Mystery Fanfare: CHRISTMAS MYSTERIES: AUTHORS M-Z

Mystery Fanfare: CHRISTMAS MYSTERIES: AUTHORS M-Z: Here is the third post of my alphabetical by author Christmas Crime Fiction (novels) Lists: Christmas Mysteries: Authors M-Z. Still to co...

The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog: SMFS Spotlight: Bruce Robert Coffin

The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog: SMFS Spotlight: Bruce Robert Coffin: Short Mystery Fiction Society member Elena Smith has graciously offered to conduct interviews spotlighting members of the Society.  Here is ...

SMFS Spotlight: Bruce Robert Coffin

Short Mystery Fiction Society member Elena Smith has graciously offered to conduct interviews spotlighting members of the Society.  Here is the second, with bestselling novelist and short story writer Bruce Robert Coffin.  Take it away, Elena!

You are the author of three novel series - the John Byron series, 4 books, published by Witness Impulse (Harper Collins); Turner and Mosley Files, 5 books, co-authored with LynDee Walker, published by Severn River; and the detective Justice series, 3 books, published by Severn River. I need to catch my breath — such a long list in a fairly short time! The John Byron series and the Detective Justice series are both police procedurals, whereas the Turner and Mosley Files were action/ adventure. How did it feel to switch genres? What was your reason for this decision?

 

Seeing this as an opportunity my fab literary agent, Paula Munier, wanted me to step outside my comfort zone and try my hand at a standalone thriller. I think I started five different manuscripts before I finally found one that I loved and knew had legs. I was in the middle of writing that thriller when Paula contacted me about coauthoring a brand new action/adventure series with LynDee Walker. Long story short, it took about four months before agreeing to coauthor what would become The Turner and Mosley Files.

Your readers might be surprised to know that switching gears from the procedural to action/adventure really wasn’t the jarring transition you might imagine. 

Though there are clearly differences in the two genres, the process of writing a compelling storyline with interesting characters doesn’t change all that much. I actually found it rather freeing as a writer to step outside the boundaries typical of a procedural mystery. The hardest part was writing with another established author. Once LynDee and I got to the point where we trusted each other as writers, the whole process became an absolute blast!

What did you like most about writing action adventure?

I guess the thing that was the most fun was really diving deep into my imagination. LynDee and I both knew we wanted to take the readers on a thrill ride where almost anything could happen. I guess it was our attempt to recapture that feeling of watching the original Indiana Jones movies. To write novels with a historic treasure — partly based in reality, fun characters, a plethora of bad guys —  then stretch believability a bit to make each book a fantastical and exciting tale. The Turner and Mosley Files have been so much fun to write. Hopefully the readers have enjoyed them too!

What do you like most about writing detective fiction?

Probably the same things I like about reading detective fiction. I believe that the reason mystery novels have such a broad appeal is that the stories become interactive in that the reader gets caught up in trying to solve the crime right alongside the protagonists. I’ve had many readers tell me that they absolutely feel like they were right there with my detectives conducting an interview or chasing down a bad guy. When I read detective fiction I want to feel like I’m part of what is happening. When I write them, I want to give my readers that same experience.

What made you decide to stop writing each series?

As I alluded to earlier, it’s less about my wants as a writer and more about the business of writing. Every author hopes to pen a series that becomes so wildly popular that it never ends. But the harsh reality is that publishing is a business, and sales will always dictate the length of a series. Besides, I never like to think of my series as having ended, more like we pressed pause. 

Your second series, Turner and Mosley Files, was co-authored with LynDee Walker. Writing is often considered a solitary procedure. What aspect(s) of writing with a partner did you find easier to do? Any aspects that were harder?

Believe it or not, I didn’t find writing with another person all that different than writing alone, maybe due to the fact that we live so far apart. Some things LynDee and I obviously did together like fleshing out the early things about who the characters were and what made them tick, but much of the writing and plotting we did on our own then passed it off to the other. That’s why I say the trust aspect of coauthoring is so important. LynDee did the lion’s share of the plotting, while I focused on the first draft of the manuscript. Working that way required me to trust that LynDee would come up with a fabulous storyline, and she had to trust that I wouldn’t ruin her idea with too much improvisation. Coauthoring, regardless of how the work gets divided, is a true partnership.

How did you first meet LynDee Walker?  I.e. - through your job, or through Sisters in Crime or another professional organization?

You know we’ve discussed this at length, and though neither of us is sure I think we first met at Malice Domestic years ago. Probably why Malice remains one of my favorite conferences. And of course neither of us could have imagined writing novels together! Just goes to show that none of us really knows what the future holds.

