Sunday, May 31, 2020

Little Big Crimes Review: Honor Guard by Tom Barlow

Little Big Crimes: Honor Guard, by Tom Barlow: "Honor Guard," by Tom Barlow, in Columbus Noir,  edited by Andrew Welsh-Huggins, Akashic Press, 2020. The publisher sent me an...

A Short Walk Down A Dark Street: Issue 106


As posted by Peter DiChellis to our list…
This week’s blog applauds short mystery and crime fiction with links to a trouble-making troupe of reviews, releases, free reads, and more.
Includes: About a gazillion free reads from the short story archives of the Crime Readers’ Association, all written by members of the prestigious Crime Writers’ Association (which sponsors the CWA Dagger Awards).
Plus—Tricks of the Trade: Two essays for mystery writers on hiding clues. With two more from previous Short Walk posts.
And five reviews (count ‘em) by Short Mystery Fiction Society Prez Kevin Tipple.
A short walk down a dark street (#106). Celebrating short mystery and crime fiction.
Best wishes,
Peter

SleuthSayers: How It All Came Together by R.T. Lawton

SleuthSayers: How It All Came Together: At the time, I had eleven short stories in my Holiday Burglars series. That's my humor series, at least as far as I'm concerned. Al...

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

SMFS Member Publishing News: Christine Poulson


SMFS list member Christine Poulson’s short story, “Cold for May” appears online at the Crime Reader’s Association, a sister organization to the UK Crime Writers Association. The short story is free to read here.

SMFS Member Publishing News: John Weagly


SMFS list member John Weagly’s short story, “Something To Talk About” appears online at Every Day Fiction. The short story is free to read here.

Something Is Going To Happen: “Too Many Answers” (by Toni L.P. Kelner)

Something Is Going To Happen: “Too Many Answers” (by Toni L.P. Kelner)

SMFS Member Publishing News: Annie Reed


SMFS list member Annie Reed’s short story, “Blame It On The Ghosts” appears in the new anthology, The Year of the Cat: A Cat of a Different Color. Published by WMG Publishing, the book was edited by Kristine Kathryn Rusch and Dean Wesley Smith. Per the publisher, the print version is “coming soon” and the eBook is available at Amazon.

Synopsis:

In A Cat of a Different Color, the first volume of WMG’s The Year of the Cat series, editors Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch worked to find stories that featured cats that were just a little surprising (an impressive feat for cats, anyone would have to admit).

Just a little weird. A little different.

Which makes these stories amazingly fun to read. After all, for cat people, reading about cats equals the fun of being with one.

Almost. Just don’t tell the cats.

Includes:

“Familiar Territory: A Winston and Ruby Story” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
“The Conscientious Cat” by Agnes A. Sandham
“The Mouth that Walked” by Dean Wesley Smith
“Do Not Resuscitate” by Dory Crowe
“Myrtle’s Boxes” by Louisa Swann
“Ornamental Animals” by Ray Vukcevich
“Christmas, Interrupted” by Lisa Silverthorne
“Blame it on the Ghosts” by Annie Reed

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

SMFS Member Publication News: John M. Floyd


SMFS list member John M. Floyd has another mystery short story appearing in Woman’s World Magazine. His latest mystery short story, “The Real McCoy” is in the current issue (June 1, 2020) of  Woman’s World Magazine. The publication is available on some newsstands and by subscription.

Members are reminded that Mr. Floyd shared in his piece at SleuthSayers Blog how he goes about writing short stories for this market. Well worth reading, especially if you are looking to break into this market.

SleuthSayers: AloneStarCon by Michael Bracken

SleuthSayers: AloneStarCon: Though our friends are saddened by the cancellation of this year’s many mystery conferences and conventions, Temple and I spent Memorial Day...

The First Two Pages: “Rage Warehouse—Ire Proof” by Toni L.P. Kelner

The First Two Pages: “Rage Warehouse—Ire Proof” by Toni L.P. Kelner

Sunday, May 24, 2020

A Short Walk Down A Dark Street: Issue 105


News of the latest issue as posted by SMFS list member Peter DicChellis to our list….

