Mark Scott Piper has been writing professionally his entire adult life. He is a longtime freelance writer and video director/producer. Mark holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Oregon, and he taught literature and writing at the college level for several years. He is a member of the California Writers Club, Redwood Writers. Mark’s bookshelves are overflowing. Among his favorites are Christopher Moore, John Irving, Barbara Kingsolver, Stephen Crane, William Faulkner, Tony Hillerman, Fyodor Dostoevsky, and Anne Lamott—all of whom successfully conspire to keep him humble. His debut novel, You Wish, earned first-place gold in the 2019 American Eagle Book Awards. His second novel, The Old Block, was released in 2020 to enthusiastic reviews. His mystery/thriller, Until Proven Innocent, was published in 2022. His collection of short stories, The Long and the Short of It: 15 Stories, was launched in 2024. Mark has published several short stories both online and in print.