After serving in the Peace Corps in Chad, Michael Varga became a diplomat serving primarily in hotspots in the Middle East. He served as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. State Department in the United Arab Emirates, Syria, Morocco, and Canada. He served in Washington, D.C. in the Economic bureau and as the desk officer for Lebanon when the last American hostages were released in the 1990s. He was also a Pearson Fellow at the World Trade Center Miami. He holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Notre Dame, a Bachelor’s degree in English from Rider University, and is a certified teacher.

Michael is a playwright and actor, as well as a writer of fiction. Three of his plays have been produced, and “Collapsing Into Zimb ...more

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How do you deal with writer’s block?

Michael Varga When I get stumped writing a scene and can't figure out what the characters should do, I let my imagination go and consider the most outrageous act a …moreWhen I get stumped writing a scene and can't figure out what the characters should do, I let my imagination go and consider the most outrageous act a character might perform. I think about the implications of that act, and gradually it becomes clear how the character should act: something usually less than that most outrageous act, but still something I might not have come up with if I merely considered "conventional" actions by the character.(less)

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What’s the best thing about being a writer?

Michael Varga The best thing about being a writer is that you can deal with serious consequences of assorted actions, but since they remain in the fictional world, …moreThe best thing about being a writer is that you can deal with serious consequences of assorted actions, but since they remain in the fictional world, the consequences only need to be thought of as affecting these fictional characters in this fictional world. There is such power in that for an author. And in telling a story, a reader can be transported to that fictional world, where nonetheless those consequences have great import.(less)

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Michael Varga’s books

Average rating: 3.12 · 17 ratings · 7 reviews · 5 distinct works

	Under Chad's Spell 2.86 avg rating — 14 ratings — published 2014 — 5 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
	Chaos, Crises, and Conflict by Rainier McCall (Goodreads Author) (Contributor), Helen Zeidman (Editor), Sydney Grimm (Front Cover Design) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating	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
	Inside View: The Eye Behind the Lens by Michael Varga (Goodreads Author), Roxanne Davies really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating	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
	Power, Passion & Peril: Live Dangerously. Live Passionately. Be Powerful. by Michael Varga (Goodreads Author), Nikole Edwards (Editor) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 2 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
	Marine Canvas Track toTrack: Insider's information, "Seven Secrets to Installing by Steve Szenay, Michael Varga (Goodreads Author) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	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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Michael Varga's Blog: Michael's Blog

It's Not The Disease, It's the Stigma....

October 5, 2014

It’s Not the Disease, It’s the Stigma….

Some people are reacting with extreme opinions about what Ebola means for the United States. Some are saying we should ban all travelers from Africa. Others are advocating quarantine for anyone suspected of carrying the virus.
Our global village can no longer stop residents from moving from one corner to another. The Great Wall of China is a rem Read more of this blog post »

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Published on October 09, 2014 17:36

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Michael is Currently Reading

Michael Varga is currently reading

A Thousand Natural Shocks

by Omar Hussain (Goodreads Author)

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Aug 13, 2025 07:56AM

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Michael Varga liked Roxanne Johnson's review of A Thousand Natural Shocks: "DNF I appreciate a bit of introspection when it helps with character development, but not when they are just waxing poetic about the great philosophical questions of the day instead of moving the plot along. Such a drag."
Aug 13, 2025 08:10AM · see review
Michael Varga liked gayatri's review of A Thousand Natural Shocks: "i’m just confused like what even happened in this book. seriously i tried but it jumped around so much i couldn’t tell and i really didn’t see the ending at all. and so i was super into like chunks of writing not tbe entire story, because the writing" Read more of this review »
Aug 13, 2025 08:10AM · see review
Michael Varga is currently reading A Thousand Natural Shocks by Omar Hussain (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 13, 2025 07:56AM · like

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