MICHAEL PHELPS

A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, served in the United States Air Force Military Police - Combat Defense Forces  during the Viet Nam war.  I am happily divorced (at least I hope my former wife is, I did not deserve her in the first place). I split my time between New York City and Miami, Florida with my faithful German Shepherd, Rico der Hunter III.

I have lived a loonngg and complicated life; I've traveled each and every highway, and many byways. I've stumbled, even fallen down a few times, but I've always been able to pick myself up, dust myself off and start all over again. I can say, with all humility, I DID IT MY WAY!

I co-authored "DAVID JANSSEN-MY FUGITIVE" with Ellie Janssen, the late actor's first wife.  The book was published in December of 1994 in Hardcover by Lifetime Books of Hollywood, Florida. Paperback Editions were released in 1995, 1996 & 1997. Combined world-wide sales exceeded 2 million copies.  With the moderate success of this book, I decided to utilize my experience as Chief Investigator for a Coral Gables, Florida Law firm, specializing in criminal defense, and write crime novels based on actual cases.  I enjoy writing and hope to refine my skills to reach the point my writing can pay the bills.

My debute novel, "THE EXECUTION OF JUSTICE" is based on the brutal murder of a close friend and one-time mentor of mine, Detective Sergeant Jack R. Ohrberg, Robbery & Homicide Unit of the Indianapolis Police Department.  In this novel, I created the "Mike Walsh Detective Novels" series.  This novel is unlike most detective novels in that I have made a concious efort to provide my readers with an insight to the personal, as well as professinal lives of and sacrifices made by the dedicated men and women who serve and protect their communities.  "THE EXECUTION OF JUSTICE" is available in Hardcover and E-Book Editions.

"THE JOCKEY'S JUSTICE" is based on an actual murder case I worked on for the Law firm.  A winning and respected horse racing jockey is murdered on the last day of the racing season in a small Kentucky town.  Eight years later, his widow, son-in-law and her nephew are charged with the crime. Chief Investigator Mike Walsh and his assistant, Rosa Cabillo are dispatched to Kentucky to investigate the cold case, and uncover evidence proving their clients' innocence.  There is plenty of action as the reader is taken on a roller-coaster ride into the sleazy underbelly of the fast and colorful sport of horse racing. "THE JOCKEY'S JUSTICE" is available in E-Book Edition through Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble NOOK, Sony e-Reader, Apple iPod, iPad and iPhone, KOBO E-Books and Copia E-Books.  I am completing my second book, a Memoir; "DAVID JANSSEN-Our Conversations".  I have been urged and inspired by a few of David's close friends and many, many of his loyal fans to write this book.  I relate hundreds of conversations between Dave and me over the last fifteen years of his life.  Topics include his career, his alleged womanizing, his drinking habits (of which I shared for a time), his relationships with his mother Berneice, his step-father Eugene Janssen, his sisters Teri and Jill, his marriage to and bitter divorce from Ellie, his relationships with Ellie's daughters Kathy and Diane, many of Hollywood's top Producers, Directors, Writers and many of the "A" List Stars with whom he worked.  The TWO women whom he truly loved (and lost), Actress SUZANNE PLESHETTE and Award Winning Singer/Songwriter CAROL CONNORS.  His marriage to, volatile relationship with and planned divorce from Dani Greco Janssen.  "DAVID JANSSEN-Our Conversations" will be released first in E-Book format, followed with a Limited Hardcover Edition in 2013.

Writers I enjoy and who have an impact on me are PATRICIA CORNWELL, JOHN GRISHAM, SUE GRAFTON, JOHN SANDFORD, NORA ROBERTS, JANET EVANOVICH, JAMES PATTERSON, MICHAEL BALKIND, MICHAEL BERISH,  JAMES ANDERSON, REBECCA STROUD, REBECCA FORSTER, JUDITH McDOWELL, and many more.