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16 ratings | 1 review | avg rating:4.38

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J.L. Michael

Goodreads Author

Born

in The United States

Twitter

waggishauthor

Genre

Fiction, Historical Fiction, Paranormal

Member Since

July 2022

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/jlmichael

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J.L. Michael is a Maine author partial to old-school jazz, vintage travel posters, and historical literature that champions daring quests into realms unknown. The majority of the author’s time is spent pursuing the honor code of an impossible dreamer, which includes acting as an able Healthcare Director, committed spouse, and steadfast (though imperfect) role-model to an eight-year-old best-thing-ever. When not thrashing away on a keyboard, J.L. can be found lounging beachside atop the hood of a Jeep Wrangler, contemplating a next escape to distant exotic lands and the unsolved mysteries of the universe.

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Sorry to bother you here, but since no X/twitter account is listed nor a website, I wish to ask: Does this X account belong to you or an imposter? https://x.com/waggishauthor

J.L. Michael Hi, Shida. Yes, that is my X profile. No bother, and have a great day.

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Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

J.L. Michael Origin of my novel-- Missteps Perfecting the Shutterbug Strut

I live in a cold weather state. Seeking a winter escape to tropical climes is high on my …moreOrigin of my novel-- Missteps Perfecting the Shutterbug Strut

I live in a cold weather state. Seeking a winter escape to tropical climes is high on my daydream list. A few years back, I came across a great airfare to Quito, Ecuador. Without hesitation, it was booked. The trip was split between the Galapagos (where else do people run into the water holding phones high when someone yells “Shark!”?) and more intrepid excursions along the outer fringes of the Amazon jungle. I had booked reservations at the Hamadryade Lodge along the Rio Napo, as not to rough-it too much. My daughter, Alexandra, was age three at the time. One day at the lodge, I was teaching “Alee” to swim in the pool. I quipped to my spouse, “At least Alee will be able to honestly say that she learned to swim in the Amazon jungle.” I gave passing thought that it would make for a good opening line to an adventure novel and left it at that. What I did not yet know was that moment had relit my author’s pilot light.

Six months later, while lazing in Samara, Costa Rica, the fever hit. I was in our lodge’s pool teaching Alee to swim—howler monkeys prancing the trees above—when it thunderstruck: female adventuress; more hijinks, less gunplay; she's a 20-something photographer; it will start in Papua (I still have no clue where the Papua angle came from). Part offbeat adventure, part madcap historical, part outright the unexpected, would entail the genre formula. Upon return to Maine, I started my research, and I’m amazed to this day how everything soon fell into place.
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J.L. Michael’s books

Average rating: 3.55 · 33 ratings · 23 reviews · 2 distinct works • Similar authors

	Missteps Perfecting the Shutterbug Strut 3.55 avg rating — 33 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Missteps Mending Devilish Ways 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — expected publication 2026	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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J.L. Michael's Blog

Book Trailer

It took me three years, but I've finally put together a trailer for my novel Missteps Perfecting the Shutterbug Strut. My 11 year old daughter did all the technical work. Take a look!

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Published on January 21, 2026 16:30 • Tags: adventure-fiction-trailer

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J.L. Michael rated a book really liked it Dragon Hunter: Roy Chapman Andrews & the Central Asiatic Expeditions by Charles Gallenkamp	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Filled with fascinating insights into the NY Museum of Natural History and inner Mongolia. Love the era of exploration and the author brought it to life.
Aug 30, 2026 03:26PM · like · see review
J.L. Michael rated a book it was amazing River of the Gods: Genius, Courage and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile by Candice Millard	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 30, 2026 10:50AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of River of the Gods by Candice Millard. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — River of the Gods by Candice Millard <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
J.L. Michael did not finish Mayhem by Sarah Pinborough (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 30, 2026 10:46AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Mayhem by Sarah Pinborough. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Mayhem by Sarah Pinborough <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
J.L. Michael answered A Goodreads user's question: Sorry to bother you here, but since no X/twitter account is listed nor a website, I wish to ask: Does this X account belong to you or an imposter? https://x.com/waggishauthor Hi, Shida. Yes, that is my X profile. No bother, and have a great day.
Apr 14, 2026 05:39AM · 1 like · like
J.L. Michael wants to read Missteps Perfecting the Shutterbug Strut by J.L. Michael (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 04, 2026 10:56AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Missteps Perfecting the Shutterbug Strut by J.L. Michael. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Missteps Perfecting the Shutterbug Strut by J.L. Michael <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
J.L. Michael rated a book really liked it Dragon Hunter: Roy Chapman Andrews & the Central Asiatic Expeditions by Charles Gallenkamp	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Filled with fascinating insights into the NY Museum of Natural History and inner Mongolia. Love the era of exploration and the author brought it to life.
Sep 28, 2025 05:18PM · like · see review
J.L. Michael is starting Dragon Hunter Dragon Hunter: Roy Chapman Andrews & the Central Asiatic Expeditions by Charles Gallenkamp progress:	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 28, 2025 05:17PM · like · see status

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Quotes by J.L. Michael (?)

“Having always been directionless, Alexandra never felt lost. She pointed east.”
― J. L. Michael, Missteps Perfecting the Shutterbug Strut

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“Occasionally, the only unpalatable difference between adventure and misadventure is eating exotic foods as opposed to being exotic food.”
― J. L. Michael, Missteps Perfecting the Shutterbug Strut

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“She bid farewell and picked up her sole suitcase, believing fresh starts were best initiated with limited baggage.”
― J. L. Michael, Missteps Perfecting the Shutterbug Strut

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J.L.’s Quotes

“She bid farewell and picked up her sole suitcase, believing fresh starts were best initiated with limited baggage.”
― J. L. Michael, Missteps Perfecting the Shutterbug Strut

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“Having always been directionless, Alexandra never felt lost. She pointed east.”
― J. L. Michael, Missteps Perfecting the Shutterbug Strut

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