Little Big Crimes Review: One at a Time by Lissa Marie Redmond

Little Big Crimes: One at a Time, by Lissa Marie Redmond: "One at a Time," by Lissa Marie Redmond, in Down & Out Magazine, Issue 2. It's just my luck to get locked in a trunk ...

SMFS Member Pubication News: Gail Farrelly

I have two Christmas stories available.

The first, "It's a Dog's Life," is about a mysterious dog and a lonely woman. The story is at the Yonkers Tribune. http://www.yonkerstribune.com/2017/12/its-a-dogs-life-by-gail-farrelly

The second, "The Christmas Exception," is about a woman who discovers just before Christmas a major secret about herself. This 2011 story is published and sold by Untreed Reads, but Jay Hartman was nice enough to allow it as a free read at Kings River Life Magazine. Lorie Ham was nice enough to publish it. I'm grateful to both of them. http://kingsriverlife.com/12/19/the-christmas-exception/

Merry Christmas!
Gail Farrelly (@gailfarrelly on Twitter)

Little Big Crimes Review: Burnt Orange by Shawn Reilly Simmons

Little Big Crimes: Burnt Orange, by Shawn Reilly Simmons: "Burnt Orange," by Shawn Reilly Simmons, in  Passport to Murder,  edited by John McFetridge, Down and Out Books, 2017. This is...

Catherine Dilts Reviews: The Burning by J. P. Seewald

Catherine Dilts Reviews: The Burning by J. P. Seewald

Little Big Crimes Blog Review: Jerusalem Syndrome by Hilary Davidson

Little Big Crimes: Jerusalem Syndrome, by Hilary Davidson: "Jerusalem Syndrome," in Passport to Murder, edited by John McFetridge, Down and Out Books, 2017. This is Davidson's seco...

SMFS Members Published in Mystery Tribune Issue 3: Fall 2017

Mystery Tribune Issue 3: Fall 2017 out now and includes works by SMFS Members Jim
Doherty and Brian Silverman.

Catherine Dilts Reviews: Short Story Reviews: Thanksgiving Leftovers

Catherine Dilts Reviews: Short Story Reviews: Thanksgiving Leftovers

SMFS Members Published at The Five-Two

SMFS Members were recently published at the crime poetry site, The Five-Two. The site is operated by SMFS member Gerald So. Those members are:

Kieran Shea who offers "At Large, The Killer Dreams." 

Robert Weibezahl who offers "Vineland."

Little Big Crimes Review: Black Friday by R.T. Lawton

Little Big Crimes: Black Friday, by R.T. Lawton: "Black Friday," by R.T. Lawton, in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, November/December 2017. I knew that if I wrote the...

Catherine Dilts Reviews: Short Story Reviews: Finally, Serious Time for Reading

Catherine Dilts Reviews: Short Story Reviews: Finally, Serious Time for Reading

Little Big Crimes Review: The Mechanical Detective by John Longenbaugh

Little Big Crimes: The Mechanical Detective, by John Longenbaugh: "The Mechanical Detective," by John Longenbaugh, in Mystery Weekly Magazine, October 2017. The more observant among you may be...

Catherine Dilts Reviews: Short Story Reviews: Thanksgiving Theme

Catherine Dilts Reviews:  Short Story Reviews: Thanksgiving Theme

SMFS Member Publication News: Gail Farrelly

SMFS Member Gail Farrelly's latest short story at the Yonker's Tribune is the seasonally appropriate, "Ya Never Know: A Thanksgiving Tale."

Little Big Crimes Review: The Last Evil by David Vardeman

Little Big Crimes: The Last Evil, by David Vardeman: "The Last Evil," by David Vardeman, in Mystery Weekly Magazine, November 2017. Hooboy.  What to say about this week's entr...

SMFS Member Publication News: Shawn Reilly Simmons

SMFS Member Shawn Reilly Simmons' short story, "The Prodigy" appears in the new anthology, CWA Anthology of Short Stories: Mystery Tour. Edited by Martin Edwards, the anthology contains 28 stories from members  of the Crime Writer's Association. Published overseas by Orenda Books, and available at Amazon UK,  the book will be available  in the US in hardback form next February and paperback in May.


From the Amazon UK synopsis:

Highlights of the trip include a treacherous cruise to French Polynesia, a horrifying trek in South Africa, a murderous train-ride across Ukraine and a vengeful killing in Mumbai. But back home in the UK, life isn't so easy either. Dead bodies turn up on the backstreets of Glasgow, crime writers turn words into deeds at literary events, and Lady Luck seems to guide the fate of a Twickenham hood. Showcasing the range, breadth and vitality of the contemporary crime-fiction genre, these twenty-eight chilling and unputdownable stories will take you on a trip you'll never forget.

SMFS Member Publication News: Joan Leotta

SMFS Member Joan Leotta's short story, "Surviving the Feast: A Thanksgiving Mystery Short Story" is online in the November 18, 2017 edition of Kings River Life Magazine. At the end of the story, there is a recipe for Pumpkin Pie.

SMFS Member Publication News: Gigi Pandian

SMFS Member Gigi Pandian's The Library Ghost of Tanglewood Inn: A Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mystery Short Story is out now by way of Henery Press. Published in digital format, the 39 page read is availble at Amazon and other vendors.



