Writers and Quotes that Inspire Jonathon Marcel
Over the years, I have filled several journals with excerpts and quotes that have inspired me, made me laugh, and changed the way I look at things. Below are a few related to writing that I have chosen to share. “Would you not like to try all sort of lives—one is so very small—but that […]
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Visit Jonathon Marcel at Goodreads
This website is my platform. This is it. No Facebook. No Twitter. No Instagram. But if you want to know what I’m reading, what my favorite books are, along with favorite authors, visit my Goodreads page. Whether it’s writing software documentation at work or penning crime fiction at the house, writing takes up a considerable […]
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Revising My Manuscripts: from First Draft to the Final Draft
When I write a first draft, I’m thinking of nothing but getting the story out of my head and onto paper. Follow my outline. Don’t sweat the show-don’t-tell rule. Worry about vivid scene descriptions later. Don’t get bogged down trying to create awesome dialog. I’ll tackle all that stuff during the editing phase. First Draft […]
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Get the low-down on Jonathon Marcel’s private investigators
I am writing two crime series. One, a series of full-length novels, bounces all over the Midwest before settling in Colorado. My female sleuth in that series is Kelly Reed. The other, a series of novellas, is set in Kansas City and features PI DeShawn Mills. Kelly Reed Kelly is an Ozark, Missouri girl and […]
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Behind the Cover Design for Jonathon Marcel’s Crime Novels
I’m not a cover designer, not by a long shot. And yet, like any DIY author, I tend to believe I know what’s best for my books. I did study design somewhat extensively before unleashing my creativity, and I understand the cover is the first thing readers see, and it has to wow them immediately […]
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What Happened to Agent Kelly Reed? Jonathon Marcel Explains
After writing The Samogon Affair, my betas and early readers bombarded me with the same question: What happened to DEA Agent Kelly Reed? The Samogon Affair was meant to be a stand-alone gangland novel with three young characters at the forefront. My law enforcement characters, while memorable, played just supporting roles to connect all the […]
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Jonathon Marcel submits Justice for Thee to AHMM
This week I submitted a short story to Alfred Hitchcock Mystery magazine. Justice for Thee is a compilation of scenes from my unpublished novel, Playing for Blood, (Book 2, Kelly Reed series). AHMM loves publishing new authors. I should hear from them in October, maybe November. Hopefully they’ll jump on my submission and publish. It […]
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Who are Crime Author Jonathon Marcel’s Beta Readers
When I first wrote The Samogon Affair, my friend Jerry was my only beta reader. When I told him I was revising my manuscript he offered to help. Jerry and a friend of his, Lynn, have a small, tight-knit support group who meet regularly and enjoy several activities together including sharing books, but they’re not […]
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