About
Mark Holden
When life changes in an instant, few people have the strength to share that story with the world. Mark Holden from Nottingham, UK, is one of those rare people. In his book Surviving a Stabbing: A Story of Love and Hope, Mark transforms a life-threatening attack into an inspiring journey of healing, forgiveness, and faith.
Before becoming an author, Mark worked in local schools as a mentor. His day-to-day job involves supporting children who struggle with anxiety, behavioural challenges, or family difficulties. Through one-to-one mentoring, he teaches them practical strategies to calm their minds, regulate emotions, and regain confidence.
He often explains that it’s not counselling—it’s empowerment: giving young people breathing techniques, tools to handle stress, and the belief that they can thrive. This background of compassion and resilience would later shape how he processed his own trauma.
On Easter Sunday 2023, Mark’s life took a devastating turn. After attending a church service in Nottingham, he was attacked and stabbed multiple times by a young man he barely knew.
The incident was completely unprovoked—a random act committed by someone suffering from severe mental-health challenges. The attack left Mark with critical injuries that required immediate, life-saving surgery.
“Within an hour of the attack, I was in the operating theatre,” Mark recalls. “The doctors told me that without surgery, I wouldn’t have survived.”
The physical wounds healed over time, but the emotional scars were far deeper. He describes losing confidence, feeling anxious in public, and questioning his own sense of safety. Yet rather than allowing fear or bitterness to define him, Mark chose to confront the experience head-on—by writing about it.
Encouraged by a friend and colleague who had published his own book, Mark joined the PublishU “Write My Book” course. At first, the idea of writing 30,000 words felt impossible. But the step-by-step structure of the course broke the process into achievable weekly goals.
“Writing became therapy,” he says. “Putting everything on paper helped me process the shock and understand what I’d been through. By the end of the course, I realised I’d written the entire book—and that I was finally ready to share my story.”
Through the pages of Surviving a Stabbing, Mark details the moment of the attack, his long recovery in hospital, and the emotional toll that followed. But he also highlights the extraordinary kindness that surrounded him—the meals delivered to his family, the financial help, the neighbours and friends who showed up day after day. What could have been a story of violence becomes instead a story of community, gratitude, and grace.
Perhaps the most striking part of Mark’s story is his attitude toward his attacker. Despite enduring a near-death experience, he harbours no hatred. Learning that the young man suffered from mental-health issues helped him separate the act from the person behind it.
“I’ve never felt bitterness or hatred,” he explains. “I realised early on that holding anger would only trap me in the past. Letting go allowed me to heal.”
This radical forgiveness sits at the heart of Surviving a Stabbing. It’s not about forgetting what happened—it’s about reclaiming peace. Mark’s Christian faith underpins every page, offering readers a reminder that compassion can overcome even the darkest circumstances.
After months of recovery, Mark slowly rebuilt his confidence. The same resilience he once taught his students—breathing, patience, small steps—became the tools he used to rebuild his own life. His wife Yancy, children Sam and Emma, extended family, and faith community became his anchor.
The book captures both the vulnerability and the strength of those months: the fear of returning to public spaces, the comfort of community meals, and the first flickers of joy that returned through family life. “I realised that life might never be the same,” he says, “but it can still be good. There can still be hope.”
Today, Surviving a Stabbing is available worldwide. Readers have praised it for its honesty, emotional depth, and message of resilience. More than a memoir, it’s a beacon for anyone who has faced sudden loss, violence, or trauma.
“I hope the book encourages people going through tough times,” Mark shares. “You might not have the same experience I had, but everyone faces moments that break them. My message is that you can come through stronger. Life may look different afterwards, but it can still be full of purpose and love.”
For Mark, sharing his story is both an act of vulnerability and of service. He continues to mentor children in schools, using his experience to model courage and empathy. He often reminds his students that the hardest challenges can reveal the best parts of ourselves.
Mark Holden’s story reminds us that tragedy doesn’t have to define our identity. Whether you draw strength from faith, family, or community, Surviving a Stabbing proves that hope can rise from even the most traumatic moments.
From the streets of Nottingham to readers across the world, his journey carries a universal message: love is stronger than fear, and forgiveness can free the soul.
If you’re looking for an inspiring true story about resilience, faith, and the healing power of community, Surviving a Stabbing is a must-read.
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