From the Amazon synopsis:

An unsolved murder from the 1930s.
A ghost story to explain the impossible crime.
A dead man in the haunted library.
And no way for the authorities to reach the survivors until the snowstorm clears…

A snowstorm waylays Jaya Jones and Tamarind Ortega. It seems almost too good to be true that they find rooms for the night in beautiful old inn—until they find a dead man clutching an Agatha Christie novel in the secluded hotel’s library. Worse yet, Tamarind is accused of the crime.

To clear her friend, Jaya must delve into the history of the hotel’s haunted library. The present-day mystery is eerily similar to a mysterious unsolved death in the 1930s—could it be the work of the library’s avenging ghost?

If you’ve never met Jaya Jones or been on one of her adventures, this is a great place to start. And lucky you, you have the whole series (and the novella!) to look forward to!

Catherine Dilts Reviews: Short Story Review: Three Stories

Catherine Dilts Reviews: Short Story Review: Three Stories

Writers Who Kill: Editing an Anthology: Five Stages of Grief

Writers Who Kill: Editing an Anthology: Five Stages of Grief: Today J. Alan Hartman of the publisher Untreed Reads tells us about his experiences as editor in putting together his most recent Thanks...

SMFS Member Publication News: William Burton McCormick

SMFS Member William Burton McCormick's short story, "Matricide and Ice Cream" appears in the new anthology, CWA Anthology of Short Stories: Mystery Tour. Edited by Martin Edwards, the anthology contains 28 stories from members  of the Crime Writer's Association. Published overseas by Orenda Books, and available at Amazon UK,  the book will be available  in the US in hardback form next February and paperback in May.


From the Amazon UK synopsis:

Highlights of the trip include a treacherous cruise to French Polynesia, a horrifying trek in South Africa, a murderous train-ride across Ukraine and a vengeful killing in Mumbai. But back home in the UK, life isn't so easy either. Dead bodies turn up on the backstreets of Glasgow, crime writers turn words into deeds at literary events, and Lady Luck seems to guide the fate of a Twickenham hood. Showcasing the range, breadth and vitality of the contemporary crime-fiction genre, these twenty-eight chilling and unputdownable stories will take you on a trip you'll never forget.

SMFS Member Publication News: Jennifer Soosar

SMFS Member Jennifer Soosar's short story "The Settlement" appears in the Spinetingler Magazine Fall 2017 issue. Published by Down & Out books, the current issue is available in digital and print formats at Amazon and other vendors.

SMFS Member Publication News: O’Neil De Noux

SMFS Member O’Neil De Noux’s latest book, The Great Beau, is available at Amazon in digital and print forms.  This is the fourth book in the John Raven Beau series.

From the synopsis on Amazon…

The mysterious death of an elderly man draws NOPD Chief Inspector John Raven Beau into a complex case involving priceless art, stolen Nazi loot, a dead deerhound, a haughty countess, a ruthless killer and featuring the irresistible NUDE IN RED woman. Bang. Bang. The shocks keep coming when a priceless cache is found hidden in an uptown attic – a legendary treasure which stuns archaeologists, forensic scientists, historians and the entire art world. Has NOPD located one of the great treasures of the ancient world? How does Beau become a Hero of the French Republic? One shock after another. A suspected heart attack surfaces a rare poison so it’s murder. Are those Frederic Remington original paintings on the wall? They are immediately stolen. What’s in the old box in the antique shop? Anyone heard of Titian? Master of the 16th Century Venetian School of artists, a Renaissance artist who painted the same time as Da Vinci and Michelangelo? Could this be his last painting, Aphrodite and the Painter, lost in 1576? How did it end up in New Orleans? Who is killing people to get this art? 

NOPD’s Critical Investigations Unit (CIU) was formed for this type of case and Chief Inspector John Raven Beau uses the skills he honed as a homicide detective to sift through the clues. He seems to be a step behind the murderer-thieves but he is the relentless pursuer, the half-Sioux, half-Cajun who carries an obsidian war knife and a 9mm Glock he’s already killed with. The world is amazed at with this case and John Raven Beau goes to Paris for a short vacation and a fateful rendezvous with the Legion of Honor. 

From SHAMUS and DERRINGER Award winner O’Neil De Noux comes the fourth novel in the critically acclaimed New Orleans Police series featuring half-Cajun, half-Sioux JOHN RAVEN BEAU. Assigned as Chief Inspector to command NOPD’s new CIU – Critical Investigations Unit – Beau brings his unique talents to investigate special cases.

Little Big Crimes Review: Precision Thinking by Jim Fusilli

Little Big Crimes: Precision Thinking, by Jim Fusilli: "Precision Thinking," by Jim Fusilli, in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, November/December 2017. Last week I wrote about a ...

SMFS Member Publication News: Bern Sy Moss

SMFS Member Bern Sy Moss' short story "Consequences" appears in the Spinetingler Magazine Fall 2017 issue. Published by Down & Out books, the current issue is available in digital and print formats at Amazon and other vendors.

SMFS Member Publication News: Kaye George

Kings River Life is reprinting a story of mine, "Swinging on a Star" that was posted by Jack Bates awhile ago. The setting is post WWII Hollywood. This was a stretch for me, but I had fun with the research.

http://kingsriverlife.com/11/11/swinging-on-a-star-mystery-short-story/

SMFS Member Publication News: Lo Monaco

SMFS Member Lo Monaco's newly published book, Lethal Relations, is available in both eBook and print formats at Amazon. The eBook is currently FREE.

