Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: Dead Storage
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.maryfeliz.com
CITY:
STATE: CA
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
| LC control no.: | no2018061940 |
|---|---|
| LCCN Permalink: | https://lccn.loc.gov/no2018061940 |
| HEADING: | Feliz, Mary |
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| 035 | __ |a (OCoLC)oca11336391 |
| 040 | __ |a ICrlF |b eng |e rda |c ICrlF |
| 100 | 1_ |a Feliz, Mary |
| 372 | __ |a Detective and mystery stories |2 lcsh |
| 374 | __ |a Authors |2 lcsh |
| 375 | __ |a Females |2 lcdgt |
| 377 | __ |a eng |
| 670 | __ |a Feliz, Mary. Address to die for [ER], 2016: |b title page (Mary Feliz) about the author frame (Mary Feliz, has lived in five states and two countries, but calls Silicon Valley her home, a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and National Association of Professional Organizers) |
| 670 | __ |a Her website, May 8, 2018 |b (Mary Feliz, author, lives in Northern California, member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and the Authors Guild, Smith College graduate with a degree in Sociology) |
PERSONAL
Married; children.
EDUCATION:Smith College, B.A., 1980; attended Leicester University and Brandeis University.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Varian Associates, Palo Alto, CA, corporate communications specialist, 1984-93.
AVOCATIONS:Volunteering in schools and libraries.
MEMBER:Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Authors Guild, Writers’ Police Academy, National Association of Professional Organizers.
AWARDS:First place in young-adult short story competition, SouthWest Writers.
WRITINGS
Essays published in anthologies. Author of short stories.
SIDELIGHTS
Mary Feliz was a corporate communications professional in California’s Silicon Valley before becoming an author of mystery novels featuring Maggie McDonald, a professional organizer who discovers clues about crimes while sorting through clutter at her clients’ homes. “Maggie McDonald lives in Silicon Valley,” Feliz told Kings River Life online interviewer Cynthia Chow. “I lived there for more than thirty years and didn’t think the recent spate of movies and television shows about the area did a very good job of describing the lives of ordinary people. So I wanted to take a stab at that.” Feliz had previously written historical novels for young adults that failed to get published, so, “after the problem of what to do with the first books I wrote, I wanted to write books with clear marketing plans built in,” she told Chow. “That led me to genre books, and mysteries are my favorite.”
Address to Die For
Feliz introduced Maggie in Address to Die For. It finds Maggie moving to the Silicon Valley town of Orchard View with her husband, Max, their two adolescent sons, a dog, and two cats, to claim the hundred-year-old home they have inherited from Max’s family. They were led to believe the house was in pristine condition, but it is actually in need of serious repairs–plus there is a body in the basement. Max’s company sends him to India on business almost immediately after they arrive, plus the arrival of their furniture is delayed by a week. As Maggie sets up her business, Simplicity Itself Organizing Services, enrolls her sons in school, and attempts to make the house a home, she deals with detectives on the property, and soon another body is discovered. Maggie decides to track down the killer on her own.
Several critics welcomed the arrival of Maggie McDonald. “A skillful amateur detective with an impressive to-do list emerges in this inventive series opener,” remarked a Kirkus Reviews contributor, who also praised Feliz’s supporting characters and mix of humor with the mystery. An online reviewer at Girl with Book Lungs commended Feliz’s “unique cast of bright, energetic, and spunky characters,” adding: “The story is fast-paced and engaging.” Another online commentator, at Jersey Girl Book Reviews, called the story “rich in detail and vivid descriptions,” as well as a “captivating and fast-paced whodunit.” A critic at the Writing Pearls website summed up the novel as ” a unique cozy mystery” and “an intriguing read.”
Dead Storage
In the third Maggie McDonald novel, Maggie is trying to help her friends Stephen Laird and Jason Mueller, who are a couple, organize their belongings before putting them into storage while their home is remodeled. On the day they are to begin the process, Jason, a police detective, has to leave town on business, and Maggie finds Stephen, a retired Marine, is not at their house either. It turns out he has been arrested for the murder of Mr. Xiang, a local restaurateur. Stephen tells Maggie that the previous night, he and his pet mastiff, Munchkin, had confronted thugs who were beating an employee of Xiang’s, Rafi Maldonado, a teenage boy born in the United States to an undocumented immigrant. These assailants had also killed Xiang, Stephen says, but Rafi is afraid to go to the police for fear of deportation. Maggie sets out to clear Stephen of the murder charge and assure Rafi’s right to remain in the country, all the while feeling guilty at not letting Jason know his partner is in trouble–but Stephen has made her promise not to tell him.
In her interview with Chow, Feliz acknowledged that Dead Storage, in dealing with the problems of an undocumented immigrant, “features a hot-button topic that became suddenly timely when the book was in production.” The book addresses homelessness, too, as there are several homeless people who have often shown up behind Xiang’s restaurant and received free food, and may have witnessed his murder; he was kinder to them than were some of the other, mostly affluent residents of Orchard View, who considered the homeless a nuisance. “I don’t set out to write about social issues, but they have a tendency to sneak in,” Feliz told Chow. “I write about that sense of community that we all need. … Touching lightly on current social issues tends to flow naturally from that process, but the books aren’t meant to be political.”
