E. Michael Helms is a highly popular author from the United States, known for his books in the historical fiction, memoir, and mystery genres. He was born in Marietta, Georgia, but spent his formative years in Panama City, Florida. Growing up, Helms excelled in sports, particularly football and baseball, earning him a scholarship offer from a Junior College. However, he chose to join the Marines after high school.
Helms served in the Vietnam War and was involved in some of the deadliest fighting. He was a rifleman and fought bravely during the war until he was wounded three times, which ultimately ended his service. He has described this incident as being in the wrong place at the wrong time. After returning home, Helms wrote a memoir based on his experiences in the war, titled 'The Proud Bastards'. The memoir received critical acclaim and is still in print even after 20 years since its publication.
In addition to his war memoirs, Helms has also written a two-part saga of the Civil War, 'Of Blood and Brothers', and a series of mystery novels, the Mac McClellan Mysteries. The first book in the series, 'Deadly Catch', was published in November 2013, and the second book, 'Deadly Ruse', won the 2015 RONE Award for Best Mystery. 'Deadly Dunes' and 'Deadly Spirits' followed in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
Helms is a USMC combat veteran and has been traditionally published since 1990. He currently resides in the Upstate region of South Carolina with his wife, where they enjoy canoeing, hiking, and bird watching.