Where are you from?

I was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. I also spent time in Boonville, Missouri, where my mother’s family is from and where I enjoyed time on my step-father’s two-hundred acre farm.

What lead you to write crime novels?

I like fast-action thrillers, and having worked with convicted felons on their criminal appeals I had direct access to a lot of true crime. When I decided to write fiction I realized there was this endless database of crime stories at my fingertips. Maybe crime chose me.

How many books have you written?

To date, I have 7 books spanning two series. Currently there are four full-length novels in my Kelly Reed series: The Samogon Affair, Playing for Blood, Whispers That Kill, and Tainted Justice. And three novellas in my DeShawn Mills series: Deception’s Game, Race to Judgment, and Honor Thy Father.

Do I need to read your books in sequence to understand what’s going on?

You should so you’ll know Kelly Reed and DeShawn Mills’ backstory. Although Kelly is not the main character in The Samogon Affair, that story introduces her (where she comes from, what she does for a living, who her teammates are), and sets the stage for the dramatic vigilante story, Playing for Blood, which starts by overlapping the latter half of The Samogon Affair. It then takes off with the conflict between Kelly and a Russian mobster. The story also introduces you to her partner’s kids, and explains Kelly’s departure from the DEA.

In Whispers That Kill, Kelly is now working as a private investigator. Tainted Justice finds Kelly interacting with characters she formed a relationship with in Whispers That Kill, and introduces you to DeShawn Mills, who has his own novella series.

Do you write in the first person?

My DeShawn Mills novellas are in the first person, except for the intro-chapters. My Kelly Reed novels are written in third-person.

Do you have a particular method of writing?

I typically come up with an idea for a story, do some research on the topic, make an initial outline, and then create my cast of characters. After that, I sketch out about twenty scenes. Next, I just start writing. I don’t concern myself with the show-don’t-tell rule during the initial draft. My biggest hang-up is going back and editing while I’m still writing the first-draft.

How do you deal with writer’s block?

I like writing in sequence. When I get stuck, I choose a later scene from my outline and start penning away until I’m ready to go back. Sometimes I set the book down and work on another story’s outline. And then there are times when I have to set everything aside and get away for a week or two.

Who are your favorite crime authors?

Robert Crais is at the top of my list. Below him are Andrew Vachss, Lawrence Block, and Barry Eisler.

Are you a Goodreads member?

Yes. You can visit me at goodreads.com/JonathonMarcel. Hopefully soon I can switch my account from user to author.

Where did you find your betas and early readers?

My betas are friends of a friend. My critique partners and personal editor are local friends who are fans of crime thrillers. In addition to them, I was fortunate to have a couple of reviewers from the Kindle Book Review read The Samogon Affair. Another friend who self publishes hooked me up with a book club, whose members don’t read the type of crime thrillers I pen, but they took a chance and liked what they read.

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