Mark Grenside, born and raised in London, is a thriller writer known for twist-driven novels set in the high-stakes world of film and television. His debut, Fall Out (2021), introduces film producer Marcus Riley and Mako de Turris in an ongoing series that blends insider industry knowledge with fast-paced suspense.
Before turning to fiction, Mark built an international career spanning finance, media, and entertainment. He began as a Lloyd’s of London insurance broker specialising in Kidnap, Ransom, and Extortion risk, before moving into television and film. There, he worked with Jim Henson on productions including The Muppet Show, Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal, and Labyrinth, and went on to produce and distribute projects linked to writers such as Patricia Highsmith, Robert Louis Stevenson, J.M. Barrie, and Arthur Hailey. He continued creating movies, mini-series, and series for global audiences, and successfully launched music artists. He later played a key role in raising US $250 million to acquire the international rights to the Hallmark Channel, which was subsequently sold to NBC.
In addition to writing, he is a serial entrepreneur, launching and co-founding a range of innovative companies.
Classic cars are a lifelong passion, and he has raced them all over the world. In addition to his love of cooking, he enjoys risk and has parachuted in New Zealand, scuba-dived in the Pacific, hang-glided in the Himalayas and even tobogganed down the Cresta Run. In nearly every case chasing after his wife, who is utterly fearless.
Now based in Malta, Mark has travelled to more than 120 countries, an experience that informs the global scope of his writing. He also writes a monthly blog at www.andanotherthing.com and maintains an active presence in the creative and media industries.
He has two grown sons, two daughters-in-law, four grandchildren and lives in Malta with his wife, his classic cars and two French bulldogs.
Mark’s IMDB profile can be found here IMDB
– Facts About Me That Are Not Fiction –
I played with Sir Winston Churchill in a lift by myself when I was four years old.
I made a record with a band called The Insects when I was 13 years old. It was terrible.
At 25, I was invited to lunch at the classic Hollywood haunt, Chasens in Los Angeles. My host was a well-known producer. As we entered, the Maître D’ came up to my host to say Frank Sinatra was having a birthday lunch and extended an invitation for him and his guest to join his party. My host advised me to be cool and not to fawn or be star-struck. Mr. Sinatra was the epitome of graciousness and introduced himself, his wife Barbara Marx and the long table of famous people. The last person was a bald gentleman who resembled Mr. Magoo. “Last but not least Mark, this is Max Factor.” I lost it. “Max Factor,” I cried out. “There’s a Max Factor?!” Mr. Sinatra turned to my host “Who is this Limey who doesn’t blink at a table full of Hollywood Royalty but freaks out at meeting Max Factor?”
One morning I showed up to work at Jim Henson’s house which doubled as our office and found a man sitting with his feet up on my desk. I assumed he was Jim’s driver and asked him to take his feet off and wait outside. Jim then came into the room and said he was not going to the studio and did not need a driver. ‘The chauffeur’ was actually Steven Spielberg who had come for a meeting. Spielberg had the last laugh though. Six months later while queueing outside Beverly Hills Hotel valet parking, he leaned over to ask if he could give me a lift and should he wear his chauffeur’s hat!
I have scuba-dived since I obtained a licence at 16. My teachers were the crew of Jacques Cousteau’s Calypso during their downtime. Many years later I did a show with him and John Denver in Moscow.
One of my greatest passions is cooking. I love to host dinner parties and be with friends.
I have dual nationality, UK and Swiss, speaking fluent French and some German and Italian. My first TV series, 72 action half-hours called Crossbow, was about the adventures of William Tell and so a nod to my ancestry.
I am allergic to wool!
I have been fortunate enough to visit 120 countries. However, I still want to see Antarctica.