Ben Mikaelsen has won the International Reading Association Award and the Western Writer’s Golden Spur Award. He has also won 8 State Reader's Choice Awards. Ben has had his books taken around on Scholastic Book Fairs and they have been critically acclaimed and well written and reviewed about in numerous magazines, and websites. Ben has a love for helping kids find out who they are, and break away from the normal stereotypes people see everyday. He travels around giving bully-free speeches and inspiring kids everywhere. His bully massages have been referenced in People Magazine for having a positive impact on children’s lives everywhere. Ben also loves the outdoors and adventures. He lives in the mountains near Bozeman, Montana. He adopted, and then raised a 750 pound black bear  named “Buffy” for 27 years. He lived with the Buffy from 1985 to 2012 when Buffy passed away. Although he no longer has Buffy with him, Ben has learned many lessons and ideas from Buffy that he will carry with him for the rest of his life, and that he will incorporate into his novels.