His philosophy is the result of recovering from trauma experienced as a child and young man, including forced committal to a psychiatric hospital. To take back control of his mind he began a long, intense and often painful search for understanding of how the universe works. The search included a degree in physics and a journey into the Andes to find a secret monastery.

Michael believes we all have a hibernating memory of what existence is about, who we really are and why we're here. His interest is in how to wake that memory, and with it the creative powers inherent in us all. He believes there is immense peace and joy in that waking. From one of his fictional characters: "Through many lifetimes your mind has nurtured a desire to re-connect with your expanded self, like a carefully tended ember in the deepest recess of the cave. Now it's time to bring the ember forward and blow on it."

He is a consultant in executive presence, presentation skills and news media skills, specializing in how to handle difficult public issues. He was a reporter, director and presenter of news and current affairs programs for Television New Zealand and has also worked on secondment to the BBC.

He is married with four children and lives in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Other interests:
Quantum physics; mountain hiking; chess; piano; flying; sailing; scuba diving; dancing; do-it-yourself home renovations; psychology (and the powerful influence of the conscious mind on the engine room of the subconscious).

Publications
Novels: The Weaver's Apprentice, Finding the Field, The Idiot Played Rachmaninov Travel books: The Weaver and the Abbey. The Taming of the Crew. Training resource books: Media Easy and Speaking Easy (Media Associates).

Academic
B.Sc. (Hons) degree in Physics; post-graduate Dip Journalism; Dip Teaching; Coastal Yachtmaster; Ocean Yachtmaster (Navigation).