​Mark grew up in Dayton, Ohio, and graduated from Wright State University with degrees in History and Speech. He has lived in Philadelphia, Chicago, Boca Raton, Ft. Lauderdale, L.A., and Lebanon, Ohio.
 
Before turning his talents to writing, Mark enjoyed a successful career in commercial real estate with CBRE, having served on that firm’s Operations Management Board and then as CEO of Prudential CRES Commercial Real Estate Services.  In 2009 and 2021, respectively, he founded Donahue Literary Properties, LLC, and Straight Ahead Cinema, LLC, his film production and development company.
In 2009, his first novel Last at Bat was published in hardcover, followed in 2014 with a re-edited paperback version.  In 2020, a third edition was published, becoming Mark's first Amazon #1 Best Seller, followed by four more in quick succession. His latest publication, War College, is well on its way to achieve that status as well.  A seventh novel, working title, The Farm, will be published early 2025.  He also has written twelve screenplays, many based on his novels: Last at Bat, Golden Reich, Fat Girl, War College, STATS, Call Me Jesse, Answer Man, New York Dirt, Second Serve, The Teller, EZ Way, and The Farm. 
 
In his spare time, Mark plays baseball and has been a member of five MSBL World Series Championship teams. He plays tennis, can sometimes break 80 in golf, is able to jog three miles with a tail wind, and tools around in his triple-white 1967 GTO Convertible whenever possible. 
 
Mark resides in Southwestern Ohio with wife Marsha,  Mika the Wonder Dog; Whirling Dervish Gracie; and New Kid on the Block, Max.  The former 'Boss of the House', Rocky the Cat, sleeps comfortably in the shade of his favorite tree; and the late, great Carly (of Last at Bat fame) watches over all of them from her honored perch on a bookshelf--where else would she be?