resides in American Samoa with his wife and 5 children. Presently he is
working as a freelance writer. He has served in the past as editor for
both local newspapers and Samoa corespondent for Radio New Zealand International
and Associated Press.
He
describes his Uncle John as "his motivating force" in writing. "My uncle
gave me only positive encouragement. When the writing wasn't so good, he'd
usually send me a ream of paper and box of new pencils... but no discouraging
words!"
Mark's
first published short story was done with the help of Albert Wendt who
compiled a collection of local writers in 1979 for Mana Magazine. Since
then he has published his own collection of short stories called "Free,"
and a short novel called, "War On America."
Although
the story, "... but I called him Papa" is a serious and sobering
account of the death of a loved one, Mark generally writes on the lighter
side and has been described as one of "Polynesia's few satirical writers."
Mark's
hobbies include listening to old Beatles tapes, sailing around the Pacific
in ancient Polynesian canoes, and trying to make heads or tails out of
the American Samoa Government's financial situation.