SMFS Members Published in The Year of the Cat: A Cat of Fantastic Whims

SMFS list members are published in The Year of the Cat: A Cat of Fantastic Whims. Published by WMG Publishing, the anthology is available in print and eBook formats from the publisher, Amazon, and other vendors. The SMFS list members in the book are:

 

Liz Pierce with “Dead Fred.”

 

Annie Reed with "Queen of the Mouse Riders" has been published in Year of the Cat #10: A Cat of Fantastic Whims.

 

Synopsis:

Most cats pursue the business of their lives in ways both fantastic and whimsical.

In this entertaining volume of stories, cats perform as muses, inhabit fairy tales, consort with ghosts and zombies, and one cat even reigns as fantasy queen.

Enter the fantastic world of whimsical cats and enjoy!

 

Includes:

“Searching for the Familiar” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

“Speechless in Seattle” by Lisa Silverthorne

“Queen of the Mouse Riders” by Annie Reed

“The Kingdom of Cats and Birds” by Geoffrey Landis

“Cat Leading the Way” by Dean Wesley Smith

“A Powerful Friend” by E. Nesbit

“Clyde and the Ghost Cat” by Jamie Ferguson

“Dead Fred” by Liz Pierce

“Un-Familiar” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

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.

SMFS Members Published in Hoosier Noir: Two

Several SMFS list members have short stories in Hoosier Noir: Two. Published by First City Books, the read is available in both print and eBook at Amazon. The SMFS list members in the read are:

 

C.W. Blackwell with "Perry County Payback."

 

Michael Bracken with “Bet Me.”

 

Joseph S. Walker with "What They Say I Used To Be."

 

Synopsis:

HOOSIER NOIR is the low-rent home of gritty Indiana Crime fiction. Our debut issues featured indie crime heavyweights: Alec Cizak, and Preston Lang. That was just the beginning. Issue TWO features Marianne Halbert , Serena Jayne to Stephen J. Golds, C.W. Balckwell, and many more. We aren't going anywhere.

SMFS Members Published in Revenge of the Widow Malcom

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Today is publication day for the new anthology, Revenge of the Widow Malcom published by Down & Out Books. The read is available in print and digital formats from the publisher, Amazon, and other vendors. The SMFS list members in the book are:

 

E. A. Aymar with “The Dying.”

 

Libby Cudmore with “Vengeance, Deep Fried.”

 

Nikki Dolson with “When The Widow Came To Dinner.”

 

Synopsis:

In 2017, Kate and Dan Malmon edited Killing Malmon, a unique anthology with short stories featuring the death of “Dan Malmon”. 100% of the profits went to the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Some stories were scary, some were funny; some were random, some were heroic. But they all featured his death.

 

Dan Malmon’s widow would not sit idly while her husband was killed multiple times. Editors Kate and Dan Malmon are back with a second anthology, Revenge of the Widow Malmon. In this collection, all the stories feature “Kate Malmon” plotting and executing her bloody revenge. As with the first anthology, all profits from Revenge of the Widow Malmon will go to the Multiple Sclerosis Society. So if you hate Multiple Sclerosis as much as we do, or just want to see Kate get her sweet revenge on some fools, please join us as we continue to raise money to battle this disease.

 

Featuring stories by E.A Aymar, Sean Chercover, Joe Clifford, S.A Cosby, Libby Cudmore, Nikki Dolson, Matthew FitzSimmons, Jordan Harper, Shaun Harris, J.J. Hensley, Jennifer Hillier, Aimee Hix, Matthew Iden, Renee Asher Pickup, and Eryk Pruitt.

SMFS Members Published in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine: May/June 2020

Several SMFS list members are published in the Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine: May/June  2020 issue. The issue is available from Dell Magazines as well as at Amazon and other vendors. The SMFS list members published in this issue are:

Michael Bracken with “Sleepy River.”

Eve Fisher with “Brother’s Keeper.”

Robert Lopresti with “Shanks Saves The World.”

Joseph S. Walker with “Etta at the End of the World.”

Elizabeth Zelvin with “Reunion.”

SMFS Members Published in The Misadventures of Nero Wolfe: Parodies and Pastiches Featuring the Great Detective of West 35th Street

Several SMFS list members have short stories in the new book, The Misadventures of Nero Wolfe: Parodies and Pastiches Featuring the Great Detective of West 35th Street. Edited by SMFS list member Josh Pachter, the book is published by the Mysterious Press. This read is available in print and eBook format from the publisher, Amazon, and other vendors.

Michael Bracken with “The Possibly Last Case of Tiberius Dingo.”