From the synopsis:

Terry Strong is a PI with a Black Belt in Taekwondo and a ceaseless determination.

Fred Greene has been murdered…in his own home while watching TV. The police have arrested his girlfriend, Barbara Metcalf. But Barbara’s brother, attorney Donald Remick doesn’t believe she did it.
Remick hires Terry to prove Barbara’s innocence. But it won’t be easy. All the evidence points right to Barbara. Even Fred’s son, Robert, believes Barbara shot his father. She had been at the Greene residence that night just as Robert was leaving. Later that night, Fred was found dead…by Barbara.

Trying to untie all the twisted knots of relationships has Terry frustrated and confused while at the same time, her relationship with her sometime SO, Carl Black, compounds the stress. Adding to that the puzzling connection between Robert Greene and Donald Remick’s daughter, Sylvia, makes this a mystifying and difficult case to solve.

Terry finally unweaves all the strands and with the help of her Black Belt, brings this case to a shocking conclusion which no one expected.

Guest Post: How An Anthology Chose Its Own Theme by Elizabeth Zelvin

Back last September, Elizabeth Zelvin announced the publication of a new anthology, Where Crime Never Sleeps: Murder New York Style 4. Not only did SMFS member Elizabeth Zelvin edit the book, the work included her story as well as stories by SMFS members Joseph R.G. DeMarco, Nina Mansfield, Anita Page, and Cathi Stoler. Please welcome back to the SMFS blog, Elizabeth Zelvin who shares how the theme of the anthology came together.

  

How An Anthology Chose Its Own Theme

Elizabeth Zelvin

Writers know how fictional characters can get the bit between their teeth and gallop off in directions the author would never have taken them. Saying, "Whoa, Nellie!" doesn't work. There's no choice but to go along with it—and in the end, the story or novel is the better for it.

In compiling and editing Where Crime Never Sleeps: Murder New York Style 4, the fourth anthology of crime and mystery short stories by members of the New York/Tri-State Chapter of Sisters in Crime, I found that it's not only fictional characters who take over the creative process to the benefit of the final product. In this case, the theme of the anthology was hijacked by the collective unconscious of the authors who contributed stories. Furthermore, they did so without any sense of departing from the original stated theme, as in a sense, they did not. "Nellie"—what really grabbed the reins and took off like the Wild Hunt—was New York itself.

From the Introduction to Where Crime Never Sleeps:

Our original intent was to devote [Murder New York Style 4] to New York attractions: landmarks and events that draw visitors to our city, perhaps with visitors as the protagonists, victims, and killers in the stories. Our storytellers had other ideas. You will read about the Brooklyn Bridge in these pages, along with the Museum of Natural History, the running track around the Central Park reservoir, and Carnegie Hall. But the characters who inhabit these places and breathe life into these stories are New Yorkers. To them, the iconic places of New York are not attractions to be gawked at, but the places where they go about their lives. So we went with what we got, and our theme became the infinite variety of New Yorkers and the uniqueness of New Yorkishness.

The submissions we received completely disregarded the suggestion to write about visitors. How many New Yorkers find visitors of consuming interest, when the city is filled with so many fascinating and endlessly diverse New Yorkers?

From the Introduction:

The term “New York attitude” is overused, and not enough is said about what it really is. Forget the caricature of crude pugnaciousness, the New Yorker as nihilist giving the rest of the world the finger. I think the real attitude is the New Yorker’s ease in her skin (or his), a way of being thoroughly at home in his (or her) New York world—or worlds, because New York consists of hundreds, thousands of worlds. The authors of these stories have given us a glimpse into a few of these many worlds. What constitutes the look, the sound and smell and taste of New York? It all depends on the senses of the individual and which New York that person currently inhabits. 

Inevitably, these worlds intersect. It is said that psychologically Americans require eight feet of personal space around them, more than any other people on earth. In a crowded subway car at rush hour, they’re lucky if they get eight inches. And crowding leads to conflict and drama—perfect for stories of crime and murder. In each of these stories, the most unlikely characters rub elbows with one another. [One story] features a devotee of Stanislavsky, a bunch of “hormonal and over-caffeinated” high school kids, and a gorilla. [Another] throws together a Rockefeller Center tour guide with a PhD and a school of executive sharks with harassed underlings nipping at their tail fins in “the profitable world of schlock TV.”

It's no wonder that when the members of the New York/Tri-State Chapter of Sisters in Crime sat down to write a submittable story, they were thinking not about whether the Brooklyn Bridge is more popular with visitors than the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, or Central Park (it's not, but it topped our list, while of the highest ranked three, only Central Park made the anthology) but about how we New Yorkers are arguably (and oh, how we love to argue!) the most interesting people in the world.

