Pride and Principal - A Guest Post Interview & Giveaway

I'm happy to let Marc Jedel take over Cozy Up With Kathy today. Marc writes the Silicon Valley Mystery series. Pride and Principal is the sixth book in the series. Marty Golden is the protagonist of the series.

Marc (author): What’s with destroying all of Laney’s cars in this series?

Marty [quickly]: That’s not my fault.


Marc (author): Some might say it’s an homage to Janet Evanovich. Her character, Stephanie Plum, always seems to have her cars destroyed in many of Evanovich’s novels.

Marty: If you say so. I don’t have much time to read. Not to mention that I’m not some fictional character. Go ahead, pinch me. You’ll see I’m real.


Marc (author): No thanks. What about some of the crazy predicaments you always seem to wind up in?

Marty: Again, not my fault. I’ll admit to occasionally being a bit impulsive—


Marc (author): Occasionally?

Marty: Hey, I’m getting better at it. Some of the, uh, uncommon situations that happened last week were more Meghan’s doing than mine.


Marc (author): You know this will get published. Are you sure you want to throw her under the bus?

Marty: Uh, no. Definitely not. And now that I think about it, I have to say that none of these issues used to happen before my sister and her girls moved to town. Maybe all this craziness is really Laney’s fault. I wouldn’t put it past her.


Marc (author): Are you and your sister close?

Marty: I suppose we’re closer than we used to be. I mean, she lives only a few miles away from me now and that’s a lot closer than Spokane. [chuckles]. Sorry, I know that’s not what you meant but I’m not really one for introspection.


Marc (author): That’s kind of your motto, isn’t it? Avoiding introspection and leaping into action before you look?

Marty: Up until recently, I would have said my personal motto came from my dad: “If the appetizers are good, eat them. You never know what’s coming for dinner.”


Marc (author): Do you have any interesting hobbies?

Marty: You mean like wingsuit flying, jousting, or bullfighting?


Marc (author): Those are pretty extreme. Are those really your hobbies?

Marty: No, of course not. I’m not an idiot. My hobbies also don’t include tree shaping, extreme ironing, or competitive duck herding even though these are actual things that I’ve stumbled across while browsing the internet.


Marc (author): Seems like you spend a lot of time doing unusual searches?

Marty: Well, there’s only so much attention any one human can devote to staff meetings. I’ve got to do something to keep from going crazy or saying something I’d regret. But, in terms of actual hobbies, I enjoy hiking, surfing, and watching sports. Oh, and of course, hanging out with Meghan. Oh, could you please edit this interview to make that my first answer?


Marc (author): Of course, consider it done. Now, if you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Marty: Good try. I know a trick question when I hear one. Next you’ll be asking me for my password and mother’s maiden name, right?


Marc (author): Okay, okay. Switching gears, how do you feel about your life being made into books?

Marty: I don’t understand. What books?


Marc (author): The Silicon Valley Mystery series. They’re humorous murder mysteries. Surely, you’ve heard of them? Nearly 200,000 copies are in readers’ hands?

Marty: Wow, that’s a lot of people. Congrats! But sorry, I’ve never heard of them. Lately, I’ve been too busy to read. I have had this feeling that someone seems to be watching me all the time and writing down whatever I’m saying. I don’t think I’m being unreasonable here. It’s as if the guy is inside my head and knows what I’m thinking. He follows me around everywhere. Is it paranoid if it’s the truth?


Marc (author): Okaaay. Thanks, Marty, for your time. That’ll be all for today.

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My novel, Pride and Principal, is on sale during this tour. It’s available at: https://mybook.to/PrideandPrincipal. You can find all my cozy mysteries at: https://www.amazon.com/Marc-Jedel/e/B07H7MVKJL. They’re available in ebook, audiobook, and paperback editions, plus my novels are all free for Kindle Unlimited members.

I love hearing from readers. Follow or contact me at:

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

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 Pride and Principal: A Silicon Valley Mystery by Marc Jedel

About Pride and Principal

Pride and Principal: A Silicon Valley Mystery
Cozy Mystery 6th in Series
Setting - California
BGM Press (April 23, 2024)
Number of Pages: 230

The school secretary has a sharp tongue but is she a killer? Can Marty do the math or will he get schooled by a criminal mastermind?

Marty Golden is frazzled. Struggling to juggle nieces, a rambunctious dog, a demanding job, and a serious relationship, the software engineer is never quite sure whether he’s coming or going. But when his nemesis begs for help after she’s accused of offing the school principal, the amateur sleuth agrees to hunt down the real culprit.

