Saturday, August 31, 2019

SMFS Short Story Saturdays: Maddie Davidson


Each Saturday, we feature a SMFS list member whose work can be read online for free. These short stories are at least a year old.  

For SMFS Short Story Saturdays today, list member Maddie Davidson, shares the May 2017 published short story, “Gold Rush To Judgement” archived at The Copperfield Review.

If you would like to be included and are a member of the SMFS list at yahoo groups, email the link to your story to KevinRTipple at Verizon dot net. If you are not a member, this would be a good time to check us out at Yahoo Groups.

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

The First Two Pages: “Never Have I Ever” by Anna Scotti

The First Two Pages: “Never Have I Ever” by Anna Scotti

SleuthSayers: Expanding Our Universe by Michael Bracken

SleuthSayers: Expanding Our Universe: By Michael Bracken I recently attended an event in which a speaker attempted to encourage inclusiveness, letting attendees know how wel...

Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots: An Author’s Inspiration By J.R. Lindermuth.

Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots: #HistoricalFiction author, J.R. Lindermuth, is tal...: An Author’s Inspiration By J.R. Lindermuth I believe writers are influenced by the places they live and the peop...

Monday, August 26, 2019

SMFS Member Podcast: Peter DiChellis


SMFS list member Peter DiChellis’ short story, “Murderous Lies” is  currently the subject of Mysteryrat’s Maze Podcast. Actor Rene A. Ponce reads the tale.

Podcast Synopsis:

This episode features the mystery short story, Murderous Lies by Peter DiChellis, read by local actor Rene A. Ponce. You can learn more about Peter DiChellis and his writing on his website shortwalkdarkstreet.wordpress.com. In each episode we share with you mystery short stories and mystery novel first chapters read by actors from the San Joaquin Valley. If you enjoyed this episode please review or rate it as that helps more people be able to find us! Also, consider subscribing so you never miss an episode. You can find more mystery fun on our websites Kings River Life Magazine and KRL News and Reviews.

Little Big Crimes Review: The Surrogate Initiative by Brian Cox

Little Big Crimes: The Surrogate Initiative, by Brian Cox: "The Surrogate Initiative," by Brian Cox, in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, September/October 2019. One of the many...

Sunday, August 25, 2019

A Short Walk Down A Dark Street: Issue 67


As posted by SMFS list member Peter DiChellis….
This week’s blog pours it on with links to a straight shot of reviews, releases, free reads, and more.
Includes: reviews of Kingston Noir and Tough 2: Crime Stories.
Plus: author and editor Tara Laskowski on writing killer flash fiction (guest post on EQMM blog).
A short walk down a dark street (#67). Celebrating short mystery and crime fiction.
Best wishes,
Peter

SleuthSayers: My Small Business Plan by R. T. Lawton

SleuthSayers: My Small Business Plan: by R.T. Lawton I'm not getting rich from my writing sales, so I'm grateful I don't have to rely on writing for my main in...

Saturday, August 24, 2019

The Ladies of Mystery: Writing the Whole Person by Susan Oleksiw

The Ladies of Mystery:  Writing the Whole Person by Susan Oleksiw

SMFS Short Story Saturdays: Jan Christensen


Each Saturday, we feature a SMFS list member whose work can be read online for free. These short stories are at least a year old.  

For SMFS Short Story Saturdays today, list member Jan Christensen shares the January 2000 published short story, “Why I Quit Jogging” archived at Mysterical-e.

If you would like to be included and are a member of the SMFS list at yahoo groups, email the link to your story to KevinRTipple at Verizon dot net. If you are not a member, this would be a good time to check us out at Yahoo Groups.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

SleuthSayers: Made in the Decade by Robert Lopresti

SleuthSayers: Made in the Decade: by Robert Lopresti Back in January, when I produced my yearly thing I wrote: "I was somewhat surprised to discover that this is ...

SMFS Member Publication News: Judy Penz Sheluk


SMFS list member Judy Penz Sheluk’s new book, A Fool’s Journey: A Marketville Mystery, published today by Superior Shores Press.  The mystery is available in print and digital formats from Amazon and other vendors.