This week’s blog cheers short mystery and crime fiction with links to deviously delightful reviews, releases, free reads, and more.
Includes: Three free-to-read Father Brown mysteries by G.K. Chesterton.
Plus, Tricks of the Trade—A Science-Fiction editor and author (who also writes occasional crime stories) offers a three-stage approach to revising stories before submitting them.
And reviews of a Joe R. Lansdale Hap and Leonard collection about the duo’s early years as well as two collections of classic Agatha Christie mystery stories.
A short walk down a dark street (#105). Celebrating short mystery and crime fiction.
Best wishes,
Peter


Little Big Crimes Review: All Big Men Are Dreamers by Mary Anna Evans

Little Big Crimes: All Big Men Are Dreamers, by Mary Anna Evans: "All Big Men Are Dreamers," by Mary Anna Evans, in The Faking of the President, edited by Peter Carlaftes, Three Rooms Press, 2...

Sunday, May 17, 2020

A Short Walk Down A Dark Street: Issue 104


As posted by Peter DiChellis to our list…

Looking for trouble? This week’s blog delivers plenty, with links to a wicked mix of reviews, releases, free reads, and more—all about short mystery and crime fiction.
Includes: Tricks of the Trade—One of the editors at All Due Respect riffs about writing short crime stories, with notes on characters, plot, action, and focus. (ADR is open for submissions too. Check out the details.)
Plus, Free-to-read crime stories from ADR and Tough.
As well as a bad-ass bunch of anthology reviews.
A short walk down a dark street (#104). Celebrating short mystery and crime fiction.
Best wishes,
Peter


Little Big Crimes Review: Borrowed Brains by Alaric Hunt

Little Big Crimes: Borrowed Brains, by Alaric Hunt: "Borrowed Brains," by Alaric Hunt, in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, May/June 2020. Funny thing: last month I was listening t...

Saturday, May 16, 2020

Killer Nashville: I Have Become the Timebound by Robert Mangeot

Killer Nashville: I Have Become the Timebound by Robert Mangeot

Mystery Fanfare: NOTES FROM THE GIMLET LOUNGE: Guest post by M.A. Monnin

Mystery Fanfare: NOTES FROM THE GIMLET LOUNGE: Guest post by M.A. M...: M.A. MONNIN: NOTES FROM THE GIMLET LOUNGE—MAY 2020  Music has a way of reaching deep into our hearts and souls. The mournful notes of t...

SMFS Member Publishing News: Gary Hoffman


Gary Hoffman was a member of the SMFS list up until his passing earlier this year. His short story,  “No Secret Ever Stays Hidden” appears today at Kings River Life Magazine. As noted by Lorie Ham on her KRL site, “Sadly Gary Hoffman passed away earlier this year, but his family asked if we would help them fulfill his goal of having 500 stories published so we will be publishing several of his stories over the next few months. This story has never before been published .”  

The story is free to read here.

Friday, May 15, 2020

SMFS Member Publishing News: Jacqueline Seewald


SMFS list member Jaqueline Seewald’s new book, Blood Family: A Kim Reynolds Mystery was published today by Encircle Publications. The book is her fifth mystery in the series. It is available at the publisher, Amazon, and other vendors. You can learn more about the new mystery and read a short excerpt from the first chapter at Jacqueline Seewald’s blog.


Publisher Synopsis:

In Jacqueline Seewald’s fifth Kim Reynolds Mystery, Kim, an academic librarian, is intent on locating her biological father, James Shaw. Unfortunately after finding him, he dies unexpectedly. It is up to Kim to connect with the family she has never known. In doing so, she discovers a half-sister who is in need of her help. Kim is concerned that Claire Shaw is being exploited, and Kim wants to help her however she can. Kim then learns that Claire’s stepmother also died under mysterious circumstances, and her stepbrother disappeared. Once Kim becomes involved, she quickly realizes her own life is now in danger. With Kim’s fiancé, Lieutenant Mike Gardner, Wilson Township homicide detective, investigating along with Sergeant Bert St. Croix, the race is on to catch a killer that is now intent on adding Kim to the list of deceased.