Confounded to discover the cantankerous woman stood to take the dead man’s position, he strives to find anyone who could benefit from discrediting the grump. And when his brilliant deductions and personal life implode, not even Marty’s groan-worthy dad-jokes can save him from an explosive threat.

Does this bumbling amateur sleuth have what it takes to capture the real killer?

Pride and Principal is the rollicking sixth book in the Silicon Valley cozy mystery series. If you like heroes in over their head, family hijinks, and plenty of wit and charm, then you’ll love Marc Jedel’s wild ride.

Try Pride and Principal to put two and two together today!

 About Marc Jedel

Marc Jedel writes humorous murder mysteries. He credits his years of marketing leadership positions in Silicon Valley for honing his writing skills and sense of humor. While his high-tech marketing roles involved crafting plenty of fiction, these were just called emails, ads, and marketing collateral.

For most of Marc’s life, he’s been inventing stories. It’s a skill that’s served him well as both an author and marketer. The publication of Marc’s first novel, Uncle and Ants, gave him permission to claim “author” as his job. This leads to much more interesting conversations with people than answering, “marketing.”

Like his character, Marty from the Silicon Valley Mystery series, Marc now lives in Silicon Valley, works in high-tech, and enjoys bad puns. Like his characters Jonas and Elizabeth from the Ozarks Lake Mystery series, he grew up in the South and spent plenty of time in and around Arkansas. Like his character, Andy, from the Redwoods Country Mystery series, Marc continues to grow older and would prefer not to run a bed-and-breakfast inn when he retires. Like all his protagonists, Marc too has a dog, although his is neurotic, sweet, and small, with little appreciation for Marc’s humor.

Visit his website, marcjedel.com, for free chapters of novels, special offers, 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/

Purchase Links - Amazon

Huh? Why? And Punch - A Guest Post Interview & Giveaway

I'm pleased to let Marc Jedel take over Cozy Up With Kathy today as he interviews Marty Golden, the protagonist of his Silicon Valley Mystery series. Huh? Why? and Punch is the fifth book in the series and was released last month.

 
Marc (author): What’s in your refrigerator right now?

Marty: Hopefully nothing—or at least nothing that will spoil. I’ve been in Hawaii for the last week. I’m not very good at keeping track of my groceries so it’s entirely possible there will be some sort of stinky surprise waiting for me when I return home.


Marc (author): Speaking of surprises, it seems like you encounter more than your fair share of these.

Marty: Ain’t that the truth. Dead bodies, murderers, killer ninjas, drug gangs—it’s been nutty! You know, I never used to have these issues before my sister and her girls moved to town. Maybe all that craziness is really Laney’s fault. I wouldn’t put it past her.


Marc (author): Are you and your sister close?

Marty: I suppose we’re closer than we used to be. I mean, she lives only a few miles away from me now and that’s a lot closer than Spokane. [chuckles]. Sorry, I know that’s not what you meant but I’m not really one for introspection.


Marc (author): That’s kind of your motto, isn’t it? Avoiding introspection and leaping into action before you look?

Marty: Up until recently, I would have said my personal motto came from my dad: “If the appetizers are good, eat them. You never know what’s coming for dinner.”


Marc (author): Do you have any interesting hobbies?

Marty: You mean like wingsuit flying, jousting, or bullfighting?


Marc (author): Those are pretty extreme. Are those really your hobbies?

Marty: No, of course not. I’m not an idiot. My hobbies also don’t include tree shaping, extreme ironing, or competitive duck herding even though these are actual things that I’ve stumbled across while browsing the internet.


Marc (author): Seems like you spend a lot of time doing unusual searches?

Marty: Well, there’s only so much virtual staff meetings that any one human can handle. I’ve got to do something to keep from going crazy or saying something I’d regret. But, in terms of actual hobbies, I enjoy hiking, surfing, and watching sports. Oh, and of course, hanging out with my girlfriend. Can you edit this interview to make that my first answer?


Marc (author): Of course. Switching gears, if you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Marty: Is this a trick question? I mean it feels like one. If I say there’s nothing, then I sound pompous and arrogant. But, if I say something real, does that count against me? Is someone keeping score?


Marc (author): How do you feel about your life being made into books?

Marty: I don’t understand. What books?


Marc (author): The Silicon Valley Mystery series. They’re humorous murder mysteries. Surely, you’ve heard of them?