Synopsis:
In March 2000, twenty-year-old Brandon Colbeck left home to find himself on a self-proclaimed "fool's journey." No one--not friends or family--have seen or heard from him since, until a phone call from a man claiming to be Brandon brings the case back to the forefront. Calamity (Callie) Barnstable and her team at Past & Present Investigations have been hired to find out what happened to Brandon and where he might be. As Callie follows a trail of buried secrets and decades-old deceptions only one thing is certain: whatever the outcome, there is no such thing as closure.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

A Short Walk Down A Dark Street: Issue 66


As posted by Peter DiChellis to our list…
Got time for a quick one? This week’s blog will treat you right, with links to a dangerous dose of reviews, releases, free reads, and more.
Includes: a collection by Evan Hunter (aka Ed McBain). Limited availability.
Plus: author and editor Richard Thomas considers different ways neo-noir films can inspire storytelling.
A short walk down a dark street (#66). Celebrating short mystery and crime fiction.
Best wishes,
Peter


SMFS Members Published in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine: September/ October 2019


Several SMFS members are published in the Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine: September/ October 2019 issue. The issue is available from Dell Magazines as well as at Amazon and newsstands and bookstores. The SMFS members published in this issue are:


Mysti Berry with “Yorkshire Ripper.”

Eve Fisher with "The Seven-Day Itch."

David Hagerty with “Drinks at the El Navajo.”

Angela Zeman with “The Second Tale of Roxanne.”


TOC:
September/October 2019
FICTION
THE SEVEN-DAY ITCH by Eve Fisher
THE SURROGATE INITIATIVE by Brian Cox
YORKSHIRE RIPPER by Mysti Berry
DRINKS AT THE EL NAVAJO by David Hagerty
NOT MY CIRCUS, BUT THEY ARE MY MONKEYS by Emily Devenport
NIALL NELSON IS ON MY FLIGHT by Jim Fusilli
INCIDENT AT WIDOW’S PERCH by Tom Mead
THE ISLAND by Janice Law
DEAD MAN’S HAND by Michael Steele Valade
EDDY GETS HIS by Meredith Anthony
THE SECOND TALE OF ROXANNE by Angela Zeman
ALIENTO DEL DIABLO by Tom Larsen
MYSTERY CLASSIC
THE GARDEN OF SMOKE by G. K. Chesterton
Selected and introduced by Marvin Lachman
DEPARTMENTS
THE LINEUP
SCRAMBLED HIGHSMITH Anagram puzzle by Mark Lagasse
MYSTERIOUS PHOTOGRAPH
BOOKED & PRINTED by Laurel Flores Fantauzzo
DYING WORDS Acrostic puzzle by Arlene Fisher
THE STORY THAT WON
SOLUTION to Dying Words




SMFS Members Published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine: September/October 2019


Several SMFS members are published in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine: September/October 2019 issue. The issue is available from Dell Magazines as well as at Amazon and other vendors. The SMFS members published in this issue are:

David Dean with “The Squatter.”

Anne van Doorn with “The Poet Who Locked Himself In” located in the “Passport to Crime” department. Translated by fellow SMFS list member Josh Pachter.

Kevin Egan with “The Visit.”

William Burton McCormick with “The Dunes of Saulkrasti.”

O’Neil De Noux with “Sac-a-lait Man.”

Josh Pachter with “The Secret Lagoon.” Mr. Pachter also translated “The Poet Who Locked Himself In” by fellow SMFS list member, Anne van Doorn. That story is located in the “Passport to Crime” department.

Anna Scotti with the novella, “Never Have I Ever.”

Stacy Woodson with “The Retirement Plan.”

Dave Zeltserman with “Julius Katz and the Belvedere Club.”



TOC:
September/October 2019
FICTION
Torero BY JOHN F. DOBBYN
The Dunes of Saulkrasti BY WILLIAM BURTON MCCORMICK
You Can Scream in the Everglades BY WILLIAM HALLSTEAD
The Retirement Plan BY STACY WOODSON
The Visit BY KEVIN EGAN
Dog Tired BY CATH STAINCLIFFE
Sac-a-lait Man BY O’NEIL DE NOUX
Lies and Other Truths BY ROBERT S. LEVINSON
Red Mist BY PETER TURNBULL
The Squatter BY DAVID DEAN
The Secret Lagoon BY JOSH PACHTER
School of Hard Rocks BY MARILYN TODD
Frontier Days BY BILL PIPPIN
Do It Yourself BY BILL PRONZINI
Julius Katz and the Belvedere Club BY DAVE ZELTSERMAN
Never Have I Ever BY ANNA SCOTTI
Figs BY JAMES SALLIS
DEPARTMENT OF FIRST STORIES
Bare Ruined Choirs BY WEBSTER FORD
When Will I Ever Use This? BY TIM BURKE
PASSPORT TO CRIME
The Poet Who Locked Himself In BY ANNE VAN DOORN
BLACK MASK
Second Cousins BY MICHAEL CEBULA 
SPECIAL FEATURE
On the Road With Manfred B. Lee BY JOSEPH GOODRICH
REVIEWS
Blog Bytes BY KRISTOPHER ZGORSKI
The Jury Box BY STEVE STEINBOCK
Stranger Than Fiction BY DEAN JOBB: PREVIEW

SMFS Member Publication News: O'Neil De Noux


SMFS Member O'Neil De Noux’s latest book, 12 Bullets: John Raven Beau New Orleans Police Series Book 5 is now out. Published by Big Kiss Productions, the read is available in print and digital formats at Amazon.

