APRIL 5, 2020

Thanks to the help of all my Facebook friends we have selected the cover for the second edition of my first book "Fighting For My Life". The first 2500 copies sold out. By popular demand we are reprinting. The same short and simple story and refelctions but with all new photography. The book will be soft cover so it can get into prisons and institutions and people who need it most.

APRIL 4, 2020

I really enjoyed being on NPR radio this week. Please check out "The Point" with Mindy Todd on WCAI. Click this WCAI logo and you will be taken to their site to hear about my new book "Through A Sober Lens" and issues facing recovery programs in the face of Corona Virus.

April 1, 2020

I am so excited. "Through A Sober Lens" has won either the Gold or Silver awards for interior book design and inspirational story in the Ben Franklin Awards by the Independent Book Publishers Association in California. We find out in May if we won the Gold. Regardless, it is a high honor out to be selected in two categories out of the 1700 independent books chosen for consideration out of all the books published in 2019. Stay Tuned!.

March 7, 2020

I had so much fun doing this interview with April Eichhorn O'Leary from O'Leary Publishing. If you didn't have the chance to see the 36 minutes on Facebook, here is the link to the podcast. Just click the photo of April. Her podcast is called "I'm Booked".

March 6, 2020

It's Official. I am teaming up with the Martha's Vineyard Preservation Trust to do two cell phone photography workshops, and a cell phone photography week-long exhibition, at the Carnegie as part of ARTS WEEK on Martha's Vineyard the first week of May. The workshops will help you take your best pictures, followed by an exposition at the Carnegie of printed cell phone photos. I am excited to be curating the show and facilitating the workshops! Here are screenshots of each program but all you have to do to sign up is click this link:

Cell Phone Workshop and Show

March 1, 2020

Appearing in my first Movie!!

Barbara Bates Conroy is an angel. Her son died of a heroin overdose and her passion to tell his story has lead to the release of a documentary at the end of the month. I am honored to be a part of the movie with national experts and politicians like Patrick Kennedy and Senator Blumenthal. Sherry Sidoti and I make up the Martha's Vineyard contingent. Barbara lives here in the summer. We have small parts but represent how Art and Yoga / Mediation can provide a path to recovery. I believe there will be a Martha's Vineyard premier later this Spring or Summer and I will let you know where/when/how to watch the movie.

January 30, 2020

Really hard to believe but my book "Through A Sober Lens" just hit number 2 as an Amazon Best Seller in Landscape Photography. There are tens of thousands of books and I am so happy. We also hit the top 25 in the categories of alcoholism and addiction.

January 30, 2020

Kirkus is one of the more renowned book reviewers in the country. I am so pleased we just received this email. I will let you know when we get the issue!

This message is for Michael Blanchard,

I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to let you know that THROUGH A SOBER LENS has been selected by our Indie editors to be included in the 2/1 issue of Kirkus Reviews. Congratulations on the feature! Less than 10% of Indie authors are selected for this. Your review will be included as 1 of 35 reviews in the Indie section of the magazine which goes out to industry professionals (literary agents, librarians, publishers, book sellers, film executives, etc.). 

December 30, 2019

Great way to end the New Year. really nice article today on my new book "Through A Sober Lens" in the Martha's Vineyard Gazette!

Here is the link: Click ME

December 26, 2019

Our first two professional book reviews are in for my new Book: Through A Sober Lens: A Photographer's Journey

Both Kirkus and Forward Reviews can be brutal so I am very happy. Just click the name to see the review:

KIRKUS

FORWARDREVIEWS

December 22, 2019

Thank you for all of you who purchased my calendar!!! We were able to donate $5000 to Misty Meadows and their Equine Programs to help kids with disabilities. AMAZING!!

December 21, 2019

I am person of the week on WMVY Radio!! Here is the link:

Click Here

December 20, 2019

Where can you find my New Book on Martha's Vineyard and beyond?

1. Right here on my website
2. Amazon.com - search on "Through A Sober Lens"
3. Bunch Of Grapes Bookstore
4. Edgartown Books
5. Phillips Hardware in Oak Bluffs
6. Refabulous in Vineyard Haven
7. Cronig's in Vineyard Haven
8. MYX Market at the Kelley House in Edgartown
9. Vineyard Arts Gallery in Vineyard Haven

November 26, 2019

Really nice article in the Martha's Vineyard Times on my new book:

Here is the link: Through A Sober Lens Link

November 15, 2019

My new book, my photography and story are now available in the Fall Issue of Vineyard Style Magazine

I really appreciate Charlie and the gang at Vineyard Style.

