Michael Phelps – the writer, not the young Olympic Champion, is a proud Veteran of the United States Air Force – Military Police Combat Defense Forces (Vietnam), having enlisted just before his 17th birthday.
After his service with the Air Force, Phelps was a Law Enforcement officer for 7.5 years. He later moved to Los Angeles, working in Security for a major hotel chain.
Relocating to New York City, he became engaged in Executive Recruiting for major International firms. He later relocated to Miami, Florida, to escape the harsh winters of New York.
In Miami, he served as trustee for a multi-million dollar trust of an Hungarian Nobleman, Count Tassilo Szechenyi. After the Count’s death, Phelps became employed as Chief Investigator for a prominent Coral Gables law firm, specializing in Criminal Defense.
While working for the law firm, he co-authored David Janssen – My Fugitive with the iconic actor’s first wife, Ellie Janssen. The title went on to sell in excess of 2 million copies between hardcover and paperback editions.
Upon retiring from the law firm, he chose to embark on the challenging career of being a writer. He created the Mike Walsh Detective Novels, with each title in the series based on actual cases he worked while employed with the law firm.
The series was launched with The Execution of Justice, published in hardcover & e-book in 2009. The book is based on the murder of his close friend and one-time mentor, Detective Sergeant Jack Ohrberg, Robbery & Homicide Unit of the Indianapolis Police Department.
Detective Sergeant Jack R. Ohrberg
Indianapolis Police Department, Indiana
End of Watch: Thursday, December 11, 1980
Read more at Officer Down Memorial Page
The second novel in the series - The Jockey’s Justice (e-book, 2012) – is based on the brutal murder of a highly respected horse racing jockey. Insane Justice (not yet published) involves a double homicide and will be the third book of the series.
Being inspired and encouraged by many of Janssen’s close friends and fans after the publication of David Janssen-My Fugitive, David Janssen – Our Conversations was born. It will soon be released in both hardcover and e-book editions. In this book Phelps relates hundreds of conversations between he and David Janssen over the last fifteen years of Janssen’s life.
Subjects include Janssen’s career, his marriage to – and divorce from – his first wife, Ellie, his relationships with Ellie’s daughters, his mother, sisters and step-father. The book also deals with his affairs with Suzanne Pleshette, Rosemary Forsyth and award-winning singer and songwriter, Carol Connors (whom he deeply loved and planned to marry upon divorcing his second wife, Dani Greco Janssen). Our Conversations also shares Janssen’s opinions about many of the top Hollywood writers, producers, directors and many of the “A” list stars with whom he worked.
Happily-divorced, Phelps splits his time between his home in Miami Shores and New York City with his faithful German Shepherd, Rico der Hunter III.
Be sure to visit Michael Phelps at either of the following social networks:
Copyright 2013 J.D. Michael Phelps Website Design: Norma Budden
Looking good!
This is a great website Michael. I love it.–Pam
Great looking site, Mike! Norma did a fabulous job for you.
Very nice. I need to have my son update mine. It’s been a long time.