Stephen V. Masse was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He wrote his first practice novel at age 13, handwritten into a school composition book.Educated at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, he studied creative writing, and was author of a weekly newspaper column, "Out of Control." His first novel for children, SHADOW STEALER, was published by Dillon Press in 1988. SHORT CIRCUS (Good Harbor Press, 2010) is his second novel for children. SHORT CIRCUS was awarded a 2012 Pinnacle Achievement Award in Juvenile Fiction.His latest novel for children is THE TASTE OF SNOW (Good Harbor Press, 2011), which was awarded Honorable Mention in the 2011 New England Book Festival, the 2012 New York Book Festival, and the 2012 London Book Festival, and the 2013 Paris Book Festival.In addition to children's books, Masse has written A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW, winner of the Silver Medal in the 2008 Independent Publisher Book Awards, as well as honorable mention in the 2008 New England Book Festival for best books of the holiday season.