User:Cannonball200/MarkS

Mark William Shaw
Mark William Shaw
Occupation	Author
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Purdue University ; Indiana University School of Law - Indianapolis ; [\| San Francisco Theological Seminary]
Period	1993-present
Genre	Non-fiction (mostly biographies)
Website
	www.markshawbooks.net

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Mark William Shaw (born March 10, 1945) is an American lawyer and television personality turned author and theologian with nearly twenty books published. His latest, Beneath the Mask of Holiness: Thomas Merton and the Forbidden Love Affair that Set Him Free, is due to be published by Palgrave Macmillan in the fall of 2009.

Biography[edit]

Mark Shaw, the second youngest of four children, was born in Auburn, Indiana, to Marvin and Vera Shaw. His father was a respected real estate agent and his mother a homemaker. His brother Jack became president of Direct TV before retiring in 2002.

During his early years, Mark valued time with his family and any type of creative work. His first jobs were washing cars, selling TV Guide magazine, sacking groceries, and construction, but his eye was on anything new he could try. This curiosity would lead him to more than thirty occupations including chemicals salesman, criminal defense lawyer, newspaper founder, television personality, television producer, film producer, television legal analyst and author. He would live in several parts of the country including Auburn, Indianapolis, (twice), Aspen, Colorado, (twice), New York City, Los Angeles, Corona del Mar, California, San Francisco (three times), Nashville, Indiana, Sausalito and San Anselmo, California and East Lansing, Michigan.

While living in Sausalito, Shaw owned Cricket’s Books and Gifts on Princess Street. It featured new and used books, hosted poetry readings, and was host to a weekly discussion of the best-selling book, The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren.

Education[edit]

After graduating from Auburn High School, Shaw entered Purdue University in 1963. He first majored in Electrical Engineering but dropped out of that school when he received a “5” out of a hundred on a freshman year physics test. He then majored in Industrial Management and Economics and finally graduated in 1968 after five years and three summer schools. While at Purdue, he was a member of the varsity golf team and Beta Theta Pi fraternity where he served as rush chairman.

In 1972, after several eventful, if less than successful, jobs including chemical salesman, bartender, and selling glass swans at state fairs, Shaw was accepted at Indiana University Law School at Indianapolis. He was a student intern for a law firm while completing his course work. After passing the bar examination and returning from Germany and Italy, he became a public defender in the Indianapolis court system. For the next several years, he also enjoyed a successful private practice focused mainly on high-profile murder cases, one of which he tried with the famed F. Lee Bailey. He is a member of the Indiana and California bar. In 2005, Shaw was accepted at San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, California. In 2008, he graduated with a Masters degree in Theological Studies with a specialized interest in spiritual conversion and religious art.

Television/Film/Radio Career[edit]

In 1976, Mark Shaw left the practice of law in Indianapolis and moved to Aspen, Colorado. There, along with friends David Danforth and Lee Duncan, he co-founded the Aspen Daily News, a paper surviving to this day. During this time, the murder trial of famous singer and Andy Williams wife Claudine Longet became an international sensation. Upon the recommendation of F. Lee Bailey’s agent, Mark became the legal analyst for ABC’s Good Morning America. He reported daily on the month-long trial and predicted the outcome. After the trial, Ms. Longet permitted Shaw an exclusive interview.

Impressed with his on-air personality, GMA hired Shaw as their “on the road” correspondent during the late 1970s. He traveled around the country filming human interest stories. Among them were flights in an F-4 fighter jet, coverage of the annual “Ugly Dog Contest, and reporting the 200th July 4th celebration at the Declaration of Independence in Washington D. C.

When famed producer David Suskind sought a co-host for his new CBS primetime television program, People, to join former Miss America Phyllis George, he chose Shaw. Based in New York City, Mark filmed segments with actor/race driver Paul Newman by riding with him around a Watkins Glen track, enjoyed a scary ride on a California rollercoaster with celebrity actor Kristy McNichol, and joined British actor Robert Morley at a famous Manhattan restaurant for a tasty dinner during his filming of the hit comedy, The Great Chefs of Europe. People aired on Monday nights at 8:00 but was short-lived due to poor ratings against Monday Night Football.

