Michael Sisti

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

My favorite pastime is playing golf. My most intense interest is helping young people become entrepreneurs and young entrepreneurs become successful. In the past, I have volunteered for Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA), mentoring and lecturing groups of high school teenagers to form companies and market products and services. I also love to cook, creating my own recipes and preparing sit-down dinners for groups up to fifty people.

When and why did you start writing books?

I began writing my first book in 2004. It happened in the middle of a project I was writing as a tribute to my former staff. On a call from an investigative reporter, I learned that I was a person of interest for signing a questionable contract with a state senator that my former employer denied any knowledge of.

What made you decide to tackle writing as a career?

As a child fighting boredom, i developed my creative thinking by observing the activity all around me. This led to writing as part of my career in advertising and public relations. That skill plus the extraordinary experiences I encountered on my journey drove me in that direction.

Which one of your books or characters is your favourite?

My favorite character is the protagonist in my novels, Dave Powers. My favorite book is my most recent award-winner, On the Brink.

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

My first book, Executive Crumple Zone was written as a series of emails and attachments. This was made possible when my former employer neglected to shut down my company email account. The emails created the basis for the story, but developing characters, and creating the plot and storyline was a monumental challenge that resulted in the book winning a major national award.

Who is your favourite author and book?

My favorite author is Pat Conroy who wrote wonderful books. My favorite book is The Old Man and the Sea, which I read as a young boy, making me want to write a book that engaging.

What book are you reading right now?

I read about one book per week, and I am currently reading Matterhorn by Christopher Reich.

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

I have lived an unusual life. By the numbers, I am 84 years old, having raised six children with 12 grandchildren. I have been married twice, spanning 61 years. I have lived in 25 homes in five states. I have traveled to 39 states, 21 countries on five continents. I have founded over 25 companies and worked for at least a dozen more. And I have provided services to over 100 organizations and single practitioners. From that I have accumulated enough material to write scores of novels.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I love physical activity. I have played baseball, softball, football, basketball, handball, hockey, and other team sports. I ski, golf, play tennis, work out, and hike. I love to cook, have done commercial cooking as a volunteer. And at night, I read and watch streaming movies, series, and sports.

Do you have any new books in the works?

I have one manuscript completed, called Bleeding Ink. And a few concepts percolating in my mind. Bleeding Ink is the prequel novel to an exciting TV drama series I am writing with a playwright associate.