SMFS Members Published in Crimes Against Nature: New Stories of Environmental Villainy

Today is publication day for the anthology, Crimes Against Nature: New Stories of Environmental Villainy. Edited by SMFS list member Robert Lopresti, the book is published by Down and Out Books. The read is available at Amazon and other vendors. The SMFS list members that reported their presence in the book are:

 

Michael Bracken with “Stinkwater Lake.”

 

Susan Breen with “Eruptions.”

 

Sarah M. Chen with “The Gift.”

 

Barb Goffman with “Gone to Pot.”

 

Karen Harrington with “Todd's Fault.”

 

R.T. Lawton with “Lenny and the Lab.”

 

Robert Lopresti with “The Trouble With Saving The World.”

 

Josh Pachter with “Heavenly Bamboo.”

 

Gary Phillips with “Scrap Heap.”

 

Description

The way we treat the world is a crime—fifteen of them, in fact. Some of the best and most honored mystery writers today have written new stories for this book dealing with environmental issues including pollution, wildfire, invasive species, climate change, recycling, and many more.

Authors include Michael Bracken, Susan Breen, Sarah M. Chen, Barb Goffman, Karen Harrington, Janice Law, R.T. Lawton, Robert Lopresti, Jon McGoran, Josh Pachter, Gary Phillips, S.J. Rozan, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Mark Stevens, and David Heska Wanbli Weiden.

The stories cover a wide variety of styles including noir, comic, caper, psychological, police procedural, and even a tale inspired by comic books.

Putting their money where their mouths are, the authors have chosen ecologically-themed non-profits who will receive half the royalties.

Little Big Crimes: The Delivery, by Andrew Welsh-Huggins

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Little Big Crimes: Burying Oliver, by John M. Floyd

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Little Big Crimes: The Sounds of Silence, by Gabriel Valjan

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SMFS Member Publishing News: A Handful of Chicles and a Custom Nine by C.W. Blackwell

Today is publication day for A Handful of Chicles and a Custom Nine by C.W. Blackwell. This is the latest installment of Season Four of the Guns + Tacos series edited by Trey R. Barker and SMFS list member Michael Bracken. Published by Down and Out Books, the read is available at the publisher, Amazon, and elsewhere.

 

Publisher Synopsis:

Richie Angeles had it all: a cakewalk job wrenching on classic cars for a Chicago loan shark by day, and a side-hustle running high-stakes repo jobs by night. But when a fling with the boss's wife, Gina, goes awry, Richie finds himself the target of every low-life goon and hustler in the city.

With his options dwindling and a bounty on his head, Richie and Gina must find allies in the seedy Chicago underworld in order to survive. But good allies are hard to find—and the ones that seem loyal may only be looking for an easy double-cross. With the infamous Mr. Rosko at his heels, and a trail of blood from Chinatown to the Indiana border, Richie must make a choice to keep running or confront the boss himself.

Will he be able to run the gauntlet and kill Rosko and his inner circle, or will the many hands of the Chicago criminal world get their hands on Richie first?

SMFS Member Publishing News: Two Black Bean and Shrimp Quesadillas and a Pink Ruger LCP by Joseph S. Walker

Today is publication day for Two Black Bean and Shrimp Quesadillas and a Pink Ruger LCP by Joseph S. Walker. This is the latest installment of Season Four of the Guns + Tacos series edited by Trey R. Barker and SMFS list member Michael Bracken. Published by Down and Out Books, the read is available at the publisher, Amazon, and elsewhere.

 

 

Publisher Synopsis: 

Alvin Bleeker has a ratty apartment, a rusted-out car, and a dead-end job, managing a big-box store barely clinging to life. He also has a compulsive gambling habit that’s put him tens of thousands of dollars in the hole to Lamar, the bookie and loan shark rarely seen without his brutal enforcer, Jimmy. Alvin can’t bring himself to worry too much about his debts, though. He’s just marking time, waiting for his rich Aunt Elaine to kick off and leave her only living relative with a fortune that will end all his problems forever.

Unfortunately, Aunt Elaine has other plans, leaving Alvin out of her will almost entirely. Even worse, Lamar knows it. He extorts Alvin into Plan B: stealing a priceless Picasso sketch from Aunt Elaine’s North Shore mansion. Naturally, Jimmy will come along for the ride. So will Brittany Orozco, who has the face of a cheerleader, the heart of a killer, and the sharpened icepick of a sociopath. Behind Brittany is Lamar’s boss, the shadowy mob chieftain who doesn’t care how many bodies have to drop if he can add the sketch to his collection.

Alvin is in way over his head, but it should be a simple enough job, in and out in ten minutes. He’s just playing it safe when he goes to the taco truck to buy some insurance, in the form of the first gun he’s ever owned—a gun which, to his dismay, turns out to be pink. He’s betting he won’t really need it.

