SMFS Members Published in Larceny & Last Chances: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense

Today is publication day for the new anthology, Larceny & Last Chances: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense. Published by Superior Shores Press, the anthology includes short stories by numerous SMFS list members. Edited by SMFS list member Judy Penz Sheluk, the book is available at Amazon and other vendors. The SMFS list members that reported their presence in the book are:

 

Christina Boufis with “Hit-and-Run.”

Susan Daly with “Hail Mary Blues.”

Wil A. Emerson with “Incidents and Intentions.”

 

Tracy Falenwolfe with “The Crimson Salamander.”

 

Wendy Harrison with “Red Ink.”

 

Julie Hastrup with “Skeeter’s Bar and Grill.”

Larry M. Keeton with “The Tight Squeeze.” 

 

Edward Lodi with “The Purloined Parchment.”

Gregory Meece with “Once a Thief.”

Cate Moyle with “Robbery at the Birdcage.”

 

Kathleen Rockwood with “The Constellation Necklace.”

 

Kevin R. Tipple with “The Hospital Boomerang.”

 

Robert Weibezahl with “Artifact.”

 

Amazon Description:

Sometimes it's about doing the right thing. Sometimes it's about getting even. Sometimes it's about taking what you think you deserve. And sometimes, it's your last, best, chance. Edited by Judy Penz Sheluk and featuring stories by Christina Boufis, John Bukowski, Brenda Chapman, Susan Daly, Wil A. Emerson, Tracy Falenwolfe, Kate Fellowes, Molly Wills Fraser, Gina X. Grant, Karen Grose, Wendy Harrison, Julie Hastrup, Larry M. Keeton, Charlie Kondek, Edward Lodi, Bethany Maines, Gregory Meece, Cate Moyle, Judy Penz Sheluk, KM Rockwood, Kevin R. Tipple, and Robert Weibezahl.

 

Guest Post: First Lines in Larceny & Last Chances: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense-- Part 1 by Judy Penz Sheluk

Please welcome Judy Penz Sheluk back to the blog today as she shares some of the first lines from the stories in the new anthology, Larceny & Last Chances: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense, releasing Tuesday.

 

Larceny & Last Chances: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense

First Lines: Part I

 

I thought it would be fun to share the first line of each story in Larceny & Last Chances: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense. But…that’s a very long post and let’s face it, these days most of us have the attention span of gnats (which actually bodes well for the short story format, though I digress).

 

Anyway, I ran the idea by Kevin Tipple, and we agreed to post the first 11 stories as Part I on the Short Mystery Fiction Society blog, and the second 11 stories on Part II on Kevin Tipple’s Kevin’s Corner (coming June 23). How’s that for a teaser?

 

Here goes:

 

Hail Mary Blues by Susan Daly

I stood in the spacious upper gallery of the Victoria Conservatory of Music’s new wing and tried not to weep.

 

Artifact by Robert Weibezahl

Frustrated and tired, Sebastian has just settled on a bench on the otherwise deserted outer deck of the ferry when his phone rings.

 

The Constellation Necklace by KM Rockwood

“Shrimp cocktail for the lady,” Roger told the waiter.

 

Uncle Randy’s Money by Charlie Kondek

Probably they were just men and women like you or I, but in my imagination and memory the desperadoes and sunflower maidens of the late ’70s and early ’80s strode denim-clad, slender and calibrated as dancers through the sidewalks and driveways of my childhood.

 

The Rage Cage by Bethany Maines

I got married so I wouldn’t have to date anymore.

 

Skeeter’s Bar & Grill by Julie Hastrup

Rounding the bend in the road, Jim—Sarah liked to call him James—caught sight of the enormous slate-gray shelf cloud barreling toward him like an alien ship going into battle.

 

Once a Thief by Gregory Meece

Gemma sat quietly as the prosecutor presented the jury with the mountain of evidence against her.

 

Hit-and-Run by Christina Boufis

Marcy told no one.

 

The Purloined Parchment by Edward Lodi

Dr. Arnold shook his head: “I’m sorry you traveled all the way from Central Asia on a wild goose chase, Professor Chana.”

 

Red Ink by Wendy Harrison

Tattooing is an intimate art.

 

The Hospital Boomerang by Kevin R. Tipple

It was the damn beeping that woke me up.

 

Have a favorite? Leave a comment. We really do love comments.

 

About the anthology

Larceny & Last Chances: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense

Edited by Judy Penz Sheluk

Publication Date: June 18, 2024

 

Sometimes it’s about doing the right thing. Sometimes it’s about getting even. Sometimes it’s about taking what you think you deserve. And sometimes, it’s your last, best, hope. Edited by Judy Penz Sheluk and featuring stories by Christina Boufis, John Bukowski, Brenda Chapman, Susan Daly, Wil A. Emerson, Tracy Falenwolfe, Kate Fellowes, Molly Wills Fraser, Gina X. Grant, Karen Grose, Wendy Harrison, Julie Hastrup, Larry M. Keeton, Charlie Kondek, Edward Lodi, Bethany Maines, Gregory Meece, Cate Moyle, Judy Penz Sheluk, KM Rockwood, Kevin R. Tipple, and Robert Weibezahl.

