Mark Edward Jones, a retired higher education finance professional, has become an award-winning author of mystery, thriller, and paranormal genres. Born and raised in Duncan, Oklahoma, Mark developed a love for storytelling when he was younger. He attended the University of Oklahoma, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science and public administration.
Detective Henry Ike Pierce Series
After retiring in 2017, Mark embarked on a writing career. His debut novel, Peculiar Activities, was released in October 2021, the first book in his Detective Henry Ike Pierce series. This book won first place in the mystery category of the 2019 Oklahoma Writers Federation contest, setting the stage for a successful writing career.
The second book, Shadowed Souls, was released in 2022, and the third installment, Glass, is expected in 2025. Notably, the Glass manuscript won first place in the mystery category of the 2024 Oklahoma Writers Federation annual contest, marking his second first-place win in five years.
Friday the 13th Series
In addition to his detective series, Mark is one of thirteen authors who release mystery, suspense, and horror stories each Friday the 13th. These stories form 13 chapters and 13,000 words and offer a variety of horror, paranormal, and suspense stories. Mark’s first three stories offer successive snapshots of an evil assassin and his odd family. His first story, A Gentleman from the Darkness, was released on May 13, 2022, followed by Hell is Empty in January 2023, and A Wicked Fate in October 2023. The Man in the Fedora, released in March, is an edited compilation of these stories about Karanosz Tasev, the Macedonian assassin. Dormer was released in September 2024 and won first place in the mystery: supernatural category of the 2024 Fall Bookfest. Dormer Christmas is scheduled for December 2024 to be followed by She Watches in March 2025, a print book incorporating both Dormer stories.
Other Works
Mark’s upcoming sci-fi/mystery novel, Tempus Mors, expected in 2026, has already won accolades, with a draft winning third place in the OKC Writers’ Group 2023 contest for Adult Book and a short piece, "Don’t Forget Us," won first place in flash fiction and crème de la crème of the contest. This same piece won first place in the 2024 Southwest Writers conference and was a finalist at the 2024 WriterCon. Another flash fiction piece, “Alone in Warsaw,” was chosen for inclusion in the autumn 2019 U.K. publication Painted Words.
Personal Life and Interests
Mark and his wife, who will celebrate their forty-third anniversary in November 2024, have three grown children and their first grandson. Mark’s favorite reads are mystery, suspense, and international intrigue novels, with a particular interest in medieval murder mysteries. He enjoys music from Elvis, Chicago, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Boz Scaggs, among many others.
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