Texas Authors
Texas authors are making an island splash. Mark Ferdinand resides on Padre Island in Corpus Christi, Texas and has dedicated a significant part of his life to writing. His body of work includes a novel featuring an autistic character, a chronicling of wild reptile stories, humorous tales of autism, and a mythological account of giant tiki carvings.
Fortune on the Spectrum

Fortune on the Spectrum is a novel in which the main character has autism. Traits of his autism give him great focus on his obsession with day trading the stock market. He becomes the youngest self-made millionaire in Texas history.
You’re Gonna’ Get Bit!
After completing his first novel, Mark decided to compile a group of stories that brought him to the unusual occupation of snake venom extraction. For those like the creepy crawly reptiles and amphibians, these are tales from amateur fun to professional pitfalls.
From chasing frogs as a child, to milking venomous snakes for a living, Mark Ferdinand explores a lifetime of tales from the world of reptiles and amphibians. Whether it’s a quest for his first turtle, keeping crocodiles in his closet, or chasing snakes around the workplace, You’re Gonna’ Get Bit! has a story that all “herpers” and nature lovers can relate to and enjoy.
Funny Autism Stories
We know about all the challenges. These funny autism stories focus on the fun and the funny side of autism. While he may not have typical communication skills, surprisingly this can be an asset in the humor department. Funny autism-related moments are a daily occurrence with this young character, and this book is a collection of the most memorable.
Every Tiki has a Spirit
An enduring part of Mark’s life is that of tiki carving, and his works are spreading across the Corpus Christi area. Mark has carved individual tikis ranging in sizes from 12 inches to ten feet. In addition, Mark has converted large support posts to tiki carvings for commercial establishments, private residences, and home builders for their Polynesian/South Pacific decor projects. He has become quite well known in the state of Texas for being the state’s premier Polynesian carver.
Taking this experience and relaying it to readers in an entertaining way was Mark’s goal in writing the book “Every Tiki has a Spirit”. It is a fun chronicling of Mark’s experience with tiki carving and alternates to a mythological chronicling of the origins of the earth and mankind. Printed versions in color and black and white.
Mark Ferdinand writes on topics considered unusual for Texas authors.
Mark’s books are available through Amazon in both paperback and Kindle. Digital versions are available for Android from Google Play and iTunes for Apple devices.
Texas Author
Mark Ferdinand lives on the South Texas coast with his wife, daughter and son. Fishing the surf, hunting, gardening, carving, auto and home repair occupy his spare time. He has written on the topic of autism spectrum disorder from a father’s perspective in parenting articles and in other non-fiction venues.
Having limited typical communication skills, his son introduced Mark to new ways of interpreting his needs and aspirations. As his son grew older Mark became fascinated by the story potential within these amazing children. This prompted the creation of a dynamic adventure story focusing on a character with autism.
After completing his first novel “Fortune on the Spectrum”, he decided to compile a group of lifetime stories that brought him to the unusual occupation of snake venom extraction called “You’re Gonna’ Get Bit!: Harrowing Tales of Herpetology.”
Corpus Christi author and Texas author Mark Ferdinand. Mark writes novels with autistic characters, Texas fiction, and true tales of reptiles and amphibians. In 2017 Mark published his autism parenting book- “The Autistic Prankster: Enjoying the Fun Side of Autism.” Available in paperback and Kindle.
Check out Mark Ferdinand’s latest book- “Every Tiki Has a Spirit.”