Michael Poeltl's Blog, page 9

The World Turtle is Dying - A New Take on an Old Myth - Writing Life

An Angry Earth, the latest book by author and illustrator Michael Poeltl (pronounced pur-tel – Yes, sounds just like: turtle) is a picture book which borrows from the myth of the world turtle. This story has several origins, touching multiple continents, but perhaps the best known is the Hindu telling of the gigantic turtle who supports the world on its shell.

Poeltl borrows the myth in order to get his point across – that the world is alive. Just as a living, breathing turtle carrying the wo...

An Environmentally Charged Picture Book for the Apocalypse?

Is it okay to talk about the environment? Are we all on the same side on this issue? Do we all accept that humanity’s’ role in climate change is indisputable? The truth is we’re not all on the same page and that can be attributed to lack of education or ignorance or both. Whatever the reason, whichever argument you support, it won’t change the end we’re spiraling towards. Not if you don’t change.A journey of a thousand miles starts with one step. That logic applies to climate change as well....

A Picture Book about Ignorance and the Apocalypse - For Kids!

So this is happening: A picture book for kids featuring the consequences of  their actions against the earth - of all of our actions. It's not going to be colourful and cheery. it's going to be dark and brooding. It's going to be what will happen if we don't change the way we're treating Mother earth. I say scare them into change. our generation has taken and taken, and I see the same pattern in our children. They litter without thought. They are not being taught how to be kind to the ea...

Summer Reading at its Finest - Short Stories

Looking for that perfect read, be it at the beach, poolside, in the park under a shady oak or even on your commute? Short stories have you covered. Instant gratification while your sunbathing with your SPF 100. In an hour or within minutes, you could have lived an entire reality, been enchanted by an idea or fallen in love with a quote. Short stories are packed with prose and purpose. Because of their length, they replace the heavy descriptions of a novel with condensed scenes crafted to tell...

Book Reviews: Your Opinion Matters

Every author loves a review. That's a fact. Good, bad, ugly, awesome, they all count towards the fact that someone read their work. Sure an ugly review isn't a joy to read like a five star would be, but an author usually has a pretty thick skin by the time a book is published, whether independently or traditionally. Why? Well, we go through a lot of rejection internally; edit after edit. But we also see rejection via the publishing process. First there is the hope that this one will get notic...

A Finished Trilogy to Read

Looking for a completed trilogy to entertain yourself over the next few weeks? Maybe you only need days to consume a full trilogy, but regardless of how quickly you read, and perhaps because of how quickly, a completed trilogy is always a welcome sight to the veracious reader.


Why wait a year in-between books of a series when there are quality reads like The Judas Syndrome Trilogy available for your Minds eye right now!? This trilogy is rooted in classic Apocalyptic fiction: no zombies, no al...

Creating author book quote graphics

This is where it all began for me in 2009. My first book which inspired a trilogy and from there I have been writing non-stop. With now eight books published ranging from Apocalyptic to children's literature, I have enjoyed bringing my stories to a varied audience.


This sort of  marketing I have found to be very useful in giving potential readers visuals  accompanied by quotes from the books in order to arouse interest. I have seen them work time and time again and will continue to m...

Reviews and Previews of Short Story Anthology

New Short Story for you - Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Snow Fort Wars

Snow Fort Wars – By Michael Poeltl

A story about the wars we waged as children, when there was snow in December, and courage found its footing in the heat of battle.

She had become a casualty of war; in less time then it took to free your hands from sweat-soaked mittens. She was an innocent; put down by a thoughtless and heartless enemy in waiting - in her own front yard.
I barely made it to safety myself, the horror of witnessing my mother take hit after hit as I climbed the stairs to greet h...

Halloween Inspired Children's Novella on Sale - Superstitions

Looking for a great Halloween read for your young reader? Pick up West of Noreaso for $0.76 on your kindle or just $9.99 paperback. 

October 31st, a deafening thunderstorm, two siblings, their grandmother’s mirror and a sequence of superstitions
finds Jackson and his little sister, Eloise in a strange new world, where superstition is law and bad luck lurks at every
turn. Good fortune, though smiles upon them when three unlikely volunteers shepherd the children in this bizarre world 
as...