Some reviewers thought Feliz had done a good job of exploring social issues while producing an entertaining mystery.”The novel never becomes preachy or one-sided although it does convey the frustration caused by the labyrinth-like regulations of the government,” Chow observed. As in her other books, Feliz provides touches of humor, such as in the interactions between Munchkin and Maggie’s golden retriever, Belle, Chow continued. A Kirkus Reviews critic reported: “In spite of societal concerns and murder, the tone of this well-written book is hopeful, occasionally playful.” The blogger behind Dru’s Book Musings noted that the story was suspenseful and appropriately paced, while featuring “an underlying message.” The Kirkus Reviews commentator concluded: “Feliz again delivers a well-written, immensely likable story.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, December 15, 2016, review of Address to Die For; February 1, 2017, review of Scheduled to Death; September 1, 2017, review of Dead Storage.
ONLINE
Dru’s Book Musings, https://drusbookmusing.com/ (July 16, 2017), review of Dead Storage.
Girl with Book Lungs, https://girlwithbooklungs.com/ (August 2, 2016), review of Address to Die For.
Kings River Life, http://kingsriverlife.com/ (August 12, 2017), Cynthia Chow, interview with Mary Feliz and review of Dead Storage.
Mary Feliz Website, http://www.maryfeliz.com (June 25, 2018).
Writing Pearls, http://writingpearls.com/ (February 20, 2017), review of Address to Die For.
Northern California is my home. I love its foibles and the easy access to some of the most beautiful coastal and mountain terrain anywhere. The traffic? Not so much.
It hasn't always been home—I've lived in five states and two countries. Traveling to other areas, I'm frequently reminded that what seems normal in the high-tech heartland can seem freakish, odd, or even alarming to the rest of the country.
I'm a big fan of irony, serendipity, diversity, and quirky intelligence tempered with gentle humor, and I strive to bring these elements into my writing. My characters, however, tend to take my manuscripts in directions I've never imagined. It can be a wild ride, but I love it when Maggie and her friends take charge.
While there are always traits that writers share with their characters, I assure you that Maggie is thinner, fitter, braver, funnier, and wittier than I am. Maggie is also more organized, efficient, poised, and better at thinking on her feet. We both love animals, a strong cup of coffee, cookies, and a cold glass of California chardonnay.
I'm a firm believer in professional organizations and am a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and the Authors Guild (which sounds like it should confer robes, wands, and the ability to do magic). I particularly adore the Writers' Police Academy, where I've met lifelong friends who share my excitement about learning the best ways to murder someone and get away with it.
When Maggie told me she was a professional organizer, I joined the National Association of Professional Organizers and was delighted to meet organizers who generously shared their experiences stumbling on damning evidence amongst ordinary household clutter.
I'm a Smith College graduate with a degree in Sociology and a broad smattering of other subjects. I guess that makes me well suited to examine and catalogue Silicon Valley's unique anthropological customs. I live with and have raised excellent examples of the indigenous nerd.
Before my career as a mom, volunteer, and writer, I worked in Corporate Communications, which taught me to write compelling copy about vacuum tubes and other items of limited interest to the general public. Outside the world of the Fortune 500 and nonprofits my writing credits include first-place recognition from SouthWest Writers for a young adult short story and finalist status in contests run by Writer’s Digest, Pacific Northwest Writers, and Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators. My personal essays have been published in anthologies published by Mothers At Home and Mothers of Preschoolers.
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Mary Feliz
3rd degree connection3rd
Mystery Author
Los Altos, California
Kensington Books
Smith College Smith College
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452 connections
Mary’s Articles
453 followers
Win preview copy of Address To Die For
Mary Feliz on LinkedIn
Publish date May 14, 2016
May 14, 2016
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Address to Die For
Mary Feliz on LinkedIn
Publish date February 14, 2016
February 14, 2016
Experience
Kensington Books
Cozy Mystery Author
Company Name Kensington Books
Dates Employed May 2015 – Present Employment Duration 3 yrs 1 mo
Location Kensington Books
Cozy Mysteries from the high-tech heartland. Professional Organizer Maggie McDonald has a penchant for order that extends beyond her clients' closets and sock drawers. When murder strikes in Orchard View, Maggie must set things right.
Address to Die For July 2016
Scheduled to Death January 2017
Dead Storage July 2017
Books Four, Five, and Six are in the works!
Media (1)
This position has 1 media
Book Covers
Book Covers
This media is an image
Mountain View High School
Instrumental Music Communications Volunteer
Company Name Mountain View High School
Dates Employed Oct 2003 – Jul 2013 Employment Duration 9 yrs 10 mos
Assisted Instrumental Music teachers with a wide variety of administrative and communications functions for department of 350 students and their families.
Researched, implemented, and administrated web-based music administrative program: Charms. Program is now used for three other departments: Dance, Choral Music, Athletics
Designed forms and communications plan for Band Camp Registration.
Streamlined procedures for Band Camp Registration and Payment. Registration completed in 1/4 the usual time. Payments increased significantly.
Designed, wrote, and edited monthly newsletter, information brochures, student manuals, concert programs, and posters.
Chaperoned band trips and events.
Provided "client support" for Charms users: parents, students, teachers.
