About Mark Love
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Mark Love lived for many years in the metropolitan Detroit area, where crime and corruption are always prevalent. As a former freelance reporter, Mark honed his writing skills by covering features and hard news.
Mark now resides in West Michigan, where he enjoys a wide variety of music, books, travel, cooking, and the great outdoors. |
Mark is the author of the Jamie Richmond romance mysteries, Devious, Vanishing Act, Fleeing Beauty and Chasing Favors, and the novella, Stealing Haven.
Mark also writes the Jefferson Chene mystery series, including WHY 319?, Your Turn To Die, and The Wayward Path.
In Other Publications, Mark's short story, Don’t Mess with the Gods, was written with Elle Nina Castle and was included in the Magic & Mischief anthology.
Mark also writes the Jefferson Chene mystery series, including WHY 319?, Your Turn To Die, and The Wayward Path.
In Other Publications, Mark's short story, Don’t Mess with the Gods, was written with Elle Nina Castle and was included in the Magic & Mischief anthology.
The Stormy Nights Writer’s Society
Back in 2014, I was working at a non-profit organization that had a number of different programs for people in the community. Although I was working in Human Resources, staff members soon learned about my background as a published author. I was approached about conducting a writing seminar. We set the parameters to include conflicts, characters, setting, plots and dialogue, among other topics. The plan was to schedule three ninety-minutes sessions over a three-week period. That would be a nice break from my regular HR duties.
I even went so far as to write a few scenes that participants could view as a homework assignment. For example, I wrote the first page or two of a situation and stopped, leaving them to continue the scene. Many of the attendees jumped at that and claimed it helped trigger their own creative efforts.
At the end of the third week’s session. Three of the men in attendance proceeded to block the door from the inside. “We’re not done! We want to do more of this! You can’t stop here!” By now the group had grown to more than twenty people. I checked with the CEO and the person who managed the community programs. They agreed to keep it going.
We began gathering on the first and third Tuesday of each month. At first it was for one hour, then it went to ninety minutes, then two hours. Participants were encouraged to bring part of their own current projects to read and receive constructive criticism. Occasionally I would lead conversations about publishers, magazines, editors, marketing and any other topics they were interested in. The group always wanted to hear about my current projects or things I’d written.
One day I read a short story I’d written years ago titled, “Goody Two Shoes.” This was a parody of the Sam Spade type of mystery. The opening line is the old chestnut, “It was a dark and stormy night. No, really, it was!”
The group enjoyed the story so much that it took on the name “The Stormy Night’s Writer’s Society.”
Late in 2016, I left that job for another. But the group continues to meet, to support each other and sharpen their skills. That has become part of my legacy.
Earlier this summer, Jerry Sorn, one of the original members of the group and a damn fine writer, brought me a copy of the group’s anthology. I have read these stories many times now and each one makes me smile.
I can’t wait to see volume two.
https://www.amazon.com//dp/B0C6P8GSBR/
I even went so far as to write a few scenes that participants could view as a homework assignment. For example, I wrote the first page or two of a situation and stopped, leaving them to continue the scene. Many of the attendees jumped at that and claimed it helped trigger their own creative efforts.
At the end of the third week’s session. Three of the men in attendance proceeded to block the door from the inside. “We’re not done! We want to do more of this! You can’t stop here!” By now the group had grown to more than twenty people. I checked with the CEO and the person who managed the community programs. They agreed to keep it going.
We began gathering on the first and third Tuesday of each month. At first it was for one hour, then it went to ninety minutes, then two hours. Participants were encouraged to bring part of their own current projects to read and receive constructive criticism. Occasionally I would lead conversations about publishers, magazines, editors, marketing and any other topics they were interested in. The group always wanted to hear about my current projects or things I’d written.
One day I read a short story I’d written years ago titled, “Goody Two Shoes.” This was a parody of the Sam Spade type of mystery. The opening line is the old chestnut, “It was a dark and stormy night. No, really, it was!”
The group enjoyed the story so much that it took on the name “The Stormy Night’s Writer’s Society.”
Late in 2016, I left that job for another. But the group continues to meet, to support each other and sharpen their skills. That has become part of my legacy.
Earlier this summer, Jerry Sorn, one of the original members of the group and a damn fine writer, brought me a copy of the group’s anthology. I have read these stories many times now and each one makes me smile.
I can’t wait to see volume two.
https://www.amazon.com//dp/B0C6P8GSBR/
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