Mark Lawrence was born in 1966, in the United States. While he was still young, his parents moved to the United Kingdom. Lawrence has a degree in physics and holds a PhD in mathematics. He is married and has four children. Lawrence is the primary carer of his disabled child Celyn, and for this reason he does not travel to promote his books or attend conventions. He works as a novelist and was a research scientist in the field of artificial intelligence. He has held secret level clearance with both US and UK governments. Since 2015, Lawrence operates the annual Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off, a literary contest intended to bring greater visibility to self-published English-language fantasy authors.
Reception
Lawrence's first work, Prince of Thorns, was a finalist in the Goodreads Choice Award for "Best Fantasy 2011", a David Gemmell Morningstar Award Finalist in 2012 and short listed for the Prix Imaginales in 2013. Prince of Thorns was also one of Barnes & Noble's "Best Fantasy Releases of 2011". His second book, King of Thorns was again a finalist in the Goodreads Choice Award for "Best Fantasy 2012." King of Thorns was also one of Barnes & Noble's "Best Fantasy Releases of 2012", and a David Gemmell Legend Award Finalist in 2013. The final book in the Broken Empire trilogy, Emperor of Thorns, was published in August 2013 and was on the Sunday Times Bestseller list. It also made the final of the Goodreads Choice Award and won the David Gemmell Legend Award. Prince of Fools was a semi-finalist in the Goodreads Choice Award for "Best Fantasy 2014" in an expanded category. It was also a David Gemmell Legend Award Finalist in 2015. The Liar's Key was a semi-finalist in the Goodreads Choice Award for "Best Fantasy 2015", and won Lawrence a second David Gemmell Legend Award. The Wheel of Osheim was a semi-finalist in the Goodreads Choice Award for "Best Fantasy 2016". In April 2015, Harper Voyager acquired the rights for his next fantasy trilogy - The Red Sister Trilogy for a six-figure sum from Ian Drury at Sheil Land. This trilogy is not set in the world of the Broken Empire. His work is translated into 25 languages and he has sold around two million books worldwide.
The Broken Empire
Prince of Thorns
King of Thorns
Emperor of Thorns
A short story entitled Sleeping Beauty set in the Broken Empire was released on 26 April 2014.
Bad Seed released in Grimdark Magazine issue No. 1
During the Dance A free standalone short story that is available on his Website
A Rescue - Available in Legends II: Stories in Honour of David Gemmell
The Dream-Taker's Apprentice First published in Fantasy Faction's 2015 anthology and one of three winners to be included in the Remastered Words 2017 audio anthology, eventually titled "Fabled Journey II"
Christmas Tale - A free standalone short story that is available on his Website
Locked In - A free standalone short story that is available on his Website
No Second Troy - A short story that is available in the Broken Empire Omnibus
Road Brothers - A short story collection that has 10 stories all set in The Broken Empire world.
Gunlaw A Standalone book that is serially released on Wattpad
Blood of the Red - A standalone books that is serially released on Wattpad
The Hero of Aral Pass released in Art of War: Anthology for Charity
Poetry
Sea Song - A free poem that is available on his Website
Stumble - A free poem that is available on his Website
Blue - A free poem that is available on his Website
Shouting for the Echo - A free poem that is available on his Website
High,Cold,Silent,Alone - A free poem that is available on his Website