Springer Elementary School
Library Volunteer
Company Name Springer Elementary School
Dates Employed 1997 – 2005 Employment Duration 8 yrs
Location Mountain View, CA
Recommended books for students in classes K-6. Recommended new books for purchase. Supervised lunch time library activities. Checked books in and out. Shelved books.
Varian Associates
Corporate Communications Specialist
Company Name Varian Associates
Dates Employed 1984 – 1993 Employment Duration 9 yrs
Produced quarterly news videos designed to help employees, customers, investors, and the public understand the full array of the company's high-tech products and their applications.
Edited weekly newsletter distributed to more than 50,000 employees worldwide.
Wrote feature articles for quarterly magazine for employees, customers, and investors.
Wrote corporate and product press releases.
Managed various corporate functions.
Education
Smith College
Smith College
Degree Name Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Field Of Study Sociology and Biology
Dates attended or expected graduation 1976 – 1980
Activities and Societies: Synchronized Swimming, House Leadership
University of Leicester
University of Leicester
Field Of Study Sociology and Psychology
Dates attended or expected graduation 1978 – 1979
Brandeis University
Brandeis University
Field Of Study Sociology
Dates attended or expected graduation 1980 – 1981
PhD program in Sociology. Left to resume paid employment.
Skills & Endorsements
Press Releases
See 9 endorsements for Press Releases 9
Suzanne Frank and 8 connections have given endorsements for this skill
Editing
See 9 endorsements for Editing 9
Endorsed by Marilyn Levinson, who is highly skilled at this
Newsletters
See 7 endorsements for Newsletters 7
Kathryn Carpenter and 6 connections have given endorsements for this skill
Industry Knowledge
Copy Editing
See 6 endorsements for Copy Editing 6
Music
See 2 endorsements for Music 2
Interpersonal Skills
Teaching
See 3 endorsements for Teaching 3
Other Skills
Books
See 6 endorsements for Books 6
Accomplishments
Mary has 5 publications 5
Publications
Dead Storage Address to Die For Scheduled to Death Mixed Paints Poppins is the Pits as a Role Model.
Mary has 4 organizations 4
Organizations
Authors Guild Mystery Writers of America National Association of Professional Organizers Sisters In Crime
Interests
Smith College
Smith College
35,069 followers
Smith Alumnae in Publishing
Smith Alumnae in Publishing
128 members
Crime Fiction
Crime Fiction
7,446 members
Thrillers, Mysteries & Things that go bump!
Thrillers, Mysteries & Things that go bump!
163 members
Authors & Writers Coffeehouse Sharing Group
Authors & Writers Coffeehouse Sharing Group
661 members
Brandeis University
Brandeis University
48,660 followers
Quoted in Sidelights: “In spite of societal concerns and murder, the tone of this well-written book is hopeful, occasionally playful.”
“Feliz again delivers a well-written, immensely likable story.”
Feliz, Mary: DEAD STORAGE
Kirkus Reviews.
(Sept. 1, 2017): From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Feliz, Mary DEAD STORAGE Kensington (Indie Fiction) $15.00 7, 4 ISBN: 978-1-60183-668-7
In this Bay Area cozy, a body in the freezer and a friend in jail throw a professional organizer's life into disarray. In Feliz's (Scheduled to Death, 2017, etc.) latest Maggie McDonald mystery, Maggie again must clean up a murder mess, this time before she assists friends Stephen Laird and Jason Mueller in organizing and storing the couple's stuff prior to a home remodel. Police detective Jason is out of state with a rapid-response team of officers the morning Maggie and Stephen are to meet at the home to strategize a packing plan. But when Maggie arrives, the always-punctual retired Marine isn't there, and his beloved mastiff, Munchkin (who's Maggie's golden retriever's BFF), eventually limps home solo, bloodied but able to recover. Maggie learns Stephen is in jail, charged with the murder of Mr. Xiang, whose body was discovered in the freezer of his restaurant. Cops found Stephen at the scene, wiping down tables. In Jason's absence, Stephen will only talk to Maggie. She realizes he's protecting Xiang's employee, Rafi Maldonado, an undocumented teenager who was home-birthed in the U.S. The night of the murder, Stephen and Munchkin intervened when assailants were beating Rafi, only to be pounded themselves by the thugs who'd killed Xiang. Because he didn't want Rafi connected to the murder, Stephen gave him his car keys and erased the teen's fingerprints from the scene. Now, instead of systemizing toss/donate/keep piles, Maggie must prove Stephen is innocent and Rafi is legal. Perhaps one of the homeless people Xiang and Rafi regularly fed behind the restaurant witnessed the beatings? After previously solving murders in the series, recent transplants Maggie and her family are now mainstays in the upscale community filled with diverse, colorful characters. But now, with concern and compassion, Feliz has Maggie delve into the problems of homeless, poor, and immigrant populations. Yet in spite of societal concerns and murder, the tone of this well-written book is hopeful, occasionally playful. Feliz writes confidently, having done her homework on such things as immigration legal issues and even how to breeze through jailhouse metal detectors (carry your passport, keys; don't wear jewelry, zippers, or an underwire bra). Feliz again delivers a well-written, immensely likable story that can stand alone, although readers will want to read previous books in the series.