Marty: No, sorry. Lately, I’ve been too busy to read. I have had this feeling that someone seems to be watching me all the time and writing down whatever I’m saying. It’s not like I’m paranoid or anything. But, it’s as if the guy is inside my head and knows what I’m thinking. He follows me around everywhere. Is it paranoid if it’s the truth?


Marc (author): That’ll be all for today. Thanks, Marty, for your time. 

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Huh? Why? and Punch, book 5 in the Silicon Valley Mystery series, can also be read standalone. All the books in the series are available in ebook and paperback, as well as free for Kindle Unlimited readers. The first three books have also been released as audiobooks by Tantor Audio everywhere audiobooks are sold. Buy the books on Amazon at: http://getbook.at/SiliconValley.


For another humorous, clean cozy mystery series starring a newlywed couple and set in a small town in the Ozarks, try Fish Out of Water: An Ozarks Lake Mystery (Book 1). It is available at: getbook.at/Fish.


​Website: www.marcjedel.com

​BookBub: http://www.bookbub.com/profile/marc-jedel

​Facebook: http://facebook.com/MarcJedel.Author

​Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18403497.Marc_Jedel

​Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Marc-Jedel/e/B07H7MVKJL
​LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mjedel/

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 Huh? Why? and Punch: A Silicon Valley Mystery by Marc Jedel

About Huh? Why? and Punch

Huh? Why? and Punch: A Silicon Valley Mystery
Cozy Mystery 5th in Series
BGM Press (January 14, 2022)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 258 pages

When murder crashes his vacation, can a techie in paradise still catch some waves while snaring a killer?

Marty Golden is ready to kick back at the beach. When his neighbor offers free rooms in Hawaii, the software engineer is quick to round up his girlfriend, sister, and nieces for the luau of a lifetime. But his arrival at the resort turns his sun-filled hopes into hunches about homicide after he encounters a very deceased and inconvenient body.

Pressured into helping, a grudging Marty uses his sharp attention to detail to hone in on a crucial clue missed by the police. But his half-hearted investigation spirals out of control with wild chases, burglaries, and secret passageways before the reluctant sleuth gets serious when he’s suddenly added to the target list.

Can Marty hula his way to the real culprit before he’s lei’d to rest?

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Huh? Why? and Punch can be read standalone and is the humorous fifth book in the Silicon Valley cozy mystery series. If you like brilliant but bumbling heroes, crazy fun supporting casts, and daring escapades, then you’ll love this laugh-out-loud whodunit.

Buy Huh? Why? and Punch today to dive into a unique taste of paradise!

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About Marc Jedel

Marc Jedel writes humorous murder mysteries. He credits his years of marketing leadership positions in Silicon Valley for honing his writing skills and sense of humor. While his high-tech marketing roles involved crafting plenty of fiction, these were just called emails, ads, and marketing collateral.

For most of Marc’s life, he’s been inventing stories. As he’s gotten older, he’s encountered more funny and odd people and situations. This has made it even easier for him to write what he knows and make up the rest. It’s a skill that’s served him well, both as an author and marketer.

The publication of Marc’s first novel, UNCLE AND ANTS, gave him permission to claim “author” as his job. This leads to much more interesting conversations than answering, “marketing.”

Like his character, Marty from the Silicon Valley Mystery series, Marc now lives in Silicon Valley, works in high-tech, and enjoys bad puns. Like his characters Jonas and Elizabeth from the Ozarks Lake Mystery series, Marc grew up in the South and spent plenty of time in and around Arkansas.

Along with all his protagonists, Marc too has a dog, although his is neurotic, sweet, and small, with little appreciation for Marc’s humor.

Visit his website, marcjedel.com, for free chapters of novels, special offers, and more.

Author Links: 

Website: www.marcjedel.com  

Facebook: http://facebook.com/MarcJedel.Author 

 BookBub: http://www.bookbub.com/profile/marc-jedel  

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18403497.Marc_Jedel  

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mjedel/  

Blog: www.marcjedel.com/blog  

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Marc-Jedel/e/B07H7MVKJL 

 • Purchase Link- Amazon

 

Fish Out of Water - An Interview, Review, & Giveaway

I'm happy to welcome Marc Jedel back to Cozy Up With Kathy. Marc starts a new series with FISH OUT OF WATER, his first Ozarks Lake Mystery.

