Michael Blake was an acclaimed American author and screenwriter, renowned for his film adaptation of his celebrated novel, Dances with Wolves. Born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Blake spent parts of his childhood in Texas before his family relocated to Southern California, where they moved frequently.

Blake commenced his writing career at Walker Air Force Base, contributing to the base's newspaper. He pursued journalism studies at the University of New Mexico and later attended a film school in Berkeley, California. Additionally, he studied at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales.

In the late 1970s, Blake moved to Los Angeles. Throughout the 1980s, only one of his scripts, titled Stacey’s Knights, was produced. The film's lead, Kevin Costner, encouraged Blake to persist in writing and introduced him to significant Hollywood figures. This connection led to Blake's creation of his notable novel, Dances with Wolves, which Costner urged him to adapt into a screenplay. The film, released in 1990, achieved significant success.

Beyond his success in writing, Blake dedicated himself to humanitarian efforts and continued his literary pursuits. He had three siblings, one of whom, Dan Webb, was the former principal of Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Michael Blake passed away in Tucson, Arizona, on May 2, 2015, at the age of 69.

Blake's works include several novels, with Dances with Wolves becoming a New York Times #1 Bestseller and earning him the 1991 Academy Award.