Author & Editor
Mark Daniel Seiler is an award-winning author and musician living on the island of Kauaʻi. His debut novel, Sighing Woman Tea, won the 2015 Pacific Rim Book Festival, was nominated for the Kirkus Prize, and was named a Foreword Indies finalist. His second novel, River’s Child, earned the Landmark Prize for Fiction, a Silver Nautilus Award, the Literary Titan Book Award, an Independent Press Award Distinguished Favorite recognition, and placements on the Eric Hoffer, da Vinci Eye, and CYGNUS Book Award shortlists. His third novel, Shave Ice Paradise, was featured on Kirkus’s "9 Best Beach Reads" list and awarded an Independent Press Award Distinguished Favorite, Book Excellence Award Finalist status, a Mystery & Mayhem Shortlist spot, a Shelf Unbound Top 100 Notable Book designation, and a Literary Titan Book Award. Self-described as a lifelong learner who got a late start, Mark continues to weave his multi-disciplinary skills into compelling fiction.
Mark’s creative world extends far beyond his own novels into a lifelong dedication to trade-craft, music, and community stewardship. A master carpenter and woodworker, his hands-on projects range from custom architectural pieces and a cedar strip kayak to deep community involvement on Kauaʻi—where he served as editor and project manager for a commemorative book honoring the Lawai International Center and the restoration of its historic hillside shrines. When he isn’t shaping timber, curating legacy projects, or painting original canvases, Mark is an avid musician composing acoustic pieces on guitar, violin, mandolin, and bass. Whether carving wood, arranging chords, or organizing a narrative, every discipline draws from the same patient eye for detail, expression, and joy.
Music & Performance
Yo Tengo una Ilusion
Performed by Blu Dux, Danitza Galvin, and Jazmo
Artist & Craftsman
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![Black and white photo of a smiling baby with short, dark hair, wearing a light-colored outfit.]()
“Hey, where do you get all your ideas?”
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![A man working on a wooden boat in a workshop, surrounded by tools and materials.]()
Red Cedar, yellow cedar, and redwood kayak.
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![Pointer of a wooden canoe with a stack of magazines or books on a bed of pink and white flowers, on grass beside a paved road.]()
Book launch for Shave Ice Paradise.
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![Poster for a musical benefit event featuring a black-and-white illustration of a person playing the violin, wearing a hat and plaid shirt, with event details such as dates, times, and names of performers.]()
Poster by Kathy Golden of the author, as a member of Long String Valley Band, in his early 20s.
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![Sheet music titled 'Blue in Belgravia' with handwritten notes on the left margin.]()
Original Ballad
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![A man in a white T-shirt and jeans is standing at the bottom of a wooden staircase, pointing upward. The staircase has wooden steps and a light-colored handrail, leading to the second floor, with a green wall in the background and dark hardwood flooring on the first floor. There are also some objects, including a black device and a small cart, near the wall.]()
A staircase inspired by a scene in Hitchcock’s film, The Lady Vanishes. “A hand-blown glass finial will go here.”
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![A man working on a woodworking project in a workshop filled with tools and wooden materials.]()
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![Wooden staircase with a green glass decorative piece on the newel post, against a green wall, with a music stand nearby.]()
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![People gathered around a small, traditional Japanese-style wooden shrine outdoors on a bright, partly cloudy day. Some individuals appear to be taking photographs or inspecting the structure, with lush green trees and distant hills in the background.]()
Lawai Bell Tower Blessing. Photo by Katrina Shearon
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![Two older men working on a wooden boat or structure outdoors, surrounded by green trees and plants, under a canopy or tent.]()
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![Traditional Japanese temple with wooden structure, tiled roof, surrounded by greenery, elevated on a stone foundation, with stone steps leading up to it, and a small wooden pagoda-style structure nearby.]()
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![A colorful painting of five potted tulips on a wooden surface, with one large purple tulip and four smaller pink tulips.]()
I took up painting this year. I recommend it!
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![A man in a beige fleece jacket outdoors with a cloudy sky and forested hillside in the background.]()
Author bio pic?
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![Two men working on the roof of a wooden building, one walking with a long wooden plank, the other standing on the roof, surrounded by scaffolding and trees.]()
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![Dense jungle with a waterfall flowing into a dark pool, surrounded by green foliage and bamboo.]()
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![A cozy indoor scene with two guitars, a violin, and a pillow on a sofa. A window with a doll on the windowsill in the background.]()
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![A white pickup truck parked on a street with a brown boat on top, surrounded by tropical palm trees.]()
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![Two dolphins swimming in the ocean, partially submerged with splashes and ripples in the water.]()
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![Two people walking in a grassy area near a silver SUV, with an older person carrying a red bag and wearing colorful clothing, and another person in the background holding a tray of fruit, all outdoors.]()
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![A waterfall flowing into a stream surrounded by lush green foliage and bamboo in a jungle setting.]()
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![Terraced green tea fields on rolling hills with misty mountainous background.]()
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![Traditional Japanese wooden shrine with a dark tiled roof, set outdoors among greenery and trees.]()
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![Clear turquoise ocean water near rocky shoreline.]()
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![Tropical beach with clear blue water, sandy shoreline, and lush green vegetation, including palm trees, under a bright blue sky.]()
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![A lush garden scene with green grass, yellow and red flowers, and trees.]()
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![Wooden framework of a roof under construction in a park with trees in the background.]()