 

Kathy: You start a new series with fiSh OUt of WaTER. First off, why the interesting choice of capitalization for your title?

MJ: My book cover designer is very creative. She selected a fun font that reflects the whimsical nature of my humorous cozy mystery. I think she did an awesome job of creating a beautiful cover for Fish Out of Water.


Kathy: You move from the Silicon Valley to the Ozarks with this new series. Why choose this location for your new series?

MJ: I’m very excited that so many readers seem to love my Silicon Valley Mystery series. I felt it would keep things fresh for me and my readers to create a completely different series in a new location, with very different characters, different type of humor, different style of sleuthing, and having a wife and husband providing roughly alternating chapters from their own point-of-view.

Kathy: Was there a specific inspiration for this story?

MJ: My wife has felt a little cheated that no character in my other books was based on her—even in some exaggerated fashion. As I started thinking about starting a second series, I thought it would be fun to set it in a small town in Arkansas. My wife’s grandparents lived in Arkansas on a small ranch and I grew up in the south, spending time in and near Arkansas. That gave me the setting for the Ozarks Lake Mystery series and I used some names and personalities of different relatives for characters in the first book. Alas, there’s still no character based directly on my wife. But, I’m pretty confident this has been a wise decision for my marriage.

I’ll continue writing stories in both series.


Kathy: There are several nods to fishing, from Elizabeth's last name to the title and more. Is fishing a hobby of yours?

MJ: No, I don’t go fishing. The closest I come is that I eat fish. I actually thought of the title of the first book, FISH OUT OF WATER, as a way to explain how one of the protagonists (Jonas) experiences Arkansas as a life-long West Coaster. It stuck with me when I was brainstorming titles and then I immediately had ideas for future books in the series that would use a similar fishing phrase. So, I’ve already decided to call book 2, SWIMMING WITH THE FISHES. Not sure if I’ll be able to use phrases like Bottom Feeder; Hook, Line, and Sinker; or Holy Mackerel! But it sure sounds fun to try.


Kathy: When it comes to writing I understand there are 2 general camps-plotters, who diligently plot their stories, and pansters, who fly by the seat of their pants. Are you a plotter, a panster, or do you fall somewhere in between?

MJ: I outline—even down to fairly good detail. I admit to it. If I didn’t, I’d still be trying to figure out how the book would end, or who gets killed. Once I thought I could wing it from a partial outline and I wound up changing the killer halfway through the story. It only took me a few chapters before I realized that wasn’t a great plan as readers would likely object.

Some authors feel that outlining takes all the fun out of writing but for me, I feel I get to have twice the fun. First I get the pleasure of figuring out what happens, whodunit, and why. That can be fun, frustrating, and much like putting a puzzle together while hoping you haven’t lost one of the pieces under the couch. Then, when I start writing, I know where I’m heading and I can be more focused on making the scenes fun, writing great dialogue, and even improvising when something seems off in my outline. But how would I know if it were heading off a cliff if I didn’t have an outline?

The outlining helps me stay on track and gives me the flexibility to see where the characters will take me without going too far astray. Unless I decide to go astray because I’ve got a funny idea.


Kathy: Authors are required to do a lot of their own marketing, especially for a new release. What's your favorite part of marketing your work? What do you dislike about marketing?

MJ: I worked in high-tech marketing for most of my career so I enjoy it. In many ways, I believe my marketing career helped me to develop as a writer. After all, I wrote fiction every day. We just called it emails, ads, and marketing collateral.

Perhaps the part I dislike most about marketing my own books is that they don’t come with the huge marketing budgets that big firms tend to put behind their products. It certainly makes generating more awareness of my books a bit more challenging.


Kathy: Will you share any other upcoming books?

MJ: I’ve started writing book 2, SWIMMING WITH THE FISHES, in the Ozarks Lake Mystery series underway. I’ve also got book 5, HUH? WHY? and PUNCH (say it aloud a few times quickly) in the Silicon Valley Mystery series partly plotted. And yes, it takes place in Hawaii.


Kathy: Anything else to tell readers?

MJ: I hope readers try my novels and enjoy them. My books aren’t the right fit for you if you’re looking for deep introspection, intense psychological thrillers, or dense, wordy prose where nothing much happens. I feel like there’s enough serious, intense, and scary already in people’s lives so reading should be an escape where you’ll enjoy yourself.

