We’re looking forward to introducing you to Mark Fine. Check out our conversation below.
Mark, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Joy! To me, joy is found in the English language itself—how massive notions can be reduced to simple 3-letter words like fun, sad, sin, and mad, sex, and dog and, of course, God. I enjoy family, friends, and faith, but I am happiest when I return to a simpler, unplugged state on a camera safari in Southern Africa. Beyond the adventure of tracking the Big 5—lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, and rhino—and documenting moments through a lens, there’s the unspoiled grandeur of nature and the purity of the animal kingdom in its natural habitat. I find it easy to dispense with television, wi-fi, and most modern gadgets, as well as my normal schedule. Nothing compares to getting up at 4:30 AM each morning in pursuit of the next sighting.
My last visit was a Moby Dick moment—in pursuit of the proverbial white whale, or more specifically, the white rhino. When I finally saw a crash of five white rhino including two calves, all safe, unstressed, with their horns intact, the joy I felt was immense.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a South African-born author, ghostwriter, and former music executive whose creative journey bridges continents, causes, and cultures. Now based in California’s South Bay, I bring a rare insider’s perspective to the historical and emotional landscapes that I write about—most notably my acclaimed debut novel “The Zebra Affaire,” a gripping tale of forbidden love set during apartheid.
Before turning to literature, I founded the award-winning record label Hammer & Lace, where I united global artists and nonprofit organizations to produce benefit albums and events supporting cancer research, childhood vulnerability, freedom of speech, and wildlife conservation. My work earned “Music Executive with 20/20 Vision” acknowledgement from Variety magazine and honors from both the oncology and wildlife conservation community, receiving the “Paws of Fame” award—an homage to the animals that often appear in my writing.
As a ghostwriter and co-author, I’m trusted to channel diverse voices—from regal hoteliers to undercover operatives. My co-authored memoir “Undercover with Mandela’s Spies” became an international bestseller, praised for its gripping narrative and historical significance. Whether writing solo or in collaboration, my mission is to illuminate the past, honor the outsider, and inspire change through storytelling.
I’ve always been part of the creative process but writing has given me a profound appreciation for the quiet courage it takes to build something from nothing. As such, I am collaborating on an important book as we speak. Some books are meant to be read. Others are meant to be felt. This book I am writing with Nhlanhla Magubane from South Africa, belongs to the latter. If you had grown up in Soweto during apartheid, like Nhlanhla Magubane, your rhythm would have been one of survival — a beat that reminded you, and everyone around you, that even when the world tried to silence your voice, you still had one. Now, that voice has taken shape in “Beat of the Defiant,” a memoir I co-wrote. When you pick up “Beat of the Defiant,” you won’t just be reading a memoir. You’ll be stepping into a living rhythm. You’ll feel the pulse of Soweto, hear the echo of fallen voices, witness the strength of global solidarity, and discover inspiration for today’s struggles. The title says it best: the beat goes on. Read the book and see for yourself how that beat will stay with you long after you turn the last page.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
No doubt, my paternal grandmother. My folks divorced when I was two years old, and my grandmother stepped in to fill the void. Her faith in the written word, and her commitment to ensuring I was informed through a precocious library of books, helped shape me. Knowledge is strength, and her loving actions and dedicated enlightenment are proof. Granny Minnie was a gifted, and persistent knitter; her philosophy, with busy hands the mind has no time to feel sorry for itself.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I love living a bespoke life, warts and all. I also relish the full spectrum of emotional experiences, from the depths of loss to the elation of success. It is indeed what makes me sentient, human. Most importantly, I deliberately took lessons from life’s challenges. I never repeat losing patterns. I think for myself. I refuse to follow the crowd. I’m disciplined—I don’t drink, smoke, or do drugs. Never have. Extraordinary, really, for someone whose career was in the record business. Yes, I follow my own rules, and they have served me well. It was at boarding school, around age 10, when I learned these lessons.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
Common sense and an open mind. I have never trusted a single source for information. I remember deliberately subscribing to both TIME and MAD magazine simultaneously in order to achieve a balance of information—both newsy and sardonic. I’ve purposely put my head above the parapet and sought information beyond the United States, as we are not the sole purveyors of all knowledge. I guess I’m allergic to hubris and will not accept any channel, paper, or social media silo as all-knowing. Sometimes I find myself a contrarian, but that’s a small price to pay to avoid being naive.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I have a superpower. Some may consider it delusional, but I view it as elegant sleight of hand—and it continually works. I am not transactional in all my pursuits. I do not reduce everything to dollars and cents. Rather, I pursue the pure creative process with the passion of a dearly loved hobby. This hobbyist mindset dispenses with the drudgery. It liberates me from that perpetual self-questioning equation: ‘Is it worth it?’ I simply do it because I dig it. And frequently, it pays off—handsomely.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://markfinebooks.com
- Instagram: @markfinewriter
Image Credits
Ashbery Publishing (Beat of the Defiant cover), Jacana Media (Undercover With Mandela’s Spies) , Sage&Street (The Zebra Affaire)
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