 

Pre-order at your favorite e-tailer: www.books2read.com/larceny

 

 

Judy Penz Sheluk ©2024 

 

Judy Penz Sheluk is a former journalist and magazine editor and the bestselling author of two mystery series, several short stories, and two books on publishing. She is also the publisher and editor of four Superior Shores Anthologies. Find out more at www.judypenzsheluk.com.

SMFS Member Publishing News: The Ins & Outs of Going Indie: A Step-by-Step Guide by Judy Penz Sheluk

Today is publication day for The Ins & Outs of Going Indie: A Step-by-Step Guide by Judy Penz Sheluk. Published by Superior Shores Press, this is the second book in her Step-By-Step Guides series that started with Finding Your Path to Publication. Currently available at Amazon.

 

Amazon Description:

You’ve thought about self-publishing, but is it the right path for you? Find answers, insights, and pro tips in Self-Publishing: The Ins & Outs of Going Indie. Written by Judy Penz Sheluk, bestselling author of Finding Your Path to Publication and multiple mystery novels, this must-have reference book covers the nuts and bolts of self-publishing from business basics and publishing platforms to post-publication sales and marketing strategies.

Whether you’re an aspiring author, a traditionally published author considering a change, or merely curious, “Going Indie” takes an honest, unbiased look at the pros and cons of self-publishing while guiding you through the process—one easy-to-understand step at a time.

SMFS Member Publishing News: Finding Your Path to Publication by Judy Penz Sheluk

Today is publication day for Finding Your Path to Publication by Judy Penz Sheluk. Published by Superior Shores Press, this is the first book in her Step-By-Step Guides series. It is published in a variety of formats by various vendors.

 

Book Description: The road to publishing is paved with good intentions…and horror stories of authors who had to learn the hard way. 

For the emerging author, the publishing world can be overwhelming. You’ve written the book, and you’re ready to share it with the world, but don’t know where to start. Traditional, independent press, hybrid, self-publishing, and online social platforms—all are valid publishing paths. The question is, which one is right for you? 

Finding Your Path to Publication is an introduction to an industry that remains a mystery to those on the outside. Learn how each publishing option works, what to expect from the process start to finish, how to identify red flags, and avoid common pitfalls. With statistics, examples, and helpful resources compiled by an industry insider who’s been down a few of these paths, this is your roadmap to decide which path you’d like to explore, and where to begin your author journey. 

SMFS Member Publishing News: Judy Penz Sheluk

Today is publication day for Where There's A Will: A Glass Dolphin Mystery by Judy Penz Sheluk. This is the third book in the series that began with The Hangman’s Noose. Published by the author’s publishing company, Superior Shores Press, the read is available in both print and eBook formats at  Amazon, and other vendors. 

 

Synopsis:

Emily Garland is getting married and looking for the perfect forever home. When the old, and some say haunted, Hadley house comes up for sale, she’s convinced it’s “the one.” The house is also perfect for reality TV star Miles Pemberton and his new series, House Haunters. Emily will fight for her dream home, but Pemberton’s pockets are deeper than Emily’s, and he’ll stretch the rules to get what he wants.While Pemberton racks up enemies all around Lount’s Landing, Arabella Carpenter, Emily’s partner at the Glass Dolphin antiques shop, has been hired to appraise the contents of the estate, along with her ex-husband, Levon. Could the feuding beneficiaries decide there’s a conflict of interest? Could Pemberton?Things get even more complicated when Arabella and Levon discover another will hidden inside the house, and with it, a decades-old secret. Can the property stay on the market? And if so, who will make the winning offer: Emily or Miles Pemberton?

2020 Public Safety Writers Association Winner: Victoria Weisfeld

SMFS list member Vicki Weisfeld’s short story, “Who They Are Now” took first place in the in the “Short Story, Published” category of the 2020 Public Safety Writers Association Awards.  Her story appears in the 2019 published anthology, Best Laid Plans: 21 Stories of Mystery And Suspense that was edited by SMFS list member Judy Penz Sheluk and published by her Superior Shores Press inprint. For more information on the Public Safety Writers Association Awards, including a list of winners, go to their website here. For more information on the anthology that contains the winning short story, please go to our SMFS news post for it here.

SMFS Members Published in Heartbreaks & Half Truths: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense

Numerous SMFS members are published in the new anthology, Heartbreaks & Half Truths: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense.  Published by Superior Shores Press, the anthology is available in both print and eBook formats from Amazon and other vendors. Edited by SMFS list member Judy Penz Sheluk, Chair of Crime Writers of Canada, the read includes the following SMFS members:

James Blakey with “The Greatest Secret.”