FISH OUT OF WATER is available at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08RMDC3ZG. You can find the Silicon Valley Mystery series at: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PHNT7XM. The first three are also out on audiobook from Tantor Audio everywhere audiobooks are sold. All of the books are free for Kindle Unlimited members. I love to hear from readers via email or Facebook as that tends to motivate me to keep going on the next blank page.


Kathy: How can readers discover more about you and your work?

MJ: Website: www.marcjedel.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/MarcJedel.Author

BookBub: http://www.bookbub.com/profile/marc-jedel

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18403497.Marc_Jedel

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Marc-Jedel/e/B07H7MVKJL

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mjedel/

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Review

FISH OUT OF WATER by Marc Jedel
The First Ozarks Lake Mystery

Elizabeth Trout and her new husband, Jonas, return to her hometown of Jenkins, Arkansas to help settle her grandmother's estate. While she expects sadness over the loss of Mimi and difficulty dealing with her take charge mother, she doesn't expect to be arrested by her ex-boyfriend for the murder of Mimi's property manager. Despite a murder charge looming over her, Elizabeth and Jonas settle into life in Jenkins with Jonas learning what small town life is really like. With no confidence that the new sheriff will look further than Elizabeth for the killer, Elizabeth's mom decides the couple must find other viable suspects. They uncover many secrets, but will any of them lead to the real killer? 

In FISH OUT OF WATER we get the story from both Elizabeth's and Jonas's point of view. While it's interesting to get their different takes I prefer sticking with a singular point of view. Although each chapter clearly indicates whose point of view it is, I still found myself somewhat muddled early on. On the whole. Jonas's point of view was much stronger and I found myself relating much more to him than Elizabeth.

I really like Jonas and his idiosyncracies. His fish out of water exploits in Arkansas were charming and funny, and I love how he deals with the residents of his wife's hometown. I found Elizabeth's mom to be a hoot and I am very happy that she is not my mother. While I liked Elizabeth, I never formed a great connection with her.

The first Ozarks Lake Mystery is a tale of secrets and small town life with well aimed digs covered by Southern congeniality. It's a tale of fitting in and finding home. An interesting mystery with several surprises makes FISH OUT OF WATER a good start to a new series.

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 fISh OUt of WaTER An Ozarks Lake Mystery by Marc Jedel

About fISh OUt of WaTER

fISh OUt of WaTER - An Ozarks Lake Mystery
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Publisher: BGM Press
Number of Pages: 275

A small-town homicide. A community swamped in secrets. Can married amateur sleuths bait and capture the killer before the truth slips away?

Elizabeth Trout had escaped her rural Arkansas hometown. Compelled to sort through her deceased grandmother’s belongings, she and her new husband Jonas make an unexpected trip to the family ranch. But when the property manager turns up dead, Elizabeth is rocked when her ex-boyfriend-turned-deputy arrests her for the murder.

With incriminating evidence and the sheriff convinced he’s got the right suspect, Elizabeth and Jonas must fish for clues on their own. But with a multitude of potential culprits and her husband’s contrasting personality, Elizabeth fears she may be left dangling on the hook for a crime she didn’t commit.

Can these newlyweds net the real killer before Elizabeth is jailed for murder?

FISH OUT OF WATER is the charming first book in the Ozarks Lake Mystery series. If you like quirky characters, clever twists and turns, and puzzling whodunits, then you’ll love Marc Jedel’s humorous tale.

Buy Fish Out of Water to reel in a slippery catch today!  

About Marc Jedel

For most of my life, I’ve been inventing stories. Living in many places around the United States, including a lot of time in the South, has given me a particularly keen appreciation for those who feel like a “fish out of water” sometimes.

My writing skills were honed in years of marketing leadership positions in Silicon Valley. While my high tech marketing roles involved crafting plenty of fiction, we called these marketing collateral, emails and ads.

The publication of my first novel, Uncle and Ants in the Silicon Valley Mystery series, gave me permission to claim “author” as my job. And achieving Amazon Best Seller status gave me even better adjectives to use in front of “author." This has led to way more interesting discussions than answering “marketing.”

Telling the stories in the Ozarks Lake Mystery series has given me an enjoyable opportunity to spend time with characters that somewhat resemble people I’ve known. Writing alternating chapters from the perspective of each spouse of the newlywed Trout couple allowed me to experience multiple personalities without getting a visit from mental health professionals.

