It’s Time for Advent Ghosts

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by Paula Gail Benson

Since 2015, I have been participating in Loren Eaton’s annual celebration of a “spirited” holiday by contributing to his call for “drabble” (short stories of exactly 100 words) that evoke the spectral or paranormal aspects of the season. Over the years, I’ve considered the perspectives of the deceased with unfinished business, inanimate objects that despise their own garish decorations and long for a real Santa experience, folk tales about Yule Cats and Snow Maidens, and even a takeoff on a joke about an elf, reindeer, and snowman stopping by a bar for an artic beer.

The whole experience is wonderfully creative as well as challenging. Each year, I’m amazed by the emotion and ideas that can be packed into 100 words.

Loren provides a link to contributors’ websites or will publish the stories on his own, with the authors retaining their copyrights.

Please consider joining the fun this year. Here’s the link with the instructions I Saw Lightning Fall, which I’ve also included below.

Happy Holidays to all!

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ADVENT GHOSTS FROM LOREN EATON:

1) Email me at ISawLightningFall [at] proton [dot] me if you want to participate.
2) Pen a story that’s exactly 100-words long—no more, no less.
3) Post the story to your blog anywhere from Saturday, December 13, to Friday, December 19.
Hosting on ISLF is available for those without blogs or anyone who wants to write under a pseudonym. (Don’t worry, you’ll retain copyright!)
4) Email the link of your story to me.
5) While you should feel free to write whatever you want to, know that I reserve the right to put a content warning on any story that I think needs it.

Read a Short Story a Day with John M. Floyd’s Collections

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by Paula Gail Benson

Barb Goffman, an excellent short story author and editor, has suggested that the best way to learn the craft is to read a short story a day for a year. Barb’s collection from 2013, Don’t Get Mad, Get Even, is an excellent place to start. May I also recommend John M. Floyd’s work?

If you haven’t encountered John from his stories, excellent posts in SleuthSayers, or his programs (in October he gave a class on Plotting the Short Story for the virtual Mystery in the Midlands: Writing Short Mystery Fiction 2025), then definitely you need to check out one of his collections. John, a former Air Force captain and IBM systems engineer, has written over one thousand stories, been nominated for an Edgar Award, received a Shamus Award and six Derringer Awards, and has been recognized with a lifetime achievement award from the Short Mystery Fiction Society. Crippen and Landru has recently released River Road and Other Stories, John’s ninth collection, which includes his work found in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, The Strand, and the Saturday Evening Post.

Fifty Mysteries: the Angela Files compiles the Solve-It-Yourself stories about Angela Potts written for Woman’s World magazine. Although each is less than one thousand words the mysteries are well developed and thought provoking.

Dreamland contains Floyd’s Law and Daughter series along with some of his work in genres other than mystery.

Rainbow’s End and Other Stories offers thirty stories that features Floyd’s skill with the plot twist. Readers will enjoy his dialogue, diverse settings, and invention.

For quantity and quality, John’s work is inspiring. For anyone wanting to learn the craft and anyone wanting to enjoy great storytelling, these collections would be fabulous gifts.

 

Planning to Enjoy a Year of Writing Craft Programs

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by Paula Gail Benson

Writers are always looking for opportunities to hone their skills. Attending classes is the perfect way to keep advancing and making valuable connections. While in-person programs offer a terrific means to engage in discussion, virtual workshops give some of the same educational possibilities at a more economical cost.

If you are looking for short story courses, check out the past programs presented through Sisters in Crime and 2025 MWA University – Mystery Writers of America.

Additionally, in October, for the second year in a row, author and editor Michael Bracken joined with the Palmetto Chapter of Sisters in Crime and the Southeastern Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America to present a free virtual program on writing short mystery fiction. Called Mystery in the Midlands: Short Mystery Fiction 2025, it featured John M. Floyd explaining how to plot the short story; Michael Bracken moderating a panel of New Voices in Short Mystery Fiction, consisting of N.M. Cedeño, LaToya Jovena, and Tom Milani; and me speaking with three wonderful editors: Barb Goffman, Sandra Murphy, and Josh Pachter. (Plans are in the works to have another free virtual short story program in 2026.)

If you would like to view the recording of Mystery in the Midlands: Short Mystery Fiction 2025, here is how you may access it. Connect to the link below by pressing CTRL (control) and clicking on the link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/iZh6oa8BgBpUUzPDxu1nDwpbbfmq8sWcKe7KT4XdknrONPNVGTaNvsG6X-m3k3HS.OG0O8fzM1XHqDPtt?startTime=1760799152000

When prompted, enter this Passcode: 7Zb@%i5f

For an in-person short story conference, check out Michael Bracken’s ShortCon, which will be held Saturday, June 6, 2026, at Elaine’s Restaurant in Alexandria, Virginia. It provides an excellent forum for learning and networking.