Amazon Synopsis:

Fifth novel in the John Raven Beau New Orleans Police Series.

Someone using the moniker of a murdered Mafia figure is trying to extort money from the archdiocese of New Orleans. The archbishop worries La Cosa Nostra could be behind the vandalisms of churches and Catholic schools. NOPD Chief Inspector John Raven Beau thinks this unlikely and leads his Critical Investigations Unit in pursuit of the extortionist. If LCN is not involved why are Italian gangsters shadowing Beau and girlfriend Jessie Carini, a former private eye, now a bank executive who uncovers suspicious banking activity between Mafia families in New Orleans, Kansas City, Miami and Mississippi, which includes the Mafia Aphrodite herself, deadly-gorgeous Lucy Incanto?

Extortion is just the beginning as heavily-armed men try to assassinate The Great Beau and Jessie, who has a moniker of her own – Maneater. This Sicilian-American beauty is as lethal as her boyfriend.

Previous novels in the John Raven Beau New Orleans Police Series:
JOHN RAVEN BEAU
CITY OF SECRETS
NUDE IN RED
THE GREAT BEAU

Also John Raven Beau short story collection NEW ORLEANS NOCTURNAL

SMFS Members Published in Tough 2: Crime Stories


Several SMFS members have been published in the just released anthology, TOUGH 2: Crime Stories. Currently it is only available in print from  Amazon. The SMFS members in the anthology are:


Michael Bracken with  “Itsy Bitsy Spider.”

Alec Cizak with “The Bag Girl.”

Nick Kolakowski with “Viking Funeral.”

Chris McGinley with “With Hair Blacker Than Coal.”

Thomas Pluck with “The Third Jump of Frankie Buffalo.”

C. A. Rowland with “Beach Body.”

Andrew Welsh-Huggins with “Long Drive Home.”


Amazon Synopsis:

Tough 2 is an anthology of short stories authored by Michael Bracken, Alec Cizak, S.A. Cosby, Evelyn DeShane, Tia J'anae, Nick Kolakowski, Preston Lang, Matt Mattilla, Chris McGinley, Thomas Pluck, C.A. Rowland, Rob McClure Smith, William R. Soldan, Mary Thorson, Andrew Welsh-Huggins and edited by Rusty Barnes

TOC Cover Picture Supplied By Rusty Barnes

SMFS Members Published in Snot-Nosed Aliens


Several SMFS members are published in the recently released anthology, Snot-Nosed Aliens. Published by WMG Publishing, the read is available in print and digital formats from Amazon, the publisher, and other vendors. The members in the issue are:

Dayle A. Dermatis with “Pepper Pretorious Saves the Day.”

David H. Hendrickson with “Two-Minute Drill.”

Annie Reed with “Blue-Eyed Bombshell.”


Publisher Synopsis:
When you ask a bunch of professional writers to send in stories to a Pulphouse Fiction Magazine anthology called Snot-Nosed Aliens, you get a bunch of really, really strange stories. Perfect.
Known for high-quality fiction and off-the-wall stories, Pulphouse Fiction Magazine’s first fully original anthology delivers both. Head-shaking laughter, biting themes, and more out-of-this-world aliens than should be allowed.
Thirteen professional writers. Thirteen wonderful stories. An original anthology impossible to put down.
Includes:
“The Problematic Navigation of the Vessel Clayton Booker” by J. Steven York
“Blue-Eyed Bombshell “ by Annie Reed
“Pepper Pretorious Saves the Day” by Dayle A. Dermatis
“Hero of Fire Life” by Michael Warren Lucas
“Bushtits Gone Wild” by Stephanie Writt
“Dog People” by Robert J. McCarter
“Magnitude and Insignificance” by Rob Vagle
“Let the Families Be Joined” by Joe Cron
“Knock Knock Power” by Johanna Rothman
“Ilene’s Box” by Alexandra Brandt
“The Goddess Particle “ by Dæmon Crowe
“Two-Minute Drill” by David H. Hendrickson
“Power Chords” by Brigid Collins

SMFS Members Published in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine: Issue 7


Several SMFS members are published in the recently released Pulphouse Fiction Magazine: Issue 7. Published by WMG Publishing, the read is available in print and digital formats from Amazon, the publisher, and other vendors. The members in the issue are:

Dayle A. Dermatis with “Accidental Losses.”

David H. Hendrickson with “A Pathetic Excuse For A Dragon.”

Robert Jeschonek with “A Choose Your Own Fangle Adventure.”

O’Neil De Noux with “A Good Shooting.

