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Mark Tabb: A Brief Bio

Writer and communicator Mark Tabb calls himself an “internationally unknown author.” Although his books have been published around the world, he is best known for his collaborative works. His 2008 release, “Mistaken Identity”, written with the Van Ryn and Cerak families, hit number one on the New York Times bestseller list for two weeks, and remained on the list for over two months. He and actor Stephen Baldwin teamed up on their 2005 New York Times bestseller, “The Unusual Suspect,” and with their first work of fiction, “The Death and Life of Gabriel Phillips,” due out in November, 2008. Mark also worked with New York Yankee pitcher Andy Pettitte on Andy’s book “Strike Zone.” Mark’s critically acclaimed 2003 release, “Out of the Whirlwind,” was a 2004 ECPA Gold Medallion finalist. Future releases include his collaborative book with Alec Baldwin, “A Promise to Ourselves,” along with Mark’s individual release, “How Can A Good God Let Bad Things Happen?”, both of which are due out in September, 2008.

Mark grew up in Oklahoma, graduating from Moore High School in 1979 with one of the top names in country music. Ironically, Mark hates country music, preferring bands like Death Cab for Cutie and Switchfoot to anything coming out of Nashville. He dropped out of college twice while searching for God’s ultimate purpose for his life. In 1982 he joined the Norman Fire Department and got married. The marriage lasted; his career as a firefighter did not. In 1983 he returned to school, graduating with highest honors from the Criswell College in Dallas, Texas in 1986.

After graduating from college Mark embarked on his second career, becoming a pastor. He and his growing family served churches in Oklahoma and California before finally settling in Indiana. Shortly before leaving the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains for the corn and soybean fields of Indiana, the writing bug bit Mark and bit him hard. In 1992 he submitted his first book to twenty seven publishers, all of whom said thanks, but no thanks. Never one to take a hint, he reworked the idea and sent it back to the same editors who rejected it the first time. In the summer of 1995 Moody Publishers bought his unsolicited manuscript, which was published as Uncommon Adventures in 1996. Three other books followed with Moody, two of which were published in Spanish, Korean, Indonesian, and German.

In 2002 Mark changed careers once again when he quit his day job to write full time. Two days after making this decision, Broadman and Holman agreed to publish Out of the Whirlwind. Over the course of the next few years Mark produced some of his best work, including the 2006 release Living with Less. In 2003 he began his collaborative work, first with Andy Pettitte and later with Dove award winning artist, Clay Crosse. In 2005 he connected with Stephen Baldwin. That same summer Mark worked with Navpress to produce a unique version of the Message Bible called Pause, A Daily Reading Bible.

Mark and his wife of twenty-five years have three daughters and two dachshunds. When he isn’t writing Mark serves as the chaplain and a volunteer firefighter with his local fire department. He also enjoys playing golf, although being self employed doesn’t leave much time for hitting the links. You may contact Mark through Alive Communications at lhough@alivecom.com.

©2008 Mark A. Tabb