Outliers Writing University (at this link: Write Your Bestseller With Outliers Writing University) was created by Kathleen Antrim and D.P. Lyle to offer three types of online programing. The Online Ongoing Writers Conference provides 2 classes per month for a year, available live and for a limited time by recording. Single classes or workshops may be purchased at Advanced Workshops | Outliers Writing University. Also a 5-class, 10-week Manuscript Boot Camp | Outliers Writing University is offered periodically for small groups to help improve manuscripts and give personalized feedback.

The Mystery Writers of America has presented its University in-person at several locations for years. Now, online classes (see 2024 MWA University – Mystery Writers of America or 2025 MWA University – Mystery Writers of America) are available free of  charge for MWA members and for a cost to nonmembers. MWA also is collaborating with Outliers Writing University to offer programs.

Killer Nashville, the conference started by Clay Stafford, now sponsors Killer Nashville University | Learn, Grow, and Elevate Your Writing (which has a new name, The Balanced Writer). For a monthly or annual subscription, it provides access to speeches, classes, workshops, discussions, and a newsletter.

So, if you are looking for yourself or to gift an author, consider some of these great in-person and online programs. What a terrific way to celebrate writing and the holidays!

THE KITTEN WHO LIVED (A True Story)

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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 a caring human being. I’m proud to call her my friend.

Here in her own words is the story of “The Kitten Who Lived.” Thanks, Fran, for sharing.

Paula Gail Benson

THE KITTEN WHO LIVED (A True Story)

By Frances “Fran” Bush

On Saturday, September 27, 2025, I received a text message from my friend Paula asking me if I would be willing to take a kitten who a friend of hers had found.  The friend couldn’t keep the kitten. I said Yes.  Paula put her friend Catherine in touch with me and then I learned the rest of the rescue story.

Catherine and her husband, Shawn, live in Lexington, S.C., and they rescue dogs.  They were traveling on a very busy highway in Lexington County, in a 55mph zone, when they spotted 2 dogs in the center of the road.  They had stopped to check on the dogs when they noticed one dog had something in its mouth. They forced the dog to drop what they thought was a squirrel only to realize it was a tiny kitten.

In a few more seconds, the dog would have killed the baby kitten, but Catherine and her husband saved it!  

Having rescued the baby kitten, they tried to find help.  When they contacted the animal shelters in and near Columbia, S.C., they learned the shelters would not take cats or kittens because of some kind of cat illness.

Then, they checked every other place and person they could think of with no help found. Catherine resorted to posting a plea for help on Facebook.  That is where our mutual friend Paula saw the post, contacted me, and put me in touch with Catherine.

If Catherine had not posted on Facebook and Paula had not immediately seen the post and called me, I would never have known about the tiny baby kitten needing help.

When Catherine texted me, we arranged to meet about halfway between Lexington and my home in Windsor.  Catherine and Shawn were waiting for us when we arrived in Pelion, S.C.   One look at the tiny baby kitten in a big box and I knew it was worth the trip.  I talked to Catherine for just a couple of minutes, and they gave me a 7-pound bag of Fancy Feast Kitten food they had purchased.

When I took the hissing kitten out of the box, I realized the kitten’s eyes were stuck shut and that puss was leaking from the corners. My husband Don went into the store and bought a bottle of water, then I used a wet tissue to open and clean the tiny feral kitten’s eyes. There was a lot of infection in the kitten’s eyes but no visible permanent damage.

One more day with the eyes stuck shut and the kitten could have been blind. Catherine had saved the kitten again!

Don drove home while I cuddled the dirty little feral spitfire. I love getting feral baby kittens that I can tame and find homes for.   By the time we got home the sweet little flea covered kitten had quit hissing and was taking a nap.

The first thing that needed to happen was to feed the kitten. I thought the kitten was about 8 weeks old and I had stage 2 kitten food and canned kitten food.  The kitten would not eat the canned kitten food, stage 2 liquid, or kitten kibble.

Next was a bath. The fleas and dirt had to go. By the end of the bath the little Hissy-Fit was a Beautiful Kitten with lots of white and a patchwork of black and tan strips.  Then I noticed an injury on the kitten’s abdomen. The injury didn’t look deep, but it needed to be checked.

For Martha Teachey, who lives with us, it was Love at First Sight.

I managed to get a little watered-down formula into the kitten Saturday night.

Don drove into Aiken to PetSmart on Sunday for Cat Milk Replacement formula.  Yep, the kitten loved that!  I spent all of Sunday playing with and bottle feeding the Beautiful little kitten and I cleaned the baby’s eyes every couple of hours. By the end of the day, I was smitten and so was Don.

What should I name the kitten?  I settled on Lexie Girl or Lexy Boy for Lexington kitten.

