Michael R. French - Author

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Michael R. French has authored 23 published titles, including fiction, biographies, adaptations, art criticism and children’s  books, over a 30-year career.  French’s work has been warmly reviewed in the New York Times and been honored with several literary prizes. 

His first love, adult and young adult fiction, tackles diverse subjects from the world of horse racing to politics, focusing on characters as much as a page-turning plot.  His novel, Abingdon's, was a bestseller and a Literary Guild Alternate Selection. His young adult novel, Pursuit, was awarded the California Young Reader Medal.  He has also co-written two screenplays for Amazon Prime.

Receiving his Bachelor of Arts in English from Stanford University, he focused on creative writing and studied under Wallace Stegner. He received a Master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University.  He later served in the United States Army before marrying Patricia Goodkind, an educator and entrepreneur, and starting a family. Working under his wife, Patricia, ten years ago they created a non-profit foundation, Dollar4Schools, which continues  helping support  Santa Fe public schools and its  teachers.  

An avid trekker and traveler to developing countries, French loves diving and snorkeling, and for the last decade began studying  endangered marine and land mammals.   He believes climate change is currently the world’s greatest long-term problem.

He and  Patricia divide their time between Santa Barbara, California, and Santa Fe, New Mexico.