Mark R. Turner

Biography

Mark Turner is a visual artist, filmmaker, writer and artistic leader. He has produced and taught in five major regions of the globe as the director of Horizon Gate Productions, a non-profit arts organization which he co-founded with his wife in 1981. His emphasis has been in multi-media to tell stories and produce contemplative experiences using his visuals, poetry and soundtracks. He is currently creating tangible and digital art of inspirational and metaphorical images which he then re-purposes as motion graphics films with rich sound tracks of his poetry, sound effects and music. All this is exhibited together in a conversational atmosphere called the Film Gallery Cafe which can be booked in many venues.

Smashwords Interview

What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
The sense of being on a progression into the unknown where I will discover more of my true self and my part in the greater reality into which we are all flowing. I am optimistic of heading into the ultimate creation power which we call Love.
When did you first start writing?
Honestly, in elementary school I wrote a hybrid of play, film and commercial in the little understanding I had at the time! Looking back, I recognize what I was trying to do. But from then on, writing has been central to my expressing ideas, persuasion, entertainment, and exploration of reality.
Read more of this interview.

Where to find Mark R. Turner online

Books

Tales to Cultivate the Soul: 11 Alternative Stories
Price: $4.95 USD. Words: 50,100. Language: English. Published: January 20, 2024 . Categories: Fiction » Anthologies » Short stories - single author, Fiction » Themes & motifs » Spiritual & metaphysical
Eleven short stories help you contemplate wisdom of the ages in modern language. Humor and pathos entertain and lead you in thinking about life in the city, the forest, the small town and on the farm. Timeless ideas connect you with ancient history and the Beyond. Themes include death, generosity, Love, family, growing up, healing, community, faith, terrorism, and the meaning of Christmas.
Monthly Stimulants Volume 1
Price: $3.00 USD. Words: 5,160. Language: English. Published: June 25, 2021 . Categories: Poetry » Spiritual
Contemplative thoughts accompany one poem for each month of the year as a help in personal meditations. This volume was compiled in 2000 and updated 21 years later as an e-book. Inspirational speakers will find this helpful in preparing to speak on certain seasons, scriptures, and spiritual insights. Scripture references are given for each poem and a scripture index linked back to each.
Revival
Price: $3.99 USD. Words: 15,940. Language: English. Published: October 2, 2020 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Utopias & dystopias, Screenplays » Sci-Fi
The year 2449. Aurenne Bahn's project of recomposing energies from ancient people is confiscated by agent Anton Epps for his plans of revolution. She hides in a secret place where she discovers the corpse of Hedge Daunican, a revolutionary in 2050. She is about to be the recipient of Daunican's energies when Epps invades and insists on being the recipient. Can she do it? What will he become?
Ray of Lightning
Price: $3.99 USD. Words: 17,300. Language: American English. Published: July 31, 2020 . Categories: Fiction » Visionary & metaphysical
Grace and the well-known African American composer DeMark both know stories of RayAnne, famous for her miraculous healing ministry in the 1930’s. Grace reminds him of the ministry’s music director Eddie and the publicist Brad who used him to destroy the ministry and the love between Eddie and RayAnne. DeMark hides a past which still torments him. Can Grace reach into the past and heal his wounds?
Verse and Visions from Advent, Christmas and Epiphany
Price: $3.00 USD. Words: 3,330. Language: English. Published: December 15, 2019 . Categories: Poetry » Spiritual
13 poems paired with 13 images created over 22 years of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany seasons. Often surprising with fresh illumination to the ancient celebrations taking a cosmic sweep to explore the significance of the past to now and the future. Images use the camera, oil paint, pastels, stage sets and costumes. This is an excellent volume for contemplative disciplines of the season.
Marking the Journey: Holding the Past, Reaching Ahead
Price: $1.50 USD. Words: 2,550. Language: English. Published: December 14, 2017 . Categories: Poetry » Spiritual, Fiction » Inspirational
Images in a variety of art forms, including photography, collage, digital painting and hand work, expand the poems with which they are paired. Mark R. Turner's 16 poems and imagery contemplate life's journey full of mystery, challenge and the call forward. Containing faith and doubt, with hope supporting onward growth, this volume will facilitate the reader's contemplative practice.
