Michael Carignan has been a published journalist for 40 years. For the past 14 years he has worked as editor of various newspapers across Sauk County, most recently for the Sauk Prairie STAR and prior to that for the Reedsburg Times Press and Wisconsin Dells Events. Also during that time, 1998-2010, he was the primary stakeholder in MADJEC JET Publishing Co. During those years the company published 26 titles. Carignan worked on different facets of those publications. He was the editor for and a contributor to They Led Us To Today: A History of North Freedom. He was also a contributor for Sauk County Journal 1848-1998 and Over the Coals: Campfire Cookery. He authored two published titles, both children’s books: The First Witness, and Rudy Too and Santa’s Lost Sack. As retirement age approaches he plans to leave the newspaper business and continue writing children’s books. His next title, The Adventures of Bubbles and Squeak: A Night on the River, is the first in a series of chapter books he has planned. Publication is anticipated for November 2014. He resides in North Freedom with his family. He served there in local government for 20 years, 12 as village president. He holds a Bachelor's degree from The Evergreen State College and is a graduate of The Institute of Children's Literature. He also coached youth basketball for 19 years, as well as youth football and baseball.