First thing Monday morning I called the Vet’s office and was told to bring Lexie in that afternoon.  Lexie was a hit with everyone who saw the tiny kitten, and they were amazed at Lexie’s story. Dr Barber checked Lexie – 5 weeks old, female, 1.0 pound. He prescribed ointment for her eyes and said the wound on her abdomen was healing.  When they asked me if I was keeping her, I said YES.

5 weeks old! No wonder Lexie didn’t want the other kitten food. Time to buy more Kitten Milk Replacer (KMR). I took Lexie into PetSmart.  The employees and customers loved her.

It has been one week since Catherine and Shawn rescued Lexie and every day is a new adventure. Lexie loves to play. We had to clip her claws – I became her climbing post and chew toy. Lexie loves her other new toys, too.  She does NOT like being carried and becomes a Velcro baby.  Lexie has graduated from a small carrier at night to a big crate.  Lexie has her own tiny litter box and has Litter Box Trained Herself. 

Most of the big cats still have not accepted Lexie. They hiss at her and she hisses back at them.  But Lexie knows that We are her Mommy and Daddy. And I am SOOOO glad that we have her!!

UPDATE: 10/11/2025  We adopted Lexie 2 weeks ago today. All of the cats have accepted Lexie. She is weaned from the bottle, loves her kibble and canned food, and Plays and PLAYS! Lexie is now 1½ pounds.

UPDATE: 10/16/2025  We adopted Lexie 19 days ago today.  Lexie has grown from the tiny baby kitten who was 6 inches long to 9in long + her tail. Lexie is now 1lb 12oz. She climbs onto the recliner, jumps off, and tackles me and Daddy. 2 of our big cats have started playing with Lexie.

 Thank You Paula!!!

Thank You Catherine and Shawn!!!

Don and I have done cat rescue for 35 years. We live way out in the country, back off the road, and we have several acres of land, so we are not putting the cats in danger or overcrowding the neighborhood.  No matter how many cats we have, we try to make room for one more if they need us.  Most of the time we take care of them, tame and spoil them, and try to find them a good home. But if needed, they will always have a home here.

Lexie is now HEALTHY and HAPPY!

Eight Things I Didn’t Realize About Starting a Second Series

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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

James M. Jackson

Tomorrow marks a milestone I’ve been working toward for months: the official publication of Niki Undercover, the first book in my new “Niki Undercover Thrillers” series.

After publishing eight novels and two novellas in my Seamus McCree series, I thought launching a second series would be straightforward. Back in May, the timeline seemed generous—Book 2 (Niki Unleashed) releases November 11, 2025, and Book 3 (Niki Unbound) follows in 2026. How hard could it be, given Book 1 just needed a final polish and Book 2 one more draft?

Turns out I should have consulted my fellow Stiletto Gang authors first. The non-writing work required to launch a new series caught me off guard. Here are eight lessons I learned the hard way.

  1. Your Brand Must Evolve (Whether You’re Ready or Not)

My tagline “Thrillers with a twist of financial crime” perfectly captured what made the Seamus McCree series unique. But Niki’s world doesn’t revolve around financial crime, which meant my carefully crafted brand had to go.

The visual brand needed an overhaul too. Seamus’s lighter colors and outdoor scenes reflected his good-guy nature and rural settings. Niki demanded something darker—she’s more domestic thriller territory.

After brainstorming with my newsletter readers, I landed on “Justice-driven thrillers with brains & bite.” The process was more emotionally challenging than I had expected. Letting go of a brand you’ve built over years feels like losing part of your author identity.

  1. Title Strategy Becomes a Chess Game

I’ve always called myself “the poor man’s Sue Grafton.” While she used the alphabet overtly (A is for Alibi, B is for Burglar), I took a subtler approach with Seamus: Ant Farm, Bad Policy, Cabin Fever. Readers loved the pattern.

For Niki, I wrestled with Niki Un________ as the framework. Should I continue with the alphabetical approach? It looks nice on a bookshelf by maintaining series order, but ultimately, I decided that constraint would box me in. Sometimes the best title strategy is the one that serves the story, not the shelf.

  1. Spinoff Series Are Continuity Nightmares

Here’s where things got complicated. My self-imposed rules created complications:

  • Stories occur in real-time and real places.
  • Characters age naturally.
  • Niki appears in several Seamus novels.
  • Shared characters cross between series.
  • The first two Niki novels happen before the most recent Seamus books.

This meant maintaining both internal consistency within the Niki series and external consistency with existing Seamus books. My ad hoc approach to creating a series bible meant I spent countless hours recreating character timelines and fact-checking details across both series.

The backstory challenge was equally tricky. Longtime readers know Niki well, but newcomers meet her fresh. I had to satisfy both audiences without confusing the new readers or boring the faithful fans.

  1. Established Characters Don’t Step Aside Gracefully

For over a decade, Seamus McCree has commanded center stage. Even in multi-POV novels, he dominated at least 75% of the narrative. But in Niki’s series, he’s supporting cast.

