J Marshall Gordon

Before J. Marshall Gordon began taking readers on mysterious adventures, he traveled the world writing and producing award-winning documentaries.

Beginning with a childhood in suburban Chicago, to high school in Maryland, college in Annapolis and a degree in English from Franklin and Marshall College in Pennsylvania, Gordon's young life was full.

In high school he worked for a florist. After college, he landed a copyboy gig at the Washington Post.

He joined the Navy and served as a Navy air intelligence officer and public affairs officer. It was during these years, working in the Navy's Photo Center, that he learned the ins and outs of film production.

Following the service, he worked at the U.S. Information Agency, helping to produce newsreel documentaries for visiting heads of state such as Indira Gandhi.

But the lure of producing movies drew him back to the Navy's Photo Center, this time as a civilian.

"I wanted to make movies," he says. "Nothing else had really grabbed me. I liked the process of combining pictures with words and music to tell as story."

Eventually, he established his own business, Gordon Films, specializing in educational films and documentaries. His work took him around the world. From Tokyo to Paris and London, to Africa, Asia, the Antarctic and beyond.

And while he traveled, the seed of a story idea began to sprout. Not a movie story, but a book story. A novel. A mystery.

Over many months, the idea grew, and finally, he said to himself, "If not now, when?"

He began writing. He attended writing conferences and workshops, joined the mystery writers groups "Sisters in Crime" and "Mystery Writers of America." He hired editors and in 2017, the publishing house of Taylor and Seale introduced the Penny Summers Mystery series with "Katelyn's Killer".

Readers continue to give "Katelyn's Killer" glowing reviews.

Gordon's second Penny Summers Mystery, "Malice at the Manor", was published in 2018.

Reviewers love it. For example:

"Gordon's riveting tale has it all." -- Tom Rash, Asheville Editing

"In Penny Summers, Gordon creates a smart, endearing sleuth whose personality blossoms forth on every page." -- Mark de Castrique, author of the Sam Blackman series.

"Gordon has artfully nurtured a charming whodunit.... Readers should hope that this winning mystery series starring a gardener/detective will be fruitful and multiply."

-- Kirkus Reviews

Today, J. Marshall Gordon lives with his wife, two dogs and three cats in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. He spends his days writing. He has two new Penny Summers Mysteries in the works.

For more information on his books, visit: www.PennySummersMysteries.com