Pride and Principal
Pride and Principal: A Silicon Valley Mystery
by
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
Digital ASIN : B0D1WFL2HQ
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.
Q&A With the Author
Q: Did you ever expect to have 10 books published?
No. I’m still amazed this is my tenth cozy mystery (and 11th overall novel as I’ve published a sci-fi/thriller under another pen name). I wanted to write a novel for years but never had a good idea for a plot. This was a problem because all my research indicated the importance of books having one. After I finally broke through with my first Silicon Valley mystery, Uncle and Ants, the following books came much easier.
I try not to think about how normal it’s become for me to live with lots of imaginary friends inside my head. My wife is the real trooper here. Not only does she have to put up with me, but now she has to contend with all these crazy characters who make appearances in our lives and have questions requiring her assistance to resolve. Perhaps I should stop here before someone decides to commit me to a mental institution.
Q: Did you learn anything that surprised you or that you found unexpected when writing this book?
A: I’m really bad at naming characters beyond the protagonists. It’s just one of those weird things. While I’m writing I use KILLER, DEAD GUY, SUSPECT 1. I’ve got a friend who I call my “name whisperer.” I send him the character descriptions and he magically comes up with some really good name options. The last manuscript I finished didn’t have names in it until right before I sent it to the copy editor. The funny part is then I have no idea who these people are when I’m proofing the final version after all the changes from the copy editor are finished.
Q: What was the most difficult part of writing?
A: Figuring out new, interesting, and plausible ways to kill someone is actually way more challenging that one might think. Especially when you’re trying to write it in such a way that an amateur detective can figure it out without getting any help from the police and I don’t want the readers to guess whodunnit. I feel like a success when readers tell me they couldn’t guess who or why until the reveal. Yet all this requires some very unusual internet searches. I’m just glad no law enforcement officer has knocked on my door to ask about my search history.
Q. What is the easiest part of the writing process for you?
Besides working in an imaginary world where I can make any character who displeases—or frustrates—me disappear? When I first started writing a novel, I was surprised to find that I was far better at dialogue than I had expected. My friends and family kept telling me that they weren’t surprised that this part went smoothly because they felt talking was never one of my weaknesses.
When I have a good outline, I find I can focus on crisp writing and throwing in funny situations and anecdotes. This also means fewer rounds of editing, which helps me hang on to what little sanity remains.
Q. Can you tell us about what you have planned for the future?
After a short break to write a heist sci-fi novel with a different pen name, I’m planning the next books in the Redwoods Country Mystery series. My wife is a bit concerned that I’m enjoying hanging out so much with a guy who wishes he was a hermit, but I enjoy Andy. That series is like Grumpy Old Men met Schitt’s Creek. I know how the body is discovered and how that person was killed, but haven’t quite solved whodunnit. I’m not sure yet if I’ll continue writing more novels in my Ozarks Lake Mystery series or the Silicon Valley Mystery series or start yet another series, so it will depend on both reader feedback (please send emails!) and what ideas come to mind.
Q. Anything else you’d like to add?
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
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
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
May 6 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
May 7 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT
May 8 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
May 9 – Reading Is My SuperPower – AUTHOR GUEST POST
May 10 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST
May 11 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR GUEST POST
May 12 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
May 12 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW
May 13 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
May 14 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST
May 15 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 16 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
May 17 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
May 18 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST
May 19 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT
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Thanks for highlighting Pride and Principal today. The novel is on sale during this blog tour at https://mybook.to/PrideandPrincipal. Try the whole series today at: getbook.at/SiliconValley. They're available in e-book, audiobook, and paperback versions, as well as free for Kindle Unlimited members. Get more free content at www.marcjedel.com.
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