SMFS Member Publishing News: Scorched Earth by Elizabeth Zelvin

SMFS list member Elizabeth Zelvin reported that her short story, Scorched Earth, was published in Black Cat Weekly #171. Published by Wildside Press, the issue is available here in digital format.

 

Publisher Description:

This time, we have holiday-themed stories from Ron Miller (a great new tale featuring burlesque-queen-turned-private detective Velda), Nina Kiriki Hoffman (who remains one of my favorite fantasists active today), and Lillian M. Roberts (thanks to Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman).

   Plus, we have great originals by Elizabeth Zelvin (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken), Hala Dika, Joshua David Bellin, and Edmund Glasby (concluding his two-part novel serial from last issue). Our classic reprints are by John S. Glasby and Philip E. High.

   Here’s the complete lineup—

 

Cover Art: Ron Miller

 

SERIAL NOVEL

The Battle of Mageddo, by Edmund Glasby [Part 2 of 2]

   The Third Apocalypse of Brother Santiago concludes!

 

NOVELET

“Ho, Ho, Ho, Velda!” by Ron Miller [Velda series]

   Velda’s holiday turns chaotic when a cryptic clue leads to a baffling mystery. Can she solve it before Christmas is ruined?

 

SOLVE-IT-YOURSELF MYSTERY

“An Uncharitable Tournament,” by Hal Charles

   Can you solve the mystery before the detective? All the clues are there!

 

SHORT STORIES

“Scorched Earth,” by Elizabeth Zelvin [Michael Bracken Presents short story]

   Family tensions simmer as ambition and secrets collide. A gripping tale of loyalty and betrayal!

 

“The Reunion,” by Lillian M. Roberts [Barb Goffman Presents short story]

   A stray dog leads Andi to a mystery that shakes up her holiday.

 

“The Best Farnsworth,” by Hala Dika

   Detective Margot Cabot infiltrates a glittering world of wealth to uncover a deadly secret. Can she outwit the powerful Farnsworth family?

 

“Company for the Holidays,” by Nina Kiriki Hoffman

   Aunt Phyllida’s Christmas guest is a boy with a mysterious past—and her house is hosting a party of shadows….

 

“The Troop,” by Joshua David Bellin

   A girl raised among apes warns of a threat to their sanctuary. As two worlds collide, survival means navigating trust, betrayal, and primal instincts.

 

“The Method,” by Philip E. High

   In a galaxy where ancient instincts clash with advanced technologies, can Marsin ignite a rebellion and restore humanity’s place among the stars?

 

“Where Dead Men Dream,” by John S. Glasby

   In Haiti, a reporter uncovers a sinister ritual. The drums call, the dead rise—and terror awaits!

SMFS Member Publishing News: Sharyn Kolberg with The Gate

 

SMFS list member Sharyn Kolberg reported that her short story, Sharyn Kolberg with The Gate, appears in Black Cat Weekly #165. Published by Wildside Press, the issue is available here in digital format.

 

Publisher Description:

It’s our final Halloween issue of the year—with lots of treats and only a few tricks. Headlining this issue is Bram Stoker’s “lost” horror tale, “Gibbet Hill,” which a researcher recently discovered in an Irish newspaper supplement from 1890. (It wasn’t listed in any of Stoker’s bibliographies, and it created quite a stir among horror aficionados.) I’ve very carefully edited it, correcting typos and a few dropped words, and fully annotated it. I think you’ll enjoy it.

   We also have original tales from bestselling authors Donna Andrews (thanks to Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman) and Sharyn Kolberg (thanks to Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken), and one from newcomer Christopher Lawrence Froehlich, who makes his Black Cat Weekly debut. Plus a pair of modern classics from British masters John S. Glasby and E.C. Tubb, plus a nautical thriller by Alan B. Le May—who is most famous as the author of the classic Westerns The Searchers (1954) and The Unforgiven (1957).

   Our novels this issue are Allen Upward’s The Club of Masks—a rare British mystery from the Golden Age—and E.H. Visiak’s pirate fantasy, The Haunted Island.

