Mike Cooper is the pen name of Mike Wiecek, an accomplished author known for his popular international thrillers. Wiecek's writing career is marked by several prestigious awards, including a nomination for the Shamus Award for his short stories and a nomination for the ITW's "Best Paperback Original" for "Exit Strategy". Contrary to many authors, Wiecek did not have a childhood dream of becoming a writer. His younger self had aspirations of becoming an astronaut, a police officer, and a scientist.
Born in Boston, Wiecek's family moved around frequently during his formative years, living in New Hampshire, Wisconsin, and eventually settling in Missouri. His travels extended beyond the United States, with Wiecek spending several years exploring Asia and working in finance for companies in Japan. His experiences during this time were varied and adventurous, including hitchhiking through northeast Asia, taking a freighter to Bora Bora, overlanding to Tibet, backpacking across Tasmania, and climbing Mt. Kinabalu on Borneo. These travels exposed Wiecek to different cultures, languages, and cuisines, providing him with a wealth of knowledge and experiences that would later influence his writing.
In his thirties, Wiecek's focus shifted to building a life in Boston, where he settled down, started a family, and furthered his education. He and his wife have two teenage children and live outside of Boston, where they enjoy camping together during the summer months. Wiecek's career path has been diverse, with jobs ranging from working for the city's transit authority to holding a position as a Vice President at Fidelity Investments. However, since the birth of his daughter, Wiecek has been a stay-at-home parent, finding time to write when he can. His writing is heavily influenced by his travels and experiences, making for thrilling and engaging international stories.