I have known Michael for about a year and a half now, and have had the pleasure of reading across several of the genres in which he writes. My favorite at the moment is his "Scion" series, although that likely may be because it's the most I've read of his.There are times I really want to pop the main character upside his head - that's how believable he makes his characters seem; they somehow manage to worm their way inside your head and become real to you. They leave you demanding to know more about them. That's the best hallmark of a good writer: one whose stories and characters come alive for you.

I met Michael as a part of a tabletop gaming group. After a few sessions, it was easy to appreciate his wit and attention to the minutia. Having been on the dangerous end of his aggressive gaming methods and roleplaying, I decided to give his Bittergate series a try. I wasn't disappointed. I found the things I appreciated in his gaming flowed effortlessly into his writings. The Bittergate series is an interesting new approach to a often formulaic genre, it puts the fantastic just below the surface of everyday life, as if you could almost catch a glimpse of it if you just glanced a little quicker. I can't really answer this one [which characters are my favorite] until the series is complete. There is something about each character that you can identify with and just as you start to really love or hate one, here comes a new bit of information that makes you reconsider your opinion. Beautifully frustrating and engaging. Now I just need the next book......