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WRITES STUFF

HELLO!

… and thanks for stopping by. My name is Mark and I love to write picture books! For the best part of twenty years I’ve had the pleasure of dreaming them up, sharing and creating them for big and little kids alike.

BOOKS

Sometimes thoughtful, sometimes funny, my books have been described in terms as diverse as ‘laugh-out-loud funny.’ (Baa Baa Smart Sheep - National Radio) to ‘warm, reassuring and beautifully crafted.’ (Because You Are You - KidsBooksNZ).

Over the past two decades I’ve had the good fortune to collaborate with some of the world’s leading publishers including Scholastic, Harper Collins (AUS), Candlewick Press (USA), Editions Milan (France), and Carlsen Verlag in Germany. To date my books have been published across 16 countries in 13 languages, picking up a number of literary and design awards along the way.

ABOUT

I was born and have lived most of my life in New Zealand, all the while travelling further afield (as many of us “Kiwi’s” are inclined to do!). My passion for words started at a very young age. For as long as I can remember I’ve loved playing with them: dreaming, philosophising, arranging and rearranging them: rhyming, bending and polishing them into letters, poems, songs and - of course - the best part, stories! Currently I live and create in the lakeside town of Wanaka - famous for its beautiful vistas, stunning walks, and New Zealand’s most photographed tree.

MUSINGS

 As well as having two new picture books scheduled for 2026, I’m well underway with some work more for the adult mind: a dark and twisty archetypal fairytale about love, greed, abandonment, and transformation. I also often amuse myself with musings and writing poetry - a small selection of which you can read here

BECAUSE YOU ARE YOU

“Celebrates the power of love, imagination and empathy … Glorious.” Paula Green, The Poetry Box

My latest book, Because You Are You, is now available! It’s a sweet tale about love, individuality, and a little mouse with a big imagination. I’m so thrilled with how Glenorchy based artist Diine bought the story and characters so vibrantly to life with her gorgeous watercolour style.

THANKS FOR VISITING

I hope you enjoy getting to know me through my work. If you’d like to connect with me, click here.
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