I was born in Liverpool, England and grew up in southern Ontario, Canada. I dropped out of high school but later returned to university for degrees in anthropology and archaeology. In addition to the Archie Stevens Mysteries, I have authored and co-authored fourteen popular history and geography textbooks. I like nature and birding and write a bird blog called Bird Noetz (https://michaelcrannyblog.com/). As a mystery writer I love creating characters and situations, and seeing if my characters can get themselves out of the predicaments I've got them into