January 9, 2009

 Author's
 Lounge

 Bookstore
 Home
     Book Display
   Author Display
     Contact Author

 Search

 Browse

 Bookstore
 FAQs

Michael Merrett

Author’s Extended Bio: Michael Merrett is a former insurance professional and enjoyed a part time career as both a newspaper columnist and marching percussion instructor/arranger. He was born in Gary, Indiana but has lived the majority of his life in the Boston area. Some of his newspaper columns have been reprinted for inspirational use by teacher’s unions and parents groups throughout the North Shore of Massachusetts. He is the eighth child in a family of 13. He remains very close to each of his siblings and remains devoted to his parent’s core values which in essence begin with the notion that while we are all imperfect beings, as humans we are here to help one another, not hurt one another. He is a product of 12 years of parochial schooling prior to attending college. He remains steadfast in his belief that a higher being does in fact exist; he denounces most man-made religions and those who exploit society’s most vulnerable for their own monetary gain. Mr. Merrett has traveled extensively, including recent trips to Hong Kong, Thailand, Ireland, Germany, Canada and the Caribbean. These experiences have greatly enriched his views on international affairs and have also influenced his writing techniques. He was involved with the marching musical activity for 28 years, first as a snare drummer, then an instructor and he served as a member of the Mass. Judges Association for four years. He was forced to relinquish his judging cards due to his failing vision. Some of the marching musical units he has been involved with such as the North Star and Malden Diplomats have enjoyed tremendous competitive success throughout North America in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. He first attempted to pursue a career in journalism in 1978 when he was inducted into the United States Army as a journalism/photography candidate. He was forced to end that pursuit when he was unable to pass the military’s strict eye exams. He is currently a member of the Lion’s Clubs International which focuses its efforts on assisting those with visual difficulties. He has also been heavily involved in fundraising efforts for the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Mr. Merrett ran for political office in 1989 but was unsuccessful in a hotly contested race involving eight candidates. He is an avid outdoorsman and has enjoyed years of downhill skiing and white water rafting. He enjoys hiking and camping and has climbed Mount Washington in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. His first book was a memoir which chronicled the experiences of Mike and his brothers as they forge ahead while contending with vision loss. His second offering, “The F.O.G.” represents his first journey into fiction. It is an ambitious story of a man bent on forcing humanity to change its course. Early reviews have called it a “real page turner” and “moving and thought provoking”. His third novel is a venture into the mystifying world of sci-fi. "Plaatu's Return" was inspired by the 1951 script to the movie "The Day the Earth Stood Still." His fourth offering is a collection of opinion/editorial musings and represents a return to his roots as an op/ed columnist. He currently resides in Lakeland, Florida.