCE YOUR REAL-WORLD CONVERSATIONS. Both are published by MindWare, a leading distributor of educational materials. The books can be ordered directly from the publisher at www.mindwareonline.com.

As a playwright, Michael has written several plays, including Entering the Circle: The Lives of Pioneer Farm Women for the Wisconsin Sesquicentennial with support from a grant by the National Endowment for the Humanities. The play used diaries, memoirs, letters and other reminiscences to tell the story of rural women Midwestern farm women. He also wrote Nye and Riley Tonight!, based on the nineteenth century lyceum programs of Indiana poet James Whitcomb Riley and humorist Edgar Wilson “Bill” Nye.

For nearly thirty years, he taught journalism and mass communications at the University of Wisconsin - River Falls.

His newest book, THE NEARLY DEPARTED: Minnesota Ghost Stories & Legends, is now available from the Minnesota Historical Society Press.

Michael Norman is available for appearances and book signings. Contact him at: jmichaelnorman@​msn.com.