   Here’s the complete lineup—

 

Cover Art: Ron Miller

 

NOVELS

 

The Club of Masks, by Allen Upward

   There’s murder at a scandalous London club where decadent masked aristocrats mingle…

 

The Haunted Island, by E.H. Visiak

   Being the History of an Adventure to an Island in the Remote South Sea. Of a Wizard there. Of his Pirate Gang; His Treasure; His Combustible…

 

SOLVE-IT-YOURSELF MYSTERY

 

“The Purloined Pumpkin,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery]

   Can you solve the mystery before the detective? All the clues are there!

 

SHORT STORIES

 

“The Gate,” by Sharyn Kolberg [Michael Bracken Presents short story]

   After years of tension and escalating fights with her husband George, a simple accident turns deadly.

 

“The Grim,” by Donna Andrews [Barb Goffman Presents short story]

   A rogue cemetery guardian causes chaos, chasing souls and scaring mourners. A paranormal expert intervenes…

 

“Ghost Lanterns,” by Alan B. Le May

   Sailors begin disappearing as “ghost lanterns” float across the deck. Is the ship cursed?

 

“Gibbet Hill, by Bram Stoker

   The recently discovered “lost” story from the Dracula author—and it’s a supernatural fantasy!

 

“The Other Seance,” by John S. Glasby

   When a famous medium (and skilled charlatan is challenged to prove his powers, his tricks work too well…

 

“Death Plays Baseball,” by Christopher Lawrence Froehlich

   When Death and Nostalgia swap jobs to prove whose job is harder, a cosmic game of baseball leads to unexpected chaos.



“Museum Piece,” by E.C. Tubb

   In a future where war and violence are ancient relics, one man relives fantasies of military conquest…

SMFS Member Publishing News: Ol’ Crowbait by Bobbi A. Chukran

 

SMFS list member Bobbi A. Chukran reported that her short story, Ol’ Crowbait, appears in Black Cat Weekly #162. Published by Wildside Press, the issue is available here in digital format.

 

Publisher Description:

Yes, it’s our annual Halloween kickoff issue—for the next four Black Cats, extra spooky stories will be creeping and crawling into every issue. This time, we have vampires and scarecrows and werewolves (oh my!) as well as sinister strangers for your reading pleasure. Plus some other tricks and treats.

   As always, special thanks to our Acquiring Editors for helping round up great stories, and to the volunteer readers who keep discovering great stories for us. If you’re a writer (published or not) we welcome appropriate submissions through our portal at blackcatweekly.com.

   Here’s the complete lineup—

 

Cover Art: Ron Miller

 

Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure:

 

“Skip Trace,” by Angela Zeman [Michael Bracken Presents short story]

    Skip Rose swore he’d never return to his childhood home, but a desperate family hires him to find out why their daughter was murdered. His investigation drags him back to dark memories and deadly secrets.

“The Treasure Map Intrigue,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery]

    After her uncle’s death, Marcy and her cousins find a cryptic note attached to an old map. As they search for treasure, Marcy discovers a hidden clue. Can you solve it before Marcy uncovers the truth?

“Special Delivery,” by Linda Cahill [Barb Goffman Presents short story]

    When a young girl takes over her friend’s paper route, she encounters strange men, dark stories, and a house feared by all the neighborhood kids. What begins as a simple errand turns into a chilling mystery.

“Ol’ Crowbait,” by Bobbi A. Chukran [short story]

    When pranksters target Minnie Tate’s farm, they uncover more than Halloween mischief—triggering events that unravel a long-buried disappearance. As Sheriff Josie Miller digs deeper, eerie scarecrows and strange whispers lead to a chilling discovery.

Scotland Yard Can Wait, by Zenith Brown [novel]

    Inspector Lord investigates a decades-old bank heist. As bodies pile up, can he unravel the mystery before the cunning mastermind escapes with the loot?

