Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Publication News: Mini-Mysteries

 


Woman's World
has published a second collection of Mini-Mysteries.  It features:

John M. Floyd. "Special Delivery," "Suzy's Little Clues," "Punch and Judy," and "A Sterling Theft."

Stacy Woodson. "Don't Metal with a Good Thing."

Member Publication News. C.A. Verstraete

 


C.A. Verstraete's story "Sweet Dreams" appears in the Spring issue of The Colored Lens.

Sunday, March 27, 2022

Member Publication News: Jacqueline Seewald

 


Jacqueline Seewald's story "Dark Matter" was published today at White Cat.  Read it here for free.

Friday, March 25, 2022

Publication News: JOURN-E


The first issue of JOURN-E is out and includes:

Brandon Barrow.  "All's Fair."

Vicki Weisfeld. "Old Man of the Mountain."

Member Publication News: Scott Von Doviak


 Scott Von Doviak's story "Dear Mr. Rockford" was published today by the Saturday Evening Post.  Read it for free here.

 


Thursday, March 24, 2022

Publication News: Mystery Readers' Journal


"New England Mysteries"
is volume 38, issue 1 of Mystery Readers' Journal.  Among the essays featured are:

Kathleen Maple Kalb.  "It's a Very Small State."

Edith Maxwell / Maddie Day. "Why New England?"

Eugenia Parrish. "The Desert or the Deep Dark Woods?"

CJ Verburg. "The Mysterious Magic of [New] England."

Bev Vincent. "New England Adjacent."

Tuesday, March 22, 2022

Left Coast Crime: The Short Mystery Fiction Society will be there


 Many members of the Short Mystery Fiction Society will be on panels or otherwise engaging at Left Coast Crime, coming up in Albuquerque, this April 7-10.  This is a list of events involving members.  There will likely be changes, so please check back here.

PANELS

THURSDAY, 1:15-2:00. I Am What I Write: Real Life as Fiction.  Ellen Kirschman.

THURSDAY, 1:15-2:00. Writing Police Procedurals: Just the Facts or Just the Clichés?  James L'Etoile (Moderator) Frank Zafiro.

THURSDAY, 2:30-3:15. Amateur Hour: When Bad **** Finds Your Protagonist.  Peggy Rothschild.

THURSDAY, 3:45-4:30. Celebrating the Short Story. Mysti Berry, Conda V. Douglas (moderator),  James D.F. Hannah, Robert Lopresti.

THURSDAY, 3:45-4:30. Jewish Noir. Ellen, Kirschman, Jeff Markowitz, 

THURSDAY, 3:45-4:30. The Liars' Panel. Ellen Byron/Maria DiRico.

THURSDAY, 3:45-4:30. Why we Love Amateur Sleuths. Gigi Pandian.

FRIDAY, 10:15-11:00. How Cozy is Cozy? Colin Conway. 

FRIDAY, 10:15-11:00. Weaving Political and Social Themes into Mysteries. Terry Shames, Clea Simon.

FRIDAY, 11:30-12:15. Multimedia Murder: Escape From the Page. CJ Verburg.

FRIDAY, 11:30-12:15. Thrillers. David Heska Wanbli Weiden.

FRIDAY, 1:30-2:15. Lefty Humorous Nominees. Ellen Byron/Maria DiRico, Cynthia Kuhn, Raquel V. Reyes.

FRIDAY, 1:30-2:15. Where to Start: Plot? Characters? Setting? Coffee? Mark Stevens (moderator).

FRIDAY, 1:30-2:15. Murder All Over the Map. Gigi Pandian.

FRIDAY, 1:30-2:15. Scene-Stealing Secondary Characters. Greg Herren, Robert Lopresti (moderator).

FRIDAY, 2:45-3:30. Writing Characters Who Aren't Like Me. Clea Simon, Matt Witten.

FRIDAY, 2:45-3:30. Let's Keep it Short (Fiction): Cozies to Noir. Madeleine Harris-Callway, Gay Tolti Kinman, Lisa Q. Mathews (moderator).

FRIDAY, 2:45-3:30. Crime in Rural Settings. Susan Alice Bickford, Travis Richardson.

