Work Experience
- Editor of Focus on the Family magazine from 1986-1997
- Editor-In-Chief of eight magazines at Focus on the Family
- Author, co-author, or editor of fifty books with nearly 1.5 million copies in print
Education Background
After growing up in La Jolla and graduating from La Jolla High School (Class of 1972), I graduated from the University of Oregon School of Journalism (1975).
Career Path
I began my writing career as a reporter and editor of a small-town newspaper in the ski resort town of Mammoth Lakes, California from 1982-86.
Beginning in May 1986, I became editor of Focus on the Family magazine, a publication of Focus on the Family, a non-profit organization founded by Dr. James Dobson.
Focus on the Family magazine had a monthly circulation of 2.4 million, and I oversaw editorial functions, including writing stories, making assignments, editing copy, coordinating direct-mail efforts, proofing galleys and signing off on color keys. I also worked closely with the magazine designer on layouts and illustration ideas.
Prior to leaving Focus on the Family in 1997, I was editor-in-chief of eight other magazines produced by Focus on the Family. They were Clubhouse, Clubhouse Jr., Breakaway, Brio, Teachers in Focus, Single-Parent Family, Pastor’s Family and Physician magazines. All told, these nine magazines produced 3 million copies per month.
I began writing books in 1991 with Greg Johnson, who was editor of Breakaway magazine, and we co-authored three books together.
Book Author Experience
Winner of two ECPA Gold Medallions for
- Every Young Man’s Battle
- Preparing Your Son for Every Man’s Battle
Finalist for two ECPA Gold Medallion Awards for
- Every Man’s Battle
- Every Heart Restored
Main editor for two Gold Medallion finalists:
- Grace-Based Parenting by Tim Kimmel
- Life Interrupted by Tricia Goyer
Health-Related Titles
- The Great Physician’s Prescription for Health and Wellness by Jordan Rubin (Thomas Nelson, January 2006). This is Jordan Rubin’s follow-up book to his New York Times bestselling title, The Maker’s Diet.
- My Big Fat Greek Miracle by Nick Yphantides, M.D. (Thomas Nelson, September 2004). Dr. Nick weighed 467 pounds before embarking on a lifestyle change that prompted the loss of 270 pounds—all done without gastric bypass surgery.
- The Essentials of Highly Healthy Teens by Walt Larimore, M.D., (Zondervan, January 2005). This 110,000-word book informs parents of how puberty changes young children into young adults, among other things.
- Alive & Kicking: The Rolf Benirschke Story (Firefly Press, 1996). Rolf was a placekicker with the San Diego Chargers from 1977-86, and this book tells the remarkable story of how he nearly died from ulcerative colitis and the removal of his colon. This self-published book has more than 60,000 copies in print.
- Fit Over 40 For Dummies (IDG Books, 2000). I wrote this “Dummies” fitness book for Betsy McCormack, a former professional tennis player in her forties.
- Great Comebacks from Ostomy Surgery by Rolf Benirschke (Rolf Benirschke Enterprises, 2002; I served in a general editor role.)
Marriage and Family Books
Co-author with Greg Johnson of three books
- Daddy’s Home (Tyndale, 1992)
This was my first book, and its success led to writing two more books with Greg Johnson.
- Faithful Parents, Faithful Kids (Tyndale, 1993)
- The Second Decade of Love (Tyndale, 1994)
Author or collaborator of
- The Act of Marriage After 40 by Tim and Beverly LaHaye (Zondervan, 2000)
It was a great honor to work with Tim and Beverly LaHaye, but what a topic—sex after 40.
- How to Be Happy Though Married by Tim and Beverly LaHaye (revised version, Tyndale, 2002)
- Every Man’s Battle: Winning the War Against Male Sexual Temptation One Victory at a Time by Steve Arterburn and Fred Stoeker (WaterBrook Press, 2000).
This book has sold more than 700,000 copies and has been on the Christian best-seller list for five years.
- Every Man’s Marriage by Steve Arterburn and Fred Stoeker (WaterBrook Press, September 2001)
- Every Young Man’s Battle by Steve Arterburn and Fred Stoeker (WaterBrook Press, February 2002).
More than 200,000 copies sold, and Fred and I are working on the sequel right now.
