Contemporary Authors

• Amidst Traffic - 2012 One Way Street Production, Pittsburgh, PA
• Jump - 2016 One Way Street Production, Pittsburgh, PA
• Breathing God - 2005 PublishAmerica, Baltimore, MD

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michel-sauret-b3597217/

  Michel Sauret
  Award Winning Author, Photographer & Army Journalist
  One Way Street Production University of Pittsburgh
  Greater Pittsburgh Area 146 146 connections
  Connect
  Michel Sauret has been with the U.S. Army for 10 years and he owns his own photography company, One Way Street Production, which specializes in family and wedding photography.

  One Way Street Production is also the publishing imprint for Michel's literature and fiction.

  Michel won the Army Journalist of the Year Award in 2008 and has published two books of fiction, "Breathing God" (2005) and "Amidst Traffic" (2012)

  www.onewaystreetproduction.com
  www.msauret.com

  Experience
  One Way Street Production
  Photographer
  Company NameOne Way Street Production
  Dates EmployedDec 2009 – Present Employment Duration7 yrs 4 mos
  I'm the owner of our family-based photography business based in Pittsburgh. We specialize in family and wedding photography but we also do business head shots.

  www.onewaystreetproduction.com
  See less See less about Photographer, One Way Street Production
  U.S. Army Public Affairs
  Training NCO
  Company NameU.S. Army Public Affairs
  Dates EmployedDec 2003 – Present Employment Duration13 yrs 4 mos
  See description See more about Training NCO, U.S. Army Public Affairs
  One Way Street Production
  Author
  Company NameOne Way Street Production
  Dates Employed2003 – Present Employment Duration14 yrs LocationGreater Pittsburgh Area
  See description See more about Author, One Way Street Production
  U.S. Army Reserve
  PUblic Affairs Professional
  Company NameU.S. Army Reserve
  Dates Employed2014 – 2016 Employment Duration2 yrs
  U.S. Army Reserve
  Public Affairs
  Company NameU.S. Army Reserve
  Dates Employed2003 – 2016 Employment Duration13 yrs
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  Education
  University of Pittsburgh
  University of Pittsburgh
  Degree Name English Writing
  Dates attended or expected graduation 2003 – 2009
  Bachelor's Degree in English Writing

  Took longer than 4 years to graduate due to Army training and one deployment to Iraq

  Featured Skills & Endorsements
  Journalism See 12 endorsements for Journalism 12

  Quinn Keaney and 11 connections have given endorsements for this skill
  Publishing See 10 endorsements for Publishing 10

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  Featured Skills & Endorsements
  Journalism See 12 endorsements for Journalism 12

  Quinn Keaney and 11 connections have given endorsements for this skill
  Publishing See 10 endorsements for Publishing 10

  Jim Mendenhall and 9 connections have given endorsements for this skill
  Social Media See 7 endorsements for Social Media 7

  John Kalad and 6 connections have given endorsements for this skill
  View 41 more View 41 more skills
  Accomplishments
  Michel has 2 languages2
  Languages
  Language nameEnglish
  Native or bilingual proficiency
  Language nameItalian
  Professional working proficiency
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  Michel has 1 honor1
  Honor & Award
  honor titleArmy Journalist of the Year

• Michel Sauret Home Page - http://www.msauret.com/about-michel/

  About Me
  My name is Michel Sauret, and in 2008 I earned the title of Army Journalist of the Year for work I did in Iraq when deployed with the Army public affairs.
  Now I’m an independent author. I released my second book, “Amidst Traffic,” in 2012, which won the International Book Awards and placed as a finalist in three other nationwide book competitions. My upcoming novel, “Jump” is scheduled for release in May 2016.
  I’m also a photographer and owner of One Way Street Production, which specializes in family and wedding photography.
  I published my first novel, “Breathing God” at the age of 19. I studied creative writing at the University of Pittsburgh, and I’ve had short stories published in literary journals around the world, including the U.S., Great Britain and Australia.
  I’ve served as a public affairs specialist and journalist for the U.S. Army since 2004. My work has won several Scoop Brumfield, Keith L. Ware and Thomas Jefferson awards. My military writing and photography has been published by dozens of websites, newspapers and magazines, to include the National Geographic, USA Today and the Army Times. My short story, “Lost in the Night” appeared in the anthology, “Best New Writing, 2008″ and my story, “Three Straws” earned honorable mention in the Monty Culver Award in 2010.