I am glad to see you writing a detective series again. I’d heard that some of the major publishers were steering clear of police procedurals. Did you find that to be true? Are these books “in favor” with publishers once again?

Thank you. It is nice to be back in the procedural saddle again, as it was where I began my writing career. It feels a bit like coming home. Getting to know Brock Justice, Chloe Wright, and the rest of my new characters has been great fun. I hope readers agree!

As for procedurals falling out of favor, I’m not entirely sure that was ever true. While publishers might worry about the winds of change in the industry, I think readers are the ultimate deciders of what is popular. Some good examples of ongoing popular procedural series would be Michael Connelly’s Bosch, Tracy Clark’s Harriet Foster, John Sanford’s Lucas Davenport, Paul Doiron’s Mike Bowditch, and Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Gamache. Those are just a few of my personal favorites.

How often do you write short mystery fiction? Do your short stories come from ideas you want to pursue, or are you more likely to respond to prompts for anthologies?

It is really something I have no control over. When an idea for a short story comes to me I write it. Sometimes it’s due to an anthology invite or call, but more often the idea simply shows up like an uninvited guest. Normally, I write a short story just to exorcise the idea from my head. There is nothing worse than having a short story begging for your attention while you’re busy writing a novel under a deadline. I find the best way to handle that is to write it down quickly, while the idea is still fresh. If the story is any good, I’ll go back later and flesh it out into something I’m proud to share.

Are there any SMFS members you would you like to recommend for future interviews?

The very first name that popped into my head was the inimitable Josh Pachter!

Stocking Stuffers from the Short Mystery Fiction Society

With the holidays coming, it's a great time to pick up some of the exciting new publications from the multi-talented authors of the Short Mystery Fiction Society for the readers in your life--and for yourself! We've got another sterling selection of anthologies, collections, and stories to feature, and there's something for every taste to be found here. And while you're in a festive mood, why not subscribe to your favorite mystery mag, and pick up a few gift subscriptions as well? It's a terrific way to support the continuing health of the field we all love.

With no further ado, let's take a look at some of the fantastic new work from SMFS!

• Any fan of mystery stories--or of short stories in general--should know and honor the name of John M. Floyd, author of more than a thousand published stories and the recipient of countless awards and honors, including the Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement from SMFS. It's almost unfair that John isn't just among the most prolific writers working today--he's also among the very best. That status is only confirmed with the release of his latest collection from Crippen & Landru, River Road and Other Mystery Stories.  This collection of 17 stories will have a place of honor on your shelves for years.  And don't overlook the signed edition!
  
  
  
• And be sure to make room alongside it for Death and the Final Cut, the latest entry in G. M. Malliet's award-winning series starring Detective Chief Inspector Arthur St. Just. Devotees of Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers will find perfect fireside reading in this story of the mysterious murder of a fading star of the silver screen!
  
  
  
• Turning to anthologies, it's never too late for some tasty Thanksgiving leftovers! In The Perp Wore Pumpkin II, eleven short story writers spin humorous mysteries around your favorite holiday dishes. SMFS is proud to be represented here by Kevin R. Tipple, Sandra Murphy, Stephen M. Pierce, donalee Moulton, Sally Millikin and Wendy Harrison. All the proceeds from this collection go to Feeding America to benefit local food banks, so you can get a fun read and help out all at once!
  
  
  
• Sticking with the culinary theme, editor and SMFS member Lyn Worthen brings us Cooking Up Death, a menu of sixteen cozy mysteries featuring toxic treats and lethal luncheons--plus some bonus recipes to savor. SMFS members at the table include Alan Orloff, Annie Reed, Sally Millikin and John M. Floyd (there's that name again!).
  
  
  
• The latest sizzling anthology from Cimeucopia, You Ain't Read Nothin' Yet, spans the spectrum of crime fiction, from cozy through to hard-edged noir and grindhouse. Along the way you'll find stellar contributions from SMFS's own Peter W. J. Hayes and Merrilee Robson, so don't miss out!
  
  
  
• Looking for a little bit of everything in one great package? Check out Four Corners Voices, a collection of stories, essays and poetry from the Four Corners writing community of Cortez, Colorado. Among the highlights is SMFS member donalee Moulton's unforgettable "Mannequin."
  
  
  
• Heading west, we find LAXtras: Los Angeles-style Crime Stories, with a host of crime-writing superstars, including the shining talent of M. E. Proctor. This is another charity anthology, benefitting the California Community Foundation's Wildlike Recovery Fund, so you're doing some good while treating yourself to great stories!
  
