Mark O'Connell

Author of THE CLOSE ENCOUNTERS MAN, Writer for STAR TREK: TNG & DS9, including "WHO MOURNS FOR MORN?" Variety's 33rd greatest Star Trek episode.

[Mark O'Connell @markoconnell_1]

It's great to start the week with a glowing review of my book! https://t.co/mly5A8XzjX

[Mark O'Connell @markoconnell_1]

2/ I want to personally thank all 10,109 of you for helping me reach my goal! And for those of you who haven't experienced the book yet, here's where to find it: https://t.co/zdPZ6wIk9l

[Mark O'Connell @markoconnell_1]

1/ I've always felt that if my first book "The Close Encounters Man" sold 10,000 copies, that would be a great accomplishment. So imagine how I feel having just learned that we've sold 6,736 copies of the paperback and 3,373 copies of the audiobook, for a grand total of 10,109!

[Mark O'Connell @markoconnell_1]

North State Public Radio has posted my interview for its Blue Dot podcast! Host Dave Schlom and I talk about my new book "The Year Science Changed Everything." You'll be surprised by how much we didn't know about the world in 1957.

https://t.co/QFoMzMlhl0

[Mark O'Connell @markoconnell_1]

Is this not the coolest Hot Wheels ever?

[Mark O'Connell @markoconnell_1]

I just finished my interview for the Smithsonian Magazine discussing "Disclosure Day," Steven Spielberg's upcoming UFO movie, & it went very well. Great talk about Steven S, J. Allen Hynek, CE3K and the impact they have had on science and popular culture.
https://t.co/zdPZ6wIk9l

[Mark O'Connell @markoconnell_1]

Good start to 2026: I've got a hip pocket deal with a new agent, and just did a screen test for a new UFO TV gig.

More to come...

[Mark O'Connell @markoconnell_1]

Ten years ago today I was on an Antarctic cruise with my siblings to join our dad as he fulfilled his life's dream and set foot on the the last of the 7 continents. It was the adventure of a lifetime, and a fantastic experience to share with my family!

[Mark O'Connell @markoconnell_1]

2/ You have until June 12 to read the book.

Prepare yourself!
https://t.co/rnaXlnH0c9
https://t.co/xmrOxi15AG

[Mark O'Connell @markoconnell_1]

1/ Before there was @disclosureday there was Dr. J. Allen Hynek's work on Project Blue Book, his development of the Close Encounters UFO terminology, & his involvement with Steven Spielberg's blockbuster 1977 UFO movie. You can read about it in my book "The Close Encounters Man".

[Mark O'Connell @markoconnell_1]

Today, December 6th, is my birthday! On this day I was "reborn" after surviving my bone marrow transplant & restaging my immune system. I have endless gratitude to all the family, friends, nurses & doctors who got me through it all. To celebrate I went out on a donut run!

[Mark O'Connell @markoconnell_1]

@AeroTech_Space @nytimes @ageofdisclosure I've said it before and I'll say it again: if there are aliens they'll decide when where and how disclosure takes place, NOT the US government.

[Mark O'Connell @markoconnell_1]

@MrHustleMCR @timburchett @AZolin312 If the lid was going to come off, it would be in a time, place and manner dictated by the alleged aliens. Why would they let a handful of mediocre human scammers control the narrative?

[Mark O'Connell @markoconnell_1]

I had a great time this weekend at the Wisconsin Book Festival talking about my new book, "The Year Science Changed Everything." Thanks to everyone at UW-Madison and the National Science Foundation's US Ice Drilling Program for making this possible!

[Mark O'Connell @markoconnell_1]

2/ Here's the info: https://t.co/89eyixhGVl

[Mark O'Connell @markoconnell_1]

1/ I did a fun interview recently for the upcoming Wisconsin Book Festival, touching on my Star Trek writing and my new book, "The Year Science Changed Everything." I'll be talking about the book on Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Wisconsin Historical Society Auditorium. Can't wait!

[Mark O'Connell @markoconnell_1]

2/ -sent my new feature script off to a producer
-and I'm doing a book festival tomorrow to promote both my books
You might ask yourself "How does he do it?"
My answer is, "I don't know, but I've always done it and I always will."

[Mark O'Connell @markoconnell_1]

1/ Call me Multi-Media Man. In the past few weeks I've:
-done a guest spot on a Star Trek podcast https://t.co/zDtPMMrKSl...
-done a TV guest expert spot on Ancient Aliens https://t.co/qh3hCnmiBw
-done a newspaper interview about my new book, to be published next month

[Mark O'Connell @markoconnell_1]

2/ I have regrets about this episode, in which Commander Sisko falls for a disappearing mystery woman. Listen in and find out why... https://t.co/btE1KGbTpk

[Mark O'Connell @markoconnell_1]

1/ From UFOs to Star Trek! Fresh off my appearance talking UFOs on Ancient Aliens (S21/E9) https://t.co/OTKkjnxisC I'm featured in The Inglorious Treksperts Briefing Room podcast, in which I talk about the process of writing the Deep Space 9 episode "Second Sight" (S2/E9).

[Mark O'Connell @markoconnell_1]

Wow, I mentioned in my last post that I'm J. Allen Hynek's biographer, and in its "notes" Meta AI asked "What is J. Allen Hynek's biography about?"