Mark H. Massé

A widely published freelance author since 1978, Mark H. Massé has written for international, national and regional periodicals, including The New York Times, Ladies’ Home Journal, Hemispheres (United Airlines), Writer’s Digest, The Writer, Men’s Health, Golf Journal (U.S.G.A.), Catholic Digest, Midwest Living and Modern Short Stories, among others. In 2004, Indiana University Press published his narrative nonfiction account of social activism, Inspired to Serve: Today’s Faith Activists. The book is listed in the Selected Historical Bibliography in Norman H. Sims' 2007 book, True Stories: A Century of Literary Journalism. The bibliography includes notable 20th- and 21st-century authors such as John Hersey, Truman Capote, Norman Mailer, David Halberstam, Tom Wolfe, Gay Talese, Joan Didion, John McPhee, Tracy Kidder, Jane Kramer, Susan Orlean and Mark Bowden.

Massé's second book-length work of literary journalism, Trauma Journalism: On Deadline in Harm's Way, was published in October 2011 by the Continuum International Publishing Group (New York, London). The narrative nonfiction book features compelling stories of journalists worldwide who cover conflict, crisis and tragedy, examining the emotional impact of their trauma reporting on victims and themselves. Trauma Journalism: On Deadline in Harm's Way chronicles an emerging era of activism with detailed accounts of reporters, researchers, and trauma experts engaged in a collaborative effort to transform the news media through education, intervention, and advocacy.

In 2009, he finished his second novel, Whatever Comes, an endearing dark comedy about an aspiring Irish-American writer (Max Galway) in 1970s Cleveland whose dreams of success are stymied by an unholy trinity of family, work and romance. Similar in tone and treatment to Joshua Ferris' Then We Came to The End and John Irving's The World According to Garp, the novel chronicles twenty-something Max Galway's rocky road journey from sentimental fool to enlightenment. Massé had received an individual artist grant in 2007 to write Whatever Comes from the Indiana Arts Commission. His first novel, Delamore’s Dreams, a family saga set in a gritty metro New York town in the 1960s, was published in 2005 by Booklocker.com. In this uplifting coming-of-age story, a prodigal son and his estranged hard-luck father fight for respect and find the strength to prevail.

Massé has written chapters in several nonfiction collections, including River Teeth (2009), Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Golf Book (2009), Nobody's Father (2008), Writer’s Digest Handbook of Magazine Article Writing (2005) and The Writer’s Handbook (1996). In the 79th Annual Writer’s Digest Magazine Writing Competition (2010), his short story “Cotton Candy” received honorable mention, placing 16th out of the top 100 in the Mainstream/​Literary category, which had more than 1,000 domestic/​international entries.

Massé is a member of the Authors Guild, the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) and the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC). He is listed in Who’s Who Among American Teachers and Educators. Massé is a tenured professor, director of graduate studies and the writing center in the Department of Journalism at Ball State University (BSU), Muncie, Ind. In 2006, he established a master’s degree program emphasis in literary journalism. Prior to joining the faculty at BSU in 1996, he taught as an adjunct assistant professor in the School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC) at the University of Oregon, where he received his master’s degree (with honors) in 1994, specializing in literary nonfiction. Massé received his bachelor’s degree in sociology from Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) in 1974.

Massé has almost 40 years’ professional communications experience. He began his career as a governmental policy planner and public affairs specialist. He worked for major Cleveland advertising/​public relations agencies and directed marketing/​strategic planning for a Northeast Ohio career center. He specialized in issues management and crisis communications.

In 1988, Massé established his executive writing and consulting firm, Words that Work. From 1988-92, he published newspaper and magazine articles, wrote corporate speeches and advised public- and private-sector clients, including Bank One, AGA Gas, Inc., LTV Corp. and the Ohio Department of Education. In 1992, he entered graduate school at the University of Oregon. Massé has lectured at national and state conferences and universities on the teaching of writing, literary journalism, public relations, strategic planning and issues management. He has received national, regional and local awards for his work in the communications industry. A native of Westchester County, N.Y., Massé is married and a stepfather of three sons. His wife, Michelle, is a social worker.