In early drafts, Seamus tried to steal every scene he entered. The man has presence; I’ll give him that. During rewrites, I had to establish new rules: no Seamus POV scenes, and he only appears when he can teach Niki something unique or raise stakes in ways only he can.

Learning to sideline your protagonist is harder than creating new characters from scratch.

  1. Beta Readers Need Fresh Eyes

For Seamus books, I recruited beta readers from my newsletter subscribers, mixing series veterans with newcomers. But since attracting new readers is a primary goal for Niki’s series, I needed predominantly fresh perspectives.

I partnered with Pigeonhole, paying them to provide an early draft of Niki Undercover to fifty readers who’d never encountered my work. Pigeonhole serialized the novel into ten daily segments, allowing real-time feedback and reader discussions.

I found the process very useful. Early feedback revealed that my opening scenes presented Niki as too harsh. While she can be tough, that’s only one facet of her personality. I rewrote those crucial first chapters to show her full complexity.

Unfortunately, Pigeonhole closed before Niki Unleashed. Fortunately, I could use newsletter subscribers who hadn’t read the first book to test whether the sequel stood alone.

  1. Your Website Architecture Crumbles

Adding another series to a Seamus-centric website wasn’t just about updating a book list. The entire user experience needed redesigning.

Potential readers interested in Niki needed different entry points, navigation paths, and information than Seamus fans. Reading order becomes crucial. Character introductions require separate approaches.

Since I hadn’t thoroughly updated the site in years, I simultaneously tackled modern web protocols. After countless hours, I’m finally approaching the finish line on the complete redesign.

  1. Cross-Promotion Is a Full-Time Job

Most readers never visit author websites. They discover new books through “Also By” pages in the books they’re already reading. For each new Seamus book, updating these pages was simple—add the new title to the end of the list.

Adding a second series required reformatting these pages. With eight novels, two novellas, four boxed sets, and multiple retailers, I’d forgotten how time-consuming it is to update and upload each version to the correct platform.

Each format (paperback, eBook, audiobook) needs updating across multiple retailers. Multiply that by ten books, and you’re looking at more than 100 uploads.

  1. Your Author Bio Lives Everywhere (And I Mean Everywhere)

I made the rookie mistake of not maintaining a master list of where my bio appears. Forgetting to update a few bios for a new Seamus book was annoying but survivable—at least people knew about the series.

But failing to mention the Niki series anywhere would be catastrophic.

Every book’s back matter needed updating. Each retail site has different word count requirements, necessitating multiple versions. My website, social media profiles, guest blog bios, and writing organization profiles all needed refreshing.

The scope was massive. Author bios lurk in more places than you realize until you’re frantically trying to update them all.

The Reality of Modern Publishing

In a mythical world, exceptional writing would be enough to attract readers. Quality would speak for itself, and much of these eight tasks would be unnecessary busywork.

In the real world, marketing isn’t optional. Every step I’ve outlined—and many more—is crucial for a series launch to succeed.

As Niki Undercover officially releases tomorrow, I’m both exhausted from the preparation and excited for readers to meet this complex, driven character I’ve grown to love.

Wish Niki and me luck.

Short Biography:

After earning earning a B.S. in Mathematics with minors in Education and Psychology, Jim worked for thirty years as a consulting actuary and earned an MBA from Boston University. He retired early to pursue fulltime writing. Among his work is a nonfiction book on bridge for intermediate players, One Trick at a Time: How to start winning at bridge; the Seamus McCree series that to date consists of eight novels (Ant Farm, Bad Policy, Cabin Fever, Doubtful Relations, Empty Promises, False Bottom, Granite Oath, and Hijacked Legacy), two novellas—Furthermore and Low Tide at Tybee—and several short stories; and the Niki Undercover Thrillers, an offspring from the Seamus McCree novels. Characters in both series age in real time and the two series share some characters. The first two novels of the Niki Undercover Thrillers—Niki Undercover and Niki Unleashed—take place before Granite Oath, and the last, Niki Unbound, occurs after Hijacked Legacy. Jim blogs with WRITERS WHO KILL and his website is Home Page of Author James M Jackson.

Have You Heard of Weird Westerns?

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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 Quick Draw and closed on July 15, 2025. The judge was “award-winning weird west author, KC Grifant.”

KC Grifant

The contest call described the following elements as making a weird western story: (1) taking place in a time period around the 1880s and at a location in the United States west of the Mississippi River; or (2) having tropes, themes, aesthetics, and settings similar to the “Old West;” and (3) combining that with a science fiction, fantasy, or horror genre.

Examples of weird westerns would include Cowboys and Indians, Back to the Future 3, The Mandalorian, and The Wild, Wild West.

