Tomorrow's Guest: Mark W. Danielson

Tomorrow, fellow mystery author Mark W. Danielson will guest on my blog with an article about how he developed the plot for his latest release, Spectral Gallows. Also, Mark will run a contest for an autographed copy of Spectral Gallows. He will choose the winner from among those who leave a comment.

Currently a FedEx pilot, Mark began taking flying lessons at age thirteen with money earned from delivering newspapers. He earned his Commercial Pilot's License prior to entering the University of Northern Colorado in 1970. He went on to fly the F-4 Phantom II fighter with the 80th Tactical Fighter Squadron in Korea. After moving to Lubbock, Texas, to serve as a T-38 advanced instructor-pilot, Mr. Danielson put his writing career on hold while completing his 300 hp Steen Skybolt bi-plane. He flew that airplane in numerous airshows over Texas. Mark left active duty in 1980 to pursue a civilian pilot career, but later returned to active duty, this time in the U.S. Navy. He earned his MA degree while serving as a jet-strike flight instructor in Beeville, Texas.

While assigned to Miramar Naval Air Station, Mark revamped his non-fiction writing career with numerous periodical articles and was twice recognized as the US Navy's top author. His writing was never limited to military publications, though. Novels provided Mr. Danielson with an outlet that non-fiction could not. Using real events as a basis makes his writing both believable and enthralling.  An actual FedEx DC-10 fire inspired Danger Within. The suspicious crash that claimed the life of US Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown inspired The Innocent Never Knew. His third novel, Diablo's Shadow, was based on a child disappearance and was released in 2008 to critical acclaim.

Mr. Danielson frequently participates in author events, which include the Los Angeles Times Book Festival, Men of Mystery event in Irvine, CA, Barnes and Noble Mystery Author's Night, Cutting Edge Murder, Kids Love a Mystery, and High Jinx on the High Seas. His interests include hiking, fine arts, tennis, and restoring cars and boats.