Mark Shaw is a “reformed” criminal defense lawyer and radio/television personality turned author. Curious about the theological aspects of conversion and other spiritual topics, he graduated from San Francisco Theological Seminary with a Masters degree in theological studies in 2008.

The author of nearly twenty published books, Mark’s current book is Beneath the Mask of Holiness, a biography of famed spiritual guru Thomas Merton. It was published in fall 2009 by Palgrave-MacMillan.

Published books include Melvin Belli, King of the Courtroom, Miscarriage of Justice, The Jonathan Pollard Story, Forever Flying, the autobiography of famed aviator R. A. “Bob” Hoover, Larry Legend, a biography of NBA superstar Larry Bird, and Testament To Courage, the poignant memoir of Holocaust survivor Cecelia Rexin. He has also written Down for the Count, an investigative look at the Mike Tyson rape trial, and The Perfect Yankee, a chronicle of New York Yankee pitcher Don Larsen’s perfect game in the 1956 World Series. Mark is the author of five books on writing and publishing, including Book Report, Publishing Strategies, Writing Tips, and 101 Literary Ideas for Aspiring Authors and Poets.

Twenty-nine editions of Mark’s books are in print. Forever Flying, The Perfect Yankee, Larry Legend, Jack Nicklaus, Golf’s Greatest Champion, and Bury Me in a Pot Bunker have been published in paperback. Bury Me in a Pot Bunker has been translated in Japanese.

Besides his writing, Mark conducts “How To Become A Published Author or Poet: Idea to Publication” seminars around the world. He has appeared at libraries, colleges, universities, and schools including the American University in Paris.

Mr. Shaw’s background includes six years as a noted criminal defense attorney in the Midwest. He also practiced entertainment law in Los Angeles and Indianapolis. Mark remains a member of the bar in California and Indiana.

In 1978, Mark co-founded the Aspen Daily News, a daily newspaper in Colorado. He has hosted three-hour radio talk shows in Bloomington and Indianapolis, Indiana.

Mr. Shaw began his career in the entertainment industry as an on-air television personality for ABC's Good Morning America, CBS’s People, the syndicated World of People, and the Disney Channel’s The Scheme of Things. He has hosted various talk shows including A.M. Los Angeles and Mid-Morning L.A., and was a legal correspondent for the nationally syndicated program, On Trial.

Mark was the legal analyst who correctly predicted the outcome of the Mike Tyson and O. J. Simpson trials for, among others, CNN, ABC, and ESPN. He wrote several columns analyzing the case for USA Today. In 2004, he analyzed the Kobe Bryant case for ESPN and USA Today.com.

Mark created and produced the Television Special, A Beverly Hills Christmas with James Stewart, for Fox Broadcasting. He was co-executive producer for two motion pictures, Freeze Frame and Diving In. After co-writing the screenplay for the film Hazel for Universal Studios, Mr. Shaw became a member of the Writers Guild of America. He has written articles and columns for, among others, USA Today, The Aspen Daily News, The National Pastime, The Bloomington Voice, Indianapolis Monthly, and lndiana Lawyer.

Mark is a member of the International Thomas Merton Society and a member of the American Academy of Religion. In 2008, he spoke about the legal accuracy of the acclaimed novel, Anatomy of a Murder, at the 50th anniversary celebration of the book at the Library of Michigan.

An avid collector of Ernest Hemingway books and a great fan of the Chicago Cubs, Mark is married to Wen-ying Lu, a librarian at a university. Currently he resides with his wife and their beloved Labrador, Black Sox, in Superior, Colorado.

Telephone: 970.618.2027, email mshawin@yahoo.com