Judge KC Grifant’s books include Melinda West and the Monster Gunslinger and Melinda West and the Gremlin Queen. She also has edited and contributed to a number of anthologies.

According to Wikipedia, the term weird west “originated with DC‘s Weird Western Tales in 1972, but the idea is older as the genres have been blended since the 1930s, possibly earlier, in B-movie Westerns, comic books, movie serials and pulp magazines.” For those of us who grew up watching Gunsmoke and Bonanza perhaps it seemed like a natural progression to the original Star Trek where space was proclaimed the final frontier.

The Wikipedia article entitled “Space Western” credits Gene Roddenberry (creator of Star Trek) as calling the original series “a space Western (or, more poetically, as ‘Wagon Train to the stars’).” That article also makes a distinction between the space Western and a “science fiction Western.” It provides that: “The genre can be contrasted with science fiction Western, which generally relies on traditional Western frontier settings. while the space Western, having its roots in science fiction, contains plots, tropes, or archetypes of the Western genre, but is generally set in outer space in a futuristic setting.”

I think a weird western may be differentiated from a science fiction western in that it may have elements of horror or fantasy as the unknowns being faced by the pioneers.

Through the weird western and the space western, readers and viewers have the chance to experience what explorers might have encountered and how the indigenous natives might have reacted to newcomers. It’s an interesting way to combine the lessons of the past with the possibilities of the future (or the imagination).

I think I might just have to give writing a weird western a try!

A Labor of Love: Working to Publish a Fellow Author’s Book

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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 place in my heart for this group because it published my first online story. When I was offered the opportunity to join the critique partners, I didn’t hesitate.

The information in this post and a related interview that will appear tomorrow in Writers Who Kill, show how this group has rallied behind one of its own to publish his young adult novel and cheer on his success. Carol L. Wright, Marianne H. Donley, and Dianna Sinovic are the organizers, formatters, and editors behind the scenes who worked so diligently to turn Peter J. Barbour’s excellently written Fifteen Keys into a published work. Here’s a few words with this remarkable team of writers.

What is the BWG?

CAROL L. WRIGHT: We call ourselves “a community of mutually supportive authors,” and, at our heart, we are a critique group that meets regularly to give feedback to fellow members on their writing. We’ve stayed small so we can be sure to give everyone an opportunity to share their work. At our meetings, we review entire short stories or chapters of works in progress. If a member wants us to review an entire manuscript, we call special “long-form” meetings where we go chapter-by-chapter, or page-by-page, giving feedback on the whole work: pacing, characterization, story arc, etc. As we critique the work of others, we become better writers ourselves.

As our mission grew to include publishing books and a literary magazine and running an annual Short Story Award competition, we realized we had to formalize our critique group into an LLC. We’ve now published eight of our trademarked “Sweet, Funny, and Strange” anthologies as well as several other books, including our latest: Fifteen Keys, by BWG member Peter J. Barbour.

Carol L. Wright

How was BWG formed?

CAROL L. WRIGHT: In the spring of 2006, the manager of the Bethlehem, PA Barnes & Noble asked me if I would like to start a writers’ group for the store. I had been a book editor some years before, had one published book, and had taken several writers’ courses and workshops, so I figured, why not? At that first meeting, four people came. Only one of them ever returned, but more people continued to join us. Over time we outgrew Barnes & Noble and became the independent group we are today. See more about us at: https://sites.google.com/view/bethlehemwritersgroupllc/home.

What is the BWR?

CAROL L. WRIGHT: In the fall of 2011, we began publishing an online literary magazine: Bethlehem Writers Roundtable (BWR). We currently publish quarterly and seek unpublished short stories (2000 words or fewer) and poetry. Each issue also has several features including interviews and “Literary Learnings.” Currently, we offer $50 for featured stories, $20 for additional stories, and $10 for the poems we publish. For more information, see our submissions page at: https://bwgwritersroundtable.com/submissions-contacts/

Tell us about the annual short story contest.

CAROL L. WRIGHT: Each January, we open our annual Bethlehem Writers Roundtable Short Story Award competition on a specific theme. We recruit a guest judge to select our winners who receive a cash award and an offer of publication either in a forthcoming anthology or in Bethlehem Writers Roundtable. We recently announced our 2025 winners selected by our guest judge, author Adrian Tchaikovsky. You can see the winner list at: https://bwgwritersroundtable.com/short-story-award-2/

Our next contest opens on January 1, 2026, on the theme of science fiction and fantasy for our upcoming anthology, Illusive Worlds: Sweet, Funny, and Strange Tales of Science Fiction and Fantasy due to come out in late 2026. More details about our 2026 competition will be available in our fall issue of Roundtable.

How did you contribute to Fifteen Keys?

