About Mark B. Pickering

Author of Story of the Sand

Mark B. Pickering was born in Englewood, Colo., in 1973, but spent most of his childhood and young

adulthood living in Coral Springs, Fla., near Miami. Pickering developed an interest in writing at an early

age, first writing stories as a child, then pursuing songwriting as a musician during his teens and 20s.

At age 17, Pickering formed a rock band that would last for the next 10 years. Though he continued to write

as he always had, his efforts focused on songwriting, honing lyrics for the tunes his band performed.

Pickering attended Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla., for several years before leaving school to pursue a

career in music full-time. After relocating to Atlanta, Ga., his interest in books grew and continued to spur his

love of fiction writing. With the dissolution of his band in 2000, Pickering dedicated himself completely to

writing novels.

An avid conversationalist, Pickering often engages the interesting people he meets in discussions about their

lives. It was through many of these dialogues that Pickering was first inspired to write his new novel, Story of

the Sand (iUniverse, 2008), which describes the struggles veterans face when attempting to return to normalcy

in American society after facing the horrors of war.

Story of the Sand is based on many in-depth interviews Pickering conducted with American war veterans

ranging from WWII, Vietnam, the Gulf War and newly-returned soldiers from the current conflicts in

Afghanistan and Iraq. These veterans confided in Pickering about the battles awaiting them once they

returned home from war, including struggles with post traumatic stress disorder, homelessness, addiction

and problems they had relating to their families and loved ones.

“In my many interviews with American veterans, I learned so much the news media couldn’t impart,” says

Pickering. “It is abundantly clear to me now why 75 percent of veterans come home with mental problems

and why 25 percent end up homeless. Life is not the same for soldiers after battle.”

Pickering continues to reside in Atlanta, Ga., with his 14-year-old dog, Munich. His interests include reading,

painting, hiking at Kennesaw Mountain in Georgia, white-water rafting, listening to music and smoking

cigars. His favorite books are modern classics such as The Great Gatsby, Crime and Punishment and

Trainspotting.

To schedule an interview with Pickering, or to receive a review copy of Story of the Sand, please contact

Amy Currie at (512) 478-2028 ext. 211 or acurrie@phenixpublicity.com.