I'm pleased to welcome Andy Shirley to Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find Andy on the pages of the Redwoods Country Mystery series by Marc Jedel. Sore Like an Eagle is the third book in the series and was released last month.
Guest Post by Andy Shirley, from Sore Like an Eagle by Marc Jedel
As told to Marc Jedel, who insists on calling himself “my author”
Once again, Marc asked me to write a guest post—like I had nothing better to do than do his bidding. I told him I was busy, but he replied that as a fictional character, I’m not actually busy in real life. Offended, I pointed out that, technically as an author, he’s not busy in real life either.
One of us runs an inn, solves murders, and feeds a toy poodle with a superiority complex. The other sits in front of his computer for hours every day, occasionally cackling to himself. Some might even describe that behavior as crazy, but Marc insists it’s him being creative.
“What-evs” as Charlie or Sindy would put it. It wasn’t worth arguing especially when he began making threats about deleting me. Authors are not always the nicest of people.
Things around here have settled down since my last adventure that Marc exaggerated in Sore Like an Eagle—and what kind of ridiculous title is that anyway? With Thanksgiving over, Christmas is approaching. Although if you only paid attention to decorations and holiday music in the stores, you’d have thought it’s been around the corner for months now.
Whenever things seem calm, I worry something is about to go horribly wrong. Marc thinks it’s great fun to involve me in different humorous murder mysteries—as if murders could ever be funny. With the way the murder rate in the small town of Monte Rio is climbing, I might need to move away from here to stay safe.
Just don’t ask me what’s next. I have no idea. No one tells me anything—apparently, spoilers are bad for my “character arc.”
For those who don’t know me, I’m Andy Shirley, sixty-five, retired copy editor, reluctant bed-and-breakfast owner, and sometimes wannabe recluse. My late wife, Catherine, dreamed of running this inn by the Russian River. I dreamed of fishing quietly and avoiding small talk with strangers. Fate, it turns out, has a dark sense of humor.
These days, I manage the Quilt House Inn with help from my Romanian cook, Nadia—who prepares an amazing breakfast buffet. I believe she could take down a murderer with a wooden spoon. Charlie, my inadvertent and highly unofficial sidekick is the town’s hybrid plumber-electrician. She manages to keep my inn from shorting out or flooding from broken pipes. She’s thirty, loud, and possesses the reckless confidence of someone who’s never had to Google “when to replace a hip.” She insists I’m “too negative,” which is rich coming from someone who has “don’t die stupidly” written on her toolbox. She’s good at fixing things and even better at roping me into situations I should know to avoid. She calls it teamwork. I call it entrapment.
Then there’s Fifi—excuse me, Mademoiselle Fifi—my late wife’s teacup poodle. She’s comes in a petite size but is still high maintenance. Fifi insists on visiting the salon each month for a shampoo and style with a fresh pink bow. In addition she receives a pedicure to finish her look. True to her French nature, she has strong opinions. One time I chastised her and she refused to look at me for two days. Fifi accompanies me most places tucked into the front pocket of my fishing vest, supervising my life like a furry parole officer.
The townsfolk here in Monte Rio are friendly enough, though “friendly” in this case often translates to “nosy.” I’ve discovered that small-town gossip travels faster than lightning. People say the town runs on coffee and rumor, which seems entirely accurate.
When I’m not attending to my inn or being drafted into Charlie’s schemes, I go fishing, head out on hikes, or tinker in my new archery shop. Some men in their sixties buy motorcycles. Given the wet, curvy roads and my reflexes, I feel more comfortable teaching archery to young people. Unlike most people, arrows fly straight and don’t gossip.
Marc keeps telling me this series is “cozy” and “humorous.” My inn is certainly cozy. And while I enjoy a good joke, I have yet to find the humor in his stories—not with all the dead bodies. From my point of view, I’m a retired man who just wanted peace and pie. Instead, I’m chasing suspects, tripping over bodies, and finding clues where I least expect them.