Thursday, May 14, 2020

SMFS Members Published in Shotgun Honey Presents Volume 4: RECOIL


Several SMFS list members are published in the recently released, Shotgun Honey Presents Volume 4: RECOIL. Edited by Ron Earl Phillips and published by Shotgun Honey, an imprint of Down & Out Books, the read is available in print and eBook from the publisher, Amazon, and other vendors. The SMFS members in the book are:


Rusty Barnes with “Tell The Man About Love.”

Sarah M. Chen with “Hotelin.”

Jen Conley with “Victory In The Spring, 1987.”



Synopsis:

In its fourth installment, Shotgun Honey presents twenty-three tales of crime that will hit so hard that the recoil will be felt long after the stories are done. With new and established authors from around the world, Shotgun Honey Presents Volume 4: RECOIL delivers stories that explore a darker side of remorse, revenge, circumstance, and humanity.

- "Tell the Man About Love" by Rusty Barnes
- "The Ghost Road" by Susan Benson
- "Hotelin'" by Sarah M. Chen
- "The Wrong Affair" by Kristie Claxton
- "Victory in the Spring, 1987" by Jen Conley
- "Avenues" by Brandon Daily
- "Noise" by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett
- "After the Bombs" by Hector Duarte Jr.
- "Missing Persons Day" by Danny Gardner
- "The Art of Negotiation" by Tia Ja'nae
- "Dirty Devil Dance" by Carmen Jaramillo
- "Beer Run" by Nick Kolakowski
- "Turner's Bar" by JJ Landry
- "Johnny Still Goes to Atlantic City" by Bethany Maines
- "Jericho" by Tess Makovesky
- "Detour" by Alexander Nachaj
- "Toothpaste" by David Nemeth

Monday, May 11, 2020

Sunday, May 10, 2020

A Short Walk Down A Dark Street: Issue 103


As posted by Peter DiChellis to our list…

Instead of flowers or chocolates, this week’s blog brings moms (and everyone else) links about short mystery and crime fiction: reviews, releases, free reads, and more.
Includes all the latest free-to-read flash fiction from Mystery Tribune.
Plus, Tricks of the Trade: A third generation cop offers real-world tips on avoiding glaring procedural mistakes in crime fiction.
And two fresh reviews from SMFS Prez Kevin Tipple, as well as reviews of over four-dozen Edward D. Hoch impossible crime shorts.
A short walk down a dark street (#103). Celebrating short mystery and crime fiction.
Best wishes,
Peter

Little Big Crimes Review: Noble Rot by Richard Helms

Little Big Crimes: Noble Rot, by Richard Helms: "Noble Rot," by Richard Helms, in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, May/June 2020. This is the fifth appearance in this slot by...

Saturday, May 9, 2020

SleuthSayers: You Know More Than You Think You Do by Jan Christensen

SleuthSayers: You Know More Than You Think You Do: Pixabay I’m taking a break from the Coronavirus news and trying to write more than I usually do every day. I live in Corpus Christi, Tex...

Lesa's Book Critiques: Art Taylor, Guest Author, On Writing What You Know

Lesa's Book Critiques: Art Taylor, Guest Author, On Writing What You Know

SMFS Member Publishing News: Steve Shrott


SMFS list member Steve Shrott’s short story, “Paying Your Dues” appears in the Mystery Weekly Magazine: May 2020 issue. The issue is available at the publisher as well as in print and eBook formats at Amazon.

SMFS Member Publishing News: Bruce Harris


The recently released Flash Bang Mysteries: Spring 2020 (Issue19) features SMFS list member Bruce Harris with his short story “Sweet Spot.” His tale is the “Editor’s Choice” for the issue.

Friday, May 8, 2020

Mystery Fanfare: Closing the Great Divide: When Journalism and Mystery Writing Meet: Guest Post by Andrew Welsh-Huggins

Mystery Fanfare: Closing the Great Divide: When Journalism and Myst...: Andrew Welsh-Huggins: Closing The Great Divide: When Journalism And Mystery Writing Meet One of the most frequent questions I receiv...

