J. C. Michaels
J. C. Michaels grew up in Denver, Colorado in a second generation family of immigrants from Southern Italy. Growing up in a strongly Catholic tradition, he was constantly challenged to consider the larger issues of meaning, purpose, and knowledge. This led to a life long interest in philosophy and the use of writing as a means of giving aesthetic expression to great ideas. His broad liberal arts education includes significant work in mathematics, physics, and philosophy; a degree in piano performance from the University of Colorado, a Masters in Cognitive Science from Boston University, and course work in intellectual history and cultural studies from the New School for Social Research. He has balanced his intellectual pursuits by working for ten years as a professional river guide, leading trips for a variety of clients from those interested in adrenaline filled rapids to family trips on more quiet waters. He has taught whitewater skills to the U.S. Army, worked for a time in the rain forests of Indonesia, and taken a solo three week river trip down the Grand Canyon. His first novel, Firebelly, will be published in at least eight languages. He is currently working a large fictional tetralogy that revolves around the question of what a dying man in the 21st century can learn from the last days of the Republic of Venice and the Empire of Byzantium. When he is not working as a writer, he develops educational software. Michaels currently lives near Boston, Massachusetts.

Author Website:
www.philograph.com