Still, I can’t complain too much. The inn’s running smoothly, the guests haven’t found any corpses lately, and Fifi’s fan club continues to grow. In a flash of brilliance, Charlie added her profile to the inn’s social media page and the number of likes have doubled.
So if you find yourself near Monte Rio, stop by the Quilt House Inn. I’ll be the one in the fishing vest with too many pockets, pretending I don’t like people while secretly hoping you brought cookies. You’ll get a comfortable bed, an amazing breakfast, and—if we’re lucky—a murder-free stay. Just don’t call me “adorable” or “grumpy but lovable.”
Sore Like an Eagle, is on sale for only $2.99 during this tour. It’s available at: https://mybook.to/SoreLikeanEagle.. You can find all Marc’s cozy mysteries at: https://www.amazon.com/Marc-Jedel/e/B07H7MVKJL. They’re available in e-book, paperback, and audiobook formats. Marc’s novels are free to read by Kindle Unlimited members.
************************************************************************
Marc loves hearing from readers as that motivates him to keep going on the next blank page. Let him know what you liked, what you didn’t, and what you’d want to see more of in the next book.
*************************************************************************
Website: www.marcjedel.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/MarcJedel.Author
BookBub: http://www.bookbub.com/profile/marc-jedel
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Marc-Jedel/e/B07H7MVKJL
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18403497.Marc_Jedel
*********************************************************************
Sore Like an Eagle: A Redwoods Country Mystery by Marc Jedel
About Sore Like an Eagle
Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series
Setting - California’s Redwoods Country
BGM Press (April 20, 2026)
Number of Pages: 241
The coroner is claiming natural causes. The mayor is crying murder. Can this feisty retiree spot the truth before the clues drown in the chaos?
Andy Shirley won’t admit he likes it here. But in the year since his wife’s passing, the copy-editor-turned-reluctant-hotelier has begun to appreciate small-town life amongst the towering redwoods. And his quick eye for detail has him suspecting foul play when the local busybody is found belly-up in the community pool.
With his sleuthing skills unaffected by a recent hiking injury, Andy ignores the police chief’s cautions and dives into an off-the-books investigation. But though his snarky sidekick and pocket-sized poodle help chase down leads, all his Poirot-inspired maneuvers aren’t getting him any closer to closing the case.
Can he pull off an impossible solve, or will the lack of evidence drive Andy off the deep end?
Sore Like an Eagle is the splashy third book in the Redwoods Country cozy mystery series. If you like reluctant heroes, unexpected team-ups, and puzzles that keep you guessing, then you'll love this hilarious yarn.
Try Sore Like an Eagle to swim laps around crime today!
About Marc Jedel
Marc Jedel writes funny, feel-good murder mysteries filled with quirky characters, twisty plots, and the kind of humor that goes down easy with a cup of tea—or glass of wine. After years of writing marketing copy in Silicon Valley, Marc finally started crafting fiction people actually wanted to read. He’s the author of multiple cozy mystery series, including the Silicon Valley Mystery, Ozarks Lake Mystery, and Redwoods Country Mystery series. His books have earned thousands of glowing reviews. Like Andy from the Redwoods Country Mysteries, Marc keeps getting older and sincerely hopes his retirement doesn’t involve running a B&B. Like Marty from the Silicon Valley series, he lives in tech-heavy California, has worked in high-tech, and proudly wields bad puns. Like Jonas and Elizabeth from the Ozarks Lake series, Marc grew up in the South and spent many a summer in and around Arkansas. He lives with his endlessly patient wife and a sweet, neurotic dog who remains deeply unimpressed by Marc’s jokes. When not writing, Marc can be found hiking, plotting murders (on the page, officer, really!), or avoiding whatever home improvement project he’s been putting off. Visit marcjedel.com for free content, updates, and more!
Author Links:
- Website and mailing list: www.marcjedel.com
- Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Marc-Jedel/e/B07H7MVKJL
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarcJedel.Author
- BookBub: www.bookbub.com/profile/marc-jedel?follow=true
- Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/18403497.Marc_Jedel
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mjedel/
No comments:
Post a Comment