Michael Grant, Neighbor

Michael has lived in East County since he arrived from Texas in 1972. He worked at The San Diego Union for 20 years—as a reporter, editor and columnist. In 1990, he became journalism and media instructor at Grossmont College, where he still teaches and writes stories for Grossmont's newsletter, Campus Scene. He has authored several books, including Warbirds—How They Played the Game and Michael Grant's Cookbook.

He operates an online writing service, The Write Outsource, at writeoutsource.com, and he is at work on two books, one about media literacy, the other a novel. He and his wife, Karen—herself a writer and also a lawyer—live in southeast unincorporated La Mesa.

Grant is presently in the 62nd grade. He is a member of the 1961 graduating class at Abilene High School, and of the class of 1965 at Stanford University. Also important to his education were three years in the U.S. Army, 1966-69. He was an artillery officer and did not have to go to Vietnam.

Three quotes important to his work:

1. "Humor can be dissected, as a frog can, but the thing dies in the process, and the innards are discouraging to any but the pure scientific mind." – E. B. White.

2. "Brevity is the soul of wit, but if wit is not forthcoming, then brevity will do." – Michael Grant.

3. "We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time." – T.S. Eliot

Grant has won several awards for his work, but none to match the achievement of his son, Tyler Grant, who is the 2008 National Flatpicking Guitar champion.