Michael A. Franco

Biography

Michael Franco was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the oldest of 7 children in the Franco household. He graduated from the University of New Mexico, spent most of his time in his hometown, but briefly attended Georgetown University Law School in Washington, D.C.

He is currently retired from the Federal Aviation Administration and works in his second career, in a Paralegal capacity for the City of Albuquerque, Land of Enchantment.

Where to find Michael A. Franco online

Series

Strange Little Creatures
Dust mites are living creatures, smaller than a pinhead, roaming, blind little things, that look like a walking stomach with a mouthpart. And Jerusalem crickets are called 'Woh-tzi-Neh' (translated as "old bald-headed man" or "skull insect") by Native Americans. In Spanish, it's called " ñina de la tierra" or "child of the earth," because of its large, bald "baby face." The Horsehair worm is a parasite which enters and lives inside an insect until the worm matures. It then compels the insect host to seek and enter water, where the horsehair worm emerges and lives out the remainder of its life. Together, these three children's books explore some strange little creatures found in nature.

Books

Squirmy Horsehair Worms: A Zombie-creating Parasite
Series: Strange Little Creatures, Book 3. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 2,010. Language: English. Originally Published: September 11, 2017 by Michael A. Franco. Categories: Nonfiction » Children's Books » Curiosities & Wonders
The horsehair worm is swallowed in larval form by an insect host. As the worm grows and matures inside the insect, the insect host seems to surrender its will to the worm. Three months later, the host, almost zombie-like, is compelled to seek out water. When the insect enters the water, the mature horsehair worm emerges from the host’s body wall---as a writhing, knotting, mass of hair-like worm.
Jerusalem Crickets, the Child of the Earth
Series: Strange Little Creatures, Book 2. Price: $6.99 USD. Words: 1,960. Language: English. Originally Published: June 12, 2017 by Michael A. Franco. Categories: Nonfiction » Children's Books » Reference
This relative of the cricket has been called ‘Woh-tzi-Neh’ by native Americans, which translates as "skull insect" or “old, bald-headed man.” Jerusalem Crickets attract attention because they’re large insects, and have a round, almost human-looking, baldhead: almost like a little baby face with a cricket body!
The Huge, Empty Box
Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 1,710. Language: English. Originally Published: February 17, 2016 by Michael A. Franco. Categories: Fiction » Children’s books » Imagination & Play, Fiction » Children’s books » Activity Books
Misty and Tyler were so bored!--until father brought them something left over from work. Guess what it was and what they made it into?
DUST MITES Nature’s Garbage Collectors
Series: Strange Little Creatures, Book 1. Price: $6.99 USD. Words: 2,180. Language: English. Originally Published: November 19, 2015 by Michael A. Franco. Categories: Nonfiction » Children's Books » Science & Nature / Biology
Dust mites are tiny, almost microscopic little creatures that live in things where you spend lots of time-- like your bed, your pillow, on the comfy couch, and the shaggy rug. They are always hungry, but you’ll never guess what they hunger for, and what they munch on all the time?
Were You Born Stupid? Tales of an Hispanic-American Family
Price: $9.99 USD. Words: 95,810. Language: English. Originally Published: August 2, 2015 by Michael A. Franco. Categories: Nonfiction » Biography » Personal memoir, Nonfiction » Entertainment » Humor & satire » Topic / marriage & family
“Were you born stupid?” is a phrase I often heard my father ask me as the eldest of his seven children. This memoir is of what now seems an enchanted childhood, written through a boy’s eyes, set in the 1950’s through 70’s, growing up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. It relates the trials and triumphs of a large Hispanic family, a life abundantly joyful, at times brutal, ever hopeful.