Media Kit
I. News Release
and
II. Awards/Recognition
a. 37th annual Pushcart Prize nominated story in Padman:
"Newborn to Dad: NO MULTI-TASKING"
couple of comments about the Pushcart Prize:
"A distinguished annual literary event."
— New York Times
"A powerhouse!"
-- Publishers Weekly
b.2012 Society of Midland Authors Association literary competition nominee
III. Book Cover
Padman, including 2012 Pushcart Prize nominated "Newborn to Dad:
NO MULTI-TASKING"
III. Reviews
-- Tyler R. Tichelaar, Ph.D. and author of the award-winning "Narrow Lives"
C) "Very well written from beginning to end...If you dont read any other book this year make it this one you will not be disapointed by any means."
-- Dianna Stroud, amazon.com reader
D) "Mark Elswick takes you on a ride of laughter...A must read..."
IV. Bio
Whether a student on the football field, basketball court, baseball diamond, in the classroom, or watching my father bust his back to provide for our family of six as I grew up, I learned that perseverance is the key to succeeding in life. Being raised in a “less than wealthy family,” the perseverance instilled in me has gotten me where I am today.
As a 23-year old, I had everything going for me, a good job, junior in college, baby on the way, loving family environment, and plenty of friends. Then, something that had never crossed my mind interrupted my comfortable young life.
Barely a man, I was involved in a bizarre auto accident, sustaining a severe traumatic brain injury. Following life support and a month-long coma, I was forced to re-learn life’s basic necessities. I had to retrain my brain to think, eat, walk, talk, and everything else imaginable. Without the aforementioned lesson I learned, there’s no telling where I would be.
Immediately after my accident, my parents were told I wouldn’t make it through the day. Then, a week later, they were told that I would be a vegetable “if” I ever regained consciousness. Fortunately, though, the perseverance I saw daily from family, friends, teachers, coaches, and community members has propelled me to rise above those negative predictions.
Just two years after my accident, I returned to college against my therapists’ wishes--“too early.” Struggling with memory, concentration, and attention, my G.P.A. dipped below a 2.0; I was placed on academic probation, “up or out status.” That is the point where my conscious life bottomed out. It was either make it improve or settle for a lifetime of dependency.
Since that time, I graduated from the University of Michigan-Flint with a B.A. in English and double minor in Writing and British Literature. Then, I earned my M.A. from Central Michigan University. In addition to my student status, I’ve been a sportswriter, sports editor, substitute teacher, jr. hi. teacher, college professor, and university coordinator.
Today, I’m doing what I honestly believe I was destined to do. Having signed a publishing contract, I’m writing for the injury that nearly claimed my life and independence. Everything I earn from writing will see 10-20% donated to a brain injury cause as I continually try to raise awareness.
The idea of persevering to achieve my dreams is something that was drilled into me growing up. Thankfully, it sank in. Without perseverance, like I mentioned, there’s no telling where I would be. Dream! Hope! & Believe!
V. Fav Lists
A. I wish I could have met (no particular order; as you can tell, all are AMAZING)
Johnny Cash -- I want to pick The Man in Black's mind.
Elvis Presley -- What's it like to have the entire world gaga over you?
Wilma Rudolph -- True model of never say I Can't. How'd it feel to win Olympic GoldS?
Tony Conigliaro -- You came back from more than anyone in MLB ever. How?
Jesus -- What's it like to have ALL the answers?
Howard Cosell -- Loved and hated, did you ever want to stop striving to be the best?
William Shakespeare -- How does it feel to make women faint at your words?
President George Washington -- What's it like to be the first ever leader of the nation?
Martin Luther King -- HOW did you march on in the face of such negativity?
President Abraham Lincoln -- I'd love to just hear him explain his presidency/decisions.
B. movies
12. Bucket List -- Nicholson and Freeman were born to make this movie together.
11. Hamlet - Mel Gibson/Glenn Close version...easily could be #1
10. Say Anything -- Chick Flick , but AMAZING!
"I gave you my heart and you gave me a p-p-pen?"
9.127 Hours -- True Story..This guy is a TRUE warrior!
8. Hoosiers -- a classic
7. Soul Surfer -- True Story...This girl is a TRUE warrior!
(Can you tell how much I dig rehabilitative/comeback stories?)
6. Silence of the Lambs -- Anthony Hopkins...need I say more, "Cla-rice?"
5. Wedding Crashers -- still laughing
4. The Hangover -- see above note
3. Brian's Song -- tear-jerking true story: WOW
2. The Champ -- Jon Voight, Ricky Schroeder (a YOUNG child)--Watch it! You'll cry.
1. The 5th Quarter -- Super sad, but this movie showed me a realistic look at what I've heard the reactions to a severe brain injured patient must be like.
