E.J. Sterling writes “dark-ish” fiction for young readers who live at the edge of wonder and fear, blending folklore, emotional realism, and gentle horror to explore what it means to grow up in a world without easy answers. A lifelong educator and school administrator, he draws deeply from decades spent listening to the stories children tell about the things that unsettle them. His protagonists are often observant outsiders—kids who notice what others dismiss and learn that courage isn’t loud, but persistent.

Shaped by Mexican and Irish folklore traditions and by years living across the American landscape, Sterling builds fictional worlds rooted in regional legend and hidden histories. He is the creator of The Museum of Monsterology, a middle-grade series following young “monsterologist” Maddie Miller as she navigates supernatural encounters alongside grief and friendship. The first volume was named Middle Grade Runner-Up in the 2025 Book Pipeline Unpublished Competition. Sterling lives in New Mexico with his family, where the stories are still big enough to cast long shadows.