Local lawyer publishes first novel

Unless you are a devout Catholic who has spent a lifetime studying the religion, you probably don’t know much about Ambrose, Dymphna or the other Saints; but Mark W. Wolf, 936 Nebraska Ave. W., is a lawyer-turned-novelist who is bringing them back to life through a book series he calls “The Modern Rendition.”

“Maybe they were from way back in time, but their stories have to be heard again. Their lives didn’t just take place in their time. They are, in a sense, timeless. You can take what happened in the past and apply it to the modern age,” said Wolf, whose first novel has just been released.

“Ambrose: A Modern Rendition” (Saints on Bicycles, 2015, $17.49) is the story of Saint Ambrose, a fourth century bishop who lived in Milan, Italy during the waning moments of the Roman Empire. However, this story takes place in the modern, perhaps futuristic United States at a time when guns have been outlawed, and people once again settle their differences with swords and knives and hand-to-hand combat. Some major changes have been made to America’s beloved sport of football as well.

“I wanted Ambrose’s environment to be as close as possible to the Roman environment and so that’s why there’s a part in there about lions during the half time game. As far as the elimination of guns, they have been such an issue in our society, it’s a modern issue I thought I needed to bring in,” said Wolf.

“Ambrose: A Modern Rendition” is also a love story. Ambrose is deeply in love with Mary Peterson and wants nothing more than to spend his life making her happy; but when God calls, he is thrust into a situation where he must choose between love and the greater good. He becomes a bishop and to be true to his religion must remain celibate.

“I enjoy ancient history a lot and whether it’s science, religion or some other avenue, I enjoy learning how things developed over the years or centuries,” said Wolf, who read a lot of books as research for his novel.

“Before law school, I always considered myself an average writer. But having gone to law school, I now consider myself fairly good,” said Wolf, who credits William Mitchell College of Law with doing a great job not only teaching him how to write, but giving him the confidence to write.

“The kind of writing I was doing was plain, but very precise. You’re trying to convey a very accurate meaning in as few words as possible. Writing novels gives you more of a release with your writing, a creative arch rather than an argumentative one.”

Around the same time Wolf decided to try his hand at writing fiction, he had made the decision to return to the Catholic Church, so it was no accident that he decided to tackle a religious topic in his first novel.

“Writing Ambrose not only helped me get back into the church, it helped me gain a better understanding of what God is all about,” said Wolf, who is now hard at work on his second novel, “Dymphna: A Modern Rendition.” Dymphna is the Saint of Mental Illness.

In addition to his work as a novelist and lawyer, Wolf also works as a physical therapist, helping those who have been injured heal. Prior to entering law school, he studied physical therapy. He earned both his doctorate and masters in physical therapy at the University of Minnesota.