Elizabeth Zelvin ©2017

Elizabeth Zelvin is the author of the Mendoza Family Saga, and the Bruce Kohler Mysteries, as well as numerous short stories.  Liz's stories have been nominated three times for the Agatha and twice for the Derringer Award for Best Short Story. Another story was listed in BEST AMERICAN MYSTERIES 2014. Her author website is at www.elizabethzelvin.com

SMFS Members Published in Snowbound: Best New England Crime Stories 2017

SMFS Members published in the anthology, Snowbound: Best New England Crime Stories 2017 are Michael Bracken, Dayle A.Dermatis, Patricia Dusenbury, Edith Maxwell, LD Masterson as well as Andrew Welsh-Huggins who won the 2017 Al Blanchard Award. This is the fifteenth volume of this long running anthology series and is available from the publisher, Amazon, and other vendors.

"A.K.A. Bob Jones" by Michael Bracken.

 "Voices Carry" by Dayle A.Dermatis.

"Unstrung Quartet" by  Patricia Dusenbury.

"An Ominous Silence" by Edith Maxwell.

"The Murderous Type" by Andrew Welsh-Huggins (Al Blanchard Award).

"All That Sparkles" by LD Masterson.

SMFS Member Publications News: Jacqueline Seewald

 

SMFS Member Jacqueline Seewald announced on her blog earlier this week the news of the publication of her novella, THE BURNING, by Annorlunda Books. Jacqueline is also hosting a giveaway for her book that is based on her award winning play inspired by true life events. Details on how to win a digital or print copy of the book are available on Jacqueline Seewald's blog. The Book is available from the publisher, Amazon, and other vendors and those links are also available in the same blog post.

In Reference To Murder Blog: The 'Zine Scene for 11/9/17

In Reference To Murder Blog: The 'Zine Scene for 11/9/17

Catherine Dilts Reviews: Short Story Review

Catherine Dilts Reviews: Short Story Review

Little Big Crimes Review: "The Black Hand" by Peter W.J. Hayes

Little Big Crimes: "The Black Hand," by Peter W.J. Hayes: "The Black Hand," by Peter W.J. Hayes, in   Malice Domestic: Murder Most Historical, edited by Verena Rose, Rita Owen, and Shaw...

SMFS Member Publication News: Christine Verstraete

SMFS Member Christine Verstraete reports her latest story, "Lizzie Borden: Murder and Mistakes?" is in the Big City Cops 1 issue of Mystery Readers Journal. The issue is available at

http://mysteryreaders.org/big-city-cops-i/

SMFS Member Publication News: V. S. Kemanis

SMFS Member V. S. Kemanis is a guest at Janet Hutchings’ blog, Something is Going to Happen, with a few story ideas from the life of a mystery writer with a day job.

SMFS Members Published in Mystery Weekly Magazine: November 2017

The November 2017 issue of Mystery Weekly Magazine features works by three SMFS members. The issue is available from the publisher, Amazon, and other vendors. SMFS members in this issue are:

Joseph D’Agnese with his short story, ‘Her Father’s Killer.”

Debra H. Goldstein with her short story, “Day After Thanksgiving Soup.”
 

Also included in this issue is “A You-Solve-It” whodunit by Peter DiChellis.

SMFS Members Published in The Killer Wore Cranberry: A Fifth Course of Chaos

Recently published in eBook and print, The Killer Wore Cranberry: A Fifth Course of Chaos features short stories from a number of SMFS members. The book is available by way of the publisher, Untreed Reads, Amazon, and other vendors. The following members who have reported their stories in this edition are:

“Ginger Snapped” by Betsy Bitner.

“The Nameless Turkey Trot of Terror” by Bobbi Chukran.

“Kid Kelly” by Herschel Cozine.

“Death For Dessert” by Dave Goudsward writing as DG Critchley.

“A Family Affair” by Liz Millron. 

“Turkey Underfoot” by KM Rockwood.

“Stakeout In A Maple Tree” by Earl Staggs. 

“The Mac Salad Killer” by Albert Tucher.

SMFS Member Publication News: Barb Goffman

Barb Goffman’s Agatha award nominated short story, Evil Little Girl, originally published in 2013 has now been published again in the new anthology Killing It Softly 2: A Digital Horror Fiction Anthology of Short Stories (The Best by Women in Horror). The eBook is available at Amazon and the print version should be out in the next couple of weeks.

Little Big Crimes Review: PX Christmas by Martin Limón

Little Big Crimes: PX Christmas, by Martin Limón: "PX Christmas," by Martin Limón, in The Usual Santas,   Soho Crime, 2017. Martin Limón writes exclusively about Asia and most ...

SMFS Member Published: R.V. Reyes

SMFS Member R. V. Reyes has a short story, Fish Fried, in the anthology, Happy Homicides 6: Cookin Up Crime. It is available at Amazon for ninety-nine cents until November 5^th.  More info about the book and a related contest can be found at the author’s blog.
 

Little Big Crimes Review: Making It by Michael Wiley

Little Big Crimes: Making It, by Michael Wiley: "Making It," by Michael Wiley, in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, September-October 2017. Last week I had the privilege o...

SMFS Members Published in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine November/December 2017

SMFS Members Eve Fisher, Robert S. Levinson, Robert Lopresti, Susan Oleksiw, and B.K. Stevens, were published in the latest issue of Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine November/December 2017. 

Eve Fisher's story is "Darkness Visible."

Robert S. Levinson’s story is "The House Across The Street."

Robert Lopresti’s story is "The Chair Thief."

Susan Oleksiw’s story is “A Slight Deviation From The Mean.”