 

Science Fiction & Fantasy:

 

“Howl At the Moon,” by John S. Glasby [short story]

    A cursed castle, a full moon, and an ancient, terrifying secret. When Robert Temple arrives, determined to unearth the truth, he finds himself face-to-face with a horror beyond his worst nightmares.

“He Who Stakes,” by Phyllis Ann Karr [short story]

    In Prince Vlad’s cruel court, Father Clement’s faith is tested when martyrs rise from their stakes. Can mercy and justice prevail over a ruler blinded by righteous fury.

“Waystation,” by Hannah Birss [short story]

    In a rundown bar on Space Station SOL, a lonely miner share a fleeting, intimate encounter with a mysterious woman on a pilgrimage for a new sun.

“The Jackson Killer,” by Philip E. High [short story]

    Sent to a frontier planet to track down a highly intelligent and dangerous mutant, Lassen must outwit his prey while grappling with the morality of his own role as an Eliminator.

“The Scientific Pioneer,” Nelson S. Bond [Horsesense Hank series, short story]

    A farmer with uncanny “horse-sense” shocks university scholars by solving complex scientific problems with ease. But when offered fame, fortune, and love, his unyielding logic leads him on a different path.   Until next time, happy reading! 

SMFS Member Publishing News: Edie by Merrilee Robson

SMFS list member Merrilee Robson reported that her short story, Edie, appears in Black Cat Weekly #158. Published by Wildside Press, the issue is available here in digital format.

 

Publisher Description:

This time, we have an original mystery from Jack Roney (thanks to Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken) and modern mysteries from Merrilee Robson (thanks to Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman) and James Holding. Our mystery novel is from Golden Age author John Esteven. And, of course, Hal Charles returns with another solve-it-yourself puzzler.

   On the science fiction and fantasy side, we have a terrific tale from Anna Tambour, plus classics by Nelson S. Bond, Edmond Hamilton, Roger Dee, and Frank Belknap Long. Good stuff.

   Here’s the complete lineup—

 

Cover Art: Ron Miller

 

Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure:

• “The Tom Baker Mystery,” by Jack Roney [Michael Bracken Presents short story]
• “The Golden Girl Is Gone,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery]
• “Edie,” by Merrilee Robson [Barb Goffman Presents short story]
• “Test Run,” by James Holding [short story]
• The Door of Death, by John Esteven [novel]

 

Science Fiction & Fantasy:

• “The Syncopation Streak,” by Anna Tambour [short story]
• “The Love Song of Lancelot Biggs,” by Nelson S. Bond [short story, Lancelot Biggs series]
• “The Space Visitors,” by Edmond Hamilton [short story]
• “The Man Who Found Out,” by Roger Dee [short story]
• “Two Way Destiny,” by Frank Belknap Long [short story]

SMFS Member Publishing News: Kindred Spirits by Steve Liskow

SMFS list member Steve Liskow reported that his short story, Kindred Spirits, appears in Black Cat Weekly #156. Published by Wildside Press, the issue is available here in digital format.

 

Publisher Description:

Exciting stuff this time: a new Velda P.I. story from Ron Miller, a new supernatural mystery from Steve Liskow (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken), plus great modern tales from Melodie Johnson Howe (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman) and Anna Tambour.

   On top of that, we have a mystery novel from Isabel Ostrander and a space opera novel from Edmond Hamilton. (Truly something for every taste.) And did I mention science fiction classics from Nelson S. Bond, Ray Cummings, and Evelyn Goldstein? And another solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles?