1 of 4 5/20/18, 11:18 PM
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Feliz, Mary: DEAD STORAGE." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Sept. 2017. Book Review Index Plus,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A502192160/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=dbad8b53. Accessed 21 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A502192160
2 of 4 5/20/18, 11:18 PM
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
Feliz, Mary: SCHEDULED TO DEATH
Kirkus Reviews.
(Feb. 1, 2017): From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Feliz, Mary SCHEDULED TO DEATH Lyrical Underground (Indie Fiction) $15.00 1, 17 ISBN: 978-1-60183-666-3
In this California-based cozy, a professional organizer sorts through suspects in the mysterious death of a client's fiancee. In Feliz's (Address to Die For, 2016, etc.) second Maggie McDonald mystery, organizer Maggie is hired by Nobel-nominated Stanford professor Lincoln "Linc" Sinclair to declutter his large Victorian home. In an upstairs room of the messy house, there are more than stacks of papers for Maggie to contend with; there's also a body. It belongs to Linc's intended, Sarah Palmer. Clues suggest she's been electrocuted. Phlegmy, dandruff-y detective Lt. Gordon Apfel (Maggie dubs him "Detective Awful") believes it wasn't an accident, and he homes in on Linc as the killer. Awful/Apfel is filling in on the police force for Maggie's friend Detective Jason Mueller, sidelined with a broken leg. In a previous mystery, Jason, his husband, Stephen, and other locals helped Maggie crack an earlier case. The same crew backs her up in this equally good caper as she relies on her organizational skills to determine who might want to frame Linc for Sarah's death. One possibility is Claire "Boots" Domingo. Boots runs the community garden that allegedly would acquire Linc's property if he were to vacate it. Aside from a recent spate of suspicious deaths, the community Feliz has created is a loving, lively one populated by colorful, diverse characters who are funny (one asks, "Did you think I didn't know any vulgar expressions? I was a middle-school principal, dear, not a hermit") and charming, especially Maggie herself, who, when upset, doesn't want to cry in front of her own golden retriever and Linc's wolfhound because doing so would upset the dogs. Fans of Feliz's first book as well as newcomers to the series won't be disappointed. An engaging but not complex mystery that moves forward quickly with freshness, a few surprises, and a couple of real scares.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Feliz, Mary: SCHEDULED TO DEATH." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Feb. 2017. Book Review Index
Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A479234535/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=3b114885. Accessed 21 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A479234535
3 of 4 5/20/18, 11:18 PM
Quoted in Sidelights: “A skillful amateur detective with an impressive to-do list emerges in this inventive series opener,”
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
Feliz, Mary: Address to Die For
Kirkus Reviews.
(Dec. 15, 2016): From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2016 Kirkus Media LLC http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Feliz, Mary ADDRESS TO DIE FOR Lyrical Underground (Indie Fiction) $15.00 7, 19 ISBN: 978-1-60183-664-9
An inherited dream house turns into a nightmare in this debut California mystery. Professional organizer Maggie McDonald was led to believe her family's newly acquired 100-year-old American Craftsman home was move-in ready. But there is a major issue in the basement: a dead body. If that isn't enough to make the home anything but turnkey, there are also holes in floorboards, broken windows, and electrical issues. Two phone calls worsen the situation. The first, to Maggie's husband, Max, is from his boss telling him to fly to Bangalore immediately. The second is from movers who report the family's belongings won't arrive until the next week. Maggie's organizational skills are put to the test as she gets her sons enrolled in school, immerses herself in her new community, and deals with a house full of detectives and family pets (two cats and a golden retriever) but devoid of furniture. She also makes arrangements to make the home livable, though it's subjected to ongoing vandalism. When she finds another body, her to-do list includes finding the killer in her tightknit community. Creepiness--a dead squirrel impaled on the porch, an electrical box rigged to catch fire--is well-captured in the novel, as is humor. Maggie is known to compensate with carbs when things go awry, and they often do (cookie-eating punctuates the book). Details are endearing: an older woman's living room has a doorframe with the faded marks of a growth chart; the McDonalds use sign language to say "I love you." Maggie's kids are intriguing, and her new acquaintances eclectic. Feliz is strong at characterization; a strict principal is known for slapping shut the cover of her iPad, and a burly war veteran needs tissues to tell of rescuing a puppy from a dumpster ("I stuffed him in my shirt, fleas and all"). Breaking up the first-person narrative are emails between Maggie and India-based Max, and each chapter begins with a helpful planning suggestion From the Notebook of Maggie McDonald / Simplicity Itself Organizing Services, such as "Sometimes, life gets in the way, and there are other things far more important to attend to than being organized." Indeed. A skillful amateur detective with an impressive to-do list emerges in this inventive series opener.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Feliz, Mary: Address to Die For." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Dec. 2016. Book Review Index Plus,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A473652237/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=8ad2de44. Accessed 21 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A473652237
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Quoted in Sidelights: “Maggie McDonald lives in Silicon Valley,” . “I lived there for more than 30 years and didn’t think the recent spate of movies and television shows about the area did a very good job of describing the lives of ordinary people. So I wanted to take a stab at that.” “after the problem of what to do with the first books I wrote, I wanted to write books with clear marketing plans built in,” “That led me to genre books, and mysteries are my favorite.”
“features a hot-button topic that became suddenly timely when the book was in production.”