Joseph Goodrich with an excerpt of the first scene of his stage adaptation of Rex Stout’s Might As Well Be Dead.

Robert Lopresti with “The Damned Doorbell Rang.”

Josh Pachter with “Sam Buried Caesar” along with the introduction, “Plot It Yourselves.”

Synopsis on Publisher Website:

Stories that pay tribute to Rex Stout’s legendary private detective by Lawrence Block, Loren D. Estleman, John Lescroart, Robert Goldsborough, and more.
 
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin have been widely flattered almost from the moment Rex Stout first wrote about them in 1934. The Misadventures of Nero Wolfe collects two dozen literary tributes to one of crime fiction’s best-loved private detectives and his Man Friday. Included are:

·         A 1947 pastiche by award-winning crime writer Thomas Narcejac

·         Rollicking new stories written especially for this collection by Michael Bracken and Robert Lopresti

·         Stories by bestselling authors including Lawrence Block and Loren D. Estleman

·         Chapters from Robert Goldsborough’s authorized continuation of the Wolfe series; Marion Mainwaring’s 1955 tour de force Murder in Pastiche; and John Lescroart’s Rasputin’s Revenge, which reimagines a young Wolfe as the son of Sherlock Holmes

Also featuring a reminiscence from Rex Stout’s daughter, this is a treasury of witty and suspenseful crime writing for every fan of the portly private detective.

SMFS Members Published in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine: Issue 8

Several SMFS members are published in the recently released Pulphouse Fiction Magazine: Issue 8. Published by WMG Publishing, the read is available in print and digital formats from Amazon, the publisher, and other vendors. The members in the issue are:

David H. Hendrickson with “Seeing Him for the First Time.”

Robert Jeschonek with “Blackbeard’s Aliens.”

O’Neil De Noux with “Pretty Rita.” 

Annie Reed with “Life, With Cats.”

Publisher Synopsis:

The Cutting Edge of Modern Short Fiction

A three-time Hugo Award nominated magazine, this issue of Pulphouse Fiction Magazine offers up eighteen fantastic stories by some of the best writers working in modern short fiction. No genre limitations, no topic limitations, just great stories. Attitude, feel, and high quality fiction equals Pulphouse.

“This is definitely a strong start. All the stories have a lot of life to them, and are worthwhile reading.”—Tangent Online on Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, Issue #1

Includes
“The Hero of Calliope Springs: A Clockwork Cowboy Story” by J. Steven York

“Dirt Dancer” by Joslyn Chase

“Eternal Flame” by Rob Vagle

“Seeing Him for the First Time” by David H. Hendrickson

“No Common Scents” by Jim Gotaas

“With Light Years Between Us” by Robert J. McCarter

“Unfamiliar, Foreign, Outré” by Jerry Oltion

“Taking Care of Business” by Mary Jo Rabe

“A Night Under the Stars” by Lisa Silverthorne

“Pretty Rita” by O'Neil De Noux

“Leftovers” by B.A. Paul

“Degrading” by Ezekiel James Boston

“Thumpman at the Keys” by Kent Patterson

“Road Kill: A Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. Story” by Kevin J. Anderson

“A Warriors Death” by Stephanie Writt

“In-Class Assignment” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

“Life, With Cats” Annie Reed

“Blackbeard's Aliens” by Robert Jeschonek

“Minions at Work: Head Case” by J. Steven York

SMFS Members Published in Crime Travel

Several SMFS members are published in the anthology, Crime Travel. Edited by SMFS member  Barb Goffman, the read was published today in honor of “Pretend To Be A Time Traveler Day.”  The new anthology is available at the publisher, Wildside Press, and other vendors including Amazon. The SMFS members published in the anthology are:

                                           

Melissa H. Blaine with “Living on Borrowed Time.

James Blakey with “The Case of the Missing Physicist.”

Michael Bracken with “Love, or Something Like It.”

John Floyd with “Ignition.”

Barb Goffman with “Alex’s Choice.”

Heidi Hunter with “No Honor Among Thieves.”

Adam Meyer with “The Fourteenth Floor.”

Barbara Monajem with “The Last Page.”

Korina Moss with “On The Boardwalk.”

Art Taylor with “Hard Return.”

Cathy Wiley with “And Then There Were Paradoxes.” 

Synopsis:

CRIME TRAVEL features time-travel mysteries by a terrific lineup of authors. Included are:

James Blakey
Melissa H. Blaine
Michael Bracken
Anna Castle
Brendan DuBois
David Dean
John M. Floyd
Barb Goffman
Heidi Hunter
Eleanor Cawood Jones
Adam Meyer
Barbara Monajem
Korina Moss
Art Taylor
Cathy Wiley

SMFS Members Published in Knucklehead Noir

Several SMFS members are published in the new anthology, Knuckhead Noir. Published by Coffin Hop Press, the read is only available in print format at Amazon. The SMFS members published in the book are:

Tom Barlow with “HIC.”

