The Motivation of a Debut Author: Michael Schane

Michael Schane—a high school dropout who started working at 13—soon-to-be a published author, has crafted a remarkable path for himself.

Today, he serves as the Head of Education for a privately-owned mechanical contractor, where he develops apprenticeship programs to teach young technicians the trade. Balancing his professional achievements with a deep commitment to personal growth, Michael has also channeled his experiences into writing. His debut book, The Boy and the Witch, is a heartfelt tale inspired by his life journey.

His book is soon to be published, so we thought of briefly discussing his work with him. Why did he choose the child’s book, important stuff about the protagonist, and much more. Michael was super excited to discuss his book and all that led him to become an author.   

When we asked him about the inspiration behind his book, his answer was no less than a surprise for us. “This story is deeply personal,” Michael begins. “Saos, the protagonist, represents my inner child. I didn’t fully realize this until a close friend pointed it out after reading the manuscript.”

His early years were marked by isolation and challenges in connecting with peers. “School was a tough place for me. Teachers saw potential in me, but I didn’t apply myself. I often felt like I didn’t belong,” he reflects. These feelings of loneliness and longing for connection form the core of Saos’s journey in the book.

Creative expression has always been a part of Michael’s life. Winning a storytelling competition in fifth grade and his involvement in theater during high school brought him joy amid the struggles. “I’ve been writing and telling stories since I was a kid. Even though life’s challenges made me set it aside for a time, that passion never left me.”

His inspiration also stems from his healing journey. “Over the past four years, I’ve done a lot of shadow work and inner child healing. This book is the first part of sharing that journey with others.”

While discussing his inspiration, we focused on his protagonist. We asked him about how exactly Saos’s personality resonates with his own. Michael smiled as he answered. “Absolutely. Saos is me in many ways. His feelings of not belonging and his connection to nature mirror my childhood experiences. The story reflects my journey of finding friendship, understanding, and courage to confront life’s challenges.”

Through Saos, he explores themes of loneliness, self-discovery, and the transformative power of companionship. “Writing this book helped me reconnect with my younger self and address emotions I had kept buried for years.”

Michael’s thoughts on having a resemblance to his protagonist are inspirational. We often overlook ourselves and never consider that we can help anyone with our life story. The majority of us underestimate our potential. Though he took a leap of faith in himself and his learning with that, he has completed his first book, and many are about to come.

We also ended up discussing what themes in the story relate to his life. “The themes in The Boy and the Witch reflect my personal experiences,” He explains.

Loneliness is a recurring theme. “Like Saos, I felt isolated growing up. But the story shows that connections can heal even the deepest wounds,” he says. The theme of courage resonates strongly with him, too. “Saos’s bravery in facing the demon mirrors my journey of confronting my shadows and fears.”

Acceptance and redemption are other significant elements. “The Shadow Witch’s story parallels the healing I’ve experienced in my relationships and within myself. It’s about finding light even in the darkest places.”

Like Saos, he feared initiating difficult conversations with his loved ones. He was a ‘Mamma’s boy’ since the beginning. It didn’t feel any wrong during his childhood; as he grew up, his mother and he felt that they were very emotionally dependent on each other. This factor not only hindered his growth but also affected his mother emotionally. Thankfully, they have worked on it, and the situation is much better now.

Michael is not alone in this; many of us are physically and mentally strong but emotionally very fragile. We never sit with our ugly selves and never talk about our shortcomings. This lack of creating healthy boundaries often makes life miserable.

We continued our discussion and asked him about his aim for starting a children’s book series. Michael’s eyes lit up as he shared his goal. “I want to create a series to help parents open difficult conversations with their littles about facing trauma, shadow work, and healing.”

This heartfelt mission is the driving force behind The Boy and the Witch. By blending storytelling with meaningful themes, Michael aims to inspire readers to embrace their journeys of growth and transformation.

After a meaningful discussion with the author, our team is very excited about his first children’s book. It will be out soon on Amazon.