Friday, January 29, 2021
Thursday, January 28, 2021
One Writer's World: Three Hours a Day by Susan Oleksiw
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
SMFS Member Publishing News: Margaret S. Hamilton
SMFS list member Margaret S. Hamilton’s short story, “Killer
Weeds” appears in the January 20, 2021, issue of the weekly newsletter Texas
Gardener’s Seeds. You can read it online for free here.
SMFS Members Nominated for the 2021 Edgar Awards
The nominees for 2021 Edgar Awards, so named to honor Edgar Allen Poe, have been announced by the Mystery Writers Of America. Winners will be announced on April 29, 2021. There are twelve categories in fiction and nonfiction and SMFS list members have been nominated this year in two categories.
The nominated members and their categories are:
Best Short Story
Leslie Elman for “The Summer Uncle Cat Came to Stay," published in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine: January/February 2020 issue.
Joseph S. Walker for "Etta at the End of the World," published in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine: May/June 2020 issue.
James W. Ziskin for “The Twenty-Five-Year Engagement,”
in the anthology, In
League with Sherlock Holmes: Stories Inspired by the Sherlock Holmes Canon.
The G. P. Putnam’s Son Sue Grafton
Memorial Award
James W. Ziskin with Turn To Stone: An Ellie Stone Novel published by Seventh Street Books. The book is also under consideration for a Lefty for Best Historical Mystery Novel.
SMFS salutes our list members in this accomplishment and wish them all the best as they represent the SMFS. The full list of all the nominees can be found on the MWA website.
Tuesday, January 26, 2021
SleuthSayers: Don't Kill the Dog: An Examination of this Fiction Dictum by Barb Goffman
Monday, January 25, 2021
SMFS Member Podcast News: Ang Pompano
The latest KRL Podcast features the mystery short story, “The
Bucket List” by SMFS list member Ang Pompano.
You can listen for free to the KRL Podcast here.
From the site:
This episode features the mystery short story The Bucket
List By Ang Pompano. It is read by local actor Teya Juarez. The Bucket List was
first published in Best New England Crime Stories: Red Dawn,
Level Best Books (2015) and later in Kings River Life. You can learn more about
the author on his website. 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-both to this podcast, and to the podcast newsletter. You can
find more mystery fun on our websites Kings River Life Magazine and KRL News
and Reviews. We now also have a Patreon where you can help support the podcast
and the magazine and get special perks! We also have a new Redbubble store if
you would like to purchase Mysteryrat's Maze Merchandise!
SMFS Member Publishing News: David Goudsward
SMFS list member David Goudsward edited and annotated
the new book, Old World Footprints by Cassie Symmes. Published by
Bold Ventures Press, it is currently available in paperback and hardcover at
the publisher.
Publisher Synopsis:
Preface by H.P. Lovecraft (ghosting for Frank Belknap Long)
Edited and annotated by David Goudsward; Foreword by Bobby
Derie
In 1928, Mrs. William B. Symmes published a 32-page
travelogue. The 300-copy run was privately distributed by Mrs. Symmes among her
friends and family. The book's publisher was amateur pressman W. Paul Cook and
his Recluse Press imprint. Mrs. Symmes' nephew, Frank Belknap Long is credited
for the preface, actually ghostwritten by H. P. Lovecraft. Lovecraft proofread
the book for Cook, and may have edited it as well. The involvement of Cook,
Long, and Lovecraft transforms an unremarkable travelogue by Cassie Symmes into
one of the rarest of Lovecraft-related publications.
Bold Ventures Press proudly presents a new edition, edited
and annotated by Lovecraft scholar David Goudsward. It is illustrated by photos
and period postcards, and includes a foreword by pulp scholar Bobby Derie and
Cassie’s biography.
Sunday, January 24, 2021
2021 SMFS Lefty Award Nominees
Several SMFS list members are up for the 2021
Lefty Awards. There are four categories in total with 23 books. SMFS
list members are competing in two different categories regarding books first
published in 2020. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the winners will be announced online
on April 10, 2021. The SMFS list members and their books in the respective categories
are:
Lefty for Best Humorous Mystery Novel
Jennifer J. Chow, Mimi Lee Gets a Clue
(Berkley Prime Crime)
Cynthia Kuhn, The Study of Secrets (Henery Press)
Lefty for Best Historical Mystery Novel (The
Bruce Alexander Memorial for books covering events before 1970)
James W. Ziskin, Turn to Stone (Seventh
Street Books)
For a full list of all the books and their authors
under award consideration, go to the official Left Coast site at 2021 Lefty Awards: The
Unconvention
SMFS Members Published in Black Cat Mystery Magazine #8
Several SMFS list members have short stories in Black Cat Mystery Magazine #8. Published by Wildside Press, the read is currently available in eBook format at Amazon as well as print, and at other vendors. The SMFS members in the issue are:
Editor Michael Bracken with his editorial, “From The
Cat’s Perch.”