“I don’t set out to write about social issues, but they have a tendency to sneak in,” “I write about that sense of community that we all need. … Touching lightly on current social issues tends to flow naturally from that process, but the books aren’t meant to be political.”
”The novel never becomes preachy or one-sided although it does convey the frustration caused by the labyrinth-like regulations of the government,”
Dead Storage By Mary Feliz: Review/Giveaway/Interview
IN THE August 12 ISSUE
FROM THE 2017 Articles,
andCynthia Chow,
andMysteryrat's Maze SECTIONS
by Cynthia Chow
This week we have a review of the latest book by Mary Feliz, and an interesting interview with her. Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win an EBOOK copy of Dead Storage, and a link to purchase it from Amazon, and an indie bookstore where a portion of the sale goes to help support KRL.
Dead Storage: A Maggie McDonald Mystery by Mary Feliz
Review by Cynthia Chow
As the owner of Orchard View, California’s Simplicity Itself Organizing Services, Maggie McDonald prides herself on helping her clients to declutter their homes and simplify their lives. That requires the cooperation of everyone in the household, so Maggie is reluctant to begin reorganizing Stephen Laird’s home without the presence of his partner, Jason Mueller. She’s willing to make an exception since Jason has been deployed to Texas to implement his new rapid-response law enforcement project, but Stephen’s absence is more inexplicable. When Maggie discovers their beloved mastiff Munchkin bleeding from a beating and stab wounds, she’s understandably alarmed and desperate for news of what happened.
bookWhat Maggie learns is nothing she wanted to hear, as she discovers that Munchkin was covered in blood and Chinese food, the owner of a Chinese restaurant has been murdered, and Stephen is in jail after being discovered cleaning up the crime scene. Maggie knows that the retired Marine would never have committed murder, but without Munchkin as support, Stephen will not be able to cope within the confines of prison. Stephen’s mandate that she not contact Jason dumps a heavy load of guilt upon her shoulders, which doesn’t alleviate any of the pressure Maggie feels. As she questions those in their Silicon Valley neighborhood, Maggie discovers a deep divide between how the homeless are treated. While some storekeepers and police officers do what they can to help out those in need, others see them as a blight discouraging customers and only being a threat to everyone’s safety. Stephen and Munchkin were well known amongst the transient community, and having the friendly mastiff around will do much to lessen their fears as Maggie attempts to question the witnesses. The protective Stephen had his reasons for delaying the police and attempting to cover-up the crime scene, as bureaucracy has made even those who belong in the country wary of the authorities.
The author could never have predicted that her novel would have been so timely. There are no easy answers, and Maggie acknowledges that if there were, there would be no immigration or homeless problem. The novel never becomes preachy or one-sided although it does convey the frustration caused by the labyrinth-like regulations of the government.
Maggie always has the support of her husband Max and her thirteen- and fifteen-year-old sons, the latter of whom have picked up her exasperating habit of issuing rapid-fire, often unanswerable, questions. This is a mystery that delves into complex, topical issues, and while it doesn’t provide answers it will have readers feeling sympathetic and wanting to do more. Maggie’s own golden retriever Belle provides entertainment and support for Munchkin, which will delight animal lovers and leaven the tone. This third in the Maggie McDonald Mystery series perfectly captures the high-tech lifestyle of Silicon Valley, as well as it’s a town populated by Google self-driven cars deeply divided between the haves and have-nots. Deeply rewarding and with organizational hints at the start of every chapter, readers will be inspired to clean up both their homes and their communities.
Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).
Interview with Mary Feliz:
KRL: How long have you been writing?
Mary: I’ve been writing for decades. First in commercial applications explaining the exciting world of vacuum tubes, then in a variety of communications materials for nonprofits.
KRL: When did your first novel come out? What was it called? Can you tell us a little about it?
Mary: My first novel, Address to Die For, was published in July 2016 by Kensington’s Lyrical Press. It received a star review from Kirkus and features a professional organizer and her Golden Retriever sidekick. The main character, Maggie McDonald, is unlike most amateur investigators in that she’s a happily married mom. On the plus side, she has a wide variety of other smart and experienced people to help her. On the down side, she has all the schedule-juggling issues of a working parent with two active children. Her role as a professional organizer gives her access to all the places that people tend to stash their secrets: sock drawers, attics, basements, closets, etc.
KRL: Have you always written mysteries/suspense? If not what else have you written?
author
Mary Feliz
Mary: My first books were two young adult novels of historical fiction, focusing on the lives of refugees from the Mexican-American War, who were evacuated to California just prior to the Gold Rush. Agents and publishers seemed to like them, but no one quite knew what to do with them, so they were never published.
KRL: What brought you to choose the setting and characters in your latest book/series? Please tell us a little about the setting and main character for your most recent book.
Mary: Maggie McDonald lives in Silicon Valley. I lived there for more than 30 years and didn’t think the recent spate of movies and television shows about the area did a very good job of describing the lives of ordinary people. So I wanted to take a stab at that. Also, after the problem of what to do with the first books I wrote, I wanted to write books with clear marketing plans built in. That led me to genre books, and mysteries are my favorite. More specifically, Maggie’s old house is one that I’ve often admired. It’s falling to pieces and needs someone to look after it, even if that person is fictional.
