Thanks to the Lassen-Modoc Adult Education Block Grant, nationally known author Ben Mikaelsen will make three appearances in Susanville on October 17th, to share his adventures, his inspirations and his methods for researching and writing award-winning novels. Mikaelsen will speak to students at Diamond view Wednesday afternoon, with two presentations later that day at Lassen College.
The two sessions in Middleton Hall are open to the public and will begin at 4:00 and 6:30p.m.
Mikaelsen, is winner of the International Reading Association Award and the Western Writer’s Golden Spur Award. His novels have been nominated to and have won many State Readers Choice awards.
These novels include Rescue Josh McGuire, Sparrow Hawk Red, Stranded, Countdown, Petey, Touching Spirit Bear, Red Midnight, Tree Girl and Ghost of Spirit Bear.
According to Lassen College Director of Library and Academic Resources Shar Murphy, Mikaelsen’s novels, Rescue Josh McGuire, Petey and Touching Spirit Bear, have been optioned for screen production. His articles and photos appear in numerous magazines around the world and he has been featured on national TV with Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures.
“Ben is known for his in-depth research and the magical worlds he creates. His research has included flying to the North Pole, going undercover with narcotics agents, living with the homeless in Mexico and with the Massai in Africa, riding a horse across the United States from Minnesota to Oregon, boating the length of Mississippi, driving overland from Montana to the tip of South America (the Terra Del Fuego), over 1000 parachute jumps and racing sled dogs in Northern Minnesota.”
Ben lives in a log cabin near Bozeman, Montana, with his wife Connie and a 700-pound black bear that he saved from a research facility and has raised for over twenty five years.