B. K. Steven’s story is “Death Under Construction.”

The issue is available from Dell Magazines, Amazon, and other vendors.

SMFS Members Published in Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine Issue 23

 

SMFS Members Stephen Liskow and Robert Lopresti were published in the latest issue of Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine Issue #23. 

Stephen Liskow’s story is “Death by Water.”

Robert Lopresti’s story is The Cop Who Liked Gilbert and Sullivan.” Robert also has the distinction of having his name listed on the cover.

The issue is available from Wildside Press, Amazon, and other vendors.

SMFS Member Publication News: Elizabeth Zelvin

Elizabeth Zelvin reports:

The November/December issue of Ellery Queen is out, with, I'm proud to say, my name on the cover along with Charlaine Harris's  and Doug Allyn's and my story, "Death Will Help You Imagine," inside, right after Bill Pronzini's. It's well worth the wait of almost 20 months from submission to print to be keeping such great company, especially since it was accepted way back in 2016 and I got paid for it shortly afterward. 

Liz

SleuthSayers: One More Time, From the Top by Michael Bracken

SleuthSayers: One More Time, From the Top: Please join me in welcoming my friend Michael Bracken as a guest blogger today. For those of you who don't know Michael already, he ...

SleuthSayers: Capstone to a Career (B. K. Stevens)

SleuthSayers: Capstone to a Career: By Art Taylor Last week's Bouchercon in Toronto was terrific and memorable in so many ways, with one of the great highpoints coming on...

Catherine Dilts Reviews: Martin Limon; Bonus Play Review

Catherine Dilts Reviews: Martin Limon; Bonus Play Review

Little Big Crimes Review: e-Golem by S.J. Rozan

Little Big Crimes: e-Golem, by S.J. Rozan: " e-Golem," by S.J. Rozan, in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine,  September-October 2017. This is the fourth appearance h...

SMFS Lunch at Bouchercon

Member Michael Bracken sends in the two pictures below of members gathering before the lunch.

SMFS Member Publication News: Peter DiChellis

My crime-horror piece “Stegmann’s Basement” is free to read at Spelk Fiction.

Storyline: After a botched robbery a young criminal flees into a creepy basement.

For those not familiar with this market, Spelk is a popular U.K.-based site that accepts flash up to 500 words (all genres, literary). Non-paying, but seems to yield wide exposure, including via social media.

Peter DiChellis

Today in MYSTERY HISTORY: 10/12/2017 Bouchercon commences today

Today in MYSTERY HISTORY: 10/12/2017 Bouchercon commences today: October 12, 2017. Today is the start of Bouchercon, the international mystery convention.  It is getting underway at the Sheraton Centre ...

Little Big Crimes Review: A Pie to Die For by Meg Opperman

Little Big Crimes: A Pie to Die For, by Meg Opperman: "A Pie to Die For," by Meg Opperman, in Black Cat Mystery Magazine, Issue 1. I have been asked recently about my policy so it...

Catherine Dilts Reviews: Cabin Fever by David Edgerley Gates

Catherine Dilts Reviews: Cabin Fever by David Edgerley Gates

SMFS Member Publication News--John M. Floyd

In addition to his short story, Knight Vision, in the current issue of Flash Bang Mysteries, John is again in Woman's World. This time he has Charlotte in Charge is in the current (October 9) issue of Woman’s World. He also sends word that his short story Travelers is in the anthology Visions VII: Universe (Rogue Star Press).

Little Big Crimes Review: Do Not Pass Go by James Blakey

Little Big Crimes: Do Not Pass Go, by James Blakey: "Do Not Pass Go," by James Blakey, in Mystery Weekly Magazine, September 2017. I admit it.  I am a sucker for this sort of th...

SMFS Members Published in FLASH BANG MYSTERIES: ISSUE 9

The latest issue of Flash Bang Mysteries is now up and features work from SMFS members.

The Last by Michael Bracken
School Spirit by Larry W. Chavis
The Hitchhiker by Herschel Cozine (selected as the Cover Story)
Knight Vision by John M. Floyd
Fishing For An Alibi by Earl Staggs (Editor's Choice)

SMFS Member Publication News: Diana Deverell

My mystery "Blown: A Dawna Shepherd Short Story" was reprinted this month in FICTION RIVER PRESENTS: Writers Without Borders.

"Blown" is also included in the BIG BUNDLE OF SHORTS . . . STORIES available from Bundle Rabbit. https://bundlerabbit.com/b/big-bundles-shortsstories

The story originally appeared in the Kobo Special Edition of Pulse Pounders, the January 2015 issue of FICTION RIVER themed anthology magazine.

Very pleased by these reappearances!

Catherine Dilts Reviews: Blasts from the Past

Catherine Dilts Reviews: Blasts from the Past

SMFS Member Publication News: "The Greatest Escape:Halloween Short Story" by Gail Farrelly

Houdini (he died on Halloween in 1926) has always fascinated me, so I thought it would be fun to write a short story about him.  What if he came back from the dead and ended up in modern-day NYC? Result? My publication at Kings River Life Magazine, "The Greatest Escape:  Halloween Short Story."

SMFS Member Publication News: The Uninhabited by Michael Bracken

TOUGH: The Uninhabited, fiction by Michael Bracken: As I rounded the corner of the one-room stone cabin and stopped, Melita Blanco rose naked from the hot spring twenty feet beyond, the cold b...

