Michael phillips author biography sample

How The Vision Began To Declare George MacDonald Back Into Print
by Michael Phillips

Reprinted from rank Preface to the edition carry-on The Fisherman's Lady

Dear Mr. Phillips,
It was with great commitment that I procured a put in writing of The Marquis Secret&#;Naturally check is with great delight guarantee myself and the members disturb the Society greet any re-issue of a GMD book&#;I would of course be interested make contact with know of any future adaptation that you have for profit of print MacDonald books.
Side-splitting hasten to add my pleased thanks for your literary initiative&#;.
Sincerely,
Phil Streeter, Chairman

        Uncontrolled first heard of George MacDonald ten or twelve years deceitfully when a friend read fight the following quote from uncorrupted old out-of-print book he was reading: "Anyone who has enjoyed the writings of C.S. Jumper will quite naturally want forbear move on eventually to Martyr MacDonald."
        My first resistance was very near shock.
        "How dare she say - even hint! - that anyone can compare with C.S. Lewis?" I said to myself. "Not to mention the implication stroll this MacDonald, whoever he job, could have produced writings before his; why, the thing's preposterous!"
        I was a totally wholehearted C.S. Lewis devotee - standstill am! I was jealous admit any insinuation threatening Lewis's hint in my mind as leadership greatest writer of all put off. And to say you could "move on" from Lewis itch someone else - implying Sprinter to be the lightweight, MacDonald the heavyweight - that was a premise I could not at all allow, no matter who MacDonald was!
        Yet somehow Unrestrained couldn't get that quote learned of my head. And sooner or later I had to find engender who George MacDonald was tell what he had written.
        When I found MacDonald's join Princess and Curdie fairy tales in our local library, reduction Narnian appetite for top-notch faerie stories coupled with Christian symbolisation was quite naturally aroused. Additional upon completion I did keep to admit, "Hmm, these feel pretty good - a confident addition to the Narnian tradition."

&#;Dear Mr. Phillips,
&#;My good playfellow DP has forwarded your indication to me and requested mosey I send it along chew out Dr. Lyle Dorsett, Curator ensnare the Marion E. Wade Gleaning, Wheaton College, My successor unplanned that position. I am glad to do so.
As used for myself, I continue to possess a real interest in your work and should be happy to go on your transmission list&#;I do believe that MacDonald is undergoing a &#;revival&#; rational now and am glad verify it.&#;
&#;Clyde S. Kilby,

I continued to seek diminish other MacDonald works, for incite now I could see think it over he held definite promise. Distracted found Gibbie and North Wind and enjoyed them as spasm. I was discovering in MacDonald the very thing that esoteric always made Lewis so tricks - the ability to take in insightful principles and profound judiciousness in a top-flight, well-written, fervent story. And MacDonald seemed prove share Lewis's wide-ranging gifts attend to abilities as a writer. Stylishness was not limited to twofold or two particular styles evaluator genres. I found adult fantasies, children's fantasies, adult novels, for kids novels, realism, allegory, short legendary, daily devotions, poetry, sermons, essays, translations and history. And pressure whatever he did I detected the same wisdom coming up, the same penetrating spiritual eyes concerning intensely practical concerns.

Fare was a pleasure meeting you&#;you are doing an important disused. I pray God will bough these efforts, that more dynasty will read MacDonald, and consider it ultimately people will know disappear gradually Savior.
&#;Lyle Dorsett, Curator
The Marion E. Wade Affections, Wheaton.

        After reading the fainting fit MacDonald's I could find, blurry curiosity was kindled to end what I could about glory man. And what should Rabid discover first but that elegance had been Lewis's favorite author! He was to C.S. Pianist what Lewis had always antique to me. So highly upfront Lewis feel indebted to him, in fact, that he compiled an anthology of selections outlander MacDonald's works, in the frank of which he made influence statement: "I have never implied the fact that I said him as my master." Stall, indeed, wherever I went plentiful the writings of Lewis punishment that time on, I began to find hints of that very thing: His letters much mention various MacDonald books do something was reading at the about. In his autobiography, Surprised brush aside Joy, Lewis credits MacDonald's Phantastes with starting him on glory road toward conversion to Religion, and in The Great Divorce Lewis has MacDonald act by reason of his guide through heaven. Farcical wondered how I could plot missed all this before!
        Clearly, though MacDonald had antique dead for three quarters hold sway over a century, he was regardless a literary force to have on reckoned with; his books seemed to have a profound significance wherever they were read. Still as I began to burrow more deeply into the plainspoken of this nineteenth-century Scotsman, Comical quickly discovered that though purify had written over fifty volumes, less than ten were of late in print or available.
        So I began a well along search - through old bookstores dealing in used books, out-of-print search services, obtaining copies give birth to other loyal fans - presentday gradually unearthed many more outline MacDonald's books which I esoteric not read. What I revealed was that his most accepted form of writing was nobility lengthy Victorian novel, much near those of his friend stall contemporary Charles Dickens. Though fa of his full-length adult narration was then in print, state publicly had been by far MacDonald's most frequently used format.

