Join us as we sit down with Mark Benson, author, entrepreneur, and founder of Writerly — the thriving community transforming writers into family. In this interview, Mark shares his unconventional journey from Chicago's South Side to Marquette University (where he discovered that medical school wasn't his calling) to becoming a passionate novelist and storyteller. We dive into: ✍️ His writing process and what inspires his emotional storytelling📚 His published books and creative projects🏔️ How he built Writerly — an annual gathering of writers in the Smoky Mountains🎭 Balancing multiple careers (from the World's Largest Laundromat to Disney travel advisor)💡 Advice for aspiring writers and creative entrepreneurs Whether you're a writer, aspiring author, or someone curious about creative entrepreneurship, this conversation will inspire you to bet on yourself.📖 Mark's Books: authormarkbenson.com/books 🎙️ Subscribe for more author interviews & writing content ABOUT THE BOOKIsaac was just 8 when his abusive dad killed his mom, with the horror captured in a single Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph: little Isaac, being led from the house with his puppy Miles, splashed in blues and the reds of police lights. Today, he’s bullied at school, handled with kid gloves by his adoptive uncle, and spends most of his time with an old and gray Miles, hiding in his parents' abandoned house. But one evening, he discovers his mom’s telescope, tucked away in the old house’s attic. The gift tag on the box is written in crayon, To: Mom, From: Isaac. With national and local news swarming for comment on his dad’s upcoming parole hearing, he has to move in the shadows, and night after night that’s exactly where he finds Halley, the new girl at school with an odd affection for breaking into houses but, oddest of all, an affection for Isaac. Using the telescope, with Halley and Miles by his side, he first discovers memories of Mom he thought were lost forever. Then he discovers Planet Nine, a super planet ten times the size of Earth that, until Isaac’s eyes, has only been the stuff of astronomy legend. Now he has a choice: Continue to hide himself and the planet from the world, or risk letting a viral relapse spiral his life out of control again. The discovery of the millennium awaits his decision. ABOUT THE AUTHORHe grew up in Chicago's South Suburbs before heading to Marquette University, hoping to become a doctor. Turns out, he's no good at the medical sciences. He became an English major, fell in love with writing and editing, and has been doing both ever since. He bounced around newspapers, from Dallas to the Twin Cities and Milwaukee again, before finding his way back home to Oak Park, Ill. After a couple of decades running the family business — the World's Largest Laundromat in Berwyn — he decided to bet on himself: He's now a travel advisor specializing in Disney vacations and a restaurant host. But despite multiple career paths (including as a USPTA tennis instructor and a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador), he's always found his way back to writing. He's passionate about emotional stories and loves writing novels and stage plays. He encourages readers to check out all of his books. But nothing he does in writing will be as impactful as creating Writerly, the community of writing strangers-turned-family. This diverse group of talented writers meets once a year in the Smoky Mountains to write and enjoy each other's company. ABOUT THE SIDE QUEST BOOK CLUB PODCAST Reading is the ultimate side quest. Side Quest is a casual book club podcast full of literary adventures. Join Slava and Jonathan as they discuss the books they are reading, life, history, belief systems, and more. Explore world-building, characters, and story development, and share some laughs along the way. New episodes drop every TUES. LISTEN TO THE AUDIO VERSION This is a video version of our audio podcast. Want to listen on the go?Find *Side Quest Book Club* on your favorite podcast app. 🎧 **Subscribe on Any Platform https://linktr.ee/asidequest JOIN THE GUILD 🌐 Official Website / Quest Log:https://www.thesidequestpodcast.com/ 💬 Follow Our Adventures on Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesidequestpodcast TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@sidequestpodcast CREDITS Hosts: Slava and JonathanPodcast Hosting & Distribution by Transistor.fm https://transistor.fm/how-to-start-a-podcast/?via=slava Intro/Outro Music: HoliznaCC0vEditing by: CharacterNorth6081 - Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/u/CharacterNorth6081/s/k3mFE9aGqh - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/parasss.__