Little Big Crimes Review: Aramis and the Worm by Michael Mallory

Little Big Crimes: Aramis and the Worm, by Michael Mallory: "Aramis and the Worm," by Michael Mallory, in ALfed Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, September/October 2017. My friend Michae...

SMFS Member Publication News: Fatal Flaw by Cathi Stoler

My story "Fatal Flaw" featuring Nick Donahue is up today at Kings River Life Magazine. It's a tale of an International gambler who helps a beautiful woman in distress and pays the price.

The story is start of my NICK OF TIME novella, which continues Nick's escapades.

Little Big Crimes Review: Cabin Fever by David Edgerley Gates

Little Big Crimes: Cabin Fever, by David Edgerley Gates: "Cabin Fever," by David Edgerley Gates, in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine,  September/October 2017. This is the fifth...

SMFS Lunch at Bouchercon - Oct 13th

 As announced on the list on September 9th, SMFS member Madeleine Callway has organized a lunch for SMFS members attending Bouchercon in Toronto next month. Below is her message to the list. I have taken the liberty of removing her email address so as to not spread her contact details around the internet. If you are a list member, please access the list and see the message from her so that you can contact her and let her know you are coming.    

Greetings from Canada!

The venue for the SMFS lunch at this year's Bouchercon in Toronto is now set. We will be meeting at Shopsy's Deli, Friday, October 13th, at 12 noon. (Appropriate!)

Shopsy's is located in the Sheraton Hotel where the conference is taking place so travel won't be an issue. Mike, the manager, is delighted to have us and we will have an area in the restaurant reserved for us.

Shopsy's has typical deli food and prices are reasonable. it's a Toronto classic.

Welcome to Toronto!

Madeleine (M. H. Callway)

Catherine Dilts Reviews: Novelists Writing Short Fiction

Catherine Dilts Reviews: Novelists Writing Short Fiction

“Disasters and Inspirations” by SMFS Member O’Neil De Noux

“Disasters and Inspirations” by SMFS Member O’Neil De Noux 

SMFS Members Published in Just To Watch Them Die: Crime Fiction Inspired By The Songs Of Johnny Cash

Just To Watch Them Die: Crime Fiction Inspired By The Songs Of Johnny Cash (Gutter Books Rock Anthologies Volume 3) was released last month. It features short stories from SMFS members Sarah M. Chen and S. W. Lauden.

Little Big Crimes Review: Sure Thing by David Rich

Little Big Crimes: Sure Thing, by David Rich: "Sure Thing,"  by David Rich, in  New Haven Noir,  edited by Amy Bloom, Akashic Press, 2017. If a leopard had strolled up the ...

SMFS Member Publication News: John M. Floyd

I have a mystery story, "An Act of Deception,” in the current (Sep. 18) issue of Woman’s World, and another story, “High Anxiety,” in the Sep. 9 issue of Kings River Life Magazine.

SMFS Members Published in Where Crime Never Sleeps: Murder New York Style 4

Where Crime Never Sleeps: Murder New York Style 4 is a new anthology from the New York/Tri-State Chapter of Sisters in Crime. Published by Level Best Books,  the anthology was edited by SMFS member Elizabeth Zelvin who also has a short story in the book titled, “ Death Will Finish Your Marathon.”

Editor Elizabeth Zelvin reports that the following SMFS members also have short stories in the anthology:

Joseph R.G. DeMarco, Vincenzo's Head”

Nina Mansfield, “An Actor Prepares”

Anita Page, “The Cousins”

Cathi Stoler, “Every Picture Tells A Story”

SMFS Members Published in EQMM: September/October 2017

Josh Pachter, Paul D. Marks, and brand new member Laura Pigott have short stories published in the September/October 2017 of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine.

Catherine Dilts Reviews: Various Lengths

Catherine Dilts Reviews: Various Lengths

SMFS Members Published in Black Cat Mystery Magazine

Today the first issue of Black Cat Mystery Magazine came out courtesy of Wildside Press. This first issue features short stories from a number of SMFS members including Michael Bracken, John Floyd, Kaye George, Barb Goffman, Alan Orloff, Josh Pacter, and Art Taylor.

Make sure you check out the interview with Editor Carla Coupe that appears today on the Sleuthsayers Blog courtesy of Barb Goffman.

SMFS Members Published in Mysterical-E: Summer 2017

The latest edition of Mysterical-E is now online and features work by three SMFS members. In fiction, Bern Sy Moss has a tale titled The Perfect Patsy and J.R. Lindermuth offers Yoga Kills.

Also in this edition, Gerald So has the latest roundup of news on movies and television in his column, "Mysterical-Eye on TV and Film."


You can read the current issue here. Make sure you check out the back issues as well for more solidly good fiction.

SMFS Member Publication News: Madeline McEwen

Madeline McEwen's short mystery story, Jealous of Daylight, appears online at The MOON Magazine.

Little Big Crimes Review: Crossing Harry by Chris Knopf

Little Big Crimes: Crossing Harry, by Chris Knopf: "Crossing Harry," by Chris Knopf, in New Haven Noir, edited by Amy Bloom, Akashic Press, 2017. Knopf is making his second app...

