,
Michael Selden

Michael Selden’s Followers (55)

member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
Scott S...
507 books | 276 friends

Jess Yo...
3,031 books | 246 friends

Jaimie ...
677 books | 1,678 friends

Lorna F...
556 books | 27 friends

Edward ...
2,882 books | 106 friends

Saloni
936 books | 415 friends

Candice...
313 books | 172 friends

T.A. Uner
777 books | 4,399 friends

More friends…

Michael Selden

Goodreads Author


Born
in The United States
Website

Twitter

Genre

Influences
Many

Member Since
December 2013


I am a reader and a writer, although I was also a research physicist for about 30 years—believe it or not writing and imagination are almost as important in physics as is an understanding of how the world works, and mathematics.

I've read so many many books I can't possibly remember them all, and I don't really try. I've put a few on my list here, but I had a habit of going on reading binges where I read a book a day. In 2009, for example, I read 220 Young Adult books, most were written by female authors and had a strong female protagonist. I was preparing to write a YA book with a teenage young woman as its main character (The Balance), and I wanted to saturate my brain with how a woman might write the part. I was also conducting flight tes
...more

To ask Michael Selden questions, please sign up.

Popular Answered Questions

Michael Selden There are two things you need to do: Read, Write. It's the only way you get better, and expect that you'll be better in the future. Reading is almost …moreThere are two things you need to do: Read, Write. It's the only way you get better, and expect that you'll be better in the future. Reading is almost as good as writing, especially if you look at a work as a writer, trying to see how the other authors handled things(less)
Michael Selden I don't actually have a list this year. Summer like like it will be a heavy writing period with Part 2 of the Balance Trilogy, and I normally don't re…moreI don't actually have a list this year. Summer like like it will be a heavy writing period with Part 2 of the Balance Trilogy, and I normally don't read a lot of new things while I'm writing. I'll probably re-read a few books from the past.(less)
Average rating: 3.84 · 116 ratings · 44 reviews · 4 distinct works
I AM

3.46 avg rating — 56 ratings3 editions
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Boy Who Ran

4.28 avg rating — 32 ratings — published 2013 — 4 editions
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Balance

3.86 avg rating — 21 ratings — published 2015 — 5 editions
Rate this book
Clear rating
Bosworth

4.86 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2017 — 3 editions
Rate this book
Clear rating

* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

All Books Back

I've republished my books through Amazon, after severing my relationship with Lightning Source.

In addition to the 4 paperbacks and Kindles, all 4 books now have audio editions.

In the meantime, I am actively writing the followup story for The Balance, and am about 60 thousand words into the draft. I anticipate late 2025 for that book's release, but have already created a preliminary cover for the Read more of this blog post »
 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on April 21, 2025 11:20
The Strain
Rate this book
Clear rating

 
The Passage
Michael Selden is currently reading
by Justin Cronin (Goodreads Author)
bookshelves: currently-reading
Rate this book
Clear rating

 

Michael’s Recent Updates

Michael Selden wrote a new blog post

All Books Back

I've republished my books through Amazon, after severing my relationship with Lightning Source.

In addition to the 4 paperbacks and Kindles, all 4 boo Read more of this blog post »
Michael Selden rated a book really liked it
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
Rate this book
Clear rating
A well imagined, thoroughly self consistent story of a girl (High School Junior) making her way through a perilous magic school. There are no teachers, but plenty of motivation to do well in this dangerous school. Naomi Novik creates a character "El" ...more
More of Michael's books…
Quotes by Michael Selden  (?)
Quotes are added by the Goodreads community and are not verified by Goodreads. (Learn more)

“But just being whatever it is that I am . . . I don’t think that makes me a monster. Believe me, I know. ere are plenty of real monsters walking around out there in the world. ey look respectable, but can’t hide who they are from me. Real monsters hurt people for pleasure, or for no reason at all—they’re just not as well armed as I am.”
Michael Selden, The Balance

“A thing is stable until it's not.”
Michael Selden

“A thing is stable until it's not.”
Michael Selden

31471 THE Group for Authors! — 12905 members — last activity Nov 12, 2025 06:41AM
This is a group for authors to discuss their craft, as well as publishing and book marketing.
26989 Goodreads Authors/Readers — 55366 members — last activity 13 minutes ago
This group is dedicated to connecting readers with Goodreads authors. It is divided by genres, and includes folders for writing resources, book websit ...more
154447 Support for Indie Authors — 16582 members — last activity Nov 10, 2025 04:58PM
Officially 15k Members Strong & Climbing!! Building and supporting a community of self-published authors dedicated to both sharing experiences and le ...more
3551 Young Adult Book Reading Challenges — 8280 members — last activity Oct 11, 2025 07:37AM
Welcome to the Young Adult Book Reading Challenges! Welcome everyone who is interested in YA books! We have amazing reading challenges going on all t ...more
71883 Great Middle Grade Reads — 4371 members — last activity Nov 10, 2025 07:27AM
ABOUT THE GROUP Great Middle Grade Reads is here to help you discover new books, discuss favorites, and find like-minded readers. Middle Grade books a ...more
69484 Book Promotions — 2973 members — last activity Nov 10, 2025 07:52PM
Well, it seems there is a group for everything else out there, but not one specifically for promoting books. There are places within groups to do it, ...more
25x33 Sci-fi Women — 1688 members — last activity Jun 13, 2022 03:06PM
A discussion of women in literary science fiction.
111045 Indie Author's Marketplace — 818 members — last activity Nov 11, 2025 03:57AM
We are a team of Indie authors who want to share our books and those we love with you! This group will allow Indie authors of all genres and types to ...more
78579 Young Adult Contemporary Romance — 4424 members — last activity Feb 27, 2025 11:49PM
"I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once-John Green...The Fault In Our Stars “The best love is the kind that awakens the ...more
220 Goodreads Librarians Group — 299659 members — last activity 1 minute ago
Goodreads Librarians are volunteers who help ensure the accuracy of information about books and authors in the Goodreads' catalog. The Goodreads Libra ...more
More of Michael’s groups…
Comments (showing 1-1)    post a comment »
dateDown arrow    newest »

Michael Selden My reading pace slowed tis past month, between entertaining guests, building and stocking a greenhouse,a and a myriad of other physical activities I've been mostly falling asleep from exhaustion before reading for a while

Still reading The Calling (Louise White), close to finishing and will report. I also added Wonder (R.J. Palacio) and The Devil's Backbone (written by James Babb, a fellow winner of an IPPY award for juvenile fiction). Also added some non-fiction, but I won't expound on this since Fiction Rules.


back to top