Christmas Tour Huge Success

Thank you so much to everybody who came out during the month of December to my HOPE of CHRISTMAS tour. What a blast! Over the course of the month, I drove 4800 miles and sang more than I ever have. I'm thankful to God for answering all your prayers for my safety and physical well-being. It was fun to get back to places where I've been before, and hear people singing along with some of my tunes (amazing!). I enjoyed going into new places like the PS Collective in Omaha where people had pizza and drinks during my show. I loved getting back to Tiburon, Inc. in Omaha, and speaking to them about how to survive the holidays. The concert in prison (with pre-concert pizza feast) was out of this world. Loved doing a house concert at the Anderson's on my birthday, followed by a huge buffet of sweets. I did enjoy going for a run in Port St. Lucie, FL, until I got lost...and ended up going 11 miles. I also loved a couple free days I built into the schedule to hang out at the beach in South Florida. I loved getting to spend awesome time with my wonderful family, and see old friends all along the way. I'm a deeply blessed man.

Check out my Christmas Tour Journal, including a music video I made on the road...HERE!

So, what's next? Let's figure it out together! Let me know if you'd like to talk about doing a concert somewhere near you.

So... You are an Actor, too?

Well...yes, I am. And I'm thrilled to admit it, even though I've had dozens of well intentioned people tell me for years that I need to just pick one thing to focus on. "Which is it, Mark? Writing, music, acting?" "Ummm..." I'd reply. "Yes!" That's my best answer, and I'm thankful I've stuck with it because I've had some wonderful doors opened to me, giving me the chance to do some amazing things, and more than a few crazy things. Yes, I've dressed up in a giant $100 bill and handed out t-shirts for a local bank. Yes, I emceed the Miss Kentucky USA pageant. Yes, I've pretended to enjoy eating fake food in several commercials. And taken a bath on camera for a country music video (Yes, I had a swimsuit on!). But there are a couple of projects I'm especially proud of...being in a couple great films: the heartwarming, Christmas film, "The Perfect Gift" and most recently, a beautiful story of courage in the face of breast cancer, "1 Message." And I'm happy to report, there are a couple additional film acting opportunities coming into focus in 2012.

1 MESSAGE

This is a beautiful story about a young woman struggling with the ravaging effects of breast cancer. It's called "1 Message" and is produced by Kelly's Filmworks, the same people that delivered "The Perfect Gift" and "Clancy," not to mention "The Perfect Stranger" and "Another Perfect Stranger." I'll keep you updated as I know more information.

1 MESSAGE: The Story

Rebecca Norris is a 28-year old woman living out the good life in America; blessed with natural beauty, a successful career, and a handsome, equally-successful fiancée, her well-structured existence thrives in a world where nothing could go wrong. Then came the morning she discovered the lump. Now, twelve months later, she finds herself in a self-imposed prison of depression, despair and loneliness – her beauty and her life radically cut down by what she had always perceived as ‘a mature woman’s disease’. Becca’s dark, gray Seattle days are consumed by overeating, bitterness, and a desire to shut out family, friends, and the world in general.

Then one day, a random email from a faceless mentor (me!) across the country breaks through the cold walls of Becca’s life, and his inspiring words begin to crack the hard exterior that has served as both her defense and her cell block. Over the next few months, Becca begins to rediscover the beating heart inside her…the hidden treasure that the scars of a driveby mastectomy could damage, but not destroy. A new start on life ensues, along with hard-learned lessons about self-worth, love, and the healing power of forgiveness. Her climactic journey to find her newfound soul mate culminates in a heartwarming discovery and a surprise-twist ending.

Chicago-based author Mary T. Lennox, a former oncology nurse, wrote “1 Message” in early 2003, and self-published it in 2004. Calling on her experiences with cancer patients, she created her main character based on the stories and struggles she had witnessed throughout her 22 years of service. Producer / writer Jefferson Moore began adapting the novel for screen in mid-2006. Later that same year, his mother Betty was diagnosed with breast cancer.