Catherine Dilts Reviews: Poe (The Cask of Amontillado)

Catherine Dilts Reviews: Poe (The Cask of Amontillado)

SleuthSayers: 2017 Macavity Award Short Story Nominees Dish on Their Stories

SleuthSayers: 2017 Macavity Award Short Story Nominees Dish on T...: by Paul D. Marks Today I’m giving over my post to the 2017 Macavity Award Short Story Nominees. There’s six of us and I’m both lucky and h...

SMFS Member Publication News: Patricia Della Valle

Patricia Della Valle's story, The Fat Man: Mystery Short Story appears online in the August 26th edition of Kings River Life Magazine.

Little Big Crimes Review: Playing Games by Elaine Togneri

Little Big Crimes: Playing Games, by Elaine Togneri: "Playing Games" by Elaine Togneri , in  Noir at the Salad Bar,  edited by Verena Rose, Harriette Sacker, and Shawn Reilly Simmon...

SMFS Member Publication News: John M. Floyd

My short mystery story “False Testimony” appears in the Sept. 4 issue of Woman’s World, which came out yesterday. This is my 90th story in Woman’s World. At the moment I have stories in the current issues of WW, AHMM (July/Aug), and Strand Magazine (June-Sep)—I’m enjoying it while it lasts.

Catherine Dilts Reviews: A Road Trip with B. K. Stevens

Catherine Dilts Reviews: A Road Trip with B. K. Stevens

SleuthSayers: The Novella: Expanding a Short Story or Writing On...

SleuthSayers: The Novella: Expanding a Short Story or Writing On...: by Brian Thornton As I mentioned when I began my summer-long look into the second coming of the novella, I have finally written one. It wa...

Little Big Crimes Review: The Bubble by Jennifer Harlow

Little Big Crimes: The Bubble, by Jennifer Harlow: "The Bubble," by Jennifer Harlow, in Atlanta Noir, edited by Tayari Jones, Akashic Press, 2017. I have started reading the Ak...

The Great Train Robbery: Mystery Short Story by Michael Bracken

The Great Train Robbery: Mystery Short Story by Michael Bracken went up yesterday as part of the August 19th edition of Kings River Life Magazine. Michael has reported to the list that the tale was originally published in Mike Shane Mystery Magazine in June 1985. At that time, it was his fourth publication in the magazine and his seventh published mystery overall.

You can read the tale here.

Judy Penz Sheluk remembers B. K. Stevens

Just shares this interview she did with B. K. back in September 2016.

Catherine Dilts remembers B. K. Stevens

Catherine Dilts shares....

I am saddened to announce the passing earlier this week of a great mystery author, B. K. Stevens. She left us too soon. Rather than posting my usual short story review, please read this author's work and form your own opinion. A Derringer Award winner, her mysteries are of literary quality. She appeared frequently in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine. I wrote her a fan letter for her story, The Last Blue Glass. B. K. responded that she saved all her fan letters, to re-read at moments when she was discouraged. You can find the link to The Last Blue Glass here. I have no doubt she will be remembered.

Catherine Dilts
http://www.catherinedilts.com/
Stone Cold Blooded - A Rock Shop Mystery 

Unrepentant Sinner - AHMM May/June 2017
Derringer Award Finalist: The Chemistry of Heroes - AHMM - May 2016

Jay Hartman remembers B. K. Stevens

Jay shares....

B. K. was an author who signed on with us very early on in the foundation of Untreed Reads. I remember being so thrilled that she was willing to take the chance on a new publishing house to place her work. We ended up publishing two of her short stories as standalones, and she supported us and both of them as if they were full-length, NYT bestsellers. She had a great wit, was incredibly sweet and genuinely cared about the success of everyone involved in her publications. A true joy to work with.

---

Jay Hartman

Editor-in-Chief

Untreed Reads Publishing

http://www.untreedreads.com

http://store.untreedreads.com

SleuthSayers: Remembering B.K. Stevens

Several SMFS members are currently at work on their remembrance posts for the SMFS blog as B. K. Stevens was also a major presence in our SMFS group. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends in the wake of her sudden passing.

SleuthSayers: Remembering B.K. Stevens: By Art Taylor On Monday, B.K. Stevens —an award-winning mystery writer, a member of the SleuthSayers family here, and a great friend t...

Little Big Crimes Review: "Sleeping Beauty" by Gerald Elias.

Little Big Crimes: "Sleeping Beauty," by Gerald Elias.: "Sleeping Beauty" by Gerald Elias , in  Noir at the Salad Bar,  edited by Verena Rose, Harriette Sacker, and Shawn Reilly Simmon...

Catherine Dilts Reviews: Narrators and Voice

Catherine Dilts Reviews: Narrators and Voice

Little Big Crimes Review: Smoked by Michael Bracken

Little Big Crimes: Smoked, by Michael Bracken: "Smoked," by Michael Bracken, in Noir at the Salad Bar,  edited by Verena Rose, Harriette Sacker, and SHawn Reilly Simmons, Lev...

Catherine Dilts Reviews: Two Approaches

Catherine Dilts Reviews: Two Approaches

Little Big Crimes Review Publish or Perish by Kevin Z. Garvey

Little Big Crimes: Publish or Perish, by Kevin Z. Garvey: "Publish or Perish," by Kevin Z. Garvey, in Mystery Weekly Magazine, July 2017. Every twist ending is a surprise. Not every s...

