Michael Ray Taylor is an award-winning author of nonfiction books, including Hidden Nature: Wild Southern Caves, Cave Passages, Dark Life, Caves: Exploring Hidden Realms, and The Cat Manual. His journalism on science and exploration has appeared in The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, Wired, and many other leading publications. A professor emeritus of communication at Henderson State University, Taylor taught nonfiction and journalism for three decades, and his passion for underground life has led to collaborations with NASA scientists. He holds an MFA from the University of Arkansas and an MA from the University of South Carolina, and is a fellow of the National Speleological Society, the Cave Research Foundation, and The Explorers Club. In 2024, he received an Individual Artist Award from the Arkansas Arts Council for his novel in progress