Mark Fryburg used to report broadcast news, practice public relations and teach people how to fly airplanes. A late bloomer (born 1951) Mark recently found new passion as a writer. In 2024, he took First Place in the Poetry Society of Virginia contest, “Sense of Place” category (published), received Honorable Mention in Passager Poetry’s national contest (published) and Third Place in Oregon Poetry Association's “New Poets” contest category (published). In 2023, The Clinch Mountain Review published one of his memoirs and will print a poem in 2024. Mark also performs live storytelling. True to his reporter past, his products are concrete and concise. (He aspires to be a favorite of readers with short attention spans.) After graduating from Stanford, Mark launched his career in Roanoke, Virginia, then spent three decades in his native Oregon. But, the Blue Ridge always beckoned. Two years ago, Mark and his bride Laura retired to the Roanoke Valley, where they met more than 40 years ago. They reside, with two pups, in Daleville, Virginia.