Ben Mikaelsen was born in La Paz, Bolivia in 1952. Beginning in fourth grade, Mikaelsen went to an English school in Bolivia, and his family moved to the United States when he was in the seventh grade. He was bullied throughout his youth, first in Bolivia because of his race, and later in the U.S. because of his English speaking skills.
Growing up, Mikaelsen knew that he wanted to be a writer, but he only started seriously writing in college when a college English professor encouraged him. His novels include Touching Spirit Bear, Tree Girl, Ghost of Spirit Bear, Red Midnight, and Petey. Three of his novels have been contracted to be turned into major motion pictures. He has been featured...
