Fans of bestsellers A Quiet Place, Station Eleven and Bird Box are in for a treat: Local Michigan author Paul Michael Peters’ new book, “The Rhythm is Going to Get You,” blends exciting elements of post-apocalyptic, dystopian and survivalist science fiction—and shines a light on the heroic nature of the Deaf community.
International Deaf Awareness Week
International Week of Deaf People, September 21-27 2026, shines a light on the Deaf Community. This year’s theme is “Declaring Deaf People’s Human Rights”.
For more information on programs and literature amplifying the message of the cause check out the website here.
Meet local author Paul Michael Peters
A graduate of Eastern Michigan University (EMU), Paul Michael Peters has lived in the mitten state for most of his life. However, during the early 1990s, Peters attended various classes through the famed Second City Comedy Theater in Chicago. Peters shared that the opportunity to learn from some of the comedy greats, including Stephen Colbert, Steve Carrell and Tina Fey made a significant impact on his’ early writing career.
Peters started writing and entering writing competitions in high school, and then majored in Communications at EMU. Now a full-time author, Peters has authored fifteen books, with the sixteen novel forthcoming. In his own words, Peters takes inspiration from various authors including Ann Patchett, Elmore Leonard and Nick Hornby. His writing spans a cross section of various genres, including historical fiction, space adventure, fantasy and science fiction. His newest fictional work, “The Rhythm is Going to Get You,” will be released on September 15.
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The Rhythm is Going to Get You: Coming September 15th
Peters’ newest novel, “The Rhythm is Going to Get You,” portrays deaf characters as heroes. Peters was inspired to craft this story after remembering a song from the 1980s called “An Earworm.”
Set in the desert southwest, the story’s main protagonist, Charlie, cannot hear, while Anna, his muse, a British van-life influencer, has normal hearing. Charlie’s deafness, far from being a barrier, protects him from death. As the title suggests, listening to the rhythm of a song – an ‘80s pop tune, to be specific – causes anyone who hears it to be consciousness. What follows is a unique love story that ultimately also highlights Charlie as a savior in a world dominated by hearing people.
Other notable and forthcoming works
A prolific writer, Peters has several other exciting projects in the works, including “Clockwork Constellation: Collision of Conscience” (Third Book in the Clockwork Constellation Trilogy). The first two novels in the trilogy include Clockwork Constellation: Chrono Chaos and Clockwork Constellation: Crocodile Cult.
A few other notable works include “Broken Objects“, the story of a ten-year-old sold to a Detroit textile mill, and “Insensible Loss,” which centers on a woman who lives with her lover for 200 years. It reveals the cost of getting what you want.
Contact
To connect with Peters, check out his Facebook page, Instagram page, Goodreads page, Amazon page and subscribe to his newsletter here.
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