The Publishing Game

July 9, 2025/in Anthologies, cozy mystery, Culinary Cozy, humor, Marketing, Mystery, Publishing, Romance, Romantic Suspense/by Bethany Maines

What Are We Publishing?

Publishing is always a bit of a game, but sometimes I feel more like I’m racking up publishing “points.” This year, I’ve found myself with some unexpectedly free writing time. I wrapped up writing the series I was working on (the Valkyrie Brothers) and I didn’t have a next grand project to launch into. Which meant I found myself surfing around the author communities and checking out open submission calls. Short stories are always a unique challenge, but for some reason there have been some what I would call “long-short story” openings. Usually short stories are under 5,000 words, but these were running 8 or 9 thousand words and then there were some novella openings at 15,000 – 20,000 words. Which was when I decided to give myself carpal tunnel syndrome and to rack up as many publishing points as possible.

Short Stories

Short stories usually publish in magazines and anthologies and are often snapshots of a moment. Compressing an entire plot into a short story is almost impossible. Respect to the writer’s who can accomplish it, but my view of short stories are that they are their own format and have their own rhythm and conventions.

Mid-Length

But mid-length stories? Hmmm… This was a new challenge for me. At 8-9k words that seemed like enough room to get an entire plot in. So I went back to my plotting systems, worked on some outlines, and then did math. I know that doesn’t sound natural for a writer, but once I knew how many scenes/chapters I had, I could divide by the total allowed word count and figure out my allowed words per scene. And then I could see how badly I was blowing past that word count.

Novellas

I used the same formula for the 15-20k word novellas as I did for the mid-length stories and was happy with the increased word count. The finished products seemed a bit “naked” in that I felt like if I wanted them to be full length novels they should have more description. However, even with the length requirements and fast pacing I still felt like I had a complete story and I was happy with the results.

For this experiment the openings were in spicier romance novels, which is not my usual readership. Since I didn’t want to ambush any of my readers with extra spicy content, I decided to submit the stories with a pen name and I asked the Stiletto Gang and readers for help picking what to use. The results are now in and Vivienne Cross was the clear winner.

So What’s Next?

Here’s a quick run down of stories that are in the works (or have been published already).

Front Desk Staff – Short Story – This crime short found a home in Midnight Schemers & Daydream Believers and was released June 18 – BUY NOW: https://amzn.to/3FGfkzF
Carol of the Bells – Mid-Length – This Hallmark-style small town romance will be in the 12 Knights of Christmas anthology and will be out in October.
Love, Lefse, & Murder – Mid-Length – This Cozy Culinary Mystery is on submission and was sent off with a lingonberry jam recipe. Fingers crossed, but if it doesn’t go to the anthology I’ll still be sure to share the recipe with all of you!
Bound by Desire – Novella – This incubus romance is on submission to the publisher and I’m hopeful that this sex positive tale will find a home, but it will definitely be a Vivienne Cross story.
Forged in Flame – Novella – Also with a publisher, this dragon shifter romance has got all the tropes and takes place in Hawaii. It’s possible I just wanted to go to the beach when I wrote it, but it’s another Vivienne Cross novella.
Savage Hope – Novella – I was going to submit this story about a girl on the run from her necromancer stepdad, but I ended up loving it too much. So I’m keeping it and will be adding it to my Supernatural series. It’s got horror story vibes, motorcycles, and an army of undead roadkill. One of the most fun things I’ve written recently.
Deja Brew – Novella – A paranormal (but clean) romance, this one features a coffee shop owner who sees the future, but only a few minutes ahead. I’m still writing this one, and the girl just found out that the guy used to work for the corporate coffee chain that wants to buy out her store (gasp!)! Wish them (and me) luck.
And of course (and most important) … Emergency Exit – Novel – Release date: 9/22/25 – Book 3 of the Valkyrie Brothers series. Tech investor Asher Valkyrie hired Harper Smoak to be his fake girlfriend for stress-free social events, but the faux-relationship quickly sends real sparks flying. What began as a simple arrangement soon turns into a high-stakes game of love and survival when Ash’s lies begin to unravel. – PREORDER NOW: https://amzn.to/43ZKsT6

If all goes well, then between 2025 – 2026 then I should have 5-6 additional publishing credits beyond my usual novels. And yes, that seems like a lot to me too. But if I’m going to get all the publishing points and play the game, then I’m going to play to win. I’ll keep everyone posted on how things go!

***

Bethany Maines is the award-winning author of action-adventure and fantasy tales that focus on women who know when to apply lipstick and when to apply a foot to someone’s hind end. She participates in many activities including swearing, karate, art, and yelling at the news. She can usually be found chasing after her daughter, or glued to the computer working on her next novel (or screenplay). You can also catch up with her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and BookBub.

Find out more about the Stiletto Gang and our books: Books

Summertime Reading

July 3, 2025/in Cozy Mysteries, Culinary Cozy, Summer Reads/by Mary Lee Ashford

by Mary Lee Ashford

Here in the Midwest it’s been hot, hot, hot recently. I know that’s been true in a lot of other areas as well. With the triple digit heat indexes making it uncomfortable outside, I find myself saying to people, “It’s great weather to stay inside and read!”

But then I realized I say the same thing when we have two feet of snow and a twenty-below wind chill as well. “It’s great weather to stay inside and read!”

Or rainy and stormy outside. Also…you guessed it…great for staying in and reading.

So I guess for me, any season (winter, spring, summer, or fall) is a wonderful season for reading.

However, there’s a lot of buzz right now about “Summer Reads” with all sorts of list to help us pick books to pack in our beach bag, read on the plane, or curl up with on the couch.