John M. Floyd with “The Big Picture.”
Barb Goffman with “An Inconvenient Sleuth.”
M. A. Monnin with “St. Killian’s Choice.”
Elizabeth Zelvin with “An Artist In The Harem.”
Amazon Synopsis:
The first Black Cat Mystery Magazine of 2021 presents 7
compelling original tales, plus a classic reprint by Donald Barr Chidsey.
Included are:
TRIP UP ON HIGH STREET, by John Hegenberger
ST. KILLIAN’S CHOICE, by M.A. Monnin
YOU LOSE, WE FIND, by Jon Matthew Farber
THE BIG PICTURE, by John M. Floyd
AN ARTIST IN THE HAREM, by Elizabeth Zelvin
PLANTED IN MIDAIR, by D.V. Bennett
AN INCONVENIENT SLEUTH, by Barb Goffman
"Just Another Bum," by Donald Barr Chidsey
SMFS Member Publishing News: John Floyd
SMFS list member John Floyd’s mystery driven short story, “The Warden’s Game” appears in the in the recently released anthology, Winter’s Vindication. Published by Summerstorm Press, the read is available from the publisher and Amazon. John is also interviewed in relation to his story and more here at the publisher.
Synopsis:
In these nine stories of frost and snow, join a collection
of survivors as they fight to overcome nuclear winter, 100 years of ice, elder
gods, frozen deities, a town ruled by thugs, and more. This premier anthology
from SummerStorm press features the writing of C. Marry Hultman, Christine
Watts, Erin Fanning, Thaddeus Rutkowski, John M. Floyd, David Green, Derek
Power, Louise Pierce, and Abigail Linhardt.
SMFS Member Publishing News: Bev Vincent
SMFS list member Bev Vincent’s short story, "Tupilaq"
appears online at The Cemetery
Gates Society as a winner in their flash fiction contest. The story can be
read for free here.
SMFS Members Published in Pulp Modern: Volume Two, Issue Six
Several SMFS list members are published in the new Pulp
Modern: Volume Two, Issue Six. Published by Uncle B. Publications /
Larque Press, LLC, the read is available
in both print and eBook formats at Amazon.
Edited by SMFS list member Alec Cizak, the latest issue includes short stories
by several other SMFS list members. Those other SMFS list members are:
John Floyd with “Twenty Minutes in Riverdale.”
Stephen J. Golds with “Hari-Kari.”
Stephen D. Rogers with “With Hindsight."
Louise Taylor with “Tall Tales.”
Synopsis:
The greatest multi-genre fiction digest of the 21st
century returns with eight stunning short stories by John M. Floyd, Stephen J.
Golds, Matthew X. Gomez, Stephen D. Rogers, Louise Taylor, Dustin Walker, and
Patrick Whitehurst. This issue features a non-fiction article by Anthony
Perconti. Bob Vojtko provides more entertaining cartoons. Art director Richard
Krauss and illustrator Ran Scott have worked their tails off making this the
most stunning issue yet. Chief editor Alec Cizak simply allowed all this talent
to come together and create yet another gold standard for independent fiction
digests.
Saturday, January 23, 2021
SleuthSayers: Still Collecting Names by O'Neil De Noux
Wednesday, January 20, 2021
SleuthSayers: 2020 Was A Big Improvement
Monday, January 18, 2021
SMFS Member Publishing News: Frank Zafiro
Today is publication day for Sugar Got Low
by SMFS list member Frank Zafiro. The short story collection is available in print
and eBook at Amazon
and other vendors. You can learn more about the book at Mr. Zafiro’s website.
Synopsis:
SUGAR GOT LOW contains a tale of grifters, a prequel story to the well-regarded Ania series, several trips back to River City and one to La Sombra, Texas. Enjoy a Walter Mitty homage set in San Francisco and a deadly day in Roman Britain, the heartbreaking story of a junkie and the suspenseful one of a murderer in a black car. And at the end of it all, you'll experience the dark but inspiring title story of perseverance that was only made possible because of a misunderstood lyric.Four-time Derringer finalist Frank Zafiro weaves a lucky thirteen tales drawn from throughout his career with one thing in common - characters you may love or hate, but will certainly feel.
