Mark Henry Larson grew up in Elmhurst, IL, and attended Northwestern University (BS in Education, ’79; MA in Literature, ’85). After 33 years as an English teacher and athletics coach at Maine Township HS North, Riverside-Brookfield HS, and Highland Park HS, he retired from teaching in June 2012. He now works as a freelance writer and editor with former HPHS English teacher, Bob Boone. Along with coauthoring Write Through Chicago, he and Boone have written two other creative writing books, Moe’s Cafe and Joan’s Junk Shop. Mark married Debbie, a fellow teacher, in 1981, and together they have three children.