Mark Painter has worked as an electrical engineer and has practiced law in the field of disability rights. He served in elected office for 17 years, culminating in a stint in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
After retiring from politics, he returned to his first love, writing fantasy and science fiction, and sometimes nonfiction. His short fantasy fiction has appeared in varios magazines and anthologies. He also produces and hosts The History of the Twentieth Century podcast, which has been downloaded more than three million times.