WordCrafts

Mike Parker is an award-winning freelance writer, actor, director, novelist, playwright & screenwriter.  A BA degree in Bible and Philosophy, a stint as an officer with the US Army Special Forces (Green Berets), a career as a stock broker during the great bull market of the eighties, and an entrepreneurial plunge into the uncertain world of television syndication have all combined to give him a unique outlook on the world.  Blessed (or cursed) with an insatiable curiosity he is voracious reader, questioner, ponderer.

1993 brought Mike from Texas to Nashville, TN where he, along with his playwright wife, Paula, helped establish Carpenter’s Playhouse, a local community theatre.  Together they now serve on the board of Lamplighter’s Theatre in Smyrna, TN, and on the advisory board of Visible School in Memphis, TN. With the creative juices flowing from the theatre and the proximity of both the music & publishing industries, Mike turned his attention to his old flame, writing.  His efforts have paid off as more than 1000 of his articles, celebrity profiles, CD, book & theater reviews, and poetry have been published by such national periodicals as Campus Life, Today’s Christian Parent, Vibrant life, and CCM. His articles have been featured on the covers of such publications as HomeLife, Christian Single, Stand Firm, Bible Express, Living With Teenagers, 7Ball, and Release Magazines.

Mike is a sought after copywriter in the entertainment industry. He has done promotional work for 20^th Century Fox and the A&E Network, as well as for most of the major Christian music labels in Nashville. He has penned artist bios for such noted performers as Sandi Patty, Wayne Watson, FFH, Charlie Hall, Big Daddy Weave, Margaret Becker, The Waiting, Aaron Shust, Phil Keaggy, and many others.

He has authored three successfully produced stage plays including: “Fail-Safe: the stage play,” “Oscar Wilde’s DORIAN GRAY,” and “Mark Twain Presents: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” and he is currently working on a musical adaptation of “The Count of Monte Cristo” and a one-man show called “The Gospel According to Mark Twain.” An accomplished stage director and character actor Mike is best remembered for his stage roles as Mr. Beaver in “The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe,” Marley in “A Christmas Carol,” and Juror 3 in “12 Angry Men.” He was recently profiled as the Actor of the Month by Christian-movie.com.

He is a contributing author to the inspirational anthology, “Stories From A Soldier’s Heart,” (Multnomah) with Alice Gray and has provided commentary for the popular Bible-zine, “Real” (Thomas Nelson). His debut novel, “The Scavengers,” has received rave reviews, including an endorsement from New York Times Best-selling author, G.P. Taylor, who called it “The best book I have read in years.”

Mike created and hosted the nationally syndicated music video show, “NightVision” in the early 1990’s, and served as producer and host for the award-winning music variety show, “Saltracks” on the ACTS Television Network, and scripted two seasons of JC-TV’s popular music video programs “TX-10,” “XVZ,” and “Rewind.” He served for several years as the movie reviewer for the syndicated radio program, The Family Friendly Morning Show with Doug & Kim, broadcast on the Salem Music Network. More recently he created and serves as managing editor for the online entertainment magazine, BuddyHollywood.com. He is the National Entertainment Examiner for Examiner.com and along with his wife Paula, is co-contributing editor to the entertainment section of LifeWay.com. He is also the movie reviewer for the syndicated radio program, The Family Friendly Morning Show with Doug & Kim, broadcast on the Salem Music Network (heard by more than 1 million listeners each week).

Mike & Paula founded and operate the independent publishing companies, WordCrafts Press and WordCrafts Theatrical Press. The newest title from the imprint is the stage play, “Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice” by Paula K. Parker.

When he is not writing (or thinking about writing) he enjoys hanging out with his beautiful wife, Paula, their five adult children, and three goofy dogs.