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EMMANUEL & THE PERFECT GIFT

I'm so excited & grateful to have made my feature film acting debut in "The Perfect Gift" - a tremendous family film that explores the culture war that pops up every year around the celebration of Christmas. I got to play the bad guy in the movie - type casting, right!? I'm so thankful for this amazing opportunity. Many of you have seen the film in theaters, or on television, or have bought the DVD. Thank you so much! And thanks to Jefferson & Kelly Moore for being so awesome and inviting me to be a part of their lives, as well as their movie.

You might have heard my song "Emmanuel (You Are With Me)" in the film, on the radio, or seen the video on TV. Thank you so much for the outpouring of support for this song. I appreciate so much all the radio stations that took a chance on playing a tune from an unknown artist with a weird last name. And for all the emails from people all over the world who have had their lives impacted by this song.

I wanted this to be a song that addressed the fact that Christmas isn't always the happiest time of year for a lot of people, but then invite God into that place. I hope it can be a great song of encouragement to people who struggle with depression or loneliness at this time of year. The song is available on iTunes! You can watch the music video we made for the song HERE ON YOUTUBE - an alternate version of the video is also on the DVD for "The Perfect Gift." Here's the movie trailer...

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PRECIOUS MEMORIES & CLANCY

The movie “Clancy” - featuring my tune “Precious Memories” - has also been released on DVD, and seems to be getting a ton of television viewings on various cable networks. I hope you get to see this great film. It has a huge heart.

I wrote the song “Precious Memories” as a tribute to my grandmother who told me I could do anything I wanted. If I could have one more day with her, what would I want to say to her? This song is my response. I've been blown away by hearing that people have had this song played at funerals! Wow...amazing. Here's the music video we did for the song HERE on YOUTUBE.

The song is also available on iTunes!

Are You Hungry For Hope?

I love how the new year brings with it an automatic dose of optimism. The whole world breathes a collective sigh of relief that, "Yes, this year will be better than the last." It's a time of looking ahead, of making plans, and going after new dreams. It feels like hope.

But I'm curious what holds me back. Because even as I sit here at my desk, with piles of to-do lists filled with things I can be working on—all of which will be very beneficial to me—I find myself more often than not paralyzed. A writer's block, of sorts. It's a feeling that my phone must have right before it completely loses its charge. The gas tank is nearing E, and the sputtering is so deafening I think I'm gonna take a nap.

It all comes down to where I place my hope.

Read more »

"You Are" Officially A Hit!

Thank you to all the radio stations & listeners who took a chance on my music and played "You Are" from my Christmas CD! I always have said that chart position doesn't matter, but when the tune hit #8 on the national radio chart (CMW Inspirational), I couldn't help but feel encouraged and thrilled that people were getting to hear this song. It was a great Christmas gift. You can listen to the song, and the rest of the album, HERE.

I wrote this song to be an exciting description of who Jesus is...Light to the world, Love to a heart, and Hope for today. Thanks to Tim Brown my co-writer and amazing producer, and to Wendell Gafford who has worked tirelessly to tell radio stations around the country about my music.

Dancing Guy

While driving down a super, busy street (Mack Hatcher here in Franklin), I passed a man who was out for his daily walk. But he wasn't just walking.

When he got ready to leave the house this morning, he chose his favorite yellow ball cap, white cut-off sleeved t-shirt, and jogging shorts. He put on his headphones, attached not to an iPod, but a bulky CD player, and threw in his happy music. I knew it was happy music because he wasn't just walking, this guy was dancing as he walked. He had arm gestures and everything. He twirled, gestured, back-stepped, and bounced, almost like he was two-steppin while moving forward. It was awesome. It was joyful. And it was uninhibited. I couldn't take my eyes of the guy in my rear-view mirror as I passed him.

I want to be like the dancing guy. I want to put on my happy music and dance while I walk. But somewhere down the line, I learned that people laugh at people like that. People point fingers and stare at people like that. But, sadly, it's been a long time since I've seen a guy who looked happier and more confident than the dancing guy. And he made me smile. People who just walk or jog down the street don't make me smile. But I smiled because I was proud that there is still someone left in this world that lives out of his heart, and isn't controlled by fear of what people might think about him. Because that is truly how I want to live, regardless of how few examples I might have.

Dance even though no one hears the music in your heart.