About the Author​

Michael A. Howard: A Journey from Childhood Mystery to Master of Mortuary Science

Michael A. Howard’s fascination with death was born from the haunting echoes of his childhood. Raised in a strict Italian family on his mother’s side, death was not merely a natural passage but a mysterious curse that tore through the family with devastating force. The defining moment came with the death of his grandfather—a traumatic event that shattered the family’s foundation and left a profound mark on young Michael’s impressionable mind.

He vividly recalled the harrowing sounds of grief—the piercing wails of elderly women echoing through the house, their sorrow muffled beneath black translucent veils. To a child, the funeral was an enigma, a ritual wrapped in secrecy and sorrow. Isolated in his confusion, Michael was left to grieve in his own way, yet that solitude sparked a lifelong curiosity: What would it be like to work in such an environment?

Years later, while serving in the United States Marine Corps, Michael confronted death in a new and unfiltered way. Tasked with assisting in the preparation of the fallen for their final journey home, he experienced firsthand the physical and emotional toll of caring for the dead. It was exhausting, yet transformative. This experience reignited the questions that had lingered since childhood and ultimately set him on a path toward the funeral industry.

Michael’s career began in the southern United States, where, at that time, only a high school diploma was required to enter a three-year internship before attending mortuary college. Immersed in the demanding rhythm of a funeral home that managed 1,500 to 1,600 funerals annually, he absorbed every aspect of the business. But when the pull of home called him back to the North, Michael was required to meet additional academic requirements—college, mortuary school, and another year of internship.

Decades of hands-on experience and relentless dedication culminated in Embalmer’s Nightmare, his first book—a raw, unfiltered account that captures thirty years of exhaustion, resilience, and reverence for the dead. Michael understood that one had to coexist with death before they could truly record its essence. His extensive research, coupled with an engaging and authentic writing style, offers readers a captivating glimpse into the often-misunderstood world of mortuary science.

Michael A. Howard’s story is not just one of professional evolution—it’s a testament to the power of curiosity, resilience, and the unyielding human desire to make sense of life’s greatest mystery. Through his work, he has left an indelible mark on those eager to explore the fascinating, often hidden, world of funeral service.