Featured Interview With Michael Ditchfield
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in northern England where I played professional soccer. I came over to the United States and attended Pennsylvania State University. I wrote my first book here and eventually moved to Denver Colorado where I now reside. I travel around the country speaking about my second book, “Life’s Too Short for Leftovers – 9 Lessons from a Third World Kitchen.” After spending time in Africa I wanted to share with my readers what we can learn from people who are experiencing immense hardship, and how this knowledge can better our own lives, while at the same time helping theirs.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I was 8 years old when I began to explore the world of Beatrix Potter and continued with any author who captured the life and times of Winston Churchill. After college I began to explore my taste for writing and became fascinated with the African people. My first book was published by Simon Schuster on sports, but storytelling about the hardship of these wonderful people in Ethiopia, Rwanda and Sudan became my passion and obsession.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I am drawn to Ruiz and Rumi on a spiritual front and for pleasure I love Peter Mayle and James Herriot. When I was writing my second book, I came across many writers who captured the essence of what it was that I was attempting to emulate. William Easterly and Richard Dowden put the plight and history of Africa into a mesmerizing account of what we can learn and act upon to better this world. I became an extension of connecting the dots through my own experience.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
Life’s Too Short for Leftovers is part inspirational rallying call, part first-person, autobiographical narrative and part eulogy for a treasured friend and mentor. I take the reader on a highly personal journey of self-discovery as I convey a singular perspective on what it means to be human, and what is required of us as individuals to be active, engaged participants in humanity. As a storyteller and conversationalist I relate timeless philosophies to contemporary challenges and opportunities that face Third World countries today. I attempt to bring a generous portion of lucid insights and aha moments to the table, leading the charge toward improved, positive outcomes – in our lives and in the lives of others. It is a stimulating and memorable must-read for students of life.
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