C. television
8. According to Jim
7. Rules of Engagement
6. Sports Night
5. House
4. Two and a Half Men
3. Coach
2. How I Met Your Mother
1a. Big Bang Theory--BAZINGA! :)
D. food
6. cereal (Raisin Bran Crunch, Honey Nut Cheerios, Banana Nut Cheerios, and Shreded Wheat) ANYTIME of the day
5. lasagna
4. broccoli soup
3. tacos
2. chicken (all kinds)
1. biscuits/gravy, toast, and eggs
E. athletes
6. Bo Jackson
5. Barry Sanders
4. Gordie Lockbaum
3. Wilma Rudolph
2. Radd Martinez
1. Tony Conigliaro
F. writers
5. William Shakespeare -- his words are amazing
4. Mitch Albom -- sportswriter who gets it
3. Stephen King -- How can words be so suspenseful?
2. John Feinstein -- LOVE his work! Makes sports' books interesting to non-sports fans.
1. Dave Barry -- one word: HILARIOUS
G. songs (even only 12 isn't fair--I love my country music!)
12. "Daddy's Girl" -- Kurt Thomas
11. "Halfway to Houston" -- James Lann
10. "She Knows the Words" -- Josh Langston
9. "Runnin' You Down" -- Fat Dixie
8. "I Can't Be Your Friend" -- Rushlow
7. "Breathin'" -- Neal Coty
6. "I Wanna Make You Cry" -- Jeff Bates
5. "Honky-Tonk Road Trip" -- Rick Monroe
4. "Nowhere, USA" -- Dean Miller
3. "Small Town Kid" -- Eli Young Band
2. "New Tony Llamas" -- Deryl Dodd
1. "I Might Just Make It" -- Paul Jefferson
H. comedians
7. Robert Schimmell (R.I.P.)
6. Chris Rock
5. Jerry Seinfeld
4. Jeff Dunham
3. Eddie Murphy
2. Kevin James
1. Adam Sandler
I. fast foods
6. Rally's -- the fries
5. McDonalds (breakfast ONLY)
4. Fazoli's -- great Italian food, BUT can't eat as much as I'd love to or my pants wouldn't fit
3. Tim Horton's -- Not just breakfast food! :)
2. Taco Bell -- So it's not the healthiest, but is there ever a bad time for some T Bell?
1. Arby's -- I'm addicted, AGAIN!
VI. Q&A----stay tuned
VII. Author Photo
VIII. Speaking/Interview Brochure
Severe TBI Survivor raising
awareness and funds
When long-time Michigan resident Mark Elswick was struck by
a car in 1992, some 200 people visited the hospital within the
first two days. A snapped shin, fractured skull, broken orbital ring, and traumatic brain injury,
among other injuries, left him comatose for a month
and on life support for much of that time. Nearly two decades
later, all of America is going to feel the consequences from his accident--good consequences, this time in his Dream! Hope! & Believe! message. After signing a publishing contract with Modern History Press, Elswick’s first work,
Padman: A Dad's Guide to Buying . . . Those and Other Tales, is available online and in print.The paperback version of
Padman debuted on Sept. 30, 2011 at the Bendle H.S. homecoming football game. Barnes & Nobles stocks the paperback version of the book for $14.95. However, for just $10.00 plus $3.00 shipping, the book is availbe for purchase from the author's website,
www.MarkElswick.com. Every book sold will be personally signed to the buyer or whoever the is designated. As an eBook,
Padman is available on amazon.com, BN.com, and ModernHistoryPress.com (showcased in the
Reflections of America series) for the low price of $4.95, with two fewer stories than the paperback. The kindle version does not require an eReader; amazon eBooks can be downloaded onto an iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android Phone or PC.
Padman is the precursor to Elswick’s 2012 book,
Traumatic Brain Injury: Milestones in Recovery. Admirably, a portion of the sales from every book he writes will be donated to Brain Injury Association of America unless a portion of proceeds are donated to a hosting organization of one of his speaking engagements for that one day only. Furthermore, if Elswick can sell 2500 book through his talks or his website by March, 31, 2012, Elswick will hand deliver 1000 books to our deployed military , overseas. As the author states on his website,
www.markelswick.com, he’s “Making a difference, one book at a time!”
What attendees, listeners, and/or viewers
will gain from the presentation or interview:
1. Why a humorous book foucssing on TBI?
2. What is Traumatic Brain Injury?
3. What are the levels of severity?
4. Is TBI really a national problem?
(5. 7. or 9 and 6, 8, or 10 will be covered, but not all three at once)
5. Can a mild TBI be fatal?
6. What real-life examples are there?
7. How does a TBI impact our elderly?
8. What real-life examples are there?
9. Are babies/young people susceptible to TBI?
10. What real-life examples are there?
11. How is our military bringing the war home?
12. How does my writing benefiting you, America, and beyond?
13. How is my next book tackling this issue?
14. What are people already saying about Padman: A Dad's Guide to Buying . . . Those and Other Tales
15. the true definition of Dream! Hope! & Believe!
16. signature closing
CONTACT: mark@markelswick.com
http://www.markelswick.com
