Michael Verrett

contact information: imaginethatmichaelverrett@gmail.com or http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/michaelverrett

Michael Verrett hails from Morgan City, Louisiana. He grew up in Bayou Vista just blocks away from sugar cane fields and the unhurried Bayou Teche. Here began his familiarity with Louisiana wildlife, the clever telling of a tale and his passion for art and writing. His forte is writing adolescent adventure stories.

His colorful career includes teaching gifted art in the public school system, artist, author/illustrator, retired Homicide Detective, retired army officer, anti-terrorism, and police sketch artist, and guest lecturer. He is a Past-President of the Arts Council of Livingston Parish, a member of the Society of Children Book Writers and Illustrators, and the Denham Springs Fine Art Association.

Michael studied art at LSU, Scottsdale (AZ) Art Institute and the FBI Academy.

and creative writing at the Institute Children's Literature (West Redding, Ct).

His military career took him to Asia, Africa and the Pentagon. While overseas he contributed a weekly cartoon strip titled Army Life to The Desert Voice Magazine. He was awarded the Bronze Star and received numerous other military awards.

His artwork has appeared in advertisements, magazine illustrations, local galleries and murals in regional public schools.

His authored/Illustrated books include: The White Alligator, Joy! Joy! Baseball, The Pinkest Seashell, Galid's Christmas Wish, It Followed Me Home Can I Keep It?, Dogs, Cats, Kids, ETC, The Rhymes of the Greybeard Tree, Cozmo the Elf, Christmas Socks, McSkeeter McNoid, Un-Corked, No Hug for a Kaylea Bug, Up the down Waterfall, Zac Zap and the Great Race, The Day Letter 'A' Ran Away, The Big Blue Slide, and Kingdom of the Pumpkins.

The Young Adult Series:

Wherever the Wind May Blow

Book 1: Homecoming

Book 2: Windswept

Book 3: The Chronicler

Book 4: Navastar

Photos Books

Streets of the Church with Blue Doors (Venice, Italy)

New Orleans Rain (New Orleans, LA)

I Can Count to 12

He has also provided illustrations and material for a dozen more books to include:

LSU Night Before Christmas

The Little Lion and the Mixed-Up Letters

Helen the Un-Chicken Chicken

Monty and Millicent Holiday Tales

As a community volunteer he the recipient of the Crystal Apple award for being the top school volunteer in the East Baton Rouge Parish School system. He is a mentor for the Young Writers Circle and Adult Writers Circle at the Denham Springs/Walker Library and works with a Pilot Literacy Program through LSU. In his 'spare' time he act and sings with Spotlight Theater performing USO Shows for Veterans State-wide.

Michael is married to Melissa Garbarino Verrett of Elton, LA. They have 3 sons, Chris, Brian and Sean. A former resident of Baton Rouge he now resides in Denham Springs, LA.