Mark’s Comments (group member since Aug 26, 2025)

Mark’s comments from the Try Not to Die: An Interactive Adventure group.

Talees wrote: "Definitely liking it already! I am nowhere near a chance at going well in this competition though! My TNTD track record is terrible...so many deaths lol!"

Wonderful! Perhaps in your honor we shall also award a prize to the person with the most deaths.

Joe wrote: "Things are getting better all the time. I look upon everything in the past as the building blocks of who I now am. Once I'd reached the ultimate low it was as if I had discarded the baggage of the ..."

That's a wonderful perspective and I'm glad we're in this together.

Dawn wrote: "I love it and can't wait to read more. I love these books!!"

Wonderful! That's so great to hear. Thanks!

Joe wrote: "My personal history reads like one of those 'misery lit' books that were all the rage a while ago. I've lived one of those unlikely lives in which I've endured 'Guinness Book of Records' qualifying..."

Wow. I'm floored by this. I only knew a fraction of the health stuff but none of the childhood, prison, assaults. No person should have to suffer through any of what you mentioned, let alone all of it.

I often had a hard time wondering how my childhood could have messed me up when I didn't have any serious trauma, but I've learned that it also doesn't take much to ruin a kid. The fact that you went through all of this and are still such a nice and giving person says so much about you.

I hope you know just how much you coming down to the Buchmesse means to me and that every single day I look at the Slipknot mask with fondness.

I'm fortunate to have you as a friend and I am excited to be creating with you. Much love, brother. Sorry you didn't get it as a child so you have to accept double servings now.

Rebecca wrote: "Your intro to TNTDBYOH really hit hard. thank you for sharing your experiences. I've struggled throughout my life with thoughts like that, mostly in high school and college, and came as close as st..."

Hey Rebecca. Thank you for sharing this. I really wasn't expecting anyone to respond so this is pretty amazing. I could be working on TNTD: Satan but sitting here with these messages means 100 times more. It sounds like you and I are on a similar path and I'm so happy to hear how it's going for you.

Crystal wrote: "After 7 years in therapy, I still can't talk about all the things, but I am ALWAYS available if anyone needs someone to talk to. I know the struggle all too well, and I also know what it's like to ..."

Thank you for sharing this, and your thoughts on BYOH. I often share with my kids how the best thing about finding myself as a writer is connecting with others that have been hurt and are healing. I'm really glad you're part of my circle.

Beverly wrote: "Great first chapter! Love all the nerdy references"
I'm afraid I can't take credit for any of the references, jokes, or overall story. Although I do enjoy some sci-fi here and there, Kevin is the bigger geek between the two of us.

Joe wrote: "Just read the first chapter. Ready for the Poll."

Choose wisely. Or don't. https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/1...

Beverly wrote: "Loved the first chapter! Where is the poll?"

Perfect. This is my first time running one of these groups and I don't know where anything is half the time. This link should take you to it: https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/1...

Lisa wrote: "I like it so far! Excited for what comes next."

Awesome. I'm looking forward to speeding things up and watching everyone die.

Joe wrote: "I'm glad he's going to be funny, it gets a bit tedious reading any kind of books that are just wall-to-wall violence for the sake of it with nothing to balance it out."

I couldn't agree more. Coauthoring Roswell and Beyond gave me the confidence to take this down the comedy route. Sure, my humor is suspect at best, but it's got me laughing.

I also didn't forget about your contract but have just been so crazy busy. I hope to do that this week.

Crystal wrote: "Sounds Awesome"

Sure I might be a little biased, but I think it is. :)

Emily wrote: "Can't wait"

You must!

Emily wrote: "I have struggled my whole life. Bad childhood, no friends. No one to talk to. I enjoy the chats I have had with you. Thank you Mark."

Hey Emily. I've really appreciated our talks and I love the connection we've made with your son as well. I wish you could have had an easier path, but I'm so glad you managed to overcome all of that and remain a loving and kind person. That speaks volumes about you.

We planned the release of Try Not to Die: By Your Own Hand to coincide with World Suicide Prevention Day. I spent a lot of my life struggling with the idea of wanting to end it, and have dealt with quite a few brain/mental health issues along the way (many due to my reckless lifestyle and all the traumatic brain injuries)
Try Not to Die means more to me than just the series and I now use that as my mantra. I'm no longer just satisfied with just surviving day to day, but actively trying to make each of those days a little better, either for me or someone I encounter.
I'm proud of all the private conversations I've had with readers regarding their own struggles and thought I'd open this topic in case anyone cares to share (semi)publicly. All humans experience pain, but I believe that those who share their pain and realize they aren't alone in it, are the ones who handle it the best.
But I also understand 100% if no one comments here. More than anything, I just want you all to know that I'm here if you need someone to listen.

Jacek wrote: "I would be happy to participate as well, as I am looking forward to this book."

Awesome! Thank you for joining us.

Christina wrote: "Mark wrote: "Christina wrote: "Cool people- Dan Franklin or Debra Castaneda!"

Great suggestions. I am in talks with Dan and hope that we will do one in 2026/2027. Debra has also been suggested to ..."

Tons of cocaine! Just this morning I added a couple more names to Who's Satan Inside. Always something fun to work on.

I had a fun weekend working on TNTD: With Satan Inside. In this book, the main story branches off into 3 parts. The first two paths are complete and now I'm working on the most brutal and longest of the 3.
It can be hard for me to work on this book too long in one sitting, mainly due to the level of violence and type of injuries. Really trying to imagine some of these things to make the scenes more believable can take its toll on me - and my appetite.
Another thing I'm learning through this book is that Satan is kind of a dick. Sure, he's funny and all that, but man, this guy doesn't pull his punches.

Emily wrote: "I need more."

Perfect. You shall receive more. This initial first week is a long wait but after that we'll speed it up.

Rebecca wrote: "I need more already 😂😂😂 I feel like I'm going back to network television and only getting one episode each week!

Are you going to make a separate post for what we would choose to do? I hope I don..."

Yeah, the one episode a week would drive me nuts. It'll just be like this just for the first week so we can let stragglers discover the contest and vote. The next doc will include both the death scene for the wrong choice and the continuing chapter. I'm hoping to do a new chapter once every 2-3 days so we can get you guys through the book before the release.