Annie Reed with “Another Door.”

C. A. Rowland with “Maddie Sue’s Locket.”


Publisher Synopsis:
The Cutting Edge of Modern Short Fiction
A three-time Hugo Award nominated magazine, this issue of Pulphouse Fiction Magazine offers up eighteen fantastic stories by some of the best writers working in modern short fiction. No genre limitations, no topic limitations, just great stories. Attitude, feel, and high quality fiction equals Pulphouse.
“This is definitely a strong start. All the stories have a lot of life to them, and are worthwhile reading.”—Tangent Online on Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, Issue #1
Includes
“Small Discrete Intervals from a Sample Size of One” by J. Steven York
“Daisy’s Heart” by Robert J. McCarter
“Dogmatic Computing” by Kent Patterson
“Suicide by UFO” by Jerry Oltion
“Another Door” by Annie Reed
“Introducing Alligators” by Preston Dennett
“The Mouse Is Watching” by S. Andrew Swann
“Dreams Of Memories Never Lived” by Rob Vagle
“A Pathetic Excuse for a Dragon” by David H. Hendrickson
“Moulin Rouge” by Jason A. Adams
“Maddie Sue’s Locket” by C.A. Rowland
“Rough Draft” by Kevin J. Anderson (written with Rebecca Moesta)
“A Good Shooting” by O’Neil De Noux
“Good Fences Make Good Neighbors” by Teri J. Babcock
“Lost Book” by Ryan M. Williams
“Acceptable Losses” by Dayle A. Dermatis
“A Choose Your Own Fangle Adventure” by Robert Jeschonek
“Say Hello to my Little Friend” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
“Minions at work: White Space” by J. Steven York.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

SMFS Short Stories Saturday: John Weagly


Each Saturday, we feature a SMFS list member whose work can be read online for free. These short stories are at least a year old.  

For SMFS Short Story Saturdays today, list member John Weagly shares the 2015 published short story, “Trash Pick Up” archived at Near to the Knuckle.

If you would like to be included and are a member of the SMFS list at yahoo groups, email the link to your story to KevinRTipple at Verizon dot net. If you are not a member, this would be a good time to check us out at Yahoo Groups.

Sunday, August 11, 2019

A Short Walk Down A Dark Street: Issue 65


As posted by Peter DiChellis to our list…
Wanna little fun? This week’s blog stirs it up, with links to a wicked mix of reviews, releases, a big-time free read, and more.
Includes: a free Jack Reacher story from Lee Child.
Plus: short story writing tips from Kurt Vonnegut.
A short walk down a dark street (#65). Celebrating short mystery and crime fiction.
Best wishes,
Peter

SMFS Member Award News: Chelle Martin


SMFS list member Chelle Martin has informed the list that she won second place in the 2019 WPA Golden Donut Short Story Contest where each story must be exactly 200 words. Her story, “The Fallout” as well as the other winning stories can be found here.

Saturday, August 10, 2019

SMFS Short Stories Saturday: Lisa de Nikolits


Each Saturday, we feature a SMFS list member whose work can be read online for free. These short stories are at least a year old.  

For SMFS Short Story Saturdays today, list member Lisa de Nikolits shares two short stories from 2014. “Henry And Hannah” and “The Love Triangle” are both archived at Maudlin House.

If you would like to be included and are a member of the SMFS list at yahoo groups, email the link to your story to KevinRTipple at Verizon dot net. If you are not a member, this would be a good time to check us out at Yahoo Groups.

Thursday, August 8, 2019

Judy Penz Sheluk: When Things Go South When You’re North: The End of Barking Rain Press

Judy Penz Sheluk: When Things Go South When You’re North: The End of Barking Rain Press

SMFS Member Publishing News: Debra Goldstein


SMFS list member Debra Goldstein sends word that her book, Should Have Played Poker, originally published in April 2019, was released on August 6, 2019, in a mass market paperback edition from Harlequin Worldwide Mystery.

HWM Synopsis:

A Fatal Discard

Carrie Martin hasn’t seen her mother in twenty-six years—not since her mom abandoned the family and disappeared. Then she walks into Carrie’s law office, gives Carrie a sealed envelope and makes a shocking confession. Before opening the envelope, Carrie heads to the Sunshine Village retirement home to ask her father about her past. But when she arrives, she finds her mother murdered and another resident—the woman who helped raise her—seriously injured.

Instructed to leave the sleuthing to the police, Carrie continues pursuing why someone would target the two most important women in her life, which quickly puts her at odds with her former lover—the detective assigned to her mother’s case. As Carrie and her cosleuths, the Sunshine Village Mah jongg players, attempt to unravel the secrets of Wahoo, Alabama, their efforts put Carrie in danger and show her that truth and integrity aren’t always what she was taught to believe.