A few things about my favorite writer

He is one of the most brilliant plotters in recent history. He has the ability to come up with brilliant ideas at a moment's notice, can muscle a story into a workable plot with deftness and grace, and can plan a story that brings tears to your eyes while making adventure a page-turn away.

He can craft a sentence that is smooth as seaglass, rich as cheesecake and true as...well...truth. He can also craft sentences as sharp as splinters and as funny as goats. (What, don't you think goats are inherently hilarious?) He's the Analogy King.

You could swear you've met his characters somewhere, they're so real. And you wish you knew them now, they're so lovable. Except, that is, the scary ones, who might make you revert to hiding under your bed.

His stories are wise. They are true, and they are beautiful. They make heaven tangible.

He also has the cutest green eyes.

I love you, Mark. Merry Christmas.

(If you think I'm making stuff up, check out his writing at our writing group blog: www.storysmiths.blogspot.com. He's seriously amazing.)