  Writing & Creative Achievements

  ~2016~
  “Jump” — Novel (Christian / Literary)
  ~2015~
  “The Computer that Saved the Soldier’s Back” — First Place, Keith L. Ware Award (Feature)
  “The Computer that Saved the Soldier’s Back” — First Place, Thomas Jefferson Award (Feature)
  “I Hear You Calling” — First Place, Keith L. Ware Award (Photojournalism)
  “I Hear You Calling” — First Place, Thomas Jefferson Award (Photojournalism)
  “Why I serve” —First Place, Keith L. Ware Award (Commentary)
  “Miles for Lives” — First Place, Brumfield Award (News Video)
  “More than Just Blast Masters” — Honorable Mention, Brumfield Award (Feature Video)
  “Framing Conflict” — Editor’s Spotlight, National Geographic (Photography)
  “Operating the Night” — Honorable Mention, Military Photography of the Year (Picture Story)
  “Burning the Night” — Honorable Mention, Military Photography of the Year (Portrait)
  “Koalafying” — Third Place, Military Photography of the Year (Feature)
  Photography Portfolio — Top Five, Military Photography of the Year (Portfolio)
  ~2014~
  “Sapper Stakes” — Honorable Mention, Keith L. Ware Award (News Photo)
  “Soldier Field” — Honorable Mention, Keith L. Ware Award (Feature Photo)

  ~2013~
  “Amidst Traffic” — Winner, 2013 International Book Awards
  “Amidst Traffic” — Finalist, 2013 Next Generation Indie Book Awards
  “Amidst Traffic” — Finalist, 2013 Indie Excellence Book Awards
  “Amidst Traffic” — Finalist, 2013 USA Book News Awards
  ~2012~
  “Afghan Work” — First Place, Brumfield Award (Human Interest Article)
  “Amidst Traffic” — Short Story Collection (Literary Fiction)
  ~2010~
  “Three Straws” — Honorable Mention, Monty Culver Award (Short Story)
  “Role Players” — Third Place, Brumfield Award (Feature Article)
  “Role Players” — Third Place, Keith L. Ware Award (Feature Article)
  “Freedom Ride” — Honorable Mention, Brumfield Award (News Article)
  ~2009~
  Internship with Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (News reporting & Photography)
  Keith L. Ware Journalist of the Year Award (Army-wide Journalism)
  Brumfield Military Journalist of the Year Award (Journalism)
  “Black Coats (at the Cheyenne Diner)” — Daikaijuzine (Short Story)
  “Amidst Traffic” — Ampersand Review [Vol. 3] (Short Story)
  “Brick Wall Giants” & “Son of Man” — Sybil’s Garage (Poetry)
  “The Tin Can Mind” — Brand Literary Magazine (Short Story)
  ~2008~
  “The General’s Backup Seat” — The Whitefish Review (Nonfiction)
  “The Weapon was on Safe” — Collision (Nonfiction)
  “Midnight” — Wet Ink (Short Story)
  “Lost in the Night” — Eric Hoffer Award Finalist (Short Story)
  “Lost in the Night” — Best New Writing 2008
  Assignment Editor & Photojournalist — The Mountain View (Army)
  Copy Editor — The Dog Faced Daily (Army)
  ~2007~
  Submissions Editor — The Writers Post Journal (Literature Mag)
  Freelance writing — G.I. Jobs Magazine
  “Child, Hold Me” — Lulu (Memoir)
  “The Tin Can Mind” — Lulu (Poetry)
  ~2006~
  Worked as a ghostwriter for Dr. Dan Pompa on “Generation Toxic”
  Silver Pen Award — Military Police Magazine
  Staff Writer — The Checkmate (Army)
  ~2005~
  “Breathing God” — Publish America (Novel)
  “The Duct Tape People” — The Writers Post Journal (Short Story)
  “The Problem with my Shoes” — Peridot (Short Story)
  “The Follower” — Balance Anthology (Short Story)
  ~2004~
  “Out of a Dream” — Cafe Irreal [issue 11] (Short Story)

QUOTED TEXT: raw and bold coming-of-spiritual-age story

Jump
Publishers Weekly. 263.26 (June 27, 2016): p69.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Listen
Full Text:
Jump

Michel Sauret. OneWay Street, $12.95 trade paper (340p) ISBN 978-1-5228-

1734-5

Sauret's raw and bold coming-of-spiritual-age story closely examines the ups and downs of several different varieties of worship through the eyes of a young man on the cusp of adulthood. Christopher Dove was raised in a fundamentalist Christian family in central Pennsylvania, an upbringing that not only informed his daily life, but also the larger decisions for college about what vocation to pursue when he left home. His questions about God started during his childhood--but he could never give them voice, due to his domineering father. Once he escapes his father's home, he begins his faith journey, though it's not without difficulties and heartache. Each time he thinks he may have found God, he only finds more questions. This stark and at times painful tale of questions with no easy answers doesn't shy away from confronting difficult topics such as sexual assault, human trafficking, and racism. The often graphic depictions of the events in Christopher's life manage to maintain a sense of beauty beneath the overwhelming darkness. (BookLife)

