Michael Ray King grew up in the small West Virginia town of Dunbar, located just outside the capitol city of Charleston. He is the third of four children, with two older and one younger sister.

 

His two older sisters were bound and determined that he would not have trouble in school and purchased flash cards, drilling him in academics each day, while his younger sister became his confidant and playmate. The aggressive teaching tactics worked as evidenced by his high aptitude in math and language.

 

As a teenager, Mike spent years shooting hoops, delivering newspapers in the early morning and reading. Being an avid science fiction buff, Mike read every Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein and Isaac Assimov book he could get his hands on. His love for the Dr. Who and Star Trek adventure series on television continues to this day.

 

At seventeen, he and his younger sister Nancy stepped off a plane on their first international adventure to the Panama Canal Zone. He recorded this adventure in prose and poetry. In 2006 Michael was commissioned to write an inspirational book for Mrs. Josie Garcia, president and founder of the Joy & Care Giving Foundation. JCGF is a 501-(c)3 non-profit organization that is building much needed schools and libraries in the impoverished Philippines, Mrs. Garcia's native country. Mrs. Garcia flew Michael and several others connected with JCGF to the Phillipines to observe first-hand the plight of the Filipino people, specifically the children and the scarcity of schools. He is currently working on this book and plans to fly back with Mrs. Garcia in the winter of 2008 to Manila to meet with President Gloria Arroyo. The meeting with President Arroyo is intended to help garner publicity here in the United States for Mrs. Garcia's charity so that more schools can be built. JCGF's first school, St. Anthony's Development and Learning Center, opened in June 2006.

 

In undergraduate school, a talented English Composition teacher, Pat Urbas, recognized Mike's ability and encouraged him to make writing a vocation. This planted a seed of hope and desire to one day become a successful, published author. However, like most of us Mike laid this dream aside to deal with the reality of acquiring and maintaining a consistently paying job.

 

Mike's dream came off its shelf quite unexpectedly in November 1999 when he was hospitalized with peritonitis and nearly died on the operating table in Deland, Florida. During his three month recovery, he vowed to pursue his writing dream and began the process of learning the ins-and-outs of the writing life- a process that continues to this day.

 

Delighting in his wife, Bobbie, and six children, Mike began pursuing his writing dream actively. First he joined the Professional Writers of St. Augustine. This generous group of compatriots led him into the world of writing. Wide-eyed and astonished with the complexity of a writing career, Mike credits this group of friends with teaching him the reality of a writer's life. One of these friends, Mr. Rik Feeney, is credited with 'leap-frogging me years ahead of where I would have been had I traveled this road alone,' says Mike. In April 2007, Mike gathered a group of six writers together and formed the writer's group 'The Legare Gang.' This intimate little group is dynamic and beginning to win awards and get stories published. Their first book, Writing is Easy, is expected to be published Spring 2010 (it is published and available here at ClearView Press, Inc.).

In May, 2007, Mike and Bobbie co-founded ClearView Press, Inc. Learning the publishing side of writing has been and continues to be an exciting and challenging part of their busy lives. As they move forward with new books, they wear many hats - author, publisher and marketer/promoter.

 

In this first of what will be many publications, Michael Ray King makes his debut with one of his favorite subjects, Fatherhood 101: Bonding Tips for Building Loving Relationships. The opportunity to help other men learn what it means to be a solid, caring father is his top priority. Through books, white papers, pamphlets, speaking engagements and consulting, Michael hopes to have a positive impact on the lives of fathers and their children.

 

One of Michael's dreams is to one day return to the mountains he loves and continue to write in the two areas he enjoys the most: fatherhood and fiction.

 

Visit Michael's blogspot here!

 

Follow Michael on Twitter

 

Michael may be contacted at michaelrayking.com

 

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• Fatherhood 101
• Loves Lost and Found
• Poetry in Black and White

 

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