Your Table of Creation
Price: $2.00 USD. Words: 6,980. Language: American English. Published: February 7, 2017 . Categories: Nonfiction » Self-improvement » Personal Growth / Success
This is an inspirational read about the creative process meant to stimulate the reader to create, invent and build in a fuller, more thorough process. Many people create without giving place to all the aspects of their projects, such as thorough pre-production, or final release. This arts leader gives prompts in each stage, inspiration, execution and exhibition, resulting in richer results.
Pulling Back the Earth
Price: $2.00 USD. Words: 18,180. Language: American English. Published: April 15, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Plays & Screenplays » American, Fiction » Cultural & ethnic themes » Cultural interest, general
For believing there are other people beyond this world who may be able to save humans from extinction a young couple is banished to a quest outside the world to return only if they find other people. She is 9 months pregnant by the time they discover their own sacred writings in a strange camp guarded by large, pale, babbling creatures trying to steal their words. Group discussion guide included.
The Lost Kids Spy Christmas
Price: $1.50 USD. Words: 9,600. Language: English. Published: September 6, 2012 . Categories: Fiction » Plays & Screenplays » American, Fiction » Holiday » Christmas
A crook gives kids a hide-out home on the roof of a skyscraper in exchange for their services as pickpockets. Three Swappers turn the stolen goods into cash to grow the "money baby". The cops are closing in and the Swappers are double-crossing him. He must choose between his kids and his cash when they beg his help to rescue a real baby. Great for group reading, help is provided for the activity.
From Here to Kingdom Come
Price: $1.50 USD. Words: 9,450. Language: English. Published: May 23, 2012 . Categories: Fiction » Humor & comedy » General
Alice Wondrel is taken away in a whirlwind to a ghost town where the Mayor sends her on a mission with the Gospel Train. She finds the Conductor and passengers off-putting and tries to escape only to find herself out to sea. She is then washed overboard and swallowed by a whale. You won't put this comic journey down until you find out how it could all start out in a simple committee meeting.
You After All
Price: $1.00 USD. Words: 3,430. Language: English. Published: April 17, 2012 . Categories: Fiction » Plays & Screenplays » American
A strange tale about off beat people living on the edge in the middle of normal society. Poetry seems to be normal conversation for them. Yet, their circumstances are very concrete in the work-a-day world. A desperate family needs their mysterious leader to come and help them, but he is too late and all seems lost. This story contains four poems also found in Turner's ebook "Beautify, Oh".
Beautify, Oh : fifty-one poems
Price: $1.00 USD. Words: 7,890. Language: English. Published: April 3, 2012 . Categories: Poetry » Spiritual
Fifty-one poems sifted from 14 years of art, theater, filmmaking and contemplation. Childhood memories, deep space, history, theology, and life in the forest are capsulated under 8 headings. Links are included to view films featuring some in the sound tracks. Background is offered for each by date and place of writing and, for many, scripture references which were formative in their composition.
Give Us this Day
Price: $1.00 USD. Words: 6,880. Language: English. Published: December 17, 2011 . Categories: Fiction » Plays & Screenplays » American
A short story. The people of a small town are isolated by martial law when the nearby metropolis is attacked by terrorists. News reports of bio-terrorist events in the city move some to take the law into their own hands and others to cash in on selling supplies. Vigilantes organize when a stranger shows up observing them. Will they catch him before he hits the church where everyone is gathering?
The Future Seed
Price: $1.00 USD. Words: 5,730. Language: English. Published: November 29, 2011 . Categories: Fiction » Plays & Screenplays » American
A short story. John and Margaret Posvar, American Midwest farmers, keep alive the values sent down by their ancestors from the Old World. Their neighbors become hostile when they befriend new, foreign neighbors, then send a portion of their harvest to overseas relief. The Posvars' charity enriches their family's world view, but the local backlash threatens to bankrupt and disinherit them.

Mark R. Turner's tag cloud

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