Mark Van Aken Williams grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio. His maternal grandfather, William J. Van Aken, was the mayor of Shaker Heights for four decades. His paternal grandfather was Clyde E. Williams, the second director of Battelle. Innovation, education, and travel provided a firm foundation.
Williams has enjoyed traveling throughout the world: including salmon fishing in Alaska, visiting Mayan ruins in the Yucatan Peninsula, deep sea fishing in Costa Rica and attending an International Rainforest Workshop on the Amazon River in Peru.
When not traveling or writing, Williams enjoys cooking for friends and family and following soccer (especially British), as well as baseball and football. His favorite sport is deep sea fishing.