My name is Michael Purdy, but you may know me by my pen name Colleen Michaels.

You may read my pen name and wonder where it comes from, obviously I’m a man and my pen name is not, so let me explain. My pen name pays homage to my sister. Around the time I needed to come up with a name, I had just returned from my sister’s wedding. Colleen is a nurse at a children’s cancer hospital. It was her decision to have one of her patients in her wedding. It was like “Make a Wish,” because that sick boy was so happy to be a part of my sister’s happy day. He was a trip at the rehearsal and the whole situation was just inspiring. It was then I decided to go with Colleen Michaels. She inspires me and I hope my novels will inspire people to be a little more romantic. So, there you have it, my pen name is a nod to my sister.

Mike Purdy

My favorite storyteller growing up was definitely my grandpa. When I was a kid, my family lived in Europe for a few years. Each summer I would go back to my grandparents house in NY, so I could play little league baseball. My Gramp Man (I was a Batman fan) would go to the Moose/Elk Club to see his buddies. Every once in a while he would take me and it was so much fun listening to him talking about war stories (He’d always say don’t tell your mother). My Gramp Man was a ladies man, an optimist and a man of the people. I truly believe his sometimes crazy, sometimes silly, and sometimes brilliant stories made me the storyteller I am today. Miss you Gramp Man!