CAROL L. WRIGHT: There are myriad tasks required to put out a book, and I’ve been privileged to work with a wonderfully talented team to bring out Fifteen Keys. My role was primarily organizational, making sure everything worked together to produce a book of high quality and appearance, at a price that would be both competitive and profitable, on our optimal timeline. I am so grateful to our BWG publishing team, especially Marianne H. Donley and Dianna Sinovic, and to our author, Peter J Barbour, who was not only terrific to work with, but was a true partner in the publishing process.

What is your hope for Fifteen Keys?

CAROL L. WRIGHT: I’ve been extremely gratified about the excitement generated by the publication of Fifteen Keys. It is not only an Amazon bestseller but has received some very high praise in reviews. Of course, any publisher wants the books they publish to sell, but this one is very special. My hopes for it are that it will not only entertain its readers but will help middle-grade and early teens to navigate the sometimes-turbulent years of adolescence when they struggle with their identities and values. The story and its lessons can help teens, and adults, as they figure out who they want to be and what kind of life they hope to live

What anthologies has the BWG produced and have they won awards?

MARIANNE H. DONLEY: BWG has published eight Sweet, Funny, and Strange Anthologies. They include:

** A Christmas Sampler: Sweet Funny, and Strange Holiday Tales,

* Once Around the Sun, Sweet, Funny, and Strange Tales for All Seasons,

* A Readable Feast: Sweet, Funny, and Strange Tales for Every Taste,

Once Upon a Time: Sweet, Funny, and Strange Tales for All Ages,

*** Untethered: Sweet, Funny, and Strange Tales of the Paranormal,

**  Fur, Feathers and Scales, Sweet, Funny, and Strange Animal Tales,

*** An Element of Mystery: Sweet, Funny, and Strange Tales of Intrigue,

And our newest: *Season’s Readings: MORE Sweet, Funny, and Strange Holiday Tales

We are working on our 9th Anthology Illusive Worlds: Sweet, Funny, and Strange Tales of Science Fiction and Fantasy

Those marked with one * were finalists in the Next Generation Indie Book Award

Those Marked with two * won TWO Next Generation Indie Book Award

Those Marked with three * were finalists in both the Next Generation Indie Book Award and Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award

How were the anthology stories selected? 

MARIANNE H. DONLEY: All members of BWG are eligible to submit stories to our anthologies. These stories MUST be workshopped at one of our regular BWG critique meetings before being submitted to the anthology.

Stories from authors who are not BWG members are submitted to our annual Short Story Award. We have a celebrity judge each year who selects the winners. First Place always gets considered for publication in our anthology. Sometimes we consider Second and Third Place as well.

Has the BWG published other fiction besides the anthologies?

MARIANNE H. DONLEY: Besides the Sweet, Funny, and Strange Anthologies we have publish Bethlehem Writers Roundtable and online magazine. We publish four issues every year and two of them are open to non BWG authors (and we pay for fiction and poetry).  Submissions for our Winter 2026 issue will open on July 1, 2025.

We have also published, Let It Snow a collection of stories from Bethlehem Writers Roundtable, Off the Rails: A Collection of Weird, Wicked, and Wacky Stories by Jerome W. McFadden and Fifteen Keys by Peter J Barbour.

 

How did you contribute to Fifteen Keys?

MARIANNE H. DONLEY: I formatted Fifteen Keys for both print and ebook. I used a very handy program called Vellum, but still placing the illustrations was a bit tricky. Carol, Pete, and I did a final Zoom call where I shared my Vellum screen. They could weigh in on where a particular illustration looked best. That Zoom call was very helpful.

Using Pete’s painting, I also formatted the front cover. Carol used that design and completed the back cover and the spine. Fifteen Keys was very much a group project.

What is your hope for Fifteen Keys?

MARIANNE H. DONLEY: I hope every child between the ages of 10 to 99 reads and enjoys Fifteen Keys. It’s an entertaining, positive, and uplifting story that is appealing to adults as it is to kids.

I also hope Pete sells a bazillion copies and gets an interview from Oprah Winfrey.

Dianna Sinovic

You have special training as a journalist and writing coach. Why did you decide to become a writing coach?

DIANNA SINOVIC: I’ve been an editor for pretty much my entire career and enjoyed the one-on-one aspect of it. When I heard about book coaching, it seemed like the next logical step—to do more than edit, to help a writer bring their ideas to the page.

How has your training as a journalist and writing coach helped you with your own writing?

DIANNA SINOVIC: My training as a journalist has helped in doing research for my fiction, since research is second-nature for a reporter. My training as a book coach has definitely helped with my own writing. I’m less of a pantser than I used to be and see the value in taking time to tease out aspects such as the point of my story and the big picture before I dive into writing individual scenes and chapters.

When did you begin working with Peter on Fifteen Keys and in what capacity, as coach or editor or both?

DIANNA SINOVIC: I served as copyeditor for Fifteen Keys; the book had gone through several rounds of editing on Pete’s part, based on feedback from BWG members who read the entire manuscript in a “long-form” session.