FRIDAY, 4:00-4:45. Small Town Crime. Leslie Budewitz/Alicia Beckman, Terry Shames.

SATURDAY, 10:15-11:00. Cozy Mysteries: Murder, Mayhem, & a Cup of Tea. Margaret Callison Morse.

SATURDAY, 11:30-12:15. When Less is More: Short Stories. Kim Keeline, G.M. Malliet, Gerald Martin, Raquel V. Reyes.

SATURDAY, 11:30-12:15. The Contradiction of Humor and Crime: How do you Know What's Funny? Cynthia Kuhn.

SATURDAY, 1:30-2:15. Importance of Family. David Heska Wanbli Weiden, Mary Keliikoa.

SATURDAY, 1:30-2:15. Creating Memorable Characters. Curtis Ippolito.

SATURDAY, 1:30-2:15. What's Noir Got to do With it? Andrew Bourelle, Madeleine Harris-Callway.

SATURDAY, 2:45-3:30. Graphic but not Gratuitous: Getting Police Procedurals Right.  Michelle Chouinard (moderator), James L'Etoile.

SATURDAY, 2:45-3:30. No Skirting the Issue: Female Protagonists in Historical Mysteries. Ann Parker.

SATURDAY, 4:00-4:45. Location as Character: The Importance of Setting. Jeff Markowitz, Laurie Rockenbeck (moderator).

SATURDAY, 4:00-4:45. Legal Themes. Leslie Budewitz, Margaret Callison Morse.

SUNDAY, 9:00-9:45. Art Crime: Sleuths and the World of Art and Artifacts. Margaret Lucke, M.A. Monnin, Nina Wachsman (moderator).

SUNDAY, 9:00-9:45. This Isn't Cabot Cove: Setting and the Small-Town Series.  Peggy Rothschild. 


LEFTY AWARDS BANQUET

Leslie Budewitz will be hosting a table with Kelly Garrett.

Michelle Chouinard and Ellen Kirschman will be hosting a table.

Colin Conway and Frank Zafiro will be hosting a table.

Conda V. Douglas will host a table with Kathy McIntosh. 

Cynthia Kuhn and Lisa Q. Mathews will be hosting a table with Becky Clark.

Robert Lopresti will be hosting a table with S.J. Rozan. 

 David Heska Wanbli Weiden will be hosting a table with Daisy Bateman.

 

OTHER EVENTS FEATURING SMFS MEMBERS:

All of these events are free.

WEDNESDAY to SATURDAY, Murderous Visions: The Interactive Murder Game.  Kim Keeline will be running this event. To learn more look for the table in the lobby near the conference rooms, the clues left throughout the event, or the Facebook page for the victim that is currently running.  A murder will be committed Wednesday night and you need to solve it by Saturday afternoon to be eligible for the grand prize.

THURSDAY, 11:00-11:45. Culinary Cozy Chat with Raquel V. Reyes and Mia P. Manansala. SOLD OUT.  at Humble Coffee. Coffee & a baked good on the authors.  Let’s meet by the LCC registration desk at 11:00 AM and walk to the 505 Food Hall together. http://rvreyes.com/

FRIDAY, 12:30-1:15 PM. Meet the Cop Doc with Ellen Kirschman. These past two years have been difficult for cops and their families: let's talk about how they are coping and what needs to change. Grab a go-to lunch, we'll sit and talk things over. You'll get a free book and some other cool stuff. Eight attendees. Let’s meet by the LCC registration desk at 12:30 pm. http://www.ellenkirschman.com

FRIDAY, 5–6 p.m.  On the Lam with the Grifters. This is no con—join Frank Zafiro, author and creator of the Grifter's Song series, along with fellow Grifter authors Holly West and Colin Conway for Happy Hour at one of Albuquerque's most popular bars, Sister (407 Central Ave.). The first drink is on us! (Plus swag). If you'd like to walk with us about two blocks to the bar, we'll meet at 4:45 at the LCC registration desk. Otherwise, meet us at the location at 5! We look forward to seeing you.  Co-sponsored by Down & Out Books.  http://www.frankzafiro.com/  https://colinconway.com/ 

FRIDAY, 5:00-6:00 PM. Murder & Magic Lovers. Meet four authors incorporating murder and/or magic in their books. Sandy Wright will give tarot card readings; Wendy Fallon will be sketching forensic art; Margaret Morse and Laurie Fagen will be taking digital photos with a witch's hat and a skeleton, and will email them to the twelve attendees.Grab your own beverage of choice and meet us for some fun in the Atrium seating area, right outside the HQue bar. Look for the red and black witch's hat.

