Michael Anthony

Tell us a little bit about yourself, your hobbies and interests.

Michael Anthony is the author of the graphic memoir Just Another Meat-Eating Dirtbag: A Memoir, and the award-winning and acclaimed memoirs: Civilianized: A Young Veteran’s Memoir, and Mass Casualties: A Young Medic’s True Story of Death, Deception, and Dishonor in Iraq. Michael’s writing has been called “strong … and starkly honest…”-Publisher’s Weekly, “Dark Humored,” –Kirkus, “smart and mordantly funny,” –Milwaukee Journal, and “gut punching…”–Mary Roach. He has appeared in several anthologies, and has written for The Washington Post, Business Insider, Signature-Reads, and The Good Men Project, where he served for a year as chief editor of the War & Veterans section. He has been featured in several documentaries regarding military service, philosophy, and comedy, and he has worked as a military consultant for award-winning theater and art installations. A graduate of Bridgewater State University, Michael also holds an MFA in creative writing from Lesley University. A former US army soldier, he currently lives with his wife in Massachusetts and spends his free time working with veterans. Michael can be reached through his website: MichaelAnthonyAuthor.com

When and why did you start writing books?

I've been writing books ever since I was a kid. My first book I wrote when I was, maybe, 13.

What made you decide to tackle writing as a career?

I've always loved reading and writing and it's always just felt natural to write stories so the pursuit of an audience for those stories was also a natural fit.

Which one of your books or characters is your favourite?

I write memoir, so the stories are all based on me, so I guess my main character is always my favorite, and least favorite, character.

Which one of your books was the hardest to write and stretched you the most as a writer?

My newest book, "Just Another Meat-Eating Dirtbag," because it was a graphic memoir (meaning memoir in graphic novel form) and it was a far cry from my usual prose writing; took a lot of growing as a person and writer.

Who is your favourite author and book?

E. M. Remarque and "All Quiet on the Western Front," it's the most beautiful book I've ever read.

What book are you reading right now?

Scars and Stripes by Tim Kennedy

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

I don't know if I can say I get "inspiration" from any specific space/area, the ideas just come to me and whatever I think would be the most fun to pursue and play with is the one I work on.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Reading, Writing, Basketball, Paintball, spending time with family and friends.

Do you have any new books in the works?

Always working on a new project, sometimes two or three at a time.