After to moving to California, Shaw was hired to be one of the hosts of The World of People syndicated television program based in San Francisco before appearing as Mr. Science on fifty-two episodes of the Disney Channel program, The Scheme of Things. Mark was also a correspondent for Entertainment Tonight, and interviewed, among others, pop singer Cyndy Lauper and the Beach Boys. Later he co-hosted Mid-Morning Los Angeles with Meridith MacRae.

In Los Angeles, Shaw met the legendary actor James Stewart through his church and persuaded him to host a Fox television show Shaw created called A Beverly Hills Christmas with James Stewart.” The program featured Mr. Stewart, Lucille Ball, Burt Reynolds, Walter Matthau, Denise Williams, Lee Greenwood and George Burns with Mark as producer.

During subsequent years, Shaw was executive producer for the film, Freeze Frame starring Shannen Doherty of Beverly Hills 90210 fame, and co-executive producer of Diving In, starring Burt Young and Kristy Swanson. The latter was distributed through Paramount Home Video.

In 1992, Shaw was hired by ABC, London Channel Four, and ESPN as legal analyst for the Mike Tyson rape trial. He also wrote a column for USA Today and correctly predicted the outcome. During the early 2000’s, Shaw analyzed the O. J. Simpson and Kobe Bryant trials for ESPN and appeared in ESPN specials featuring Larry Bird, Don Larsen and Jack Nicklaus. He also hosted Afternoons with Mark Shaw, two radio talk shows based in Bloomington and Indianapolis, Indiana, respectfully.

Publications[edit]

Based on his perspective of the Mike Tyson trial, Mark Shaw wrote his first book, Down For the Count. It was published in 1992. Subsequent books include Bury Me In A Pot Bunker, with golf designer Pete Dye, Testament To Courage, a Holocaust chronicle, The Perfect Yankee with Don Larsen, Forever Flying with famed aviator R. A. “Bob” Hoover, Miscarriage of Justice, the Jonathan Pollard Story, Nicklaus, Golf’s Greatest Champion, Clydesdales, the World’s Most Magical Horse, From Birdies to Bunkers with Alice Dye, Melvin Belli, King of the Courtroom, Larry Legend, and Beneath the Mask of Holiness. In all, twenty-nine editions of Mark’s book are still in print including one Japanese translation. Shaw has also written not only for USA Today, but Indiana Lawyer, The National Pastime, and the Aspen Daily News as a columnist. More about Shaw’s books may be learned at www.markshawbooks.net.

Literary Foundation[edit]

Mark Shaw was the founder of Aspen-based Books For Life Foundation, a literary organization assisting the publishing aspirations of prospective authors and poets. During its tenure, he worked with more than 1000 writers around the world mentoring their efforts. To assist with the process, he wrote five books on the practical aspects of writing and publishing including Book Report: Publishing Strategies, Writing Tips and 101 Literary Ideas for Aspiring Authors and Poets. He also wrote Grammar Report, Self-Publishing Report, Poetry Report, and Writer’s Report. Bolstering the ideas in the respective books, Mark conducted “How to Become a Published Author or Poet: Idea to Publication seminars at libraries, universities and writer’s centers throughout the United States and overseas in Paris. Shaw continues to mentor writers through his blog, www.hemingwaywantabes.wordpress.com.

Bob Knight Controversy[edit]

In the fall of 2000, famed Indiana University Hall of Fame basketball coach Bob Knight was charged with grabbing a student at Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana. The student turned out to be Mark Shaw’s stepson. When charges were filed with the university a verbal war broke out between those supporting the coach and his behavior, and those ridiculing him and calling for his ouster. The media had a field day with the feud until the situation took a nasty turn after Knight was fired. Death threats were received by Mark and his family and they were forced to temporarily leave their Indiana home for Florida. The media dubbed Mark “the Man Who Got Bobby Knight” and he was interviewed on all four networks and CNN. Even when tempers cooled, Mark’s stepsons did not return to IU. Some praised Shaw for standing up to Knight but criticism was leveled at Shaw for his irreverent conduct while defending his son. He accepted full responsibility realizing he had been too personal with his attitude toward Knight on his Bloomington radio program and during interviews. This, and revelations in such books as the Bible, The Purpose Driven Life, and Jesus, Life Coach, triggered a spiritual journey for Mark culminating in his attending San Francisco Theological Seminary before moving to East Lansing, Michigan in early 2008. There he was introduced to spiritual guru Thomas Merton, best known for advocating the contemplative life. See also: Knight: My Story by Bob Knight and Bob Hammel (2004), Bob Knight: The Unauthorized Biography by Steve Delsohn and Mark Heisler (2006) and Season on the Brink (1989) by John Feinstein.

