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Mark HighbergerOregon Freelance Writer |
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Mark HighbergerOregon Freelance Writer |
"Few modern writers have successfully captured the feel and the flavor of the American West -- A.B. Guthrie and Larry McMurtry come to mind, and precious few others. But you can add Mark Highberger to that short list of writers who understand the era, and the country, and the men and women who made it what it was. In unadorned, powerful language, Highberger summons the spirits of the West and makes them real. And unforgettable." James R. Babb, Editor, Gray's Sporting Journal
Each year, Mark Highberger, a freelance writer since 1992, travels more than 10,000 miles in tracking down, digging up, or stumbling across stories about Oregon. Along the way he's discovered enough material about the lives of the region's people and places to have published a novel, five travel books, nine history books, and more than 300 articles.
From hiking trails to historical museums and from city parks to ghost towns, his stories about Oregon travel, history and recreation cover every corner of the state. "Unless you've been to the places Mark Highberger's been to," one publicist says, "you don't know Oregon."
Yet his work also appeals to an audience beyond the state's borders, for his articles have been accepted by such prominent magazines as Old West, American History, The Rotarian, Gray's Sporting Journal, ByLine, The Writer, Bugle, Persimmon Hill, and Northwest Travel. Furthermore, the widespread interest generated by the author's love affair with the state has led to his appearances as a speaker at conferences and as a guest on both radio and TV.
Another outgrowth of his writing has been Highberger's involvement as a writing instructor, often teaching workshops or courses for a number of Northwest colleges and universities. In addition, his Writing Workshop column, which offers a series of mini-lessons in the craft of writing both fiction and nonfiction, appeared regularly in regional newspapers for a number of years.
Highberger, who lives with his wife and Labrador retriever in Wallowa, Oregon, spent 15 years as a high school English teacher before plunging into freelancing full-time. "A freelance writer," he says, "is someone who sacrifices security for freedom. That makes it a tough job and a great life."
"[Highberger's] writing reveals remarkable imaginative power, descriptive skill and compelling characterization. His research has taken him deep into the lore of the West, and he's returned with a wealth of interesting details that add historical depth and drama to our sense of place--who we are, and how we got here." Don Burgess, Hunting Editor, Bugle magazine
As a longtime newspaper editor, I knew we had stumbled onto a gold mine when Mark Highberger offered to write regular columns for us. We publish them in our travel section, but as our readers so enthusiastically attest, they are much more than travel pieces. Mark's stories reflect his penchant for history along with an eye for detail, a love of the outdoors and a wonderful self-effacing sense of humor. As one reader put it: Don't ever lose Highberger. This guy really does his homework, and he makes it fun! Marc Faulconer, News Editor, The Bulletin, Bend OR
"Mark Highberger writes with clarity and wit, revealing to us a rich sense of place and time. He invites us to see more than we would see on our own, to intersect with rural Oregon in a way that both delights and enhances our experiences there." Jan M. Alden, Author and Former President, Log Cabin Literary Center, Boise ID
"Mark Highberger captures Oregon at its best with his fresh views of towns off the beaten path that have yet to be homogenized by the seemingly ubiquitous interstate highway system. Here is a travel writer who refuses to fly Cliché Air. His enthusiasm and curiosity reinforce what makes Oregon great--the combination of independent-minded people and character-building terrain. Go along with Highberger and every day is an adventure. Around every curve is an unexpected reward. His lively portrait sheds light on Oregon's myriad cleverly hidden treasures. Jeff Petersen, Columnist, The Observer, La Grande, OR
"[Signal Mountain magazine] is always better when it includes a Highberger piece. Mark's a professional who combines good research with strong writing to produce true-to-life and entertaining non-fiction. He has an unfailing sense of story, knows how to touch the human heart with his words." Bill Rautenstrauch, Editor & Publisher, Signal Mountain magazine
"Mark Highberger's words lay fine and true upon the page. You read about Oregon and you know he's been there. You read about the buffalo hunters and the Indians and the Civil War and he writes like he's been there, too." Roger Pinckney, Historian, author, and contributing editor at Sporting Classics magazine
"When we want a story about northeastern Oregon or some backcountry drives or small town profiles in the eastern half of the state, we call on Mark Highberger. He has a way of taking the reader right along with him." Judy Fleagle, Managing Editor, Oregon Coast, Oregon Outside, and Northwest Travel magazines
"Few modern writers have successfully captured the feel and the flavor of the American West--A.B. Guthrie and Larry McMurtry come to mind, and precious few others. But you can add Mark Highberger to that short list of writers who understand the era, and the country, and the men and women who made it what it was. In unadorned, powerful language, Highberger summons the spirits of the West and makes them real. And unforgettable." James R. Babb, Editor, Gray's Sporting Journal
Exploring Oregon: Travel Guide for the Adventurous Wanderer
Exploring Oregon II: Travel Guide for the Adventurous Wanderer
Oregon: An Explorer's Guide
Steens Country: An Explorer's Guide to Oregon's Steens Mountain Area
The Long Road to Lonesomeville: A Guide to Small Town Eastern Oregon
Oregon's Trail: Following the Path of the Pioneers from the Snake River to the Willamette Valley
Exploring Northeast Oregon: A Traveler's Guide
Exploring Southeast Oregon: A Traveler's Guide
Exploring Central Oregon: A Traveler's Guide (forthcoming)
A Town Wild & Uncultivated: The Story of the Life and Death of an Oregon Boom Town
The Laws of War: The Story of the Modoc War of 1873
Snake River Massacre: The Story of the 1897 Murders They Called "The Crime of the Century"
Days of Sorrow: The Story of the Heppner Flood of 1903 Oregon's Most Deadly Natural Disaster
The Elk Killers: The Near Destruction & Ultimate Rescue of Elk in the American West
Untamed Land: The Death of Pete French & the End of the Old West
Writing Workshop (a nine-book series)
50 Lessons in the Craft of Writing
Old West (winter 1997): Snake River Massacre (history article)
American History (December 1998): The Death of Wind Blowing (history article)
Gray's Sporting Journal: fiction
Along the Moonlight Road (March 1998)
The Shooter at the Top of the Hill (April 2000)
Black Sky, Yellow Light (November 2001)
There Came A Man Running (November 2004)
Lonely for Fire (August 2005)
ByLine (April 1999): Clarity (writing-instruction article)
The Writer (October 1999): Writing the Dynamic Travel Article
Persimmon Hill (fall 2000): The Gift of a Horse (history article)
Bugle (forthcoming): history article
The Rotarian (two articles forthcoming): profiles
Oregon Outside (summer 1998, fall 1999): outdoor articles
Northwest Travel (May/June 2000, January/February 2001): travel articles
Travel Oregon (spring 2001): travel article
Signal Mountain (fall, winter 1997; spring, summer, fall 1998; spring 2001): history articles, profiles
The Bulletin (Bend): weekly travel features (1997-2001)
East Oregonian (Pendleton): regular outdoor features
The Observer (La Grande): monthly Writing Workshop column (1998-2003) and travel features (2001-present)
The Oregonian (Portland): essays
Democrat-Herald (Albany): travel