Michael Lacey Freeman is a seven-time award-winning ELT author, storyteller, and keynote speaker. Originally from Rochford, near London in the UK, he moved to Italy at the age of 26 and has since made it his home. He currently teaches English at university in Ancona, Italy, while continuing to write graded readers and course books for leading international publishers.

Often described as “the writer of emotions,” Michael believes that stories are the purest way we can connect across generations and cultures. His work includes the much-loved Egghead and The Drum, winner of a 2025 Language Learner Literature Award from the Extensive Reading Foundation. He also fronts a band called The Eggheads, who create original songs to accompany each of his stories, blending music with narrative to inspire learners in new ways.

A lifelong lover of reading and music, Michael speaks both English and Italian, and enjoys travelling and learning other foreign languages. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Extensive Reading Foundation, an organisation that promotes reading worldwide.