Author Links:  

Website: www.marcjedel.com  

BookBub: www.bookbub.com/profile/marc-jedel  

FaceBook: www.facebook.com/MarcJedel.Author  

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mjedel/  

GoodReads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/18403497.Marc_Jedel  

Purchase Links: Amazon  

Straight HTML giveaway link: https://kingsumo.com/g/0nb2mo/win-a-signed-copy-of-fish-out-of-water-an-ozarks-lake-mystery

How I Write - A Hit and Mist Guest Post & Giveaway

I'm happy to turn over the blog to Marc Jedel today. Marc writes the Silicon Valley Mystery series. HIT AND MIST is the fourth book in the series.

How I Write (a not-very-serious version)

By Marc Jedel

People always ask me about my writing process for my humorous murder mystery series. They’re interested in how I get the ideas and how these turn into a novel. “Magic,” I tell them, but that rarely suffices. Some authors seem to swim in an endless pool of plots and characters, effortlessly plucking out one plot twist or character arc after another until they’ve burned through their keyboard.

Not me.

So how does it work for me?

Research. That’s a fancy term for my process. I start by collecting funny anecdotes, interesting people or snatches of overheard conversations. Back in the days when I used to leave my house, I would add notes to my phone about what I saw in daily life. (Don’t worry if you see me hanging around now, I’ll be wearing a mask.) I also change the names and exaggerate—or combine—the incidents to protect the guilty.

Over the last few years, I’ve noticed that I pay much more attention to my surroundings than I ever did. I also have become more willing to approach strangers and ask them questions. Who’d have expected that the solitary life of a writer would make me more social?

Plot. As plot ideas smack me in the face, I jot them down before I forget. That’s how HIT AND MIST started. My extensive study of bestselling books clearly highlighted the importance of having a plot. All those other successful authors must be on to something. I try to come up with ideas for challenges to throw at Marty (my protagonist) and then think about how he might solve the case despite those problems through his powers of self-delusion, attention to detail, and the inability to leave a coherent voicemail message.

Characters. Once I developed the concepts for a few of my regular characters, I find myself wondering how to make life more difficult for them during the course of the book and how they’d react to unexpected situations. Having my novels take place over the course of about a week has been a deliberate approach to force myself to increase the pace and make the characters act and react more often.

Dad Jokes, Puns, Shakespeare Lines and Lyrics as Humor. These make me laugh as I’m writing my stories. Writing can be a long and lonely process, and editing even more boring. My dog is great company but not the best conversationalist so I have to entertain myself as I go. Sometimes that spontaneity happened months ago and I wrote it down and sometimes it comes to me as I’m writing. Typically, the use, or misuse, of parts of music lyrics as dialogue hits me on the spot. Same for most of the puns. Fortunately for readers, my editor is awesome and she removes the attempts at humor that aren’t quite funny enough.

Outline. Some writers are ‘pantsers’. This means they fly by the seat of their pants, writing without a detailed plan. Not that they wear pants. Some authors probably do wear pants when they write. That’s kind of a personal question best unasked of an author, especially in these days of shelter-in-place.

I outline. I admit to it. If I didn’t, I’d still be trying to figure out how the book would end, or who gets killed. Creating an outline with each scene on one line of a spreadsheet helps me to look at holes, try to spread out when different side characters show up, and make sure the action keeps moving forward at a good clip. Then I go through all my notes and put most of the notes into the relevant scene so I can include all the right amount of humor as well as balance tense vs wacky situations. Once that’s done, there are no more excuses. It’s time for the next stage.

Write and Edit. This part sounds simple — write, edit, repeat. Eventually magic makes it good.

My books in the Silicon Valley Mystery series are humorous murder mysteries. The first three are available as audiobooks from Tantor Audio almost everywhere that audiobooks are sold. The books can be read standalone but I think you’d enjoy reading all 4 of them—and probably enjoy it even more if you buy copies for everyone you know. I know I would.

Silicon Valley is not your typical cozy mystery locale and Marty Golden doesn’t fit the normal profile of a mystery protagonist. Despite finding himself thrust into challenging situations, Marty isn’t exactly hero material. He brings a combination of wit, irreverent humor and sarcasm mixed in with nerdy insecurities, absent-mindedness, and fumbling but effective amateur sleuthing skills. With an active inner voice and not a lot of advanced planning, he throws himself into solving problems. Sometimes, he even succeeds.

HIT AND MIST, book 4, was just released on May 8 and can also be read standalone. The books are free to Kindle Unlimited readers. Buy them on Amazon at: amazon.com/gp/product/B07PHNT7XM. For more about my books or me, please visit www.marcjedel.com.