FRIDAY, 8:45 PM. Sip and Sweets with Chicks on the Case. SOLD OUT. Six readers are invited to join Chicks on the Case bloggers Ellen Byron, Cynthia Kuhn, Lisa Q. Mathews, Jennifer J. Chow, Becky Clark, and Leslie Karst, for a wine and treats nightcap. Meet at 8:45 p.m. Friday evening in the hotel lobby.  Chicks on the Case

SATURDAY, 8:15-9:00 AM. Morning Mini Donuts.  Four readers are invited join Ellen Byron and Leslie Karst for a short stroll to nearby Yummy’s Mini Donuts and Ice Cream, where the authors will treat their guests to a round of delicious mini donuts. Meet at 8:15 a.m. Saturday morning in the hotel lobby.

 SUNDAY, 10:00-11:15 AM. Coffee. Award-winning author and recovering librarian Robert Lopresti will buy coffee for four attendees. Let’s talk about books, writing, or caffeine. Meet in the hotel lobby at 10:00 AM.  We will walk to a nearby coffee shop or bakery.  http://www.roblopresti.com

 


Member Publication News: Rebecca K. Jones

 


Today marks the publication of Rebecca K. Jones' novel Steadying the Ark from Bella Books.

Monday, March 21, 2022

Member Publication News: Shari Held


 Shari Held's story "The Ageless Art of Dating" appears in The Dating Game, out this month from Red Penguin.

Member Publication News: Cate Moyle


Today Mystery Tribune published Cate Moyle's flash story "Prologue to a Cheap Saute."  Read it for free here.

Saturday, March 19, 2022

Thursday, March 17, 2022

Publication News: Crimeucopia


Crimeucopia
has published a new issue, Say What Now? It includes:

N. M. Cedeño. "Reaching for the Moon.

Eve Fisher. "Nude With Snow Geese."

John M. Floyd. "The Jumper."


Publication News: Chilling Crime

 Flame Tree Publishing has just published
Chilling Crime Short Stories. 
Among the new stories included are:

Jesse Bethea. "The Peculiar Affliction of Allison White."

Michael Penncavage. "The Walker."

Member Publication News: C.W. Blackwell


This week Dead Fern Press published C.W. Blackwell's collection of crime/noir poetry, River Street Rhapsody. 

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Award Nominations: Specsavers Debut Crime Novel Award


CrimeFest has announced the nominees for the awards that will be given out at the conference in Bristol, England in May.

Winter Counts, by David Heska Wanbli Weiden, is a finalist for the Specsavers Debut Crime Novel Award.

Sunday, March 13, 2022

Publication News: Indelible


 Issue #6 of Indelible is out and it features:

Vinnie Hansen. "World Civilization."

Joan Leotta. "One Escaped" and other poems.

Josh Pachter. "Paramus is Burning."

Saturday, March 12, 2022

Publication News: Fiction River


The new edition of Fiction River, Broken Dreams, contains:

David H. Hendrickson. "Broken Stick."

Annie Reed. "Lives Wrapped in Brown Paper and Tied with Yarn."

Award Announcement: Spur Award

 


The Western Writers of America have announced the Spur Awards for 2022. David Heska Wanbli Weiden won the Short Fiction Award for "Skin," published in Midnight Hour: A Chilling Anthology of Crime Fiction from 20 Authors of Color."  Leslie Budewitz was a runner-up for "Coming Clean," which appeared in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, January/February 2021.

Friday, March 11, 2022

Publication News: Pulphouse Fiction


Issue #16 of of Pulphouse Fiction Magazine is available and features:

“Just a Old Lady,” by O’Neil De Noux

 “The Constipated Author, the Sphincter, and the Holy Shit,” by David H. Hendrickson