Mark Bowden was born on July 17, 1951. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He grew up in Illinois, New York, and Maryland. Mark Bowden is an author, journalist, screenwriter, and teacher. He teaches creative writing and journalism. He has five children. Their names are Aaron, Anya, William, Daniel, and Benjamin. He graduated from Loyola College of Maryland with a B.A. in English literature in 1973. He is the son of Richard H. and Rita Lois Bowden. He is an accomplished writer. Mark Bowden is the author of Bringing the Heat and Doctor Dealer, as well as a reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer for twenty years. He has also written for Men’s Journal, Sports Illustrated, and Rolling Stone. In 1999 he was a National Book Award Finalist for Black Hawk Down. He has won many awards. He won the Feature writing award from Sunday Magazine Editors Association in 1987 for “Finder’s Keeper’s.” He was also a finalist for best newspaper writing for the American Society Newspaper Editors in 1979 for “Life in the Projects.” His last award was the Science writing award from American Association for Advancement of Science in 1980. He lives in Southern Pennsylvania. He is also the author of Doctor Dealer, Bringing the Heat, Our Finest Day and Finders Keepers. He spent more than two years researching the crash of the two black hawks in Black Hawk Down. He also went to military bases many times to find out the details of Black Hawk Down.