Carolyn Keene
Pseudonym of Mike McQuay
House pseudonym.<br> Carolyn Keene is the named author of all works in series featuring girl detectives Nancy Drew (, 1930 to present) and The Dana Girls (1934 to 1979). The Stratemeyer Syndicate and its successors have hired writers to share the pseudonym Carolyn Keene. For <a href="https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?3117809">The Kachina Doll Mystery</a> (1981), US Copyright record TX0000826697 states in part: <b>Title</b> The Kachina doll mystery / by Carolyn Keene [pseud.] ; illustrated by Paul Frame. <b>Copyright Claimant</b> Stratemeyer Syndicate <b>Authorship on Application</b> Stratemeyer Syndicate, employer for hire. Edward Stratemeyer outlined several Nancy Drew mysteries in 1929 and hired Mildred Wirt Benson, who wrote 23 of the first 30 volumes. His daughter Harriet Stratemeyer Adams wrote many, revised all the early volumes, and directed the entire effort through the 1970s. Leslie McFarlane (main early author of ), Benson, and Adams wrote all the Dana Girls volumes. Others who have written Nancy Drew stories include: through the 1970s and ; 1979 to 1985, Nancy Axelrad, , Mike McQuay, ; after 1985, , , .