  
  
• Not every mystery involves death--as we see in Anything But Murder: Heists and Hooligans. This companion volume to the highly regarded Mysteries to Die For podcast brings us proves there are endless ways to create mayhem, and SMFS members Debra H. Goldstein and Robert J. Binney are among your fiendishly clever hosts.
  
  
  
• Taking a quick jaunt down under, Scarlet Stiletto: The 17th Cut is the latest entry in the long-running series featuring award-winning crime stories culled from thousands of entries to the Scarlet Stiletto Awards, presented by Sisters in Crime Australia. SMFS is delighted to see Liz Filleul's "A Time for Crime" on that list!
• The Strand has ben one of the leading mystery magazines for years, brining us contemporary masters and classic names alike. The cream of the crop can be found in Best of The Strand: 25 Years of Twists, Turns and Tales from the Modern Masters of Mystery and Fiction. You'll find superstars ranging from Tennessee Williams to James Lee Burke in these pages--and you'll also find SMFS powerhouse John M. Floyd, taking his well-deserved place among them. Way to go, John!
  
  
  
• Of course, SMFS's writers don't limit themselves to crime fiction. David H. Hendrickson turns his pen to matters of love in Romance for All Seasons: Winder Warmth.
  
  
  
• And Debra Bliss Saenger shows she has science fiction skills to spare in her contribution to Beyond The Stars: Starbase Indy Anthology 2025.
  
  
  
• Turning to periodicals, the eleventh issue of Dark Yonder highlights the very best in neo-noir, including contributions from Joseph S. Walker, Michael Bracken and Billie Livingston.
  
  
  
• Michael Bracken, master of all genres, can also be found in the first issue of Kissmet Quarterly, The Greatest Holiday Romance Stories Ever Written, where he's joined by SMFS's Karen McCullough.
  
  
  
• Once again showing that SMFS isn't limited to mystery, don't miss Terena Elizabeth Bell's poetic contribution to the Winter 2025 issue of Exacting Clam.
  
  
  
• SMFS members David H. Hendrickson and Diana Deverell are featured in the latest edition of Mystery, Crime, and Mayhem, 24 Spies.
  
  
  
• Karen McCullough sets loose the latest entry in her Market Center Mysteries series with Unleashed for Murder.
  
  
  
• Over at Gumshoe Review, don't miss James Patrick Focarile's "It All Comes Out in the Wash," one of the many great free online reads SMFS members give us all year long.
  
  
  
• And here's another--"You Can't Be Killed Twice," at the House of Long Shadows site, is the latest from SMFS first-stringer Gregory Meece.
  
  
  
• And one more: Literary Garage hosts M. E. Proctor's cold-case narrative, "Ramona."
• Crime blog The Yard is quickly establishing itself as one of the most exciting new sources for contemporary crime flash fiction, thanks to outstanding tales like Jessica Slee's "Word of Mouth" and Bern Sy Moss's "Cold Turkey on Black Friday."
  
  
  
• Finally, as always, Black Cat Weekly continues to offer fans of pulp fiction of all varieties the most value for their dollar with hundreds of pages of new and classic fiction every week. SMFS members recently on its pages include donalee Moulton, Terena Elizabeth Bell, and--stop me if you've heard this one before--the wildly inventive John M. Floyd. A BCW subscription is a great gift for any fan of exciting reading! 
  
  
  

That's enough reading to keep any mystery fan happy through the holiday break. Stay tuned for more incredible work from SMFS in 2026!

SMFS Spotlight: Kevin R. Tipple

 Short Mystery Fiction Society member Elena Smith has graciously offered to conduct interviews spotlighting members of the Society.  Here is the first, with longtime member and former President Kevin R. Tipple.  Take it away, Elena!

I know you currently live in Texas. Is this the only state you’ve lived in?

Yes. When I was a kid, we used to go on vacation for weeks at a time here in Texas and in a number of national and state parks in western states, but Texas has always been it for a home.

Does your locale influence your stories? If so, in what way?

Well, the bigger influence is what I have been through, but location matters as I set a lot of stories here in north Texas. So, I take a location, say the nearby Waffle House, and make it part of the story as I did for my story, “First Contact,” in the Santa Rage anthology. The weather here also makes an appearance in that one as I open with the weather which is frowned upon by some. My old apartment complex and some of the things that happened there are fictionalized in my story, “Death in Dallas” (This Ain’t Paradise) British Bump Off anthology coming in early January. Weather makes an appearance in that one as well. The location in those tales and all of my work matters in some way. Sometimes the location is its own character and sometimes it is more of a secondary character.

Kevin reading at Noir at the Bar

When did you have your first story published?