• Healing Hearts
  http://edgyinspirationalauthor.blogspot.com/2016/05/my-review-of-jump-by-michel-sauret.html
  Word count: 647

  QUOTED TEXT: Some people might find the reality of this man's struggles to be a bit too edgy for them, but I loved it. ... There is simply not enough realistic emotion embedded in tragic tales written by Christian authors ... but stories like this really speak to people's hearts. ... Wonderful literary fiction. I highly recommend it.

  SATURDAY, MAY 07, 2016

  My review of Jump by Michel Sauret

  About the book:

  Christopher took his first leap of faith at the age of five. He jumped off the tree in his backyard, right into his father’s arms. It was only the first branch up, but his father ruffled his hair, held him tight and said he had the faith of a boy twice his age. Each year on his birthday, Christopher takes another jump. Each time, a little higher up that tree. Land safely, and he might earn God’s pleasure. But one year, Christopher breaks his leg, and suddenly it’s his little sister who seems to please their parents best.

  Distance grows between him and his father, especially as a sexual addiction takes root in his heart, launching him into a dangerous free-fall. Desperate for escape, Christopher looks to college, thinking he might find God on his own terms. Yet as he becomes entrenched in the secular haven of higher education, he discovers the “Cathedral of Learning” is no more of a savior than a tree. He flees once more, hitchhiking with an atheist set on his own spiritual journey. But as they end up in Selma, Alabama, Christopher and his new friend land in a church that won’t let them get away.

  My review:

  This was a compelling book. I have read a number of literary novels, but this is extraordinary literary fiction. It was well written but didn't leave me feeling depressed as some secular novels have done. Similar Christian books with female characters (regarding tragedy and the ultimate search for God) Into the Free by Julie Cantrell, and Watching the Tree Limbs by Mary Demuth. Some others I enjoyed are Words by Ginny L Yttrup and Pocketful of Pearls by Shelley Bates.

  This book features a main character that is a young man who is growing up and trying to find his way in the world. He is searching for a place to belong, and although he had quite a variety of religion in his background, some of what he learned was messed up. At the same time there were checks in his heart when obvious false teaching came into play. Similarly themed books about young men written in a literary style are From the Dead by John Herrick and Between these Walls by John Herrick. I loved both of those books.

  The fact that Jump is a Christian novel makes it that much more compelling to me because I love reading books with a spiritual element; especially the kind that drives many of us to search for that missing piece (peace) in our lives.

  Some people might find the reality of this man's struggles to be a bit too edgy for them, but I loved it. I really, really did. There is simply not enough realistic emotion embedded in tragic tales written by Christian authors, though they do exist. Too many authors tend to lean toward the conservative end to sell their stories to bigger publishing houses, but stories like this really speak to people's hearts. I can't say much about this book without giving away spoilers, but I will say it was very easy for me to relate to this character and the issues he faced. Wonderful literary fiction. I highly recommend it.

  Jump was published by One Way Street Productions and released in 2016. You can buy it HERE

• Online Book Club
  http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=35694
  Word count: 673

  QUOTED TEXT: I appreciate what Sauret did with the way Christopher's religion affected his life. The way his parents forced it on him made him unhappy and unsatisfied, which is something I found very realistic.

  Official Review: Jump by Michel Sauret
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  3 posts • Page 1 of 1
  Official Review: Jump by Michel Sauret
  Post Number:#1 by MatthewAlexander » 30 May 2016, 16:01

  [Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Jump" by Michel Sauret.]

  Book Cover
  3 out of 4 stars
  Review by MatthewAlexander
  Share This Review
  Jump by Michel Sauret depicts the religious journey of Christopher Dove. His journey begins at home with his parents, who take the phrase "leap of faith" literally. Every year on his birthday, Christopher climbs a tree and jumps out of it. His safe landing is a sign that his faith in God is strong and that God is with him. His fifth jump, Christopher doesn't land safely. This triggers his faith journey. As he grows, his faith wavers, and his relationship with his family becomes strained. This leads him to his next step in his search for God: college. When Christopher still doesn't find God there, he moves on, hitchhiking to Selma, Alabama, where his journey peaks, and he finds God in an unexpected way.

