The Life of an Emerging Author: Michael Schane

The journey of writing The Boy and The Witch is just as fascinating—if not more so—than the book itself. A story truly comes to life when an author connects with their audience beyond words.

Michael Schane, the creative mind behind The Boy and The Witch, embodies this idea. After a detailed conversation with him, we've crafted this article to highlight how authors are shaped by their experiences, often in environments that are far from inspiring.

Michael Schane is a first-time author, but unlike many who stumble into writing, he always knew he had a way with words. Many writers claim they never planned to become authors—that writing chose them. But Michael's story is different.

In school, a teacher once told him he had a gift for expression. Interestingly, she wasn't referring to his writing but to his acting skills. He had participated in a competition, and his performance left an impression.

At the time, Michael didn't dwell on the compliment. But not long after, he entered a writing competition and secured third place. It was a moment of revelation. He had never considered himself a writer, yet there he was, recognized for his storytelling. His teacher's words echoed in his mind: Maybe she was right—I am good at expressing myself.

Then life happened. School ended. Michael couldn't continue his studies and had to drop out. He started working at a young age and has since built a successful career.

When we asked him how he found his way back to writing, he smiled. The credit goes to my parents, he said. They unknowingly taught me what not to do as a parent.

Michael described his upbringing with a mix of humor and reflection. His parents were what many today would call "cool." As a child, he felt lucky—proud even—to have such relaxed parents. He would boast to his classmates about drinking alcohol with his father and sharing carefree laughs.

But as he grew older, he realized the downside. They blurred the line between being easygoing and being absent, he admitted. His older sister saw it early and left home as soon as she could.

Although Michael maintains a good relationship with his mother and sister, he and his father no longer speak. Those experiences shaped me as a parent, he shared. I'm involved. I've created balance. My children know they have my full support in anything productive, but they also understand the boundaries. Skipping bedtime, excessive screen time, or unhealthy eating have consequences. If they break the rules, they face silence from both parents for days.

When we asked why he chose to write children's books, his face lit up. He was glad we raised the question.

My wonderful children inspired me, he said. I love spending time with them, and bedtime stories became a special ritual. But as they grew, I noticed a painful gap in children's literature. We have plenty of books for toddlers and an abundance of books for teenagers. But what about children aged 8-12? They're too old for simplistic stories and too young for complex fiction. This is a formative stage where every word matters, yet there's a lack of books that build values while still being engaging.

As a concerned parent, he found this frustrating. The market seemed to offer either dry, uninspiring non-fiction or shallow fiction with no moral depth. So he decided to take matters into his own hands.

That's how The Boy and The Witch was born.

The story follows a young boy named Saos, who struggles to connect with his peers. He longs for companionship—someone who understands him. In the most unexpected place, deep within a forest, he finds a Shadow Witch who mirrors his loneliness.

Their bond grows, and through their conversations, Saos learns valuable lessons about friendship. True friendship goes beyond appearances, Michael explained. Color, gender, background—none of it should matter. Real friends stand by each other through everything.

Michael is eagerly anticipating the launch of The Boy and The Witch, and we're just as excited to share this journey with you. It's been a while since a children's book has combined creative storytelling with meaningful life lessons in such a compelling way.

We deeply admire Michael for stepping up—not just as an author, but as a parent—determined to fill the gap in children's literature. He serves as an inspiration to parents who often criticize writers and publishers for allowing shallow books to flood the market yet do little to change the narrative themselves.

Michael is proof that action speaks louder than complaints. If we want our children to grow up with strong values, we can't just blame the world—we have to take responsibility and be part of the solution.