Do you provide developmental editing as well as line editing, copy editing, and proofreading?

DIANNA SINOVIC: Yes, for my own business, Diasin Books, I provide developmental editing and manuscript evaluations, as well as line editing, copy editing and proofing.

What is your hope for Fifteen Keys?

DIANNA SINOVIC: My hope for the book is that it read and enjoyed widely by teens and parents in discussions about the 15 lessons laid out within it.

When did you join BWG?

PETER J. BARBOUR: I joined BWG approximately 2018.

How did joining BWG affect your process in writing Fifteen Keys?

PETER J. BARBOUR: BWG has had a positive influence on all of my writing. I value the kind critique I receive when we read a piece I wrote at our bimonthly meetings. Show don’t tell has made my prose come alive. I think I’ve learned a lot since I joined the club.

How did you decide to seek publication through BWG?

PETER J. BARBOUR: I watched BWG produce several anthologies. I trusted that my work would be treated professionally and with a personal touch. I was right.

Did you do the illustrations after the writing was complete or while it was ongoing?

PETER J. BARBOUR: I did the drawing after the writing was complete. I didn’t originally plan on illustrating the book. Carol and Marianne suggested I illustrate it. I’ve written and illustrated three children’s books, so I had experience with that.

BIOS:

Carol L. Wright escaped a career in law and academia to write Mysteries and More. Among other works are an award-winning traditional mystery, DEATH IN GLENVILLE FALLS, an award-winning novelette, Apple, Table, Penny . . . Murder, and a collection of short stories in a variety of genres, A Christmas on Nantucket and other stories. She is a founding member of the Bethlehem Writers Group, LLC, a life member of Sisters in Crime and the Jane Austen Society of North America, and a member of SinC Guppies and Pennwriters. Find out more on her website, http://carollwright.com/.

Marianne H. Donley writes fiction from short stories to funny romances and quirky murder mysteries fueled by her life as a mom and a teacher. She makes her home in Pennsylvania with her husband, son, and fluffy dog. Marianne blogs at A Slice of Orange. She is an editor of BWG anthologies. She’s also a member Sisters in Crime and Charmed Writers.

Dianna Sinovic is an author of speculative fiction, horror, and mystery, as well as a certified book coach and editor. Her short stories have been published in a number of anthologies, including those from the BWG, and her flash fiction appears monthly on the blog A Slice of Orange. Her paranormal thriller, SCREAM OF THE SILENT SUN, is slated for release in 2025. She’s a member of the Horror Writers Association, Sisters in Crime, and the National Association of Memoir Writers. In BWG, she serves on the executive committee. Connect with her via her website, www.dianna-sinovic.com, or on Instagram, @dsinovic94.

Peter J. Barbour

Neurologist Peter J Barbour, M.D. retired his reflex hammer to become a full-time writer and illustrator. He is actively involved in Mussar, an ancient study of Jewish ethics, virtues, and mindfulness leading to character development. He participates in the process as a group facilitator and brings Mussar’s timeless wisdom to the writing his latest publication, FIFTEEN KEYS, an action-adventure, coming-of-age novel for middle grade and young teens. His other works include a memoir, LOOSE ENDS, three illustrated children’s books: GUS AT WORK, OSCAR AND GUS, and TANYA AND THE BABY ELEPHANT, and over forty short stories that have appeared in e-journals and magazines. One of them, “The Fate, of Dicky Paponovitch,” earned him Raconteur of the Month from Susan Carol Publishing Company. He belongs to the Bethlehem Writers Group, LLC, and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. He lives in Oregon with his photographer wife. They enjoy traveling and the outdoors.

A Journey to the Past (and the Present)

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by Paula Gail Benson

Riverview Holiday Inn from Website

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, on perhaps my first visit to Charleston, I stayed with my family at the Riverview Holiday Inn, an octogonally shaped hotel on the Savannah Highway that overlooks the Ashley River. I made a reservation to stay there. I remembered that the top floor restaurant offered a wonderful view of the marina and the city.

When I arrived, I learned that the stay included breakfast in the restaurant and that a shuttle was available to take me to my appointment, so I didn’t have to figure out directions or navigation. Breakfast was either a buffet or order from the menu. I thoroughly enjoyed the buffet. The phenomenal views were still available, and this time included the Ravenel Bridge in the distance.

Here are a couple of photos I took.

View of the Marina

View of the Bridge

Following my appointment, I called Lamont, the shuttle driver, who came directly to retrieve me. I had been thinking about going somewhere I had never been to in Charleston, the Bowens Island Restaurant, noted for its excellent seafood (particularly the oysters) and its shabby chic atmosphere. A few years ago, the restaurant burned down, but its owners rebuilt, and I had heard plenty of people brag it was the place to go.