Christine Eskilson with “For Elizabeth.”

Tracy Falenwolfe with “Exposure.”

John Floyd with “Blackjack Road.”

Blair Keetch with “Deadly Cargo.”

Steve Liskow with “Ugly Fat.”

Peggy Rothschild with “The Devil’s Club.”

Kathleen Rockwood with “Burning Desire.”

Judy Penz Sheluk with “Goulaigans.”

Joseph S. Walker with “Pink Hearts Pierced By Arrows.”

Synopsis:

Lovers and losers. 

Whether it’s 1950s Hollywood, a scientific experiment, or a yard sale in suburbia, the twenty-two authors represented in this collection of mystery and suspense interpret the overarching theme of “heartbreaks and half-truths” in their own inimitable style, where only one thing is certain: Behind every broken heart lies a half-truth. 

And behind every half-truth lies a secret.

Featuring stories by Sharon Hart Addy, Paula Gail Benson, James Blakey, Gustavo Bondoni,

Susan Daly, Buzz Dixon, Rhonda Eikamp, Christine Eskilson,Tracy Falenwolfe, KateFlora, John M.Floyd, J.A. Henderson, Blair Keetch, Steve Liskow, Edward Lodi, Judy Penz Sheluk, KM Rockwood, Peggy Rothschild, Joseph S.Walker, James Lincoln Warren, Chris Wheatley and Robb T. White.

SMFS Member Publication News: Judy Penz Sheluk

SMFS list member Judy Penz Sheluk’s new book, A Fool’s Journey: A Marketville Mystery, published today by Superior Shores Press.  The mystery is available in print and digital formats from Amazon and other vendors.

Synopsis:

In March 2000, twenty-year-old Brandon Colbeck left home to find himself on a self-proclaimed "fool's journey." No one--not friends or family--have seen or heard from him since, until a phone call from a man claiming to be Brandon brings the case back to the forefront. Calamity (Callie) Barnstable and her team at Past & Present Investigations have been hired to find out what happened to Brandon and where he might be. As Callie follows a trail of buried secrets and decades-old deceptions only one thing is certain: whatever the outcome, there is no such thing as closure.

Judy Penz Sheluk: When Things Go South When You’re North: The End of Barking Rain Press

Judy Penz Sheluk: When Things Go South When You’re North: The End of Barking Rain Press

Little Big Crimes Review: Spirit River Dam by Susan Daly

Little Big Crimes: Spirit River Dam, by Susan Daly: "Spirit River Dam," by Susan Daly, in The Best Laid Plans, edited by Judy Penz Sheluk, Superior Shores Press, 2019. There is ...

SMFS Members Published in The Best Laid Plans: 21 Stories of Mystery and Suspense

A number of SMFS list members have stories the anthology, The Best Laid Plans: 21 Stories Of Mystery & Suspense published today by Superior Shores Press. Edited by SMFS list member Judy Penz Sheluk, the anthology is available in print and digital formats from Amazon and ither vendors. The SMFS list members in this anthology are:

Tom Barlow with “Heirloom.”

Peter DiChellis with “Callingdon Mountain.”

Lesley A. Diehl with “Lunch Break.”

C.C. Guthrie with “A Sure Thing.”

V. S. Kemanis with “Sucker Punch.”

Lisa Lieberman with ““Better Dead Then Redhead.”

LD Masterson with “Deadly Dinner.”

Edith Maxwell with “The Stonecutter.”

Rosemary McCracken with in “The Sweetheart Scamster.”

Lisa De Nikolits with “Fire Drill.”

KM Rockwood with “Frozen Daiquiris.”  

Peggy Rothschild with “The Cookie Crumbles.”

Judy Penz Sheluk  with “Plan D.”

Vicki Weisfeld with “Who They Are Now.”

Amazon Synopsis:

Whether it's a subway station in Norway, ski resort in Vermont, McMansion in the suburbs, or trendy art gallery in Toronto, the 21 authors represented in this superb collection of mystery and suspense interpret the overarching theme of the best-laid plans in their own inimitable style. And like many best-laid plans, they come with no guarantees.

Stories by Tom Barlow, Susan Daly, Lisa de Nikolits, P.A. De Voe, Peter DiChellis, Lesley A. Diehl, Mary Dutta, C.C. Guthrie, William Kamowski, V.S. Kemanis, Lisa 

The Minerva Reader: Interview with Judy Penz Sheluk about The Best Laid Plans Anthology

The Minerva Reader: Interview with Judy Penz Sheluk about The Best Laid Plans Anthology

Superior Shores Press: The Best Laid Plans (Anthology Call For Submissions)

Superior Shores Press: The Best Laid Plans  (Anthology Call For Submissions)