Criminal Minds: Butcher, Baker, Troublemaker by Paul D. Marks

Criminal Minds: Butcher, Baker, Troublemaker: Most of us - most writers everywhere - do something else first, or do something else alongside. What bits of your other career(s) have you f...

Jacqueline Seewald: How to Create a Strong Narrative Hook

Jacqueline Seewald: How to Create a Strong Narrative Hook: Spring is a time for creation, of coming alive again. And so it is for authors. Every writer knows that a narrative hook is needed in any...

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Sunday, May 3, 2020

Little Big Crimes Review: Dirty Laundry by Michael Bracken

Little Big Crimes: Dirty Laundry, by Michael Bracken: "Dirty Laundry," by Michael Bracken, in Tough, April 20, 2020. This is the sixth appearance here by my friend and fellow Sle...

A Short Walk Down A Dark Street: Issue 102


As posted by SMFS list member Peter DiChellis:
This week’s blog is dodging a home internet outage to juice short mystery and crime fiction with links to reviews, releases, free reads, and more.

Includes: Four free-to-read stories in the new issue of Flash Bang Mysteries.
Plus, Tricks of the Trade: Hank Phillippi Ryan on making every word count.
And one of this week's reviews covers a new collection of six Don Winslow novellas.
A short walk down a dark street (#102). Celebrating short mystery and crime fiction.
Best wishes,
Peter

John M. Floyd accepts his 2020 Best Short Story Derringer Award

2019 Agatha Award SMFS Winners


Established in 1989, Malice Domestic™ is an annual fan convention in the metropolitan Washington D.C. area that celebrates the traditional mystery, best typified by the works of Agatha Christie, containing no explicit sex, excessive gore, or violence. With the cancellation of Malice Domestic this year due to the pandemic, the awards were presented last night virtually by way of zoom.

Two SMFS list members were honored with Agatha Awards last night. The members are:


Tara Laskowski won an Agatha Award for the “Best First Mystery Novel” category for her book, for One Night Gone (Graydon House).


Edith Maxwell won an Agatha Award in the “Best Historical Novel” category for Charity’s Burden: A Quaker Midwife Mystery (Midnight Ink).


SMFS salutes our list members on this honor.  The winners this year will be honored next year at the planned in person event. Those details and more can be found at the can be found at the Malice Domestic website.

Friday, May 1, 2020

Josh Pachter accepts his 2020 Derringer Awards

SMFS Official Announcement: 2020 Derringer Award Winners


Since 1998, the Short Mystery Fiction Society has awarded the annual Derringers—after the popular pocket pistol—to outstanding published stories. The awards recognize outstanding stories published during 2020. 

As posted late last night to our list by 2020 Derringer Awards Coordinator Tony Rudzki, these are the official 2020 Derringer Award Winners: 



FLASH (ranges up to 1,000 words)

Josh Pachter,  The Two-Body Problem, Mystery Weekly Magazine: October 2019


SHORT (ranges from 1,0001 to 4,000 words)

John Floyd, On the Road with Mary Jo, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine: Jan/February 2019


LONG (ranges from 4,001 to 8,000 words)


Sandra Murphy, Lucy’s Tree, The Eyes of Texas: Private Eyes from the Panhandle to the Piney Woods  Editor Michael Bracken



NOVELETTE (ranges from 8,001 to 20,000 words)

Brendan Dubois ,with His Sister’s Secrets, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine: July/August   2019

  
The full list of the finalist for this year, as posted by the Derringer Coordinator, can be found here. 



The Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement is annually awarded to an outstanding living writer of short mysteries, selected by a five-member panel of the SMFS President, Vice President, and Awards Coordinator, and two regular members. This year's recipient:

Josh Pachter

As Bouchercon in Sacramento this fall has been cancelled, it is unknown at this time that there will be a virtual presentation made. Scheduling remains very fluid. Winners are able to receive their medals by mail.