Michael Schellenberg
"...a rare combination of deep industry expertise and entrepreneurial spirit."
He is an expert at extracting your story, adhering to the classic three-act structure, except when experimentation and play takes over.
Michael Schellenberg is a versatile and accomplished writer, editor, and communicator whose career is defined by a rare combination of deep industry expertise and an entrepreneurial spirit. He has built a reputation on his ability to connect with people, understand their motivations, and help them articulate their stories, whether in a bestselling novel, a community-building initiative, or a personal memoir. His professional journey has spanned the realms of traditional publishing, the evolving world of digital media, and the personal mission of mental health advocacy.
Michael’s foundation is rooted in a passion for literature, which he cultivated through a Master’s Degree in Canadian Comparative Literature from the University of Sherbrooke and a BA in English from the University of Winnipeg. He began his professional life as a Developmental Editor at John Wiley and Sons, Publishing. Here, he specialized in adapting US business textbooks for the Canadian market—a period he fondly refers to as his “MBA years” for the rigorous, hands-on experience it provided in content management and project execution.
After attending the Simon Fraser Publishing Program, he moved from educational to trade publishing. As a Senior Editor at Penguin Canada for five years, he sharpened his editorial instincts and began to build the extensive network of contacts that would become a hallmark of his career. It was at Penguin that he acquired Will Ferguson's Generica, which would be retitled Happiness ™ and be published in 22 languages. After acquiring Margaret Macmillan's Paris 1919 for Penguin, he was hired as Associate Publisher at Alfred A. Knopf Canada. For eight years, he was part of one of North America’s most respected imprints, assisting Louise Dennys and Diane Martin in shaping its publishing program and working directly with some of the most celebrated authors in the world. He published a host of literary luminaries such as Miriam Toews, David Mitchell, Tom McCarthy, A.S. Byatt, Philip Pullman, Neil Smith, Joy Kogawa among a multitude of others. The books he worked on not only became bestsellers but also garnered prestigious nominations and awards, including the Man Booker Prize and the Scotiabank Giller Prize, a testament to his keen eye for literary excellence and commercial appeal.
Following his tenure in trade publishing, Michael launched Schellenberg Editing, building a successful freelance career as an editor and consultant. He provides substantive editing for novels and non-fiction works, guiding authors through the crucial stages of manuscript development and connecting them to agents and publishers. This work highlights his key ability to understand what drives people and help them tell their stories in the most concise and powerful way. His consultancy has also pushed into new and innovative areas. He consulted for a company aiming to publish rApps—a new frontier for books and full-length content—and curated an event with authors Doug Coupland and Tom McCarthy, showcasing his ability to blend traditional literary values with modern, engaging programming.
Michael's professional narrative is not confined to the written page. He has applied his talents to a wide range of fields, often at the intersection of art, community, and commerce. As a Board Member and Communications Manager for the Magenta Arts Foundation, he helped secure grants and develop digital content. He also had a stint as a Literature Officer at the Ontario Arts Council, where he learned how to craft an effective application for funding for writers and artists. His work with Monforte Dairy showcased one of his strengths; he was hired by Ruth Klahsen to write a grant application that ultimately won the Ontario Premier's Award for Excellence in Agri-Innovation, which came with a substantial grant that Ruth used to establish a cheesemaking school, which Michael spearheaded. This project highlights his unique ability to drive a project from a grant application to a fully realized community program.
Today, Michael’s career has come full circle, focusing on his own story. He has completed a non-fiction book, At the Laughing Table, a deeply personal investigation into his own bipolar/ manic depressive diagnosis, a one-man show Carried Away: A One-Man Show with a Cast of Thousands. As a speaker, he is now developing speeches that advocate for community and encourages corporations and business leaders to step up, and actually treat their employees with dignity and respect.
An expert in concise expression and a natural storyteller, Michael Schellenberg uses formidable skills to projects that inform, inspire, and connect.