   Here’s the lineup—

 

Cover Art: Ron Miller

 

Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure:

• “Kindred Spirits,” by Steve Liskow [Michael Bracken Presents short story]
• “Who Killed Yogi Barrett?” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery]
• “Losing It,” by Melodie Johnson Howe [Barb Goffman Presents short story]
• “E-I-E-I-Oh, Velda!” by Ron Miller [short story, Velda P.I. series]
• The Fifth Ace, by Isabel Ostrander [novel]

 

Science Fiction & Fantasy:

• “Kindred Spirits,” by Steve Liskow [Michael Bracken Presents short story]
• “None So Seeing As Those Who’ve Seen,” by Anna Tambour [novelet]
• “The Recalcitrant,” by Evelyn Goldstein [short story]
• “He Who Served,” by Ray Cummings [short story]
• “The Ghost of Lancelot Biggs,” by Nelson S. Bond [short story, Lancelot Biggs series]
• The Universe Wreckers, by Edmond Hamilton [novel]

SMFS Member Publishing News: The Five People You Meet in Atlantic City by James Blakey

SMFS list member James Blakey reported that his short story, The Five People You Meet in Atlantic City, appears in Black Cat Weekly #154. Published by Wildside Press, the issue is available here in digital format.

 

Publisher Description:

Here’s the complete lineup—

 

Cover Art: Ron Miller

 

Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure:

• “The Bottle Blonde,” by Albert Tucher [Michael Bracken Presents short story]
• “The Fatal Founders Day,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery]
• “New Day Newark,” by SJ Rozan [Barb Goffman Presents short story]
• “The Five People You Meet in Atlantic City,” by James Blakey [short story]
• The Long Arm of the Mounted, by James French Dorrance [novel]

 

Nonfiction:

• “Norman Spinrad at Large: Life As We Don’t Know It?” by Norman Spinrad

 

Science Fiction & Fantasy:

• “Maximinus Thrax and the Gates of Chaos,” by Paul Di Filippo and Claudio Chillemi [short story]
• “When Darkness Falls,” by John S. Glasby [short story]
• “Honeymoon in Bedlam,” by Nelson S. Bond [short story] [short story]
• “The Woman Obsession,” by William Campbell Gault [short story]
• The Invisible Master, by Edmond Hamilton [short novel]

SMFS Member Publishing News: Harvey and the Redhead by Debra H. Goldstein

SMFS list member Debra H. Goldstein reported that her short story, Harvey and the Redhead, appears in Black Cat Weekly #152. Published by Wildside Press, the issue is available here in digital format.

 

Publisher Description:

Three favorite series highlight this issue: First, Sherlock Holmes—or rather, several Sherlock Holmeses—feature in A.L. Sirois’s “The Matter of Time” (thanks to Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken). Then burlesque queen turned private eye Velda returns in Ron Miller’s original tale, “Big Top Velda.” (You will recall several other Velda stories in recent months—and we have more upcoming!). And on the science fiction front, space opera misfit Lancelot Biggs stars in “The Downfall of Lancelot Biggs,” by Nelson Bond. Fun stuff!

   More highlights: Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman has found a real winner in Debra H. Goldstein’s “Harvey and the Redhead.” (I’m a sucker for bar stories.) And our mystery novel is by Harold MacGrath.

   On the science fiction front, we have dark fantasies from British master John S. Glasby (who’s in his 90s and still writing) and Frank Belknap Long, plus space opera from Edmond Hamilton and classic SF from Lester del Rey.

   Here’s the complete lineup—

 

Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure:

• “The Matter of Time,” by A.L. Sirois [Michael Bracken Presents short story, Sherlock Holmes series]
• “The Case of the Lost Library,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery]
• “Harvey and the Redhead,” by Debra H. Goldstein [Barb Goffman Presents short story]
• “Big Top Velda,” by Ron Miller [short story, Velda series]
• The Blue Rajah Murder, by Harold MacGrath [novel]

 

Science Fiction & Fantasy: 

• “The Matter of Time,” by A.L. Sirois [Michael Bracken Presents short story, Sherlock Holmes series]
• “A Place of Shadows,” John S. Glasby [short story]
• “Evans of the Earth-guard,” by Edmond Hamilton [short story]
• “The Downfall of Lancelot Biggs,” by Nelson S. Bond [short story, Lancelot Biggs series]
• “The Cottage,” by Frank Belknap Long [short story]
• “The Life Watch,” by Lester del Rey [novella]