Raised in the deserts of California, just miles from the Mexican border, Michael grew up with plenty of time on his hands. There wasn't much to do in his hometown, so he filled his days with sports and imaginative play. The weather made year-round adventures possible—except during the scorching summers, when video games and books expanded his imagination in new ways.

In grade school, Michael wrote his first story and sold it to his great-grandfather for a dollar. From that moment on, writing became his passion. The works of Tolkien and Lewis, along with Dahl and Silverstein, drew him into a world of wonder and creativity.

Michael believes creativity has the power to inspire real change and reveal beauty in a world that is often confusing and dark. That is why he writes: to pass on the inspiration he has received to those who dare to dream of a better world—one where evil is overcome, humanity is restored, and the song of nature rings out in harmony.