
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog
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From the group keeping mystery & crime stories in the public eye since 1996
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog
2w ago
The weather's been cold, but the members of the Short Mystery Fiction Society got 2025 off to a red-hot start with a plethora of powerful publications! Readers looking for some great stories to curl up with as we wait for spring will find a wealth of terrific options here, as SMFS proudly highlights some of the tremendous work our talented writers turned out in January.
The anthology GONE FISHIN': CRIME TAKES A HOLIDAY, with stories of crime interrupting vacations, is the eighth in a highly successful series from the Guppy chapter of Sisters in Crime. SMFS members represented in th ..read more
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog
2M ago
The Short Mystery Fiction Society will honor excellence in mystery and crime fiction with our Derringer Awards in 2025.
Categories will be
Best Flash Story (Up to 1,000 words)
Best Short Story (1,001 to 4,000 words)
Best Long Story (4,001 to 8,000 words)
Best Novelette (8,001 to 20,000 words)
and
Best Anthology
Join before year end to participate.
Join the Society
Find out more about the Derringer Awards here ..read more
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog
2M ago
SMFS list members are published in the new anthology, Santa Rage: A Killer Claus Compendium. Edited by fellow SMFS list member Jay Hartman, the book is currently available from the publisher, White City Press, and will be available at other vendors soon. The SMFS list members that reported being in the read are:
KM Rockwood with “Burn, Baby, Burn.”
Kevin R. Tipple with “First Contact.”
Publisher Description:
Inspired by a suggestion from legendary book reviewer, author and multi-term Short Mystery Fiction Society President Kevin R. Tipple, here’s the holiday anthology tha ..read more
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog
2M ago
Today is publication day for the new book, Lost and Loaded: a Gun's Tale (the 509 Crime Anthologies). The anthology from High Speed Creative, LLC, includes short stories by SMFS list members. The read is available from Amazon and other vendors. The SMFS list members that reported being in the read are:
James D.F. Hannah with “Do You See the Light?”
Curtis Ippolito with “8-Hour Detour.”
Robert Lopresti with “The Book Deal.”
Amazon Description:
Taking the revolver was their first mistake. Using it was their second.
Marlin Hattenburg has no idea of the mayhem he ..read more
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog
2M ago
SMFS list members are published in the Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine: January/February 2025 issue. The issue is available at the publisherand other vendors. The SMFS members that reported being in the issue are:
David Bart with “Going the Distance.”
Marcelle Dubé with “No Title, No Clout.”
Paul Ryan O'Connor with “As You See The World.”
Josh Pachter with a translation of François Bloemhof’s “The Wages of Sin.”
Manon Wogahn with “Kanab Noon ..read more
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog
2M ago
SMFS list members are published in the Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine: January/February 2025 issue. The issue is available at the publisher and other vendors. Those list members that reported being published in the issue are:
Joslyn Chase with “Santa's Eyes.”
Marcelle Dubé with “King of the Visigoths.”
Kevin Egan with “The Guardianship of Willie Musslburgh.”
John M. Floyd with “The Cado Devil.”
James A. Hearn with “The Nine Lives of Dr. Impossible.”
Jillian Grant Shoichet with “The Toll ..read more
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog
2M ago
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 Ed ..read more
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog
2M ago
SMFS list members reported being published in Dark Yonder: Issue 8. Billed as the Holiday Issue 2024, the print version came out back on November 13th with the digital version released on December 1st. Published by Thalia Press, the read is available atAmazon. The SMFS list members that reported being in the read are:
Recita Clemons with “Have Turkey, Will Travel.”
Zakariah Johnson with “Residents and Renters.”
Ed Teja for “Toys for Thugs.”
Amazon Description:
Bah, Humbug!
Yeah, yeah, we know. Peace on earth and all that. We’re fans. But we also recognize that all ..read more
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog
2M ago
SMFS list member T. Lee Harris reported today that her new book, Lies in the Place of Truth: A Sitehuti and Nefer-Djenou-Bastet Novel was published earlier this month. Published by Per Bastet Publications LLC, the read is available at Amazon.
Publisher Description:
At the end of the events surrounding the Heb Sed, all young scribe Sitehuti wanted to do was grab his cat and retreat to his family home in the Place of Truth, the workers’ village for the Great Place, the Royal necropolis. That didn’t happen. Now, with the funeral and burial of Prince Amunhotep looming, he gets his wish — s ..read more
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog
2M ago
SMFS list member Margaret S. Hamilton reported that her short story, Gnomes For the Holidays, 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 Christmas mystery short story Gnomes For the Holidays by Margaret S. Hamilton. It is read by local actor Donna Beavers. 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 the ..read more