SMFS Member News: Diana Deverell

"Shut Your Eyes and You'll be Fine" by Diana Deverell is in Mystery Weekly's August issue http://mysteryweekly.com/issues/shutyoureyes.asp

Like the story's protagonist, Diana spent 18 months in war-torn San Salvador. She's tried many times to turn that experience into fiction, but no sale. The MW editor's acceptance of this brand-new effort suggests that 35 years might be enough distance.


Diana tells more to thriller writer Rick Reed in an interview published in the August issue of The Big Thrill http://www.thebigthrill.org/2017/07/open- the-door-by-diana-deverell/

SMFS Members News— JULY 2017

The members below reported their publishing successes this month: 

Melissa H. Blaine, “The Devil's Standable”  in the anthology, Day of the Dark: Stories of Eclipse, (Editor Kaye George) Wildside Press. (July 2017).

Michael Bracken, “Last Good Day” at Tough (July 24, 2017); “Smoked” in Noir at the Salad Bar: Culinary Tales With A Bite, Level Best Books, (July 2017); “Long-Distance Love” in True Story (July 2017); and “Beach Body” and “Three’s A Crowd” in True Confessions (July 2017). 

Craig Faustus Buck, “Honeymoon Sweet” at Trigger Warning: Short Fiction With Pictures: Issue 10 (July 2017). The author notes that his Macavity Award winning story was illustrated with original artwork by John Skewes. A signed copy of the illustration was provided to the author as that is done with all published by the site.

Larry W. Chavis, “On The Hook: Mystery Short Story” at Kings River Life Magazine (July 22, 2017).

Lauryn Christopher, “Lemonade and Larceny” in Fiction River: Editor's Choice: Volume 23, WMG Publishing (June 30, 2017) and “Backstage Pass” in the Crimes, Capers, and Rule-Breakers bundle (July 2017).

Diana Deverell, “Con Prince of Copenhagen,” in the Crimes, Capers, and Rule-Breakers bundle (July 2017) as well as “Black Powder Boogie: Mystery Short Story” at Kings River Life Magazine (July 15, 2017 and “The Real and Recent Wars Behind My Fiction” in Mystery Readers Journal: Murder In Wartime: Volume 33, Issue No. 2, Summer 2017.

Peter DiChellis, “Darkness, Darkness” in Mystery Weekly (July 2017 Humor Issue) and “Hostile Plans” in Switchblade Magazine: Issue Two (July 2017) as well as “The All-Night Zombie Channel” at The Higgs Weldon comedy site (July 27, 2017).

Patricia Dusenbury, “Cold Turkey” at Flash Bang Mysteries: Summer 2017 Issue (July 2017).

Gail Farrelly, “For Pete’s Sake” at the Yonker’s Tribune, (July 5, 2017). Part Two appeared on July 12, 2017, with Part Three following on July 19, 2017, and the concluding Part Four on July 26, 2017.

John M. Floyd, “Ace in the Hole” at Flash Bang Mysteries: Summer 2017 Issue (July 2017) as well as “The Sandman” in Noir at the Salad Bar: Culinary Tales With A Bite, Level Best Books (July 2017) and “Mr. Unlucky” in the August 7, 2017 issue of  Woman’s World. John also reports he is in the June –Sept issue of The Strand Magazine with his story “Crow Mountain.”

Kaye George, “The Darkest Hour” in the anthology, Day of the Dark: Stories of Eclipse, (Editor Kaye George) Wildside Press. (July 2017).

Debra H. Goldstein, “A Golden Eclipse” in the anthology, Day of the Dark: Stories of Eclipse, (Editor Kaye George) Wildside Press. (July 2017).

John Lindermuth, The Tithing Herd, Sundown Press (July 2017).

Paul D. Marks, “Blood Moon” in the anthology, Day of the Dark: Stories of Eclipse, (Editor Kaye George) Wildside Press. (July 2017).

LD Masterson, “Picture Perfect” in the anthology, Day of the Dark: Stories of Eclipse, (Editor Kaye George) Wildside Press. (July 2017) as well as “Deadly Dinner” in the anthology,  Noir at the Salad Bar: Culinary Tales With A Bite, Level Best Books (July 2017).

 

Alan Orloff, “Togas and Toques” in the anthology,  Noir at the Salad Bar: Culinary Tales With A Bite, Level Best Books (July 2017).

Mary Reed, writing as Eric Reed, Ruined Stones, Poisoned Pen Press (July 2017).

Jude Roy, “Santa is Dead” at Flash Bang Mysteries: Summer 2017 Issue (July 2017).

Jacqueline Seewald, “Morgan’s Mountain” in Hypnos: Volume 6: Issue 2: Summer 2017 (July 2017).

Judy Penz Sheluk, “The Cycopaths: Mystery Short Story” at Kings River Life Magazine (July 29, 2017).

Jennifer Soosar, “Gary Deserves Reward” at Flash Bang Mysteries: Summer 2017 Issue (July 2017).

Cynthia St-Pierre, “The Girl with the Mangled Breast” at Crimson Streets (July 23. 2017). 

Cheri Vause, “Black Monday” in the anthology, Day of the Dark: Stories of Eclipse, (Editor Kaye George) Wildside Press. (July 2017).