It’s one more bet he’s going to lose.

SMFS Member Publishing News: Two Tofu Tacos, a Taurus TX22, a Taycan, and a Ton of Trouble by Alan Orloff

 

Yesterday was publication day for Two Tofu Tacos, a Taurus TX22, a Taycan, and a Ton of Trouble by Alan Orloff. This is the latest installment of Season Four of the Guns + Tacos series edited by Trey R. Barker and SMFS list member Michael Bracken. Published by Down and Out Books, the read is available at the publisher, Amazon, and elsewhere.

 

Publisher Synopsis:

Blackmail is such an ugly word. Even uglier when it’s happening to you, especially when you don’t know who’s behind it, and defense lawyer Jefferson Bell doesn’t have a clue. Disgruntled client? Current mistress? One of a handful of pissed-off ex-mistresses? An opportunistic co-worker? A team of blackmailers looking for a big payday?

If the truth comes out, however, it will destroy his career and cause the end of Bell’s marriage. And he can’t let that happen, not after all the hard work he’d put in, not after all sacrifices he’d endured over the years. So following the advice of a friend, Bell visits a multi-purpose taco truck and procures what he needs to bring the extortionist down, and hard. Now he just has to find him. Or her. Or them.

With the help of his buddy and former client Rags Richland, Bell follows the trail through Chicago. When the blackmailer sets up an exchange, Bell attempts to seize the opportunity and spring a trap. But things go sideways, and Bell is no closer to learning his tormentor’s identity. To complicate matters, Bell’s situation has attracted the attention of the managing partner at his law firm, who gives Bell an ultimatum: fix things and make sure there’s no blowback on the firm. The ultimatum comes with a veiled part: Or else.

The more Bell searches, the more things come unraveled, and the more his desperation grows. And keeps growing, right up to the snapping point.

Then blows right past it.

SMFS Members Published in Down & Out The Magazine, Vol 2, Issue 2

Today is publication day for Down & Out The Magazine, Vol 2, Issue 2, and the new issue contains short stories by SMFS list members. The read is available from the publisher as well as at Amazon in print and eBook formats and at other vendors. The SMFS list members in this issue are:

 

John Floyd with “The Daisy Nelson Case.”

 

Josh Pachter with "The Stonewall Jackson Death Site."

 

Synopsis: 

There are a number of noteworthy articles in this issue of The Magazine. 

We are fortunate to feature some of the correspondence between two legends of crime fiction, Walter Satterthwait and Bill Crider, both of whom recently passed away. For those who knew Walter and Bill, or were just fans of their work, there is a touch of their personalities that comes through in these exchanges and, at least for a moment, gives us an opportunity to experience their unique voices just a little bit, just one more time. 

Jeff Vorzimmer, editor of last year’s The Best of Manhunt collection, tells us about Stephen Marlowe’s career in the piece leading into his story The Blonde at the Wheel. Jeff also contributed a story of his own and we’re happy to have this opportunity to showcase his many skills. 

We also have a couple of repeat appearances by writers who have appeared in previous issues. Arthur Klepchukov is back, as is John M. Floyd and John Shepphird. And with original stories by veterans like Josh Pachter and James O. Born, and newer offerings by Michael Cahlin, Steven Nester and Ken Luer, we’re showing the art of the crime fiction short story is still going strong. May it ever be so.

Little Big Crimes Review: One Flu Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Kathy Krevat

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Little Big Crimes Review: Black Friday by Steve Brewer

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Little Big Crimes Review: Click by Dana Haynes

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Little Big Crimes Review: Black Cow by Linda Joffe Hull

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Little Big Crimes Review: Faith by Stuart Neville

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Little Big Crimes Review: Seven Fiancees

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Little Big Crimes Review: Character is Everything by Jon McGoran

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Little Big Crimes Review: Pan Paniscus by James W. Ziskin

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SMFS Members Published in Blood Work: Remembering Gary Shulze Once Upon A Crime

The anthology, Blood Work: Remembering Gary Shulze Once Upon A Crime features thirty authors and that includes seven SMFS members.  Published by Down & Out Books and edited by Rick Ollerman, the book is available in print and digital formats from the publisher, Amazon, and other vendors. The published SMFS list members in alphabetical order are:

Eric Beetner with “Return.”

Michael Bracken with “Blacklit.”

Gary R. Bush with “I’m With It: A Love Story.”

Jen Conley with “Melanie.”

Michael Mallory with “Message From a Dead Man.”

Gary Phillips with “The Funkafied Man.”

Lissa Marie Redmond with “Dead Man’s Blues.”

Little Big Crimes Review: The Curse by Mark Edwards

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Little Big Crimes Review: Burnt Orange by Shawn Reilly Simmons

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Little Big Crimes Blog Review: Jerusalem Syndrome by Hilary Davidson

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