Mark Spragg (born 1952) is an American writer. He is the author of three novels and one book of nonfiction, mostly set in

Wyoming Wyoming () is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho to the west, Utah to the southwest, and Colorado to the sou ...

, where he grew up.

Biography

Mark Spragg grew up on the Crossed Sabers Ranch, a Wyoming dude ranch eight miles east of

Yellowstone National Park Yellowstone National Park is an American national park located in the western United States, largely in the northwest corner of Wyoming Wyoming () is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is border ...

. He graduated from the

University of Wyoming The University of Wyoming (UW) is a public land-grant research university in Laramie, Wyoming. It was founded in March 1886, four years before the territory was admitted as the 44th state, and opened in September 1887. The University of Wyomin ...

in Laramie in 1974, with a major in English. He worked on an oil rig, shoed horses, and led pack trips to support his writing. In 1999 he published a memoir, ''Where Rivers Change Direction'', about his unusual childhood, with no TV or radio but surrounded by vast expanses of rugged outdoor beauty. The book received starred reviews in ''Publishers Weekly'' and ''Library Journal'', and won the 2000 Mountains and Plains Booksellers Award for Nonfiction Spragg later published the novels ''The Fruit of Stone'', ''An Unfinished Life'', and ''Bone Fire''. He also co-wrote the screenplay to ''

An Unfinished Life ''An Unfinished Life'' is a 2005 American drama film directed by Lasse Hallström, and based on the Mark Spragg novel of the same name. The film stars Robert Redford, Jennifer Lopez, and Morgan Freeman. It is the story of a gruff Wyoming ranch ...

'' with his wife, Virginia Korus Spragg. He lives with his wife, Virginia, in Red Lodge, Montana.

Works

Novels

''The Fruit of Stone''. Riverhead Hardcover, 2002. Highbridge Audiobook, 2003. Riverhead Trade, 2003. Vintage Contemporaries, 2011. Reviewed in the ''Economist'' and ''Publishers Weekly'' ". According to

WorldCat WorldCat is a union catalog that itemizes the collections of tens of thousands of institutions (mostly libraries), in many countries, that are current or past members of the OCLC global cooperative. It is operated by OCLC, Inc. Many of the O ...

, the book is held in 817 libraries. ''An Unfinished Life''. Knopf, 2004. Vintage, 2005. . Reviewed in the ''New York Times'' by Claire Dederer and ''USA Today'' According to WorldCat, the book is held in 1342 libraries. ''Bone Fire''. Knopf, 2010. Vintage, 2011. Reviewed in ''Outside Magazine'' and ''Library Journal'' s " According to WorldCat, the book is held in 829 libraries.

Nonfiction

''Where Rivers Change Direction''. University of Utah Hardcover, 1999. Riverhead Paperback, 2000. This books was reviewed in Publishers Weekly " and ''Library Journal'' " According to WorldCat, the book is held in 805 libraries

References

* Susan Gray Gose, “Mark Spragg: The Useful Life,�
Mark Spragg: The Useful Life
Retrieved February 13, 2016. * “Mark Spragg - 1974” University of Wyoming Notable Alumni

Retrieved February 13, 2016. * “Mark Spragg” Penguin Random House authors
Mark Spragg , Penguin Random House
Retrieved February 13, 2016. * “An Unfinished Life,�
An Unfinished Life
Retrieved February 13, 2016.

External links

*Official website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spragg, Mark 21st-century American novelists American male novelists Living people University of Wyoming alumni Novelists from Wyoming 1952 births 21st-century American male writers 20th-century American male writers 20th-century American non-fiction writers American male non-fiction writers