Dear Readers: Just last month, I had the privilege to help facilitate a rescue. When the heroine of the adventure, acknowledged cat whisperer Fran Bush, wrote the story and sent it to me, I asked if I could share it. I think you will truly appreciate Fran’s talent and expertise, both as a storyteller and […]
Welcome guest blogger James M. Jackson! Jim is a terrific author, editor, publisher, teacher, and friend. Congratulations on your new series. May it rival Seamus McCree’s success! Best wishes, Paula Gail Benson By James M. Jackson Tomorrow marks a milestone I’ve been working toward for months: the official publication of Niki Undercover, the first book […]
by Paula Gail Benson When I was growing up, my mother, a schoolteacher, and I spent summers with her family. (My father joined us if his work permitted.) One of Mom’s sisters subscribed to the Readers Digest condensed books series and gave me a volume that contained Eve Curie’s biography of her mother, Marie. Madame […]
by Paula Gail Benson Recently, I saw a story call for weird western flash fiction. I knew flash fiction was usually less than 1,000 words, but I had not previously heard of weird westerns. The website reachyourapex.com, which offers affordable professional workshops for authors, sponsored this submission opportunity. The contest was called Weird West […]
by Paula Gail Benson The Bethlehem Writers Group (BWG), originally based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, but now having members across the United States, has done a great deal to support writers at all levels. Its quarterly online publication, the Bethlehem Writers Roundtable (BWR), pays contributors and sponsors an annual short story contest. I have a special […]
by Paula Gail Benson Annually, the Short Mystery Fiction Society (SMFS) recognizes excellence by awarding the Derringers (four categories based on word count—flash, short short, long short, and novelette). This year, an award is being given for best anthology. In addition, the SMFS presents awards for a body of work. Art Taylor, who is well […]
by Paula Gail Benson Last week, I made a trip to Charleston, S.C., for an appointment scheduled early on Wednesday morning. I live about an hour and a half to two hours away, so I decided to go down the day before to be on time and not have to fight the traffic. Years ago, […]
by Paula Gail Benson It’s that time of year! Next weekend, the Agatha awards will be presented at Malice Domestic in Bethesda, Maryland. To celebrate, we asked the Agatha-nominated authors in the categories of Best Contemporary Novel, Best Debut Novel, and Best Short Story to tell us: IF YOUR PROTAGONIST(S) COULD ATTEND THE AGATHA BANQUET, […]
by Paula Gail Benson It’s that time of year when nominations are announced. Mystery short stories have categories in the Mystery Writers of America’s Edgars (for best short story and the Robert L. Fish award for best first short story), the Agathas given at Malice Domestic, and the Thrillers presented at Thrillerfest. Following are the […]
by Paula Gail Benson This week, I received a report from a sinus CT. It contained the line: “The skull is unremarkable.” I had to think about that, rather like Hamlet contemplating Yorick’s skull in the graveyard scene in Shakespeare’s play. To put in context, in Hamlet, Act V, Scene 1, Hamlet and Horatio come […]