  I appreciate what Sauret did with the way Christopher's religion affected his life. The way his parents forced it on him made him unhappy and unsatisfied, which is something I found very realistic. Religion should never be forced on a child; the fact that they had no choice in the matter and didn't get to discover the religion on their own terms ruins the experience for them. Sauret shows this through Christopher, who becomes resentful towards religion and his family, causing him to move away for college and lose contact with his parents and sister. This scenario is not unfamiliar to many people who were raised in a very religious family or who went to a religious school. This sense of reality is what makes Jump so genius. It's relatable.

  What I thought Sauret handled particularly well was the idea of sexuality and how religion affects a person's view of sexuality. Throughout the book, Christopher's sexuality is a constant burden on him. He does his best to suppress it, but it continues to plague him. The success here is the same as throughout the rest of the book: the realness of the situation. As someone who has experienced growing up both religious and homosexual, I thought the sexuality aspect of Christopher's character was an incredibly smart addition, and that it was very well handled.

  I had only minor problems with this book. One of those problems was the organization. There are three parts to Christopher's spiritual journey: home, college, and The Household. While that's fine, I found they didn't flow very well, particularly the transition from the start of the book to The Household. The Household seemed like a completely different story. While it wasn't bad, I wish the book had come together better instead of feeling chunky. The second problem I had with it was that I wasn't able to immerse myself in the story. Christopher's character was written in a detached voice (in my opinion), even though the journey he was on was very personal. That didn't come through in the writing, which made it hard for me to feel for Chris.

  While I appreciated how realistic and easy to relate to Jump was, I was unable to emotionally invest in it due to the writing style. Another problem I had with it was that the end of the book felt completely separate from the rest of it. For these reasons, I give Jump three out of four stars. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys religious fiction, but I would advise them not to expect to finish it and think "wow!" It was good, but nothing more than that.

• Kirkus
  https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/michel-sauret/amidst-traffic/
  Word count: 434

  QUOTED TEXT: ambitious ... tangled, overpopulated collection that shines only in parts.

  AMIDST TRAFFIC
  by Michel Sauret
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  KIRKUS REVIEW

  An ambitious collection of interwoven short stories about negotiating Christian values in a corrupt, violent world.

  Straddling diners, gas stations, urban apartments and the war in Iraq, these stories tackle the question of faith in desperate times. Lost, struggling characters look for meaning: a young line cook wants to know more about patience; a drug-addled couple fights about the substance keeping them from their dreams; an Army photographer challenges his crass companions with a stark display of his Christian faith. There’s striking interconnectedness, too: Zephan, the cocaine-addicted couple’s son, later suffers an accident when another character chases a deer into his path; Simon abandons his sister Grace on the same night she was attacked in an earlier story; and a troubled man’s decision to hold up a Circle K gas station echoes through later stories. Fate and free will are called into play, as Adren, David and Victor travel the world looking for visionaries who can predict tragedy before it strikes. The visionaries see everything from the robbery at the Circle K to the 9/11 attacks, and the three visionary hunters stand on the edge of manipulating this power. By the collection’s end, though, faith in God emerges as everyone’s only hope for coping with life. With 22 stories, some of the collection’s interconnectivity is lost in the sheer volume. There are only a few clues to mark that a character in one story will be important in another, so readers may find themselves constantly flipping back to check names and incidents. Adding to the confusion, many characters hear voices, and several have symbolic names (Pope and Priest rob a bank, but it’s the witness Trevor who spiritually schools them). The most original plotline—the quest of the visionary hunters—isn’t fully realized until halfway through the collection. There are bright spots, though, of quirky but straightforward storytelling, as with “The Problem With My Shoes,” which delightfully begins: “I knew I was in trouble when my shoes started talking to me.”

  A tangled, overpopulated collection that shines only in parts.

  Pub Date: Nov. 13th, 2012
  ISBN: 978-0988378407
  Page count: 338pp
  Publisher: One Way Street Production
  Program: Kirkus Indie
  Review Posted Online: Nov. 30th, 2012

• Word Bank
  http://jeriwb.com/book-review-amidst-traffic-michel-sauret-7320/
  Word count: 537

  QUOTED TEXT: Readers seeking stories with a heavy dose of christian-infused themes will not be disappointed.
  While some readers may like loose ends tied up, there’s much merit in leaving the final implications of a story on the reader’s shoulders. It’s a rare writing talent that can provoke that sense of wonder.

