Michael's debut novel,"Tularosa" was nominated for an Anthony Award, a Dilys Award and a Spur Award from the Western Writers of America, and was selected as one of the best books of the year by "Publishers Weekly". "Serpent Gate", the third novel in the Kevin Kerney series, was a "Booklist" top-ten crime novel of 1998-1999. "Under the Color of Law" garnered kudos as a Top 10 bestseller list for 2001 of the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association. It was also judged as one of the best books of 2001 by Deadly Pleasures Magazine. Deadly Pleasures also gave a nod to the cover art as a top book cover of 2001. In 2003, Michael was nominated for two awards, the New Mexico Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts, and the Western Writers of America Spur Award for Best Western Novel, his second Spur nomination and in 2004, Michael was not only nominated but was awarded the New Mexico Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts -- Literature.