AUTHOR: Michael Ringering was born in Alton, IL, and raised in nearby East Alton. When he was in the third grade at East Alton Elementary School, Michael selected Miriam E. Mason's "Broomtail" for a class-assigned book report, and from that moment on, set his sights on wanting to write short stories and other works of fiction. He graduated from East Alton-Wood River High School in 1984, and in 1989 earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Murray State University. Following a 14-year career working in media relations and communications in Major League Baseball, he entered the healthcare industry as a specialty practice administrator. He resides in Southern Illinois with a menagerie of animals.