And there are some fun lists out there like:

The 2025 Goodreads Guide to Summer Reading

Summer Reads 2025 from Publisher’s Weekly

NPR’s What to Read This Summer

AARP’s 35 Summer Books to Add to Your 2025 Reading List

An article in the Guardian by Daisy Buchanan, caught my eye and proposes we should “Choose comfort, ditch boring, and prioritize pleasure” to find the perfect beach read. In researching her book “Read Yourself Happy,” Ms. Buchanan investigates the positive impact that reading has on our wellbeing. In fact, a study published by the National Library of Medicine in 2020, indicated that reading wards off cognitive decline. But she posits that we only experience the benefits of books if we are enjoying what we’re reading.

So what books would you recommend for enjoyable reading?

I’ll start with this list of wonderful books by Stiletto Gang blog members here: The Stiletto Gang Books

What titles would you add? What books are you looking forward to reading this summer? Do you perhaps have a book you’ve been saving to read on your vacation?

I can’t wait to hear your suggestions so please share!

Mary Lee Ashford is the author of the Sugar & Spice mystery series from Oliver Heber Books and also half of the Sparkle Abbey writing team. She is a lifelong bibliophile, an avid reader, and public library champion. Prior to publishing Mary Lee won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. She is the founding president of Sisters in Crime – Iowa as well as a member of Mystery Writers of America and Novelists, Inc. She lives in the Midwest with her family and her feline coworker.

She loves to hear from other readers and can be found on Facebook, Instagram, BlueSky and BookBub.

Also, of special note:

Game of Scones, the first book in the Sugar & Spice series is currently free in all ebook formats.

And the latest release, Night of the Living Bread, was a Barnes & Noble Top 5 Indie Fave.

Plus Oliver Heber Books is offering a “direct from the publisher” set of all four books for 50% off: Sugar & Spice Mysteries Set

The Secret Ingredient to Great Storytelling & a Free Book

April 3, 2025/in Cozy Mysteries, cozy mystery, cozy mystery books, Culinary Cozy, Mysteries/by Mary Lee Ashford

from Mary Lee Ashford *

It’s been a busy month or so here with a new book coming out in May (Night of the Living Bread), a book festival, preparing for Malice Domestic and beginning work on the next book in the Sugar & Spice mystery series. Maybe because I’m at the very beginning of that fun process of starting a new book and this series is a culinary cozy mystery series, I got to thinking about food in fiction. And the role it plays in storytelling. Whether it’s the tantalizing descriptions of a cozy café (like the Red Hen Diner) in a small-town mystery, a feast fit for a king in a grand historical, or the comforting home-cooked meals shared between characters, food plays a vital role in storytelling.

Here are a few of the reasons I came up with as to why that is:

1. Food Adds Atmosphere and Setting

Food has an incredible ability to evoke a sense of place and time, immersing us in the world of the story. It adds layers of sensory detail that bring the book’s setting to life without a lot of descriptive narrative. Kind of a shorthand that give us clues to both place and vibe.

3. Food Appeals to the Senses

Reading about food is a feast for the imagination. When a novel describes the crunch of a flaky pie crust, the tang of freshly squeezed lemonade, or the aroma of slow-cooked stew, it engages our senses in a visceral way. These vivid descriptions make stories feel richer and more immersive.

3. Food Builds Character Depth

What a character eats (or refuses to eat) can tell us so much about them. Is the detective addicted to strong black coffee and greasy diner food? Does the heroine bake elaborate cakes as a way to process her emotions? The way characters interact with food—whether they savor it, scorn it, or use it as a coping mechanism—reveals their personality, background, and even emotional state. Additionally, who they share it with and how gives us insight into relationships in the story.

4. Food Can Add Comfort or Danger

In cozy mysteries, food often serves as a comforting, warm element—think charming bakeries and steaming cups of tea. But in darker genres, food can be used to heighten tension. A glass of wine could be poisoned. A fancy banquet might hint at secrets hidden beneath a veneer of civility. Whether it’s a source of comfort or conflict, food is never just about sustenance—it’s about what’s going on in people’s lives.

5. Food Evokes Emotions

Certain tastes have the power to transport us back in time. The scent of fresh-baked cookies might remind us of childhood memories or memories of when our children were young. A family recipe can stir up old memories and emotions. Food is tied to our personal histories. In fact, a recent Harvard study found that food is “an effective trigger of deeper memories of feelings and emotions.” There was a lot more about the hippocampus, neurotransmitters, and declarative memories but the bottom line is food is a strong connector to emotion.

What are your thoughts? Do certain foods bring back memories for you? Do you have a particular sub-genre of culinary mysteries that you enjoy?

The Sugar & Spice Mysteries feature former magazine editor, Sugar Calloway and blue-ribbon baker, Dixie Spicer, who have launched a community cookbook business. One reviewer says, “When you add to the likeable characters, a fine small town setting, an interesting cozy mystery plot, and loads of yummy food, you have a recipe for success!”

Currently my publisher is offering a Kindle Deal on GAME OF SCONES, so if you don’t already have a copy here’s your chance to grab the first book in the series for free! GAME OF SCONES OFFER

*Mary Lee Ashford is the author of the Sugar & Spice mystery series from Oliver Heber Books and also half of the Sparkle Abbey writing team who pen the national best-selling Pampered Pets series. She is a lifelong bibliophile, an avid reader, and public library champion. Prior to publishing Mary Lee won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. She is the founding president of Sisters in Crime – Iowa as well as a member of Mystery Writers of America and Novelists, Inc. She lives in the Midwest with her family and her feline coworker.