Dying to Get Published (Jennifer Marsh Mysteries) [Mass Market Paperback]

Judy Fitzwater (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 29, 1998 | Series: Jennifer Marsh Mysteries

INTRODUCING JENNIFER MARSH

What does it take to get a book contract? That's the lament of every unpublished author--including aspiring murder-mystery novelist Jennifer Marsh.

After submitting eight diligently crafted manuscripts to every prominent publisher in New York, Jennifer has collected enough rejection letters to wallpaper a room. But that doesn't stop her from concocting one killer of a scheme for her next novel.

And suddenly Jennifer's lifelong love affair with crime fiction brings her face to face with real-life murder. . . .

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Cooking spray and a few forks in the microwave are the only explosive things in Fitzwater's cute but unsuspenseful mystery debut. An unscrupulous literary agent holds on to Jennifer Marsh's manuscript for over a year before coldly rejecting it. So the caterer and wannabe mystery writer decides to get even by doing the old girl in. While plotting the perfect murder is easy enough?especially with the unwitting help of her critique partners?actually committing the crime isn't. Jennifer comes to her senses before carrying out her plan, only to learn that someone else has done the job for her. Jen's a warm, intelligent character and Fitzwater provides an entertaining (and for aspiring writers, frustratingly familiar) look at the world of writing and publishing. But the catering and?the meat of any mystery?the sleuthing can be talky, convoluted and hence rather sluggish.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher

As an editorial assistant at Ballantine, one of my tasks is managing the "slush pile"; in other words, taking a first look at the dozens of submissions we receive every week from aspiring writers. Most of the submissions are not right for us, but once in a great while we come across a diamond in the rough. Judy Fitzwater's DYING TO GET PUBLISHED was one of those rare finds. I remember being pulled into the story on page one--and I didn't stop reading until I came to the end. I was captivated by the humorous and suspenseful story of Jennifer Marsh, a fictional aspiring mystery writer, and her ultimately deadly attempt to get published. The story simply leapt off the page, and I enthusiastically recommended it to my boss, who heads up Ballantine's mystery publishing program. I was very happy when he enjoyed it as well, and shortly afterward we acquired DYING TO GET PUBLISHED and two sequels from Judy Fitzwater. I hope that others will love the book as much as I did.

--Malinda Lo, Editorial Assistant

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Fawcett; First Edition edition (July 29, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0449002942
• ISBN-13: 978-0449002940
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,888,188 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Judy Fitzwater grew up an Air Force brat and has lived in eight states, including Maine and Hawaii. She currently resides in the Washington, D.C., area with her husband. Her first published mystery, DYING TO GET PUBLISHED, was plucked from a stack of unsolicited manuscripts at Ballantine Books. It was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best First Mystery. The subsequent series, The Jennifer Marsh Mysteries, was a delight for her to write, especially the scenes with Jennifer's quirky writers' group. All six of the Jennifer books are now available in Kindle editions. Judy has also published the suspense thriller NO SAFE PLACE (also available on Kindle) and has plans for more mystery, suspense, humor, and paranormal adventures to come.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fast, fun read, January 5, 2000

By 

Karen Bierman Hirsh (Greenwich, CT) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dying to Get Published (Jennifer Marsh Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

Dying to get Published is not a heavy duty mystery it is light hearted and takes a poke at the mystery genre (Jennifer is a pre-published mystery writer who creates wacky heroines and plots that are woven throughout the book). Judy Fitzwater has accurately described every hopeful writer's feelings in Dying to Get Published.

I could totally relate to Jennifer Marsh, the main character, and her wacky cast of friends. She is devoted to her writing and does catering parties to help make ends meet - it is at a party she and her friend Dee Dee are working where she meets Sam, a great dream guy and picks up her first "case".

As I said, the plot intricacies might leave a bit to be desired for those looking for a hard core mystery but for me this was a fun read. I like Jennifer, her wonderful dog Muffy and her unborn (and unconceived ) child Jaimie (could be a girl or a boy).

As whole - this was a great premise and a fun book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Debut!, May 30, 2001

By 

Kayleigh Jamison "Kayleigh Jamison" (Baltimore-Washington Metro Area) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dying to Get Published (Jennifer Marsh Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

The first in a planned series of six novels (now close to completion at five published), Dying to Get Published, is Judy's Fitzwater's spellbinding debut book. Jennifer Marsh is a struggling writer, doing everything she can to get her murder mysteries published... and she means -everything-, right down to planning a real murder to help her write her fictional ones.

Everything goes sour, though, when Jennifer's intended victim turns up dead, and she's left cheated out of her crime! But not exactly... since guess who appears to be the perfect suspect? You guessed it.

The most notable aspect of Fitzwater's writing is her incredible ability to make her characters -real- and extremely identifiable. Whether you want to shake them, hold their hands, or stop them on the street, the constructs of Fitzwater's mind are an amusing bunch-- one you're not likely to forget in the near future.

If you're a mystery fan looking for a quirky, fun read, try Judy Fitzwater. You won't be disappointed.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Definite 5 Star Book, November 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Dying to Get Published (Jennifer Marsh Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

I personally found the book to be one of the best I've ever read. It's fast-paced, amusing, well-written, and has lovely characters and dialogue. Jennifer Marsh is a great character that I relate to and who makes me laugh. She's perfect to carry a series. I've recommended DYING TO GET PUBLISHED and its successors to everyone I know. I enjoyed them all immensely. If you're looking for a great mystery and a charming novel, you should definitely find a copy of DYING TO GET PUBLISHED. Judy Fitzwater has created clever, interesting plots and a wonderfully entertaining cast of characters. Her manner of writing is crisp, clear, and the woman can certainly turn a phrase. This book gets my highest praise as will all of Fitzwater's future books, I'm sure.