After consulting with Lamont, who agreed it was an excellent choice and advised me to go before 3:00 pm to avoid the traffic, I headed to Bowens Island. As you can see from the photos, it is a relaxed setting that focuses on great food and customer comfort and service.

When part of my order was missing, the server brought me a full extra plate, which was absolutely delicious. I definitely will be returning, and Lamont gave excellent advice about the traffic.

Have you ever returned to a place you visited in the past and been delighted to find it still as charming as you remember? If you haven’t been and want to create a new memory, I recommend Charleston, S.C., and Bowens Island Restaurant. I predict you’ll love both.

Mystery Short Story Nominations

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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 nominees. The Agathas have links so you can read the stories–just click on the link. Notice how many nominations are for Amazon original stories. Congratulations to all those nominated!

Mystery Writers of America Edgar Nominations for:

BEST SHORT STORY

“CUT AND THIRST,” Amazon Original Stories by Margaret Atwood (Amazon Publishing)
“EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK,” Amazon Original Stories by Liv Constantine (Amazon Publishing)
“EAT MY MOOSE,” Conjunctions: 82, Works & Days by Erika Krouse (Bard College)
“BARRIERS TO ENTRY,” Amazon Original Stories by Ariel Lawhon (Amazon Publishing)
“THE ART OF CRUEL EMBROIDERY,” Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine – July-August 2024 by Steven Sheil (Dell Magazine)

ROBERT L. FISH MEMORIAL AWARD – Endowed by the family of Robert L. Fish.

“THE LEGEND OF PENNY AND THE LUCK OF THE DRAW CASINO,” Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, May-June 2024 by Pat Gaudet (Dell Magazines)
“HEAD START,” Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, September-October 2024 by Kai Lovelace (Dell Magazines)
“MURDER UNDER SEDATION,” Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, March-April 2024 by Lawrence Ong (Dell Magazines)
“THE JEWS ON ELM STREET,” Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, September-October 2024 by Anna Stolley Persky (Dell Magazines)
“SPARROW MAKER,” Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, November-December 2024 by Jake Stein (Dell Magazines)

 

Malice Domestic Agatha Nominations:

BEST SHORT STORY

“A MATTER OF TRUST” by Barb Goffman, Three Strikes–You’re Dead

“REYNISFJARA” by Kristopher Zgorski, Mystery Most International

“SATAN’S SPIT” by Gabriel Valjan, Tales of Music, Murder and Mayhem: Bouchercon 2024

“SINS OF THE FATHER” by Kerry Hammond, Mystery Most International

“THE POSTMAN ALWAYS FLIRTS TWICE” by Barb Goffman, Agatha and Derringer Get Cozy

 

Thrillerfest Thriller Nominations:

BEST SHORT STORY

NOT A DINNER PARTY PERSON by Stefanie Leder (Soho Crime)

DOUBLE PARKED by Twist Phelan (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine)

JACKRABBIT SKIN by Ivy Pochoda (Amazon Original Stories)

THE DOLL’S HOUSE by Lisa Unger (Amazon Original Stories)

AND NOW, AN INSPIRING STORY OF TRAGEDY OVERCOME by Joseph S. Walker (Wildside Press)

Unremarkable Me

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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.

Sir Laurence Olivier playing Hamlet
phrases.org.uk

To put in context, in Hamlet, Act V, Scene 1, Hamlet and Horatio come upon two gravediggers unearthing bones. When Hamlet learns a particular skull belonged to his father’s jester, Yorick [the famous quote: “Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio”], Hamlet asks the skull, “Where be your gibes now? Your gambols? your songs? your flashes of merriment, that were wont to set the table on a roar?”

So, I sat, wondering if the words in the report were good or bad.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “unremarkable” as “unworthy or unlikely to be noticed.” Synonyms would be common, ordinary, average, typical, or routine. Something encountered in the normal course of events.

Unfortunately, the “un” or “not” context makes the word unremarkable seem unfavorable. There’s nothing wrong with being average or typical, but when you see yourself described on paper, you want to be considered distinguished, unique, and definitely remarkable or at the least memorable.

I researched further and found a guide to Radiology in Plain English, which indicated that “unremarkable” could be found in all types of radiology reports and was a “good thing” meaning “no structural abnormality.” This guide emphasized the words in radiology reports indicated what the radiologists saw. In fact, it pointed out that sometimes “grossly unremarkable” appeared and meant while nothing obvious was seen, the test might be limited for assessing the organ or structure.

So, I decided to be content with my unremarkable skull, maybe even use that as the title for a short story. Except, if I have a character addressing my skull, I plan to have him talking to a CT photo and not the actual cranium.

What do you think? Is “The Unremarkable Skull” a story you might read?

PS—all is going well for me on the sinus front. My doctor will soon do another CT, in which I hope my skull remains unremarkable.