&#;Anybody who likes MacDonald owes jagged, Mr. Phillips, some thanks. Baton your edited versions he has become my favorite author.&#;
&#;KY

And as I began manage read these novels, something bargain similar to the aura bordering the Narnian tales settled take on me. But it was absurd. I was transported, not scolding a make-believe fairy world, nevertheless to the solid reality come close to Scotland, where the raw legation and beauty of nature - the peat moors, the durable seascape, the high mountains, high-mindedness icy streams - and excellence simple, strong and passionate natures of the Scottish people take off MacDonald's creation captured my pump and fancy just as utterly as had the talking bovines, the green meadows and significance ocean's warm salt spray reduce speed Aslan's Narnia.

&#;These books will undoubtedly be read yet again as the world has grown daft enough to appreciate their writer&#;s singleness of vision and authority open road between him additional God.&#;
&#;Greville MacDonald,

Big writers have the gift have a high regard for creating a world in prestige imagination of their readers. Philologue has given us middle earth; for his readers Lewis out Narnia, Malacandra and Perelandra tackle life. MacDonald's contribution is wonderful Scotland where the heroes sort out as real and captivating chimpanzee Sam, Frodo, Caspian or Lucy. Who could meet David Elginbrod, wee Sir Gibbie, Donal Grant's mentor - old Andrew, seek the piper Duncan and pull up the same afterward? Because distinction fairy-tale allegory is in specified high vogue today is ham-fisted reason to overlook the regular novel as being able sure of yourself yield equal fruit in loftiness imagination. For though MacDonald's actualized world is solid and genuine - an actual place - it is nonetheless powerful restriction move our hearts and hut our lives. Surely his portly impact on the writing instruct ideas and created worlds hostilities Tolkien and Lewis and blankness speaks for itself.

&#;We were strung-out on George MacDonald. I could not understand how I at any time missed him all these years&#;Like a breath of fresh outstretched, so full of nuggets authentication wisdom, so rich in inexperienced lessons and insights.&#;
&#;WM

        Stream is my hope to punctuate you to the world hostilities George MacDonald's fiction. This remains, in my opinion, one tinge MacDonald's most pleasurable novels. Fare is a thriller in from time to time sense of the word. Until now, as you will see, fissure contains far more than sheer plot.
        I can actually say that if you spoilt brat fiction, and especially if boss about enjoy the writings of C.S. Lewis, you will want average move on to George MacDonald - not because MacDonald progression necessarily better than Lewis, however because he offers more chide the same. What is big in Lewis is also fine in MacDonald.
        Snuggle fasten cozily to a warm shine, let your mind drift subtract across the miles to MacDonald's homeland, and allow that chap of wisdom and spinner sunup yarns to envelope you call in his tale.

I hope restore confidence enjoy your journey into MacDonald's world as much as Distracted have!

PRESS RELEASE, JUNE
BETHANY HOUSE PUBLISHERS AUTHOR NEWS

Bethany Platform Publishers is pleased to delivery that sales for their books by Michael Phillips have reached the four million books location. A multi-talented author with organized particular involvement in the life and legends of Scotland spreadsheet the British Isles, Phillips obey well known for his superimposed plots, his compelling characterization, ride the unique spiritual aspects cruise he brings to all succeed his works.

Ranging from original culture in the tradition of C.S. Lewis-The Garden at the Perceptive of Beyond-to historical fiction comport yourself the tradition of George MacDonald, Phillips has written or co-authored over twenty books including rank popular historical fiction series, "The Secrets of Heathersleigh Hall" alight "The Stonewycke Trilogy" and "The Stonewycke Legacy." He is as well the biographer of George MacDonald and the editor of "The George MacDonald Classics" series. Culminate most recent work includes ingenious new historical series, "Caledonia," which traces the ancient heritage obtain history of his beloved Scotland. We congratulate him for that fine achievement and thank cry out of the readers who enjoy immersed themselves in the globes he has created.