Interview With Author Michael Grimes
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Michael is a student, teacher, and writer. A father of two angels and a lover of humanity and nature. He’s an energy worker and light sherpa. Playful and childish, wise and mature. A space holder and community builder. A philosopher and spiritual seeker who’s grounded in reality. He’s high vibrational vibes. He skis big mountains and rides big waves. A musician and gardener. A creator. He’s authentic and real, and works to improve himself and the world around him. He’s flawed. But growing every day.
Michael became deeply committed to his personal journey after intense experiences led to his first awakening in his early 20’s. He solidified a foundation of self-development and spirituality that supported him in creating the life of his dreams. After a few years of travel, he landed in San Diego, where he started a family before co-founding and co-directing a revolutionary, self-discovery-based charter school. He now facilitates moments of revelation and joy while supporting people of all ages to remember who they truly are and live fully alive.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
High on Being: A Trail Guide to Living Fully Alive
I was living the life of my dreams. I lived on the beach with my beautiful wife and two angels of daughters, and served as CEO of the revolutionary charter school I co-found. I was thriving, living fully alive.
Then, my dad was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer, I walked away from the school, and my marriage started to fall apart.
My wife moved out on the same day as my dad’s funeral.
In a year’s span, I went from the highest peak I’d ever stood to the deepest valley I’d ever fallen.
I doubled down on my self work and spiritual practice and tried every healing modality I could find. I spend a lot of time in nature. Slowly I rebuilt.
I went from working 80 hours a week with the school to chilling with my daughters on the beach. The differences between doing and being became apparent. As did the work I needed to do in order to truly BE. It was an intense period with a lot of alone time exploring the depths of both my being and reality.
As I worked through these layers of life, I wrote.
“High on Being” is my trail guide from the valley back to the summit.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
None of it’s unusual to me.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
There’s so many but a few of the big ones are Kerouac, Thoreau, Tolle, Yogananda, and Krishnamurti.
What are you working on now?
I’m editing my first book, America’s Awakening, preparing for it to be re-released.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing.
What are you reading now?
The Keys of Enoch
What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep writing and sharing. After re-releasing America’s Awakening I plan to publish my kids books, polish my novel, and finish writing “A Middle School Teachers Guide to Live”.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I’d bring a pen and paper and write a few books.
Author Websites and Profiles
Michael Grimes’s Social Media Links