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Author Biography

Michael C. Duell was born in the autumn of 1973, and grew up in Canton, Ohio, home of the 25th President of the United States, William McKinley, and also the Professional Football Hall of Fame.

Michael's older brother, Mark, raised the academic bar high for him. Mark was his class's valedictorian, selected into Phi Beta Kappa, graduated with honors from college, and attained the top position in Honda of America's legal department a few years after law school. Michael's academic career started off with more of a whimper than a bang until he had the opportunity to see President Jimmy Carter at the Canton/Akron Airport during his re-election campaign in 1980. The moment profoundly impacted Michael, who quickly became obsessed with history and politics. The experience would propel him into the top echelon of his class and prove to be the seeds of his teaching career in both secondary and post-secondary education.

Michael's faith journey is deeply rooted in his time spent with his grandfather, Edward E. Brock, Jr., in rural Indiana. Michael's grandfather was the pastor of the historic Otterbein Methodist Church, founded by a circuit rider preacher in 1881. As a result of his extended summer visits at his grandparents' home, and his frequent talks with his grandfather, Michael experienced a "childhood conversion." Michael has noted that he regrets that he has no memory of his decision to become a Christian, but is thankful that he cannot recall a time in his life when he did not know Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

Michael's walk with Christ has evolved and matured over the years. During his high school years, he frequently contributed many lay sermons at John Knox Presbyterian Church. Michael continued to grow in his faith and understanding through his college church, New Life Church. Also, while a student at The Ohio State University, Michael attended the first Veritas Forum to follow the inaugural event at Harvard, which focused on the public discourse between believing and non-believing scholars discussing matters of philosophy, faith and science, and other popular topics in apologetics (a rational defense of the Christian faith). Michael soon learned that apologetics could be a great evangelistic tool to help lead some to Jesus who needed to understand before they could believe.

During his time at The Ohio State University, Michael started to focus more on his writing, and, like his life altering encounter with President Carter, Michael met J. Michael Straczynski, creator and writer of the television sci-fi show, Babylon 5, at a convention in Columbus, Ohio. JMS stressed the vital (and seemingly obvious) importance of a writer who actually writes, and doesn't just talk about it. Straczynski's no nonsense approach and respect for the craft of writing inspired Michael to write.

In 1998, Michael decided to pursue a Master of Divinity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where he was the recipient of the Billy Graham Scholarship and a finalist for Sandy Ford Evangelism Award from Leighton Ford Ministries in 1999. The experience not only fueled his desire to reach others for Christ, but also opened his eyes to life in a different region of the country where God was not always present or welcome (e.g. Salem and Cambridge). The Rocky Raccoon Revival is based largely upon his experiences along the North Shore of Massachusetts.

Following his time at Gordon-Conwell, Michael returned to The Ohio State University to earn his Master of Education. It was Michael's intention to pursue a career in Christian education. Michael has served as an instructor at both the secondary and post-secondary level. His stated goal is to follow in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis, and be a Christian educator and writer, utilizing both callings to fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus Christ.

Michael and Lisa married in 2002. Lisa and Michael reside in north central Indiana and have three children.