Picture a storyteller who weaves Holocaust history and whimsical children’s mysteries into unforgettable tales—meet Mark Newhouse! From The Villages, Florida, this award-winning author has crafted a literary legacy inspired by his parents’ survival of the Lodz Ghetto. His historical fiction series, The Devil’s Bookkeepers, and playful Monstrovia mysteries captivate readers with emotional depth and clever storytelling, making Newhouse a unique voice in contemporary literature.
The Making of Mark Newhouse
Born in Germany to Holocaust survivors, Mark Newhouse’s life was shaped by his parents’ harrowing experiences in Auschwitz and Buchenwald. After immigrating to the United States as a baby, he grew up on Long Island, where he became an acclaimed educator, earning the Elementary/Secondary Teacher of the Year award from the New York State Reading Association. His love for teaching and storytelling merged when he began writing, inspired by literary giants like Sherlock Holmes, Perry Mason, and Edgar Allan Poe, with a dash of Mark Twain’s humor. Newhouse’s early work, a teacher’s guide on the Statue of Liberty, sparked his passion for crafting stories that educate and inspire.
Mark Newhouse’s Unforgettable Stories
Newhouse’s historical fiction series, The Devil’s Bookkeepers, is a gripping trilogy that brings the Lodz Ghetto’s horrors to life. Based on The Chronicle of the Lodz Ghetto (Yale University Press, 1984), the series follows characters like Bernard Ostrowski, a Jewish engineer, as they navigate love, courage, and survival under Nazi oppression. The first book, The Noose, won the Grand Prize Fiction Series and Hemingway Wartime Series awards from the Chanticleer International Book Awards, along with the Florida Writers Association’s Best Published Book of the Year. Its sequels, The Noose Tightens and The Noose Closes, continue this haunting narrative, earning critical acclaim for their authenticity and emotional resonance.
For younger readers, Newhouse’s Monstrovia series blends humor and mystery in a secret U.S. sector where humans are rare. Titles like Welcome to Monstrovia and The Case of the Disastrous Dragon feature underdog heroes solving legal puzzles with intelligence, not violence, earning awards like the Benjamin Franklin Silver Medal. His Rockhound Science Mysteries, a Teachers’ Choice Award winner, let kids solve cases with fun experiments like making ice pops, reflecting Newhouse’s knack for engaging young minds. His picture books, such as Santa’s Speeding Ticket, add playful activities that charm families.
Why Mark Newhouse Matters
Mark Newhouse’s work transcends genres, uniting historical fiction’s weight with children’s literature’s joy. The Devil’s Bookkeepers honors his parents’ legacy, offering a poignant reminder of the Holocaust’s lessons while advocating for hope and kindness. His children’s books empower young readers to face challenges like bullying with courage, reflecting his own experiences as a shy, bullied child. As a speaker and anti-bullying advocate, Newhouse inspires audiences, and his books, now in development for film and TV, continue to reach new generations, ensuring his message of “Never again” resonates.
- Born: Germany, post-WWII
- Key Works: The Devil’s Bookkeepers, Welcome to Monstrovia, Rockhound Science Mysteries
- Awards: Chanticleer Grand Prize, Florida Writers Association Gold Medal, Eric Hoffer First Prize
- Fun Fact: Newhouse’s Monstrovia podcast, Defenders of Monstrovia, is a hit on Amazon and iHeartRadio!
Snag The Devil’s Bookkeepers for a heart-wrenching journey or Welcome to Monstrovia for a fun mystery—dive into Mark Newhouse’s captivating worlds today!