Late 1980s. “Hell, Here and Now” was originally a story written for a Saturday literature class at the University of Texas at Dallas. There were fifty students in the class. The class was on Dante and we were to write a story with him going through a new circle of Hell. We had to create a new level of hell, explain what it was designed for, and send him through it. It was only after we  submitted them that the professor announced he would read parts of the ones he really liked to the class. After reading five of them, he announced that one was so good, he was going to read the entire fifteen-pages plus. He looked at me, smirked as he knew how much I hated the attention, and then started reading mine aloud. Shockingly, not only did the floor not open and swallow me whole, but the class laughed at the jokes in it, and seemed to enjoy it. He pulled me aside after class and said I should be writing, submitting my work. Went home and told my very pregnant wife who vehemently told me she had been right and I should do this “writing thing.” Nobody was ever a bigger cheerleader for me and my writing. I know a lot of folks complain about their spouses on this, but Sandi was always very sure I was going to do great things writing wise.

How has your writing improved since then, and what do you attribute this to?

Assuming it has, and there have been many times I seriously wondered about that, I think writing, submitting, and being edited by others has made it better. Being part of a writing group from the late ’90s to around 2011 definitely made me a better writer as we sat and discussed what worked and what didn’t in our stories. I’d still be in a writing group if we had one in my area as I think it can really help IF one can find the right group. I didn’t fully appreciate what I had at the time. Since the end of those writing group days, I do not have much outside input before I submit and that has worked against me as well as for me. Time has also played a huge factor in all of this. Decades later, I am a far different person now at this age with everything I have been through, and what I am facing, and that, no doubt, has changed me for better and for worse. That also can’t help but affect the writing.

How long have you been a member of SMFS?

I think since sometime in the late ’90s.

 

How did you learn about it?

Earl Staggs. A member, past SMFS president, and a deeply missed good friend.

What do you like most about it?

The exposure to other folks who write mystery and crime fiction. I have read a lot of good stuff by way of finding folks on the list. Reading stuff improves your own writing.

What aspect of SMFS membership has been the most beneficial to you?

At this point, with the way things are now for me and the list, I would say the market news is the most beneficial. I don’t participate in the Zoom deals as my internet in NE Dallas is really bad. I also tend to stay away from some of the conversational threads, the recent crime music one comes to mind, as I just don’t have anything to share. Market info is very important to me as is being able to publicize when somebody is publishing one of my deals.

Is there anyone specific you would like to recommend for my next interview (provided the subject is willing...)?

Barry Ergang or Bruce Robert Coffin.

 

You can read Kevin R. Tipple’s story, "Choked on Love" in the Perp Wore Pumpkin 2 Thanksgiving Anthology (Misti Media) and on his blog: https://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/

MORE GREAT NEW READS FROM THE SHORT MYSTERY FICTION SOCIETY!

As sure as the leaves turned and the temperatures dropped, the multi-talented scribes of The Short Mystery Fiction Society continued to turn out fabulous new treats for readers in October, and even pulled off their share of tricks.  Readers in the mood for the best in contemporary crime and mystery writing have plenty of recent publications to choose from.  Read on--and remember that the SMFS always has room for you!  Membership is free, and with Derringer season coming on fast, there's never a more exciting time to jump on board.

• In September, a number of SMFS members showed up in the pages of The Mysterious Bookshop Presents the Best Mystery Stories of the Year.  October brought the release of this year's edition of The Best American Mystery and Suspense, edited by Don Winslow, and once again SMFS was well represented.  Among those present are Tom Andes ("Never Mind in Two Thousand"), Ann Aptaker ("Neon Women"), John Bosworth ("A Bad Place to Die"), Jacqueline Freimor ("Cruel to be Kind"), James D. F. Hannah ("Road to Nowhere"), Meagan Lucas ("The Light Themselves on Fire"), Twist Phelan ("Good Shoes"), Gary Phillips ("The Darklight Gizmo Matter"), and Art Taylor ("Dark Thread, Loose Strands").  That makes SMFS responsible for fully half the table of contents, and a host of other members placed stories on the "Other Distinguished Stories" list, including Hector Acosta, Libby Cudmore, O'Neil de Noux, Nils Gilbertson, Nick Kolkowski, Tom Milani, Delia Pitts, Annie Reed, Gabriela Stiteler, Shannon Taft, and Stacy Woodson.  Phew!  Can there be any doubt that SMFS members are among the elite?
  
