[Spotlight Post] Mark Finn – Author and Force of Nature

This week’s spotlight is one final nod to Dallas Comic Con’s Fan Days, and no, I’m not bringing up the actors again. It’s time to move on. But…I found out fairly late in the game that one of my co-conspirators (I mean collaborators) was also part of the show, only upstairs in the artist alley portion of the show. So this week’s spotlight is on Mark Finn…

Yes, Mark, I intend to say relatively nice things about you despite the fact you left me with THAT chapter of our project….

Mark Finn has been around the writer’s block for a while now. If you’re part of the fan-run SF convention scene in the Texas region, you’ve heard of him (or just him). Mark’s a fixture – and a hard working son of a gun. He’s been part of Clockwork Storybook with Chris Roberson – and many, many others. He’s worked with Revolution SF. He’s an expert on Robert E. Howard and ape literature. He’s written short stories, novels, and everything in between.
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Most recently he’s been working on the Jack Teagarden Museum and being (in a shocking turn of events) a civic-minded, upstanding citizen and small business owner in Vernon, Texas. He’s also a comic book writer for Ape Entertainment (though not actually writing about monkeys). The first issue of Scouts is out, with a second in development, and he’s currently working on a tie-in comic to the phenomenally popular app game, Fruit Ninja.

And…he’s working with me on a Texas Weird Paranormal Romance. Note to up and coming writers… don’t say to someone “Hey! We should do something together!” then mouth off on a list of options while under the influence of major cleaning products. You end up getting what you mouth off about… but it’s fun. Reallly.

For all that Mark is a brash and sassy (yes, sassy) force of nature, he’s a professional. He’s talented. He’s dedicated. And he gets the job done. I am learning a lot from working with him. He’s definitely pushing me to learn and do and stretch (which is what a good collaboration should do). If you see him at a convention – talk to him, he’ll talk your ear off – but then, we all will. Check out his books, his comics, and poke him about getting our project done. You won’t be sorry. 😎

Tags: Ape Entertainment, Collaboration, Fruit Ninja, Jack Teagarden, Mark Finn, Spotlight