Michael Bracken with “Sex Toys.”

Craig Faustus Buck with “Honeymoon Sweet.”

Axel Howerton with “The Aluminum Eagle.”

Brent Nichols with “Go Fish.”

Amazon Synopsis:

Tales of dimwitted criminals and unlucky twits on the wrong side of the law. Nimrods, numbskulls and rejects. Bumbling sidekicks and idiots-gone-wrong. Elmore Leonard and Charles Willeford ain’t got nothin’ on these dipshits. Darkly humorous crime and hardboiled hijinx.

Featuring new and slightly used fiction from:

Jaclyn Adomeit

Tom Barlow (Smothered and Covered)

Michael Bracken (Noir at the Salad Bar)

Steve Brewer (Lonely Street)

Craig Faustus Buck (Go Down Hard)

Axel Howerton (Hot Sinatra)

Pamela Kenney (Diamonds are a Girl's Best Motive)

Brent Nichols (Stars Like Cold Fire)

Steve Passey (Forty-Five Minutes of Unstoppable Rock)

Jason Pearce

Scott S. Phillips (Pete, Drinker of Blood)

Will Viharo (Love Stories Are Too Violent For Me)

Chris R. Young (The Old Mice Killer)

And

Laurie Zottmann (Dark Little Critter)

SMFS Members Recognized in The Best American Mystery Stories 2019

Several SMFS list members have had their works recognized in The Best American Mystery Stories 2019. Published by Mariner Books, the read is available in both print and digital formats at Amazon and other vendors. The SMFS list members recognized in the book are;

Tonya D. Price with “Payback” originally published in Fiction River: Hard Choices

Other Distinguished Mystery Stories List:

Michael Bracken with “Itsy Bitsy Spider.”

Diana Deverell with “Payback is a Bitch.”

Brian Silverman with “Scotch Bonnet.”

Andrew Welsh-Huggins with “Long Drive Home.”

New York Times best-selling author of ten genre-bending novels Jonathan Lethem helms this collection of the year’s best mystery short fiction. 

For Jonathan Lethem, “crime stories are deep species gossip.” He writes in his introduction that “they’re fundamentally stories of power, of its exercise, both spontaneous and conspiratorial; stories of impulse and desire, and of the turning of tables.” The Best American Mystery Stories 2019 has its full share of salacious intrigue, guilt, and retribution. The twists and bad decisions pile up when a thief picks the wrong target or a simple scavenger hunt takes a terrible turn. What happens when you befriend a death row inmate, or just how does writing Internet clickbait became a decidedly dangerous occupation? “How can we not hang on their outcomes?” asks Lethem. “Are we innocent ourselves, or complicit?” Read on to find out.
 
The Best American Mystery Stories 2019 includes Sharon Hunt, Harley Jane Kozak, Mark Mayer, Jennifer McMahon, Joyce Carol Oates, Brian Panowich, Tonya D. Price, Ron Rash, Robb T. White, and others.

SMFS Members Published in Seascape: Best New England Crime Stories

Several SMFS members have published stories in the new anthology, Seascape: Best New England Crime Stories. Published by Level Best Books the read is available in both print and digital formats from Amazon. The SMFS members in the anthology are:

Michael Bracken with “Who Done It.”

Peter Hayes with “Pretty Dreams.”

Linda Leszczuk with “Do Not Disturb.”

Adan Meyer with “Mrs. Montgomery.”

Alan Orloff with “Ward’s Cleaver.”

Ang Pompano with “Stringer.”

CJ Verburg with “Peccata Mundy.”

Joseph S. Walker with “Haven.”

Vicki Weisfeld with “The Ghost Who Read the Newspaper.”

Amazon Synopsis:

SEASCAPE, the Seventeenth Best New England Crime Stories Anthology, once again brings together the best short crime fiction stories about New England. We feature stories from well-published writers to brand new voices in the genre, with stories as varied and unique as the region they represent. Included in this collection is the Al Blanchard Award Winning Story. Stories by: Michael Bracken, Tina deBellegarde, Marjorie Drake, Ang Pompano, Lynn Sheft, Vicki Weisfeld, Tiger Wiseman, Adele Gardner, Jim Wright, Christine Bagley, Rachel Brown, Cynthia Drew, Victoria Gosseling, Peter W. J. Hayes, Linda, Leszczuk, Adam Meyer, Rory O'Brien, Alan Orloff, Verena Rose, Janet Raye Stevens, Cynthia Sabelhaus, Gabriel Valjan, CJ Verberg, Harriette Sackler, William Ade, Shawn Reilly Simmons, Katie Tietjen, Woody Hanstein, Lorraine Sharma Nelson, Brenda Seabrooke, and Joseph Walker.