- Every Man, God’s Man by Steve Arterburn and Kenny Luck (WaterBrook Press, 2003)
- Every Young Man, God’s Man by Kenny Luck (WaterBrook Press, 2004)
- Every Man’s Battle Guide (WaterBrook, 2003)
- Every Young Man’s Battle Guide (WaterBrook, 2003)
- Preparing Your Son for Every Man’s Battle by Steve Arterburn and Fred Stoeker (WaterBrook, 2003)
- Every Man’s Challenge by Steve Arterburn and Fred Stoeker (WaterBrook, 2004)
- Every Heart Restored by Fred and Brenda Stoeker (WaterBrook, 2004)
- Every Day for Every Man: 365 Readings for Those Engaged in the Battle (WaterBrook, 2005)
- Real Solutions for Getting Out of Debt (Servant, 2002)
I like writing books about family finances and spending money wisely. (Sometimes I have to re-read my advice.)
- Saving Money Any Way You Can (Servant, 1994)
- 21 Days to a Thrifty Lifestyle (Zondervan, 1998)
- Teen Chat (Servant, 1999)
I wrote this book for a wonderful organization called Teen Advisors, which was started by Richard and Dee Dee Stephens of Columbus, Georgia, who have been real mentors to me.
- Touched by the Savior (Word, 1999)
I loved this book about how various people, including celebrities, came to believe in Jesus Christ.
- Always: Stories of Marriages (Focus on the Family/Tyndale, 1999)
- Unglued & Tattooed: How to Save Your Teen from Raves, Ritalin, Goth, Body Carving, GHB, Sex, and 12 Other Emerging Threats (Regnery LifeLine, September 2001) with Sara Trollinger.
Sara is the founder of an incredible ministry to teens in the Orlando area called the House of Hope. Rebellious teens live in home situations to get their lives turned around.
- Unglued, Tattooed & Renewed: Compelling Stories from Teens Whose Lives Have Been Changed (House of Hope Press, 2003) with Sara Trollinger
- Don’t Date Naked by Michael and Amy Smalley (Tyndale, 2003)
Great title for a dating book.
- Simplify Your Life by Marcia Ramsland (W Publishing Group, 2003)
We could all use simplified lives.
General Editor of
- The Focus on the Family Guide to Growing a Healthy Home (Wolgemuth & Hyatt, 1991)
- Raising Them Right (Focus on the Family, 1994)
- The Christian Family Answer Book (Victor, 1996)
- The Christian Dad Answer Book (Victor, 1997)
- The Christian Mom Answer Book (with Sandra Aldrich, Victor, 1999)
Christian Living Books
- The Zig Ziglar Difference (Penguin Putnam, 1999)
- It’s a God Thing by Luis Palau (Doubleday, 2001)
Autobiographical
- My Life with Elian: The Story of the Fisherman Who Rescued Elian Gonzalez by Donato Dalrymple (Word, 2001, but never published).
This was one of my best books, but it got shelved at the eleventh hour.
- Up, Up and Away: The Story of Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. (Moody, 2004)
Remember the music of the Fifth Dimension? Their story is told here, and what an awesome couple. I really loved working with Marilyn and Billy on their love story (they’ve been married more than 35 years).
Fiction
- By the Sword with Rick Myatt (Broadman & Holman, January 2006).
My first fiction effort, written with my church pastor, Rick Myatt, is a suspense thriller inspired by the growing unrest in Middle Eastern capitals against Western “infidels.”
Sports-Related Work
- Double Fault: My Rise and Fall, and My Road Back by Roscoe Tanner (Triumph Books, August 2005).
This book is about a prodigal son in tennis shorts who landed in jail for non-payment of debts and child support.
- Called Up by Dave Dravecky (Zondervan, 2004).
This book is filled with interesting stories and observations about baseball.
- Holding Serve: The Michael Chang Story (Thomas Nelson, 2002).
I wrote the official autobiography of Michael Chang, the youngest male to win a Grand Slam tennis tournament.
- Play Ball (Countryman, 2001).
I wrote this baseball devotional book for Dave Dravecky, who lost his pitching arm to cancer more than 10 years ago.
- In His Court (Countryman, 2001).
This book is a tennis devotional written for Betsy McCormack, a former professional tennis player.
- The First Tee Shot: How to Infect Your Kids with Golf by Wally Armstrong (Broadman & Holman, 2004).
This book is about how parents can introduce their kids or grandkids to the great game of golf.
Besides writing on deadline for newspapers, I have written feature stories or book chapters on the following athletes:
- A.C. Green, Los Angles Lakers
- Mickey Mantle, New York Yankees
- Mary Joe Fernandez, pro tennis player
- Paul Stankowski, PGA golfer
- MalVai Washington, pro tennis player
I’ve written dozens of sports-related magazine articles for New Man, Breakaway, Brio, Los Angeles Times Travel Section, Ski, World Tennis, City Sports and Racquet magazines.
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Mike's Writing History