Mark Z. Danielewski is a renowned horror and science fiction author from New York, best known for his debut novel "House of Leaves." Danielewski was born in New York City and currently resides in Los Angeles. He has gained a significant cult following and critical acclaim for his experimental choices in form, such as intricate and multi-layered narratives and typographical variation. His work has been the focus of university classes and literary events, and has been translated into multiple languages.
Danielewski studied English Literature at Yale and later pursued graduate studies at the USC School of Cinema-Television. He also spent time in Paris, preoccupied with writing. In the early 1990s, he served as an assistant editor and worked on sound for Derrida, a documentary based on the life of the French literary critic and philosopher Jacques Derrida. His second novel, "Only Revolutions," was released in 2006 and was a finalist for the National Book Award.
In addition to "House of Leaves" and "Only Revolutions," Danielewski has written several other novels, including "The Fifty Year Sword," "The Little Blue Kite," and "The Familiar" series. "The Fifty Year Sword" was performed on Halloween for three consecutive years at REDCAT, and "The Familiar" series is a 27-volume project, with the first five volumes released between 2015 and 2017. His latest release, "The Little Blue Kite," was published in November 2019, accompanied by a US tour.
Danielewski is also the son of Polish avant-garde film director Tad Danielewski and the brother of singer and songwriter Annie Decatur Danielewski, also known as Poe. He toured with his sister in 2000 across America at Borders Books and Music locations, promoting Poe's album "Haunted," which reflects elements of "House of Leaves." In 2015, Danielewski's piece "Thrown," a reflection on Matthew Barney's "CREMASTER 2," was displayed at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. Official "Yarn + Ink" apparel inspired by his books "House of Leaves" and "The Familiar" is now available through his official website, Amazon, and Etsy. His latest short story, "There's a Place for You," was released on his website in August 2020.