About

Michael Gene Edwards first picked up his pen to write a mystery thriller far beyond the imagination of a typical ten-year-old. A prolific writer in his youth, he poured his passion to write into books and stories that bent the imagination but never saw the light of day. Until now, that is. From mysteries to mythical tales, Edwards let his writing capture dreams spun from his vivid imagination; that is, until life's realities distracted him from his passion and for a time set him on a different course.

As a youth, Edwards dreamed of becoming a diplomat. Majoring in International Studies, Political Science, History, and German at the University of Idaho, he worked briefly in the U.S. Senate before earning his master’s degree in China Studies from the University of Washington. After working at The Boeing Company for seven years, he took a leave of absence to pursue a Master in Business Administration from the University of Washington. He interned at both the Intel Corporation and Microsoft before joining Deloitte & Touche as a full-time consultant.

Fate nudged Edwards to join the U.S. Department of State as a diplomat in 2004. He served as a consular officer at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, Korea. He worked as a political officer at the U.S. Embassy in Asunción, Paraguay, where he focused on political-military affairs and human rights. As political-economic officer at the U.S. Embassy in Lusaka, Zambia, he focused on issues related to politics, democracy, governance, human rights, labor, and the environment. He is recipient of several Department of State awards.

Edwards never lost his passion for writing and resolved to rekindle the dream. In 2008 he set about moving into writing, a decision that culminated in his retirement from the diplomatic corps and the launch of his writing career in mid-2011. In May 2011 the author published Alexander the Salamander, a children's e-book he co-wrote with his son Alex. His second e-book, Real Dreams:  Thirty Years of Short Stories, is a collection of 15 short stories he wrote been 1981 and 2011. His next book will chronicle his quest to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's tallest mountain, in early 2011.

Edwards writes fiction in the mystery, thriller, science fiction-fantasy genres as well as travel non-fiction. He dusted off reams of books and stories written over the years and will bring many of these stories to life. His diverse background in business, public service, and international affairs influence his writing, as well as travel and other myriad interests.

He is also founder of Brilliance Equity LLC (BE), an investment firm specializing in emerging markets. His books are published by Brilliance Press, a BE subsidiary.

Edwards lives with his wife Jing and son Alex in Bangkok, Thailand. Father and son are actively involved in the Cub Scouts and have been involved in efforts to help those affected by the flooding in Thailand in late 2011. The family enjoys traveling and exploring new cultures.