Mark Steven Porro, a New Jersey native (Exit 163), earned an Industrial Design degree from The Ohio State University. After years of agency work, his love of acting led him to Hollywood, where he appeared in dozens of television, film, and stage productions. Mark also spent his twenty-eight years in Tinseltown, entrepreneuring. He started five non-profit companies. But hold the applause, none were intended to be. He now lives in the South of France. But hold your pity. He of sound mind and body chose to suffer in the heart of wine country where the locals insist his French isn’t so bad—at least that’s what he thinks they’re saying.

Mark is an award-winning designer, writer, director, and now a best-selling, award-winning author. He has written lots of jokes, several screenplays, and one award-winning short film. A Cup of Tea on the Commode—a sad, sweet, and funny debut memoir—chronicles his multitasking adventures of filling his mother’s last years with love, laughter, and joy. Though not always successful, he came pretty damn close.
2024 Best Indie Book Award Winner
2024 NYC Big Book Award Winner
2024 Paris Book Festival Winner
2024 Living Now Book Awards Winner
2024 International Book Awards Winner
2024 IndieReader Discovery Award Winner
2024 Book Excellence Award Winner
2024 Firebird Book Award Winner
2024 Eric Hoffer Book Award Finalist
2024 Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards Finalist
2024 National Indie Excellence Awards Finalist
2024 American BookFest Awards Finalist

“This author weaves his stories together, employing a wickedly humorous skill not unlike that of David Sedaris and Augusten Burroughs” — Five-Star Amazon review