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About Hit and Mist

Hit and Mist: A Silicon Valley Mystery  

Cozy Mystery 4th In Series  

Publisher: BGM Press Paperback: 213 pages 

He’s determined to prove his friend innocent of homicide. He may make things worse….

 

When Marty’s surfer-dude pal is arrested for murder, he must squeeze his amateur sleuthing into his packed schedule. With his high-tech job busier than ever and his nieces’ antics sidetracking him, Marty’s ready for a Thanksgiving holiday. All he has to do is solve two murders. But if he can’t even convince his sister to bake his favorite chocolate pie, how can he hope to save his friend?

 

With the help of his girlfriend, some wacky coworkers and Buddy the rambunctious Labrador, Marty sets out to disprove the ironclad evidence. But as the suspect list blossoms out of control, his bumbling efforts might lead him into problems faster than a failing hard drive.

 

Can he clear his friend’s name before he’s blown to bits?

 

Hit and Mist is the fourth book in the riotous Silicon Valley cozy mystery series. If you like your murder cases twisty, your suspect lists long, and your detectives clueless, then you’ll love Marc Jedel’s humorous murder adventure.

 

Buy Hit and Mist to stumble onto the truth today!

About Marc Jedel

For most of my life, I’ve been inventing stories. Some, especially when I was young, involved my sister as the villain. As my sister’s brother for her entire life, I’m highly qualified to tell the tale of this evolving, quirky sibling relationship. My writing skills were honed in years of marketing leadership positions in Silicon Valley. While my high tech marketing roles involved crafting plenty of fiction, we called these marketing collateral, emails and ads. The publication of my first novel, Uncle and Ants, gave me permission to claim “author” as my job. And achieving Amazon Best Seller status gave me even better adjectives to use in front of “author.” This has led to way more interesting discussions than answering “marketing.” My family would tell you that Marty’s character isn’t much of a stretch of the imagination for me, but I’m comfortable with that situation. Like Marty, I live in Silicon Valley and can’t believe that otherwise normal people would willingly jump out of an airplane and call it fun. Unlike Marty, I have a wonderful wife and a neurotic but sweet, small dog, who is often the first to weigh in on the humor in my writing.

Author Links:
Website: www.marcjedel.com  
FaceBook: www.facebook.com/MarcJedel.Author  
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mjedel/  
GoodReads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/18403497.Marc_Jedel  
BookBub: www.bookbub.com/profile/marc-jedel  

Purchase Link – Amazon - http://getbook.at/HitMist

Marc Jedel: An Interview with his protagonist, Marty Golden - A Guest Post & Giveaway

I'm happy to welcome Marc Jedel back to Cozy Up With Kathy. Marc writes the Silicon Valley Mystery series. Serf and Turf is the third book in the series and was released last week.

My books, Serf and Turf, Chutes and Ladder and Uncle and Ants are humorous murder mysteries, part of the Silicon Valley Mystery series. Silicon Valley is not your typical, cozy mystery locale and Marty Golden doesn’t fit the normal profile of a mystery protagonist. Despite finding himself thrust into challenging situations, Marty isn’t exactly hero material. He brings a combination of wit, irreverent humor and sarcasm mixed in with nerdy insecurities, absent-mindedness, and fumbling but effective amateur sleuthing skills. With an active inner voice and not a lot of advanced planning, he throws himself into solving problems.

To get a better understanding of Marty, his Silicon Valley and his friends, here’s a recent interview I did with Marty.


Marc [author]: Hi, Marty. Thanks for taking the time to chat today. How do you feel about all this attention?

Marty: Geez, Marc, I have to tell you the truth, it makes me uncomfortable. Is everyone here because of my new promotion at work? It is only an acting project manager position, but is there going to be cake? I do love cake, even office cake.


Marc [author]: Mmhmm

Marty: Wait, are you writing that down? What’s the deal? You seem obsessed with my life. Every time I turn around, you’re hanging over my shoulder and taking notes.


Marc [author]: Calm down. You’re imagining things. I’m not obsessed with you. I’ve got my own life. I’m just being friendly and supportive. You’ve had a tough week recently, didn’t you?

Marty: Two tough weeks actually. My cousin barely left town before I encountered another dead body. I sure wasn’t pleased to see him. And even less pleased to learn he had been Meghan’s (that’s my new girlfriend) ex-boyfriend. With everything going on at work, I really didn’t have time to deal with all those soccer moms and Renaissance Faire folks. But I needed to dig myself out of a bit of a hole with Meghan so I jumped in to investigate all the different suspects. I don’t know how people do it.


