February 2024
I have a new story out this month and award finalist news! The new story first …
Murder, Neat
The anthology Murder, Neat was published on February 13 by the Level Short imprint of Level Best Books. Edited by Michael Bracken and me, the book has twenty-four crime stories, all written by members of the SleuthSayers blog. Edgar Award finalist Joseph S. Walker said of the book, “Simply put, the SleuthSayers are the finest authors of short crime fiction working today. For readers, this collection will be a joy. For aspiring writers, it’s a chance to belly up to the bar and let the best in the business show you how it’s done. Not to be missed.”
The book includes my short story “Never Have I Ever.” In this story, Tamara’s playing her favorite secrets-sharing drinking game with her friends. But she has secrets she’ll never share.
Because she’s obsessed.
Because she’s haunted.
Because she has a plan.
You can read more about the book on SleuthSayers here (and in daily posts to come for the next few weeks). The book is being released in ebook and trade paperback. You should be able to find it at the usual online outlets any time now. At the moment, here’s a link for the Amazon ebook version.
Award news!
My short story “Real Courage” has been named a finalist for the Agatha Award, and I couldn’t be more pleased. It appeared in issue 14 of Black Cat Mystery Magazine. In the story, a seemingly insignificant incident winds up affecting many lives over many years. It’s a story about good intentions, moral quandaries, questionable judgment, unintended consequences, and courage.
You can find the issue for sale via various online outlets. I’ve also put it up here to read for free for a limited time. Click on the Real Courage tab above or just click here. The Agatha Award winners will be voted upon and announced at the Malice Domestic mystery convention in April.
