“This author weaves his stories together,
employing a wickedly humorous skill not unlike that of
David Sedaris and Augusten Burroughs”
Why I Write
We all have a story, at least one story, worth sharing. I have many stories. Whether they are worth sharing is the question. I hope so. And that hope is why I keep writing. When you pour your heart and soul into a story, you never know if it will resonate with others. Literary awards are nice. I’ve won a few. Sales are even better. I’ve sold a few. But receiving a personal note from a reader who connected with your story is something else. There’s no better feeling, at least not for me.
Why “A Cup of Tea on the Commode”?
I’ve always enjoyed memorializing family events. I wrote poems summing up our annual summer reunions. I designed memory books marking momentous occasions. I filmed “Ciao Celle,” a documentary of my father’s visit to the birthplace of his father. “A Cup of Tea on the Commode” represents my latest effort.
At first, I planned to document my caregiving journey only for my siblings. Since I was privy to so many special moments and entertaining conversations with our mother, I didn’t want them to miss out. But during my journey, I had a friend who was just beginning her own with her father. I shared some of the tips and tricks I had learned from hospice, as well as a few of my own caregiving tips and tricks. It helped her. So, I thought others might also benefit from my unique experience. And voilà, A Cup of Tea on the Commode was served. To be clear, this is not a “How To” book. It’s a “What I Did” book. My hope is to inspire, educate, and entertain. So far, so good.
Biography
Mark Steven Porro, a New Jersey native (Exit 163), earned an Industrial Design degree from The Ohio State University. After years of agency work, his love of acting led him to Hollywood, where he appeared in dozens of television, film, and stage productions. Mark also spent his twenty-eight years in Tinseltown, entrepreneuring. He started five non-profit companies. But hold the applause, none were intended to be. He now lives in the South of France. But hold your pity. He of sound mind and body chose to suffer in the heart of wine country where the locals insist his French isn’t so bad—at least that’s what he thinks they’re saying.
Mark is an award-winning designer, writer, director, and a multi-award-winning author. He has written lots of jokes, several screenplays, and one award-winning short film. His debut memoir A Cup of Tea on the Commode has won eighteen literary awards to date. Stay tuned for his follow-up, Slightly Unsalted.
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Though Mother Nature rained on our parade, she did not dampen our joy.
Okay, maybe a little.
2025 Global Book Award Gold Medal
2025 Pencraft Awards Winner
2025 Independent Press Award Winner
2025 Feathered Quill Book Awards Finalist
2024 Best Indie Book Award Winner
2024 NYC Big Book Award Winner
2024 Paris Book Festival Winner
2024 Living Now Book Awards Winner
2024 International Book Awards Winner
2024 IndieReader Discovery Award Winner
2024 Book Excellence Award Winner
2024 Firebird Book Award Winner
2024 Eric Hoffer Book Award Finalist
2024 Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards Finalist
2024 National Indie Excellence Awards Finalist
2024 Best Book Awards Finalist
2024 Chanticleer International Awards Finalist
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