About Mark James... The Stoneholding is the result of a unique collaboration between Mark Sebanc and James G. Anderson. While the origins of the novel lie in a story crafted by Mark over several years, in its present form it stands as a tribute to the alchemy of a mutually sparked creativity. Mark and Jim have toiled together in friendship, with single-minded dedication, setting, honing and polishing the initial work to its present clarity and scope. The penname Mark James is the appropriate response to their joint undertaking.
Mark has worked as an editor and translator, with several books to his credit. He holds a B.A. and M.A. in Classics from the University of Toronto. A teacher, musician, and poet, Jim earned both Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees from Franciscan University of Steubenville. Mark and Jim live with their families in the Upper Ottawa Valley of Ontario, Canada.
About Ted Nasmith... One of the world's foremost illustrators of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, Ted Nasmith's accomplishments in this area are truly impressive. In a career that spans over thirty years he has achieved pre-eminence as a gifted and articulate interpreter of the genius of Tolkien. So much so that he is the only artist ever commissioned by the Tolkien Estate to illustrate The Silmarillion, the foundational work which underlies The Lord of the Rings.
Not to mention the fact that Ted has several Tolkien calendars to his credit. During the last five years, no fewer than four of these have showcased his artwork. Most noteworthy is the sequence of calendars covering the years 2002, 2003, and 2004, each featuring a volume of the Lord of the Rings trilogy in step with the staggered release of Peter Jackson's film version in three installments.
Indeed Ted was invited to New Zealand to help on set with the conceptual art for the film, but family and work commitments prevented him from taking up the offer.
Ted Nasmith lives with his family near Toronto.
To learn more about Ted and his work, please visit his website at www.tednasmith.com
