Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Jones
Hi Mark, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I worked in higher education finance and budgeting for over thirty years. I had enjoyed writing when I was younger, so, taking advantage of my proximity to the university’s library, I wrote a rough draft 1994 of a historical fiction novel. It never improved after that. Once I retired in 2017, I decided to try writing again. I took classes, began networking with other authors, and completed a detective mystery draft in 2021 called Peculiar Activities published by The Wild Rose Press. The follow-up, Shadowed Souls, was published in 2022. The third in the series, Glass, will be published in 2025.
I have expanded my writing into other genres including paranormal and sci-fi. I am participating in a Friday the 13th short story group of authors that releases thirteen stories in a month when the thirteenth is on a Friday. 2024 has two coming up–one in September and one in December. Each short story has thirteen chapters and 13,000 words, and the antagonists have to have thirteen letters in their names. I’m looking forward to my next one called Dormer.
My sci-fi novel in progress, Tempus Mors (Time Death), follows a mining ship forced off course and landing on an unknown world. The crew of the mining ship Normandy soon finds out they are not alone. Sci-fi is a nice change from other genres in which I have written.
I grew up in Duncan, Oklahoma, in the southern part of the state (the hometown of Ron Howard), and left there in 1975 to attend the University of Oklahoma. I received my bachelor’s and master’s degrees, married, and worked at a bank before joining the University of Oklahoma and working in the financial functions of the university. I loved working on campus. Watching new classes of students come in year after year and then moving into the world became very rewarding. I worked at OU and the University of Central Oklahoma for over thirty years and retired in 2017.
I have three children, all married, and a two-year-old grandson. My wife and I will celebrate our forty-third anniversary in November 2024.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The main struggle is finding time to write. Even with retirement, life stays busy, especially with a new grandson.
Part of the time smooth and easy; other times very hard. Once you are married, life is more than about only you. Seems obvious, but it may not be something you realize until well into adulthood. You balance your career and personal goals with others, whether a spouse, children, other relatives, and co-workers. Learning to reprioritize your life as you grow older can leave you satisfied or frustrated…or both. Finally, other people are important, but you can never lose yourself. It’s important to still be you.
As far as writing, even with retirement, life stays busy, especially with the new grandson. You cannot be a writer without writing, so priorities must be adjusted again. One of the things life does is help you decide what’s important.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Five of my six books and short stories have received a total of eleven awards over the past three years. In my detective series, I am a two-time winner over the last five years in the mystery/suspense category of the statewide Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, Inc. annual contest. Each of my three paranormal short stories has also received awards.
I have expanded my writing into other genres including paranormal and sci-fi. I am participating in a Friday the 13th short story group of authors that releases thirteen stories in a month when the thirteenth is on a Friday. 2024 has two coming up–one in September and one in December. Each short story has thirteen chapters and 13,000 words, and the antagonists must have thirteen letters in their names. I’m looking forward to my next one called Dormer.
My sci-fi novel in progress, Tempus Mors (Time Death), follows a mining ship forced off course and landing on an unknown world. The crew of the mining ship Normandy soon finds out they are not alone. Sci-fi is a nice change from other genres in which I have written.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Don’t ever give up. I finished a long career in higher education. I’ve been determined to follow my next goal of writing widely-read books and stories. If it’s possible for me, I believe it is possible for others. As with most authors, we will probably never write the next big book. It might happen, who knows, but if you are writing for fame and fortune, you will likely be very disappointed. Just live for the moment and be happy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mejbooksllc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markjones_author/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mejbooksllc
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mejbooksllc
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_cnVNuZyz6DUJYOZkbDFBw
- Other: https://linktr.ee/mejbooksllc
Image Credits
Lisa Stout of The Wild Rose Press provided cover shots for Peculiar Activities and Shadowed Souls. Are other pictures are my own.