Michael Walsh was born into a radicalised literary family. His father, veteran of four conflicts, was a friend of war correspondent Ernest Hemingway and Irish playwright Sean O'Casey. His mother, Kathleen, was befriended by Spanish revolutionary Dolores Ibarruri (La Pasionaria), Liverpool sculptor Arthur Dooley and Irish writer Brendan Behan. As a seaman Michael visited over 60 countries but his Liverpool roots honed his penmanship.With the Beatles, the Mersey Sound, and Liverpool Football Club putting Liverpool firmly on the world map, the 1960s and 70s was a great time to be alive. Gravitating around the city centre and Dock Road, Michael became familiar, friendly or associated with those whose names are now synonymous with the period. In 2011 he was awarded 'Writer of the Year' by the publishers of Europe's highest circulation free newspaper. He has authored fourteen titles and, for selected clients he has ghost-written more than a score of novels and biographies. Michael Walsh is equally well known as a published poet. From 1999 - 2000 his poetry collections were selling more quickly than any other contemporary verse. In just one city, 3,000 copies of A Sea Veneer of Merseyside and Believin' of Liverpool were snapped up in weeks. His Heart to Heart Volumes 1, 2 and 3 in conventional book and e-reader form are now firm favourites. These have been added to by All I Ask is a Tall Ship and now his penultimate volume, Wine Thoughts. What is the spectre behind the success of Michael's verse? The gifted essayist searched for the Holy Grail and he discovered it. He smiles, "The secret in my success was to compose verse that everyone can identify with. There is no greater pleasure than hearing it said, 'I never read or liked poetry until I read yours. How much I loved it.""I doubt if there is anything in English literature that surpasses the quality of your verse. In fact, I would say your Cattle in the Lea is incomparable." says Tom Roberts; a classical literature scholar. "It isn't just your sensational poetry; it is you reading it that is so mesmerizing. - Deanna Spingola. Republic Broadcasting Organization.A self-indulgent romantic, his verse bares the romantic soul and brings to the surface its passionate and poignancy. To delight your sense of adventure or nostalgia the romance of travel, female beauty, the naturalness of things around us, the sometimes awfulness of man and his ambitions. For those who like to raise the glass there is much cheer for them too. Whatever your taste, you will take each verse as you would sip from a glass of the finest burgundy.