SMFS Members Published in Mystery Weekly Magazine: November 2019

Two SMFS list members are published in the Mystery Weekly Magazine: November 2019 issue. The read is available from the publisher  and at Amazon in both print and digital formats and other vendors. The SMFS members in this issue are:

Peter DiChellis with “Disappearing Diamonds” as “A You-Solve-It Mystery.”

Robert Mangeot with “Murder  On The First Night’s Feast.”

Synopsis:

At the cutting edge of crime fiction, Mystery Weekly Magazine presents original short stories by the world’s best-known and emerging mystery writers.

The stories we feature in our monthly issues span every imaginable subgenre, including cozy, police procedural, noir, whodunit, supernatural, hardboiled, humor, and historical mysteries. Evocative writing and a compelling story are the only certainty.
Get ready to be surprised, challenged, and entertained--whether you enjoy the style of the Golden Age of mystery (e.g., Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle), the glorious pulp digests of the early twentieth century (e.g., Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler), or contemporary masters of mystery.

In this issue:
In our cover story “Giving Up The Ghost” by Shea E. Butler, Belle Lopez, an ex-hooker working as a neophyte private investigator, is obsessed with solving the murder of her ex-boss and mentor, Leo Gillepski. Things get complicated when Leo's ghost appears and starts interfering in the case.
“Cold Feet” by Nils Gilbertson: When a prominent scholar weds a powerful lobbyist, suspicion prompts her to enlist her brother, a former fed, to investigate. As he chases leads around D.C., truth, suspicion, and its consequences begin to blur.
In “Midnight In A Sea Of Marble” by D.V. Bennett, Washington D.C. police detectives Mike Ryan and Hayley Michaels are tasked with investigating a double-murder. When they begin to suspect two rich upstanding citizens living in a pricey neighborhood along the Potomac River, the citizens push back.
In “Digging Up Bones” by Brandon Abbott, Nathan Shields is haunted by the skeleton in his past. But he soon learns the real threat lies beneath the surface, where he least expects it. As he uncovers the truth, Nathan discovers a frightening reality: sometimes what you bury will bury you.
“Murder On The First Night’s Feast” by Robert Mangeot: Since Charlemagne, a gathering of elite gourmands in French chateaux country has taken on rules and a reputation all its own. Except this year the host is hauled off for murder, and it’s up to Madame Feubert to save the season.
In “To Whom It May Concern” by Kathleen Gerard, the power of the written word snowballs into unexpected rewards.

SMFS Members Publication News: Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine #27

Several SMFS list members have short stories and other pieces in the recently released Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine #27. Published by Wildside Press, the issue is currently available in print at Amazon and elsewhere. The members in this issue are:

Jacqueline Seewald with “The Unexpected.”

Additionally, Chris Chan has a non fiction piece titled “Someday the Truth Will Come Out.” He summarizes the Anne Lemberger case and explains how Mark Lemberger cleared his family’s name.

Also included is the non fiction piece, “Dr. Watson and True Facts” by Bruce Harris

Synopsis:

"The 27th issue of Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine features new and classic mystery tales!

FEATURES:

·  From Watson’s Notebooks, by John H Watson, M D

·  Ask Mrs Hudson, by (Mrs) Martha Hudson

NON FICTION:

·         Screen of the Crime, by Kim Newman

·         Carnivory, Darwin, and Doyle, by O’Neill Curatolo

·         “Someday the Truth Will Come Out”, by Chris Chan

·         Dr. Watson and True Facts, by Bruce Harris

FICTION

·         The Red-Faced League, by Hal Charles

·         Such Good Friends, by Dianne Neral Ell

·         The Strange Disappearance of the Talking Horse, by Ron Goulart

·         A Death in Baltimore, by Arjay Lewis

·         Jewels in the Sun, by Laird Long

·         The Unexpected, by J.P. Seewald

·         “Lease With Option to Buy”, by Ellen Wight

·         The Adventure of Silver Blaze, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

SMFS Members Published in Tough 2: Crime Stories

Several SMFS members have been published in the just released anthology, TOUGH 2: Crime Stories. Currently it is only available in print from  Amazon. The SMFS members in the anthology are:

Michael Bracken with  “Itsy Bitsy Spider.”

Alec Cizak with “The Bag Girl.”

Nick Kolakowski with “Viking Funeral.”