  
  
• More evidence comes in the pages of Snakeberry: Best New England Crime Stories 2025, the latest in a long-running and much-honored annual series.  SMFS members here include Christine Bagley ("Sakura"), Brenda Buchanan ("Cape Jewell"), Judy Carlough ("Catch and Release"), Bruce Robert Coffin ("Writer's Block"), Laurel Hanson ("Out of the Reach"), Beth Hogan (Willful Blindness"), Chris Knopf ("Submission"), Cheryl Malone ("As The Crows Fly"), Paula Messina ("Perfect"), Susan Oleksiw ("The Receptionist"), Ang Pompano ("Minnie the Air Raid Warden"), Stephen D. Rogers ("Chekhov, Sartre, and the Unity of Effect"), Bonnar Spring ("At the End of the Day"), Gabriela Stiteler ("Money Well Spent") and Leslie Wheeler ("Graham 2.0").  This volume always deserves a place on your shelf!
  
  
  
• It's always exciting to see a new anthology hit the shelves.  October brought us the first of a promising new series with The Vigilante Crime Pulp Fiction Anthology, a Molotov cocktail of stories both honoring the past and blowing it wide open.  SMFS members on this maiden voyage include Christina Hoag ("Twofer") and Michael Bracken ("4:13 A.M.").
  
  
  
• SMFS member Claire A. Murray's "Come Hell or High Water" is among the highlights of SoWest: Danger Awaits, the latest in the highly regarded anthology series from the Desert Sleuths chapter of Sisters in Crime.  Don't overlook these anthologies from regional groups--they're full of great stuff and exciting writing!
  
  
  
• Taking a darker path, M. E. Proctor brings us "Raise a Glass to John Dee" in This World of Vile Wonder: Horror Tales of the Scientific Revolution.  Chilling stuff!
  
  
  
• Christina Hoag thrills us once again with "The Coward" in the pages of the second volume of the cutting-edge anthology series Body Shots.  Not for the faint of heart!
  
  
  
• Hitting shelves in the coming weeks, the November/December 2025 issue of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine includes riveting tales by SMFS members including David Dean ("Halloween Party"), O'Neil de Noux ("The Human Form Divine"), Billie Livingston ("What Ivy Brings"), Gregory Meece ("The Raindrop Prelude"), Gary Phillips ("Dr. Morbilius"), Paul Ryan O'Connor ("Destiny"), and Twist Phelan ("Authorized Treatment").
  
  
  
• Not to be outdone, the November/December Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine features SMFS members such as James Patrick Focarile ("Go Fish"), Mark Thielman ("The Tangled Web They Weave"), and Avram Lavinsky ("The Bank Heist Before Armageddon").  Don't let these great issues pass you by!
  
  
  
• Black Cat Weekly continues to offer fans of mystery, science fiction and pulp adventure the best bang for the buck, with hundreds of pages of new and classic stories and novels each and every week.  Among the SMFS authors BCW featured in October were Bern Sy Moss ("It's What She Does"), Steve Liskow ("Dead Oak Hill"), and Robert Lopresti ("Give the Gift of Murder").  Why not give yourself the gift of a BCW subscription today?
  
  
  
• Looking for great online reads?  Look no further than a barrage of digital goodies from SMFS all-stars!  First up, James Patrick Focarile offers up "Blood Dirty" at Pulp Asylum, and then doubles down with "Forever in Your Debt" over at Horror Tree.
  
  
  
•  Punk Noir proudly presents Halloween scares in "Beggars Night" from SMFS's own Elizabeth Dearborn.
  
  
  
• Shari Held brings us the dark side of show business at Yellow Mama with "The Audition."
  
  
  
• The legendary Saturday Evening Post hosts the soon-to-be legendary Stephen M. Pierce and his story of the clues in a poet's final verses, "Mockingbird Murders."
  
  
  
• M. E. Proctor is another SMFS all-star with two stellar stories out this month, "Nails in the Coffin" at the Pistol Jim Substack and "Buckets!" at the Twitter-based Mythic Picnic.
  
  
  
• The digital pages of Urban Pigs are graced by SMFS's Tom Milani and his hard-edged "So Cold it Burns."
  
  
  
• And last but not least, for those looking for audio thrills, the prolific James Patrick Focarile has you covered in the Mysteryrat's Maze podcast with "Forever Yours."
  
  
  

That's the latest in another great month of reading from SMFS.  Stay tuned for more as 2025 hurtles to a close!

Derringer Award Submissions Are Being Accepted

The Short Mystery Fiction Society is a group of writers, readers, editors, publishers, and others dedicated to the promotion and celebration of mystery and crime short stories.

Our Derringer Awards honor stories up to 20,000 words. Editors and our members may now submit stories for consideration. Members may also submit anthologies. The deadline is January 30, 2026.

More information is available here.

Not a member? Enter your email to join the society today.

More information about the Derringer Awards

Derringer Award Results by Year