  Book Review: Amidst Traffic by Michel Sauret
  Posted on Oct 7, 2013 | 26 comments
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  Image of Amidst Traffic
  Article by Jeri Walker-Bickett
  Amidst Traffic: Provoking Wonder

  The twenty short stories in Michel Sauret’s collection Amidst Traffic explore the ways people grapple with faith. Readers seeking stories with a heavy dose of christian-infused themes will not be disappointed. Those who prefer slice-of-life stories with more subtle themes will likely find the stories a bit heavy-handed. Either way, the collection demonstrates the author’s craftsmanship of the short story form.
  While I do not regularly read Christian literature, I do make a point to read short story collections. The title, Amidst Traffic, provides a hint at the interwoven nature of the stories. A minor character or incident in one story will later turn up as a major focus in another. Such an attempt at structuring is admirable, though not always pulled-off satisfactorily due to the number of stories in the collection.
  Cover image of Amidst Traffic by Michel Sauret
  The stories in the first half of Amidst Traffic struck me as being the strongest ones. The inter-connected nature of the stories felt more organic, as did the overall energy. As with any collection, some stories will grab the reader’s attention more than others. I particularly enjoyed “Clouds in the Water” for its excellent suspense and the way it shows the audacity of youth. It also cleverly cleared up the mystery introduced in the first story. “Rolling Down the Mountain” Another favorite of mine was “Rolling Down the Mountain” which draws attention to the perils of belonging and overcoming via an overweight teen’s initiation into the Brotherhood.
  After a while, some of the stories felt a bit repetitive and could have been condensed. A handful focus on an Army journalist named Myron. Due to the amount of pages devoted to developing his character, they would be better off becoming part of a novel. The autobiographical nature of the Myron stories could definitely be expanded upon.
  Photo of Michel SauretI for one, most enjoyed how many of the stories had open endings. While some readers may like loose ends tied up, there’s much merit in leaving the final implications of a story on the reader’s shoulders. It’s a rare writing talent that can provoke that sense of wonder.
  What short story collections have made an impression on you?
  You can connect with Michel Sauret on his author website.
  JeriWB’s Rating: 4.0 Stars (“Really Liked It”)

• Laura Lee Anderson
  https://lauraleeanderson.wordpress.com/2013/02/19/review-of-amidst-traffic-by-michel-sauret/
  Word count: 592

  REVIEW OF AMIDST TRAFFIC BY MICHEL SAURET

  February 19, 2013
  I usually review YA fiction, but an excellent author who stops in my coffee shop from time to time asked if I would review his collection of short stories. The reason? Not because he wanted a shoe-in good review (he knows my blog and therefore knows that I often give best-sellers 3 stars. Or less). But because wanted my honest opinion, and he likes you guys- my followers!

  I am so glad I read Michel Sauret’s book Amidst Traffic. This collection of short stories is smart and colorful. The storylines are unexpected and authentic. The images are crisp and gritty. The characters are oh-so real and the details are perfectly chosen.

  16118705
  …and the cover is gorgeous.

  Although each story is unique, similar themes run throughout: faith, addiction, the human condition, family, esp, mental illness… each story is a very well-crafted snapshot of characters complex enough to have their own novels. There is a supernatural thread that ties all the stories together, giving it a paranormal flair and a more connected story. It took me a little while (about halfway through) to fully see the threads, but once I did I had to keep reading.

  What I like best about this collection is that it is so smart. It is thoughtful. The author makes no secret of his Christian faith (in the foreword and thank-yous), yet the book is NOT AT ALL the trite, bubbly, easy-answer fiction that so often sours the reputation of artists who are Christian. His characters (a pair of them at age 17) have deep theological conversations with no definitive answers. He writes authentically from all perspectives and walks of life. None of his characters are shallow. Teenagers, children, elderly, rich, poor, suits, junkies… all have deep, complex thoughts. At times, the conversations moved a little slowly, but they were almost always saved by some really well-done action. I love how he plays with time. Some stories are set in the past, some in the present, but all have a timeless quality to them.

  In short, you will be a better person for having read this book. It made me think about things that I often push to the background- questions that are basic to everybody’s existence. This book makes no claim to answer those questions. Instead, it lets us in on the conversations that we’ve probably had in our heads but never voiced.

  Four out of five stars for me!

  What happened to that last star? Well, because I’m used to reading novels (and YA novels, at that) it took me a little while to get invested in this book. The first half was a little slow for me. But stick it out! If you quit in the middle you will be frustrated- the supernatural thread will be half-formed and the stories won’t make as much sense. Reading stories near the back completes the ones near the front and visa-versa.

  It’s easy to see how this book racked up some really great reviews.

  So if you want to buy this book in paperback, go here. ($8.26 at the writing of this)

  For kindle, go here. (.99 at the writing of this)

  If you want to see his gorgeous wedding and family photography (or if you’re looking for a fantastic photographer in Pittsburgh!), check out his website, One-Way Street Production.