Jonathan Mark Bayliss

Mark was that kid in school who for English homework would write nine-page essays. It worked out well, some of his short stories and novel themes are a nod to those essays. This passion for writing recently earned him an MA in Creative Writing from Cardiff University, with a distinction for his dissertation using the initial chapters of his work-in-progress novel (Butterflies Can’t Kill You) - a speculative fiction thriller.

He is originally from the Welsh former mining town of Blaenavon, now a famous UNESCO World Heritage Site attraction, and the scene of his thriller ‘Rare Earth’. His career started as an aeronautical design engineer, but he spent most of his working life travelling the world masquerading as a key account salesman.

His debut novel ‘The Lucidity Programme’ received excellent reviews and briefly made it to #33 in its Amazon category alongside the likes of Dean Koontz and Paulo Coelho!

To relax, he’s a dedicated yogi; ridden Tour de France alpine cycling climbs; hiked the Camino across Northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela; snowboarded Mont Blanc’s Vallée Blanche and once outran a herd of rampaging cows across his local Welsh mountains. He’s a member of the Hay Writers Circle and performed at the Hay Literature Festival several times – treasuring his ‘paper rose’ performance accolade.

He lives in Wales with similar views to some of the characters in his Valley noir books.

Writing Awards:

He won his first national award for writing a fictional story as an eight-year-old - The Brooke Bond award

First prize in the Henshaw International in 2020. with his short story ‘Taste the Darkness’.

Runner up in the Frances Copping Memorial Prize for Fiction 2019 judged by Candice Siobhan Walker.

Third prize for the 2023 Richard Booth Prize for non-fiction judged by Tom Bullough.

Third prize Hay Writers 2023 open poetry competition judged by Alex Josephy.

MA Creative Writing 2023 (Cardiff University).

Long-listed for the Cheshire Novel Prize 2024 with his work in progress thriller: Butterflies Can't Kill You

Short-listed for the Marlowe & Christie Novel Prize 2024 with his work in progress thriller: Butterflies Can't Kill You.