Mark Novak is a professional artist of many disciplines.

Mark works primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area and holds an M.A. in Creative Writing and Poetry from San Francisco State University. His work has appeared in the Monterey Poetry Review, The Miserere Review, The Lothlorien Journal of Poetry, the Bards West and San Francisco anthologies, DearBooze.com’s Cocktales Literary Pages, and Deposed, an anthology of working-class poetry. His poem “The Vagabond Quothe Shakespeare” was a sixth-place finalist in the 2017 Writer’s Digest National Poetry Awards. He is also a voice talent for literary readings, provides audio readings of poetry for Voetica.com, and is the author of the chapbook Sonnets for Agnodice, published by Finishing Line Press in May 2026. Copies will soon be available for purchase through the shop.

Mark earned a B.A. in Theater from Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon, in 1993. His stage, film, and television work has included Bay Area companies such as Woodminster Summer Musicals, Coastal Repertory Theater, and Palo Alto Players, along with commercial work including Google and KGO Crime Stoppers. Full resume available on request.

Mark is a guitarist, electric bass player, singer, composer, and lyricist. His 2025 hard rock album, Bitter Conduct, showcases his range as both a musician and songwriter and is available on CD and USB. In the 1990s, Mark played bass for the band 151, the house cover band at the Jubilee Club in Jacksonville, Oregon.

Mark is a skilled culinary professional who has worked the line in numerous restaurants and volunteered his services in shelters. He is available for events and teaches cooking lessons.