I’m the son of two librarians.My first mystery, "Antler Dust," was published in 2007 and made the best-seller list on The Denver Post. Two years later, it was back on the same list. Great reviews from The Aspen Times and Great Falls (Montana) Tribune, among others. The sequel, "Buried by the Roan," was published in August, 2011. (Said Margaret Coel: "Flat-out terrific.") It was a finalist for the 2012 Colorado Book Award. The third, "Trapline," came out in 2014 and won the Colorado Book Award the next year. And "Lake of Fire," number four, was published in 2015 and was a finalist for the Colorado Book Award in 2016. Kirkus Review called the fourth installment "irresistible.""The Melancholy Howl" (No. 5) was published in 2018. Kirkus Reviews called it "smart and indelible."I’ve worked as a reporter for The Christian Science Monitor in Boston and Los Angeles, covering a variety of events and issues from the economy, commercial fishing, the environment, politics and all the colorful people and events of southern California. I've worked for The Rocky Mountain News and Denver Post, also with the MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour. For six years, I produced field documentaries across the United States and Latin America. I covered the 1985 earthquake in Mexico City, NASA’s space shuttle disaster, a volcano eruption in Colombia, political upheavals in Nicaragua, and mudslides in Puerto Rico.
An instinctive rebellious nature had him kicked out of every school he ever attended, public or private.
Once prepared for training for the Canadian Olympic Diving Team but seriously hurt his back on the high springboard. This injury later kept him out of the Army and resulted in an operation.
Became a contract player for Warners at $100 a week in 1943 but they changed his looks and his stage name. They darkened and straightened his curly ginger-colored hair and covered his freckles. At first he was billed as Stephen Richards, later changed it to Mark Stevens at the suggestion of Darryl F. Zanuck when he switched to 20th Century-Fox.
Met wife Annelle Hayes while she was out testing for movies. They had two children, Mark Richard and Arrelle.
Romantically involved for a time with actress Hedy Lamarr.
Honored with a star on Hollywoods Walk of Fame, located at 6637 Hollywood Blvd.
Karen Burroughs Hannsberry has a short biography of him in her book "Bad Boys: The Actors of Film Noir".
(November 2000) Creative Director for Abundant Life Church in Bradford, England
(July 1999) Worship Leader at Hillsong Conference
Was a Movie Critic and Staff-Writer for The Post, Ohio Universitys newspaper in Athens, Ohio.