November 12, 2019

My Radio interview on Boston's Frankie Boyer show is now available on-line

The show is titled: "The Frankie Boyer Show"

Just click this link to listen: Michael Blanchard Boston

November 11, 2019

My Podcast interview with Divya Parekh and the show "Beyond Confidence" is now available on IHeart radio

The show is titled: "From Collapse To A Compassionate Life"

Just click this link to listen: Michael Blanchard Beyond Confidence

November 10, 2019

Michael Blanchard and Post Traumatic Growth

The Dots Podcast

Listen on Apple Podcasts 

Michael Blanchard was a successful health care executive fulfilling the corporate dream and becoming what the world thought he should be when addiction to alcohol changed everything. Today Michael is a self-taught landscape photographer living and working on Martha's Vineyard. He is a speaker and author of two books. Additionally, he has an MA in Psychology and has developed a method called Post Traumatic Growth.

October 29, 2019

Check out my new Fall Video of Martha's Vineyard that I posted on Facebook this morning. Click this link:

FALL 2019 OVER MARTHA"S VINEYARD

October 27, 2019

My new book "Through A Sober lens: A Photographer's Journey" has been printed and 3000 books are on their way!!! Finally! They will be in stock by the end of November. Stay tuned for an extensive roll-out including book signings, radio shows, magazines and library talks. More to follow!

If you haven't seen my promotional video, just click here. I hope you enjoy it!

Through A Sober Lens Promo Video

June 16, 2019

The Vineyard Serenity Calendar is back for 2019-2020!!!!

I made, and released a video 2-days ago announcing the 2019-2020 Vineyard Serenity Calendar. I attached a link to the 4-minute video below.

The calendar will be used to raise money for Misty Meadows Equine Learning Center. I hope to raise $15,000 for their amazing programs.

I run a “Preorder” to help fund the project. You can see images of the front, back and some middle sections. It runs from September 2019 – December 2020 – a full sixteen months. The photographs were selected in voting here on Facebook. I also include some inspirational thoughts each month that I hope adds meaning to the photographs. We are including pictures and letters from students who have benefited from their experiences with horses. Whether the child is autistic or has cerebral palsy, miracles happen here on a daily basis.
Some facts:

-The calendar is 14x11 that folds open to 14x22

March 7, 2019

Kelly Jean Mcguiggin and John Murphy lost their kids to addiction.

These two amazing people sat with me last week and recorded a 30-minute program on MVTV to talk about their loss and steps we can take to prevent other parents from experiencing the same terrible outcome. This is the latest episode of our weekly program "Addiction - Got a minute" that is described in this week's Martha's Vineyard Times. I also included the Youtube link to watch the program. Very powerful and I want to thank both of them for the courage to do this. These two photos are of Colin and Jolene who died way too young - Colin of a Heroin overdose in his dorm room in 2016; and Jolene drunk driving at the age of 17, 20 years ago. I included a poem written by Jolene before she passed that shows the anxiety kids face. We need to find a way to prevent this.

February 21, 2019

Another video - my latest creation. The end of February 2019 over Martha's Vineyard. I hope you enjoy it

Click me: Over Martha's Vineyard February 21, 2019

I am starting into videography. I took these drone videos this month and put them to music. I hope you enjoy it!

February 2019

Martha's Vineyard Television

I am no co-hosting a weekly talk show with Howie Marlin.  The 30 minute program is titled "Addiction:  Got a minute?".  This is an important show if you are contemplating rehab! Check out all the shows on www.mvtv.org

Click this Link:  Program #12

December 2018

Martha's Vineyard Television

I am no co-hosting a weekly talk show with Howie Marlin.  The 30 minute program is titled "Addiction:  Got a minute?".  Attached are the links to shows 3-6. We have enjoyed the process and would like feedback. Let me know what you think and how we could improve. Happy New Year to everyone!!!

Click this Link:  Program #3

Click this Link:  Program #4

Click this Link:  Program #5

Click this Link:  Program #6

November 2018