International Thomas Merton Society[edit]

In mid-2008, Mark Shaw founded the Mid-Michigan chapter of the International Thomas Merton Society after becoming a disciple of Merton’s teachings. Shaw and other Mertonists gather to read and discuss Merton’s books, including The Seven Storey Mountain, New Seeds of Contemplation, The Wisdom of the Desert, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander, No Man Is An Island, and the seven volumes of Merton’s private journals. Shaw’s popular Merton blog about is located at www.mertonandfriends.wordpres.com. More about Merton may be learned at www.merton.org.

Family/Hobbies[edit]

Mark Shaw has three stepsons and a stepdaughter by a previous marriage. He is currently married to Wen-ying Lu, a linguistics librarian and cataloger at the Michigan State University library. Their constant companion is Black Sox, a black Labrador who has crisscrossed the United States four times while swimming in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. His favorite trick is “sit.” Mark’s hobbies include reading Ernest Hemingway books, watching vintage films, traveling to the South of France and Italy, and walking Black Sox. He is a suffering, diehard Chicago Cubs fan.

Books[edit]

Beneath the Mask of Holiness: Thomas Merton and the Forbidden Love Affair that Set Him Free (fall 2009)
Miscarriage of Justice: The Jonathan Pollard Story (2001) ISBN 1-55778-803-0
Melvin Belli: King of the Courtroom (2007) ISBN 1-56980-3424 Parameter error in {{ISBN}}: checksum-2
Down For The Count: The Shocking Truth Behind the Mike Tyson Trial (1992) ISBN 0-915611-78-3
Bury Me In A Pot Bunker with Pete Dye (1994) ISBN 0-8092-26810 Parameter error in {{ISBN}}: checksum-2
The Perfect Yankee with Don Larsen (1996) ISBN 57167-336-20 Parameter error in {{ISBN}}: checksum
Testament to Courage (1998) ISBN 1-57860-056-1
Larry Legend (1998) ISBN 1-57208-235-8 Parameter error in {{ISBN}}: checksum
Forever Flying with R. A. “Bob” Hoover (1996) ISBN 0-671-53761-X
Jack Nicklaus, Golf’s Greatest Champion (1997) ISBN 0-87833-961-2
Diamonds in the Rough (1999) ISBN 0-345-41745-3
Clydesdales, The World’s Most Magical Horse (2007)
From Birdies to Bunkers with Alice Dye (2004) ISBN 04-0-06-052821-1-4
How To Become a Published Author: Idea to Publication (e-book)
Book Report (2004) 0-9717596-6-9
Grammar Report (2005) ISBN 9717596-4-2
Self-Publishing Report (2005) ISBN 0-9717596-7-7
Poetry Report with Jim Walker (2004) ISBN 0-971596-5-0
Writer’s Report (2005) ISBN 0-9717596-8-5

External Links[edit]

Official Website: www.markshawbooks.net Thomas Merton blog: www.mertonandfriends.wordpress.com Writer mentoring blog: www.hemingwaywantabes.wordpress.com Mark Shaw books at www.amazon.com and www.abebooks.com.

Notable Quotes[edit]

“Keep the faith. You never know when there is a miracle right around the corner.” (from radio programs)

“In the long run, being denied what we think we want is just as important to our well-being as the blessings we receive.”

“Those who try to be something they are not experience suffering and turmoil. Those who exist as their true self discover joy and happiness, and if they wish, the Kingdom of Heaven.” (from Beneath the Mask of Holiness)

“Rejection is not a part of the writer’s vocabulary.” (from Book Report)