KRL: Do you write to entertain or is there something more you want the readers to take away from your work?
Mary: Both. My primary job is to entertain. Doing my job well is the only means I have of convincing people to read to the end. I don’t set out to write about social issues, but they have a tendency to sneak in. I write about that sense of community that we all need, and what happens when violence stabs a giant gaping hole in the fabric of that community. Touching lightly on current social issues tends to flow naturally from that process, but the books aren’t meant to be political. The most recent book, “Dead Storage,” features a hot-button topic that became suddenly timely when the book was in production. One of the characters is an undocumented teen who witnesses a crime and is conflicted. Should he report the crime and risk being deported? Or stay mum and let the bad guys run amok? His dilemma is a plot device, however, not a political treatise! books
KRL: Do you have a schedule for your writing, or just write whenever you can?
Mary: I try to write every day. And I try to get 10,000 steps a day. Doing both is a tricky. Much depends upon the tide, since it’s easier to walk on the beach near my house when the tide is low. Early on in the evolution of a book I work for two to three hours in the morning. Close to the deadline, I may find myself working from dawn to dusk, after dinner, and in the middle of the night! What I discovered after my first book was published is that marketing is a huge part of any writer’s job. It’s easier than writing, so it has a tendency to vacuum up whatever time I allow it to. I may need to hire Maggie to get my own life in order!
KRL: Do you outline? If not, do you have some other interesting way that you keep track of what’s going on, or what needs to happen in your book when you are writing it?
Mary: I do outline, though I have to re-outline a time or two in the middle of the book when the plot shifts. I also do visual character sketches by making collages of what the characters look like, wear, read, fear, drive, and what issues they are passionate about. The collages give me a good sense of who the characters are and help make them behave more naturally when I write about them. In my old house, I had a room with old kitchen cabinets built in on every wall, and I taped the collages on the fronts of all of the cabinets. I recently moved to a tiny condo and now alas, they live under the bed. Halfway through each book I reach a stage I refer to as trying to put socks and sneakers on a squirmy toddler octopus. Creating a timeline helps wrangle those issues.
KRL: If you had your ideal, what time of day would you prefer to write?
Mary: Definitely morning, with the occasional middle of the night. Other ideal elements would be a giant bowl of peanut M&Ms that had no calories, and a self-refilling latte mug (nonfat milk, full caffeine, no sugar).
KRL: Did you find it difficult to get published in the beginning?
Mary: Yes and no. Those first books still aren’t published (though I have plans to rewrite them, possibly as romances). For the mysteries, I sent out more than 100 query letters to agents and though I received a few offers of representation, I didn’t think the agents proved a good fit for me and my books. (I did have some great conversations with some fantastic agents I will definitely approach with any subsequent series. Agents are such great people.) I told myself that I wasn’t trying to find an agent or publisher for the first book. I was merely “honing my list” to use when I finished the second book. But the first publisher I sent to, Kensington, phoned me and offered me a three-book contract before I’d written more than a chapter or two of the second book. “Shock” would be a mild word for my reaction.
KRL: Do you have a great rejection/critique or acceptance story you’d like to share?
Mary: I was in a critique group early on in the development of the first book. One writer, wrote me a scathing note. Maggie (my main character) was relocating to Silicon Valley and she was worried about a great many things. Some of those things were rational, some weren’t. Among them was a fear of mountain lions, since her new home backs up directly on an Open Space District in which mountain lions occasionally get too close to the humans. My critiquer insisted that she was an expert on Silicon Valley because she’d lived there for six months in the 1970s, and there were NO mountain lions there. The following week, a teenaged mountain lion found himself in downtown Mountain View, very confused, and decided to take a nap in a nice cool parking garage under an apartment building that housed one of my son’s friends. I wished I could send the critiquer a copy of the article, but by that time she’d dropped out of the group. On the flip side, I just received an email from a woman whose husband is a war veteran much like one of my characters, and got a little teary over my authentic portrayal of many of the issues surrounding wounded vets. I love the character, but often worried how real-life veterans would receive him. That email made my day.
KRL: Most interesting book signing story in a bookstore or other venue?
Mary: I think that would be the woman who told me she thought I was a wonderful writer—good enough to write the story of her grandmother. That’s all she told me. But then she handed me a pencil as if she expected me to stop everything and start writing immediately. (The bookstore had a public bathroom that was frequently used by street people, and I suspect she was one of them and had never read one of my books.)
KRL: Future writing goals?
Mary: I’m under contract now to write books four, five, and six in the Maggie series. After that, I’d like to take a break from Maggie’s stories to devote to rewriting my YA historical novels about pre-Gold Rush California. I’ve learned so much about writing since I tackled those first books and would like see whether revamping them can find them a home.
KRL: Writing heroes?
Mary: Louise Penny. I love her characters so much that I miss them between books and wonder what they are up to. If my characters seem even half that real to readers, I’d be thrilled.
KRL: What kind of research do you do?
Mary: Lots. Way more than necessary. I talk to experts, visit locations, read books, dive headfirst down online rabbit holes. It’s mostly a waste of time, but I’m an information junkie and half the fun of writing a book is that it’s a perfect excuse to wallow in research.
KRL: What do you read?
Mary: Everything. Including cereal boxes. When it comes to reading, I’m promiscuous.
