Mel Glenn has written numerous books of poetry about sports, religion, the state of society, and his Brooklyn neighborhood. He has also published 12 books for young adults, including Jump Ball (Dutton Books for Young Readers, 1997), Split Image (HarperTeen, 2002), and Who Killed Mr. Chippendale? (Puffin Books, 1999), which was nominated for the Edgar Allen Poe Mystery Award.
Mel retired from the New York City public school system in 2001, after teaching high school English for 34 years. He now devotes his time to writing, reading, and watching sports, while also teaching his fellow retirees about writing essays, fiction, memoirs, and poetry in classes hosted by his union, the United Federation of Teachers.
Mel lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Elyse, a retired elementary school teacher, devoted birdwatcher, and fellow world-traveler. One of his sons, Jonathan, is a television news executive, while the other, Andrew, is a technology whiz.
In early 2023, Mel was thrilled to welcome his first grandson, Casey, into the world. There is no truth to the rumor that he was named after the quintessential baseball poem, “Casey at the Bat.” Two years later, Mel was just as exhilarated by the birth of his first granddaughter, Reese. She was born in the spring—just in time for baseball season.
Paperback: 98 pages
Publisher: Kelsay Books (August 5, 2025)