Chris McGinley with “With Hair Blacker Than Coal.”

Thomas Pluck with “The Third Jump of Frankie Buffalo.”

C. A. Rowland with “Beach Body.”

Andrew Welsh-Huggins with “Long Drive Home.”

Amazon Synopsis:

Tough 2 is an anthology of short stories authored by Michael Bracken, Alec Cizak, S.A. Cosby, Evelyn DeShane, Tia J'anae, Nick Kolakowski, Preston Lang, Matt Mattilla, Chris McGinley, Thomas Pluck, C.A. Rowland, Rob McClure Smith, William R. Soldan, Mary Thorson, Andrew Welsh-Huggins and edited by Rusty Barnes

TOC Cover Picture Supplied By Rusty Barnes

SMFS Members Published in Mystery Weekly Magazine: May 2019

SMFS list members have works appearing in Mystery Weekly Magazine: May 2019. The read is available from the publisher in both print and digital formats as well as Amazon and other vendors. The SMFS members in this issue are:

Paul D. Marks with “The Box.”

Thomas Millstead with “Hi! I’m Heather.”

Synopsis:

At the cutting edge of crime fiction, Mystery Weekly Magazine presents original short stories by the world’s best-known and emerging mystery writers. 

The stories we feature in our monthly issues span every imaginable subgenre, including cozy, police procedural, noir, whodunit, supernatural, hardboiled, humor, and historical mysteries. Evocative writing and a compelling story are the only certainty.

Get ready to be surprised, challenged, and entertained--whether you enjoy the style of the Golden Age of mystery (e.g., Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle), the glorious pulp digests of the early twentieth century (e.g., Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler), or contemporary masters of mystery.

In our cover feature, “The Box” by Paul D. Marks, find out what happens when a cop gets tunnel vision and only sees one suspect: You.

“Storey” by Eric Cline: Great artists sometimes have messy personal lives. But what if it becomes impossible to separate the art from its creator?

In “Evidence” by Dennis Palumbo a Crime Scene tech steals incriminating evidence from a crime scene, then uses it to blackmail the criminal.

In “Sergeant Spinge And The Locked-Room Mystery” by Rob Nisbet, Sergeant Spinge is the sole policeman in a town of gnomes. He longs to solve a traditional 'locked-room mystery' but first he must cope with a series of impossible thefts.

“Hi! I'm Heather” by Thomas Millstead, follows Sergeant Hagen on his second day with the Computer Crimes Unit, when a disturbing email propels him into a journey to the painful past—and a murder on Skeleton Hill.

“Gold, Jewels, Art, My Father” by David Rachels: David's father has hinted at family treasure buried in the backyard … After David’s father dies, he returns home to dig.

In “The Search For Doctor Vane” by Jeffery Scott Sims, Doctor Vane ventured to Ironfang Island seeking pirate treasure and archaeological lore. Now Professor Vorchek has gone in search of him. What he finds justifies the infamous island's reputation.

SMFS Members Published In Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine: May/June 2019

Several SMFS members are published in the Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine: May/June 2019 issue. The issue is available from Dell Magazines as well as at Amazon and newsstands and bookstores. The SMFS members published in this issue are:

Catherine Dilts with “Real Cowgirls Don’t Cry.”

Terrie Moran with “Flamingo Bingo.”

Mark Thielman with “Blind Spot.”

Gigi Vernon with “Thick As Thieves.”

Joseph S. Walker with “Bonus Round.”

Elizabeth Zelvin with “A Work In Progress.”

  

Website Synopsis:

May/June 2019

FICTION

BONUS ROUND by Joseph S. Walker FINITE JEST by Chris Muessig PRIVATE JUSTICE by Steven Gore REAL COWGIRLS DON’T CRY by Catherine Dilts BUCK AND WILEY MAKE THEIR OWN LUCK by Parker Littlewood FLAMINGO BINGO by Terrie Farley Moran BONDED by Mark Joslyn THE CASE OF THE THIRTEENTH BEARD by Joe Helgerson PHOTO FINISHED by Melissa Fall THICK AS THIEVES by Gigi Vernon A WORK IN PROGRESS by Elizabeth Zelvin BLIND SPOT by Mark Thielman

MYSTERY CLASSIC

THE THIEF by Anna Katharine Green

DEPARTMENTS

THE LINEUP SCRAMBLED Marple Anagram puzzle by Mark Lagasse MYSTERIOUS PHOTOGRAPH BOOKED & PRINTED by Laurel Flores Fantauzzo DYING WORDS Acrostic puzzle by Arlene Fisher THE STORY THAT WON SOLUTION to Dying Words