About

Hi, I’m Michael Gardner — though you’ll also see me publishing as M. Gardner for my contemporary work and Michael Chapman for my LDS-themed stories.

I’m 31 years old, living in the same house I grew up in, in Spanish Fork, Utah. I’ve been writing seriously for about ten years now, ever since I picked up Stranger in a Strange Land and felt something shift inside me. That book moved me so deeply that I decided I wanted to write stories that could do the same for other people — stories that make you think, feel, and maybe even see the world a little differently.

I mostly write Christian Fiction and Science Fantasy, often with some horror elements mixed in. I love exploring faith, resilience, what it means to be human (or not quite human), and the messy, beautiful struggle of trying to do what’s right when everything’s falling apart. So far I’ve written six books. One is published, three are currently out looking for publishers, and I’m actively working on two more while drafting a seventh. Balancing all of that with my night job as a Direct Support Manager keeps life pretty full — but I wouldn’t trade it.

My biggest dreams right now are pretty straightforward: I want to become a full-time author so I can pour everything I have into writing the stories that matter to me, and I hope to meet the right girl someday — someone I can build a life with and eventually take to the temple. Both of those goals feel far off some days, but I keep showing up and doing the work anyway.

When I’m not writing or working, you’ll usually find me listening to music (I’m a big fan of the Blues, Metal, and Plunderphonics) or watching movies. I love comedies that make me laugh until it hurts and slashers — the gorier, the better. I’m also a true-believing member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and my faith deeply shapes both my life and my storytelling.

Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the internet. Whether you’re here because you’ve read one of my books, you’re thinking about picking one up, or you’re just curious about the guy behind the stories — I’m glad you’re here. Feel free to reach out, say hello, or tell me what kind of stories you love. I’m always happy to talk books.

— Michael