KRL: Favorite TV or movies?
Mary: Mysteries. Costume dramas. I’m probably one of the few people who watched both Downton Abbey and The Walking Dead. They were both on late on Sunday nights where I lived at the time, and both were the sort of show everyone wanted to talk about the next day. I was a little afraid to leave the house or go online until I’d seen them both. Such pressure! I’m not otherwise a fan of zombies or Apocolyptic stories, but The Walking Dead has fabulous writing. I started watching because it was something to discuss with one of my kids, and I became hooked right away.
KRL: Any advice for aspiring or beginning writers?
Mary: Take it slowly. There’s plenty of time. Just keep writing. Most important? Find a writers group, preferably one with lots of women who are willing to be completely honest about how goofy the process is. They will give you sympathy when it’s hard and a kick in the pants to keep [you] going when you’re glum. They’ll also help you celebrate teeny, tiny professional milestones that would bore anyone else. It’s impossible to do this without support. Also…if you don’t love the process, do something else. Because the process is everything.
KRL: Anything you would like to add? What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
Mary: Hmmm. I once raced whaleboats, did synchronized swimming, and wind-surfed. I went to a women’s college.
KRL: Website? Twitter? Facebook?
Mary: Website: www.maryfeliz.com
FB: www.facebook.com/MaryFelizBooks
FB: www.facebook.com/mary.feliz.581
Twitter: @marycooperfeliz
To enter to win an EBOOK copy of Dead Storage, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “storage,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen August 19, 2017. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please include your mailing address, and if via comment please include your email address.
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Tagged as: book, Dead Storage, homeless, immigration, Mary Feliz, mystery, writing
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Quoted in Sidelights: “rich in detail and vivid descriptions,” as well as a “captivating and fast-paced whodunit.”
Monday, July 25, 2016
Address To Die For by Mary Feliz (Book Review / Contest Giveaway)
In association with Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the virtual book tour event for Address To Die For by author Mary Feliz!
Book Review
Address To Die For by Mary Feliz
Book 1: A Maggie McDonald Mystery Series
Publisher: Lyrical Underground / Penguin Random House Publisher Service
Publication Date: July 19, 2016
Format: Paperback - 250 pages
Kindle - 730 KB
Nook - 431 KB
ISBN: 978-1601836649
ASIN: B01B0KK5P8
BNID: 978-1601836632
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Buy The Book:
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Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.
Book Description:
For professional organizer Maggie McDonald, moving her family into a new home should be the perfect organizational challenge. But murder was definitely not on the to-do list . . .
Maggie McDonald has a penchant for order that isn’t confined to her clients’ closets, kitchens, and sock drawers. As she lays out her plan to transfer her family to the hundred-year-old house her husband, Max, has inherited in the hills above Silicon Valley, she has every expectation for their new life to fall neatly into place. But as the family bounces up the driveway of their new home, she’s shocked to discover the house’s dilapidated condition. When her husband finds the caretaker face-down in their new basement, it’s the detectives who end up moving in. What a mess! While the investigation unravels and the family camps out in a barn, a killer remains at large—exactly the sort of loose end Maggie can’t help but clean up . . .
My Book Review:
In Address To Die For, the first book in the Maggie McDonald Mystery series, author Mary Feliz weaves an intriguing cozy mystery tale that easily draws the reader into the trials and tribulations that professional organizer Maggie McDonald and family go through when they move into a dilapidated hundred year old house that husband Max inherited in Orchard Valley, California. Maggie takes the reader along on her amateur sleuth adventure as she tries to uncover who murdered Javier Hernandez, the estate's caretaker, and coping with episodes of vandalism while Max is working overseas in India.
Rich in detail and vivid descriptions, the story takes place in the small town of Orchard Valley, in the hills above Silicon Valley. This captivating and fast-paced whodunit tale has enough quirky characters, witty humor, drama, intriguing twists and turns, and conspiracy theories that will keep you guessing.
This entertaining cozy mystery tale will keep you engaged as you turn the pages following along with Maggie's investigative adventure, and you can't help but get caught up in the drama and calamity that ensues as she tries to solve the murder while creating a home out of the fiasco that they inherited. Maggie's story unfolds with a wonderful balance of comedy, drama, suspense, and intriguing twists and turns that easily kept me guessing, and left me wanting more. I would be remiss I didn't mention how much I enjoyed the organizational tips that the author provides at the beginning of each chapter.
Address To Die For is an entertaining cozy murder mystery that will engage you to join in the crazy adventures and trials and tribulations that occur, while providing you with an intriguing mystery to solve.
Address To Die For is the first book in the Maggie McDonald Mystery Series.
RATING: 4 STARS
Quoted in Sidelights: ” a unique cozy mystery” and “an intriguing read.”
