SMFS Member Publishing News: Fever Pitch by M. E. Proctor

SMFS list member M. E. Proctor’s short story, Fever Pitch, was published earlier this week at the website, A Thin Slice of Anxiety. You can read the tale for free here.

SMFS Member Podcast News: The Rabbi’s Wife Stayed Home by Debra H. Goldstein

 

SMFS list member Debra H. Goldstein’s short story, The Rabbi’s Wife Stayed Home, is featured this week at Mysteryrat's Maze podcast. Produced by Kings River Life Magazine, the podcast can be heard here.

 

Website Description:

This episode features the mystery short story The Rabbi’s Wife Stayed Home By Debra H. Goldstein. It is read by local actor Donna Beavers. The Rabbi’s Wife Stayed Home was published in Mysterical-E – Mystericale.com in April of 2014. You can learn more about the author on her website.

In each episode, we share with you mystery short stories and mystery novel first chapters read by actors from the San Joaquin Valley. Our theme song was written and performed by Kevin Memley. 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 our podcast newsletter.

If you would like to help support this podcast and Kings River Life financially, and get some fun rewards, check out our Patreon Page. You can also make a one time donation through Paypal and you can purchase some fun Mysteryrat's Maze merchandise on Redbubble.

You can find more mystery fun on our websites Kings River Life Magazine and KRL News and Reviews.

SMFS Members Published in Mystery Magazine: May 2023

SMFS list members are published in the Mystery Magazine: May 2023 issue. The read is available in print and digital formats from Amazon. The members in the issue are:

 

Brandon Barrows with "Master Touch."

 

R.T. Lawton with "Raising Money."

 

Veronica Leigh with "Family Ties."

 

Robert Lopresti with "Hypnagogia."

 

Alan Orloff with "The Story of Andre Venge."

 

Amazon Description:

★ In this issue ★ 

In our cover feature story, “Lupita” by Michael McGuire, a young woman, apparently on a voyage of self-discovery, discovers the guilty party.

“The Story Of Andre Venge” by Alan Orloff is full of Sugar Mamas, Black Widows, and dishes best served cold.

“Hypnagogia” by Robert Lopresti: Kevin tells his dinner party guests about hypnogogia, a form of hallucination. One guest may be a little too interested …

‘Family Ties’ by Veronica Leigh: Sheriff Claire Williams is attending a funeral and is shocked when the coffin is accidentally dropped and pops open. There is a second body in with the deceased! She believes a crime was committed—possibly a murder—and sets out to prove it.

“Master Touch” by Brandon Barrows: The murder of an artist is serious, but not calamitous—unless a relative of the new Doge is a suspect.

“Raising Money” by R.T. Lawton: Danny and Jackson are trying out a new con scheme called Raising Money, which involves raising the denominations on existing currency. Ones turn into tens and tens turn into hundreds. All they need is a believer with extra cash.

“The Conservatory” by Linda Watkins: What do revenge, murder, and horticulture all have in common? Former NIA agent, Simon Biggs, is about to find out when he enters The Conservatory.

“No Nickel-And-Dime Theft,” a You-Solve-It by Bruce Harris: Can you help figure out the guilty party in this mystery of rare coins and twin suspects.

Cover Art By Robin Grenville Evans

SMFS Member Publishing News: The Sand Bar by M. E. Proctor

SMFS list member M. E. Proctor’s short story, The Sand Bar, is the selection this month at Stone’s Throw: A Rock And A Hard Place Publication. Each month a new tale is selected to appear on the first and is free to read online. You can read the tale for free here.

SMFS Member Publishing News: Slow Movin' Outlaw by Joseph S. Walker

 

SMFS list member Joseph S. Walker’s short story, Slow Movin' Outlaw, was published yesterday at TOUGH. The story is free to read online here.

SMFS Members Published in Get Up Offa That Thing: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of James Brown

SMFS list members are published in the new anthology, Get Up Offa That Thing: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of James Brown. Edited by SMFS list member Gary Phillips, the anthology is published by Down & Out Books. The read is available from the publisher, Amazon, and other vendors.  The SMFS list members in the book are:

 

John M. Floyd with “Shadygrove.”

 

Editor Gary Phillips with "In a Cold Sweat."

James Ziskin with “Prisoner of Love.”

 

Publisher Description:

“Mr. Dynamite,” “Soul Brother No. 1,” “The Godfather of Soul,” deadbeat dad, convicted spousal abuser…

James Brown was all those things and so much more. Yet it can’t be denied his music impacted a generation of fans and influenced a grip of musicians who came after him—from David Bowie, Janelle Monae to Usher just to name three. In the tradition then of other Down & Out Books music-themed anthologies such as Murder-A-Go-Go’s: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Music of the Go-Go’s and The Great Filling Station Holdup: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Jimmy Buffett, this all-original set of fourteen stories follows in that stead.

The idea expressed to the writers was not literal interpretations of any given song by Mr. Brown. Rather to use that title or lyric and the ofttimes edginess behind such efforts as “King Heroin” and “The Payback,” or the fun in “Make it Funky,” as a prompt, a starting point for the story the contributor wanted to tell. Covers the Godfather of Soul did of others’ songs could have also been tapped. While the majority of stories in the collection are prose, there is a comics style one and more than one of the text versions have an illustration or two to accompany the story.

The collection includes stories by six-time Bram Stoker Award winner Lisa Morton; Anthony, Barry and Macavity Awards winner James Ziskin; Jim Fusilli, former Rock & Pop critic for the Wall Street Journal; and HBO Max Doom Patrol staff writer and comics creator Ezra Claytan Daniels.

Other contributors include Shamus Award winner Gar Anthony Haywood; Mysti Berry, creator and editor of the Low Down Dirty Vote anthologies; five-time Derringer and Golden Derringer Award winner John M. Floyd; Lise McClendon, writer of the Bennett Sisters mysteries; cultural critic and short story writer Michael Gonzales; novelist and former Miami Vice showrunner and writer-producer on Hill Street Blues Robert Ward; Fabrice Sapolsky, comics creator of FairSquare Comics’ Intertwined and Marvel Comics’ Spider-Man Noir; filmmaker and pioneer of Hip Hop horror Jeff Carroll; crime fiction novelist and Dark Yonder editor Katy Munger; and hardboiled novelist and co-producer on Snowfall, Gary Phillips.

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.