Michael Merriam was born in Flint, Michigan, in 1965. He spent most of his life in west-central Oklahoma and north Texas before moving to Minnesota in 1999.
Like most writers, Michael has done a variety of odd jobs over the years: actor, poet, late night disc jockey, short order cook, bassist in a rock-a-billy band, and booking agent for a puppet troupe. Michael is legally blind due to retinitis pigmentosa, and started writing seriously in 2002.
He has published three novels, two short story collections, four single-title novellas, a poetry collection, and over 90 pieces of short fiction and poetry. He has edited three anthologies. His novella, Should We Drown in Feathered Sleep, was long-listed for the Nebula Award in 2010, and his novel, Last Car to Annwn Station was named a Top Book in 2011 by Readings in Lesbian & Bisexual Women’s Fiction. Also a working actor and storyteller, he has appeared on stage in the Minnesota Fringe Festival, Tellebration!, StoryFest Minnesota, Story SlamMN, and over the air on KFAI Community Radio and Minnesota Public Radio
Michael is Organizer Emeritus of the Minnesota Speculative Fiction Writers, as well as a member of The Outer Alliance, The SteamPunk Artists and Writers Guild, and Story Arts Minnesota.
Michael lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with his wife and two very bouncy cats: a Norwegian Forest Cat named Belyn and a Tabby named Llyr.
Michael Merriam can be contacted at mmerriam@gmail.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PRAISE FOR MICHAEL’S WORK:
“Should We Drown in Feathered Sleep is a moving novella full of deep, emotional imagery and transcendent beauty. It is easily one of the top five stories I have read all year.” – Kenneth Mark Hoover, author of Haxan
“Last Car to Annwn Station is one of the top books in 2011.” — Readings in Lesbian & Bisexual Women’s Fiction.
“…Merriam has a sure touch for the voice of young protagonists.”
-The Fix Short Fiction Review
“Michael’s dry and wry sense of humor shines…” – Conrad Zero
“One of the hardest-working men in short fiction.” — Scott Lynch, World Fantasy Award-nominated author of The Lies of Locke Lamora
“Michael is one of the hardest-working, most prolific and most dedicated writers I know. His stories have both craft and heart, making it no surprise that his list of publications is ever-growing. I look forward to saying that I knew him when…” — Jaye Lawrence, author of “Kissing Frogs,” nominated for the James Tiptree, Jr. Award for Short Fiction