Review – Address to Die For by Mary Feliz
by JESSICA on FEBRUARY 20, 2017
Review – Address to Die For by Mary FelizAddress to Die For by Mary Feliz
Published by Lyrical Underground on July 19th 2016
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 320
Source: Author
I received this book for free from Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Goodreads
Amazon
For professional organizer Maggie McDonald, moving her family into a new home should be the perfect organizational challenge. But murder was definitely not on the to-do list . . . Maggie McDonald has a penchant for order that isn’t confined to her clients’ closets, kitchens, and sock drawers. As she lays out her plan to transfer her family to the hundred-year-old house her husband, Max, has inherited in the hills above Silicon Valley, she has every expectation for their new life to fall neatly into place. But as the family bounces up the driveway of their new home, she’s shocked to discover the house’s dilapidated condition. When her husband finds the caretaker face-down in their new basement, it’s the detectives who end up moving in. What a mess! While the investigation unravels and the family camps out in a barn, a killer remains at large—exactly the sort of loose end Maggie can’t help but clean up . . .
Maggie Mcdonald is ready to move into her house. Super organized as a professional organizer she’s ready to move in. There is a problem when her husband finds a body in the basement. Maggie is left with a mess with loose ends. She works hard to settle into the new town while investigating the murder. Not everyone welcomes her into the community. Maggie finds it hard to get the information she needs. Others are really helpful and she makes this town her new home. Will she be able to find out who murdered the man in her basement?
In ” an Oyster Shell – This was a well executed cozy mystery that was unique.
The Pearls – This was a unique cozy mystery. Most cozies I know are centered around food. This one was centered on organization. Throughout the story, there were helpful tips on how Maggie stays organized that you could use in your personal life.
The town that Maggie was settling into made for an interesting setting. The community had some quirky characters. Some characters proved to be really helpful to Maggie. Others were hindering. Maggie had a hard time figuring out who to trust. It made for an interesting story.
The conflict that Maggie endured through the story made for an intriguing read. The problems Maggie faced seemed insurmountable at times. Yet, Maggie persevered through. Maggie was a great character and the challenges she faced made her even better.
The Sand – It was a good story.
4 Pearls!
Quoted in Sidelights: “unique cast of bright, energetic, and spunky characters,” adding: “The story is fast-paced and engaging.”
Address to Die For by Mary Feliz (Blog Tour, Book Review, Giveaway)
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Professional organizer Maggie McDonald is fairly certain she has everything planned to near perfection for her family’s move to Silicon Valley. The house has been featured in countless stories of her husband, Max’s, childhood, and everyone is excited for the move. The home has been billed as move-in-ready, thanks to a caretaker who knew the previous owner, Max’s aunt, and who has been keeping an eye on things until Maggie, Max, their two boys, and their pets can move in. But the run-down, dangerous-looking property the McDonald family pulls up to has them all scratching their heads. Not only is the house not up to par, but the moving van is delayed, Max gets a call from his new boss about traveling abroad ASAP, and there’s a dead body in the basement. In record time, Maggie is stuck managing more than the mysteries of a new neighborhood and school system – especially when she stumbles upon another dead body.
Address to Die For is the first in a new series from author Mary Feliz and publisher Lyrical Underground – and it’s a good one. Mary has assembled a unique cast of bright, energetic, and spunky characters. The character canvas expands quickly, but it feels natural; we readers are, like Maggie, getting to know the neighbors, school moms, and officials of our new town. The story is fast-paced and engaging; each chapter left me feeling eager to continue piecing together the clues presented and get to the bottom of not only the murders, but also the vandalism that Maggie and her family are being subjected to. The author skillfully amps up the tension until the reveal of the culprits – which felt seamless and matter-of-fact. Of course! I thought to myself as the pieces clicked into place. What’s unique about this particular mystery is how sympathetic both the vandal and the killer are – neither are sharp, hard, bad-to-the-bone “bad guys,” and that, in my opinion, really makes this story stand out among its cozy competitors. Can’t wait to see what comes next!
Quoted in Sidelights: “an underlying message.”
My Musing ~ Dead Storage by Mary Feliz
Jul 16, 2017
Dead Storage by Mary Feliz is the third book in the “Maggie McDonald” mystery series. Publisher: Lyrical Underground, coming July 18, 2017
As a professional organizer, Maggie McDonald brings order to messy situations. But when a good friend becomes a murder suspect, surviving the chaos is one tall task . . .
Despite a looming deadline, Maggie thinks she has what it takes to help friends Jason and Stephen unclutter their large Victorian in time for its scheduled renovation. But before she can fill a single bin with unused junk, Jason leaves for Texas on an emergency business trip, Stephen’s injured mastiff limps home—and Stephen himself lands in jail for murder. Someone killed the owner of a local Chinese restaurant and stuffed him in the freezer. Stephen, caught at the crime scene covered in blood, is the number one suspect. Now Maggie must devise a strategy to sort through secrets and set him free—before she’s tossed into permanent storage next . . .
When a friend become a prime suspect in a murder investigation, Maggie uses her organizational skills for decluttering the situation to clear his name.
The mystery in this book was nicely done with enough intrigue and curiosity as to how all will fare at the conclusion of this evenly-paced drama that was hard to put down. The author did a great job in providing a suspect pool that was so varied that it kept me guessing until I had that aha moment and knew who was behind it all. The narrative was visually descriptive keeping me immersed in all that was happening with all the characters who played pivotal roles that would eventually lead to the revelation and apprehension of the killer. I enjoyed the path that was taken to tell this story with an underlying message that added to this tale. Bonus to me was the organization tips at the beginning of each chapter, some of which I follow. This was a good read and I can’t wait to see what adventure awaits Maggie and her friends.
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