Marc [author]: Yes, making relationships go well while working hard can be a real challenge.

Marty: Oh, I meant being a detective. But, sure, I guess you’re right too.


Marc [author]: Uh, ok, let’s switch gears. Let me ask you an interesting question that I saw on Facebook recently: Do you have a personal motto?

Marty: What?


Marc [author]: A motto. You know, something that defines who you are and helps remind you how to live your life. It seemed important to those folks online.

Marty: That seems weird and kinda out of the blue. But, I guess I’d say I try to live by advice from my dad: “If the appetizers are good, eat them. You never know what’s for dinner.”


Marc [author]: Interesting perspective. Speaking of food, you had an unusual experience during lunch last week, didn’t you?

Marty: Not as bad this time as a few months ago [author: in Uncle and Ants], but my dining choices do seem to wind up leading to some issues. But at least I no longer have to worry about getting kidnapped.

Marc [author]: Kidnapped?

Marty: Perhaps best not to explore that further right now.


Marc [author]: Ok, ok. You mentioned being a detective. Have you also wanted to be one?

Marty: I’d rather be a superhero, to tell the truth. Not so much for the costume, but I’d like to have superpowers and some really cool gadgets and cars. Oh, oh, instead of a cool car, could I have something that flies? Then I could bypass all the traffic around Silicon Valley. Since I work at Rover, I get free access to our self-driving car service anyway.


Marc [author]: Thanks Marty! Serf and Turf, book 3 in the Silicon Valley Mystery series, can also be read standalone. All the books in the series are free for Kindle Unlimited readers. Buy them on Amazon at: amazon.com/gp/product/B07PHNT7XM and watch for the audiobooks of the whole series from Recorded Books coming later this year. For more about my books or me, or a free chapter from all of them, please visit www.marcjedel.com.

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Serf and Turf: A Silicon Valley Mystery by Marc Jedel

About Serf and Turf

 

Serf and Turf: A Silicon Valley Mystery  

Release Date - October 7, 2019

BGM Press

Print Length - Approximately 200 pages

He's afraid of losing his girlfriend. But maybe he should be more concerned about the dead body she's crying over? Marty Golden can barely string a voicemail message together, let alone keep up with his new love. This quirky uncle's hectic Silicon Valley lifestyle needs a reboot when a youth league soccer game becomes a murder scene. And nothing can stop him from donning his amateur sleuth uniform when he discovers his sweetheart used to have quite a thing for the dead guy ... With a not-so-helpful paw from Buddy the Labrador, he does his best to sniff out a long list of possible suspects. But between gossipy soccer moms and the costume-clad members of a Renaissance Faire, Marty's theories fall harder than a jousted knight. Can Marty solve the case before the trail and his new flame grow cold? Serf and Turf is the third book in the zany, Silicon Valley cozy mystery series. If you like laugh-out-loud comedy, dorky sleuths, and a festival of old-world fun, then you'll love Marc Jedel's humorous murder mystery. Buy Serf and Turf to sign in to a great mystery today!

About Marc Jedel

For most of my life, I’ve been inventing stories. Some, especially when I was young, involved my sister as the villain. As my sister’s brother for her entire life, I’m highly qualified to tell the tale of this evolving, quirky sibling relationship.

My writing skills were honed in years of marketing leadership positions in Silicon Valley. While my high tech marketing roles involved crafting plenty of fiction, we called these marketing collateral, emails and ads.

The publication of my first novel, Uncle and Ants, gave me permission to claim “author” as my job. And achieving Amazon Best Seller status gave me even better adjectives to use in front of “author." This has led to way more interesting discussions than answering “marketing.”

My family would tell you that Marty’s character isn’t much of a stretch of the imagination for me, but I’m comfortable with that situation.

Like Marty, I live in Silicon Valley and can’t believe that otherwise normal people would willingly jump out of an airplane and call it fun. Unlike Marty, I have a wonderful wife and a neurotic but sweet, small dog, who is often the first to weigh in on the humor in my writing.

Author Links:  
Website: www.marcjedel.com  
FaceBook: www.facebook.com/MarcJedel.Author  
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mjedel/  
GoodReads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/18403497.Marc_Jedel  
BookBub: www.bookbub.com/profile/marc-jedel  

Purchase Link - Amazon