Finding Community: A Writer’s Path

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Today is my 5-year anniversary as a member of The Stiletto Gang!

This has me thinking back to September of 2020, when I first joined this illustrious group of writers.

The invitation to join the Gang coincided with the delivery of a new cover image for The Body Business, Book 1 in my Samantha Newman Mystery Series. As you can see, it sports a pair of cherry red stilettos!

I called that a Happy Happenstance.

When I started writing in earnest, I considered the writing profession to be a solitary pursuit. But I’ve come to understand that there’s strength in numbers for writers, too. Now I know it took more than serendipity to get me here.

Kathryn Lane and Saralyn Richard welcomed me to this group, along with Debra Goldstein, whom I first met at Killer Nashville in 2017, when The Body Next Door (Book 2 in the series) was a finalist for a Silver Falchion Award. Debra also introduced me to Sisters in Crime, an invaluable writing resource for the sharing of professional and emotional support among its members.

Stiletto sisters Debra, Gay, and Lois

I’ve also come to rely on other Stiletto members: Lois Winston, for her hard-won publishing wisdom (and her hilarious, laugh-out-load books), and Bethany Maines, who keeps this site up and running for us all. You can find out more about them and all the Stilettos right here on this site.

And while I’m thanking my Stiletto colleagues, I want to recognize the intrepid group of local writers who were my first writing community.

Special shout-out to Pamela Fagan Hutchins—one of the most prolific writers I know—for her support in those early days. Pamela has produced a dizzying collection of mystery series in just about every category. You could start with her very first romantic series, What Doesn’t Kill You, or dip into her ever-growing Wyoming series, or her book on how to write a book. A couple of new ones will debut soon. Look her up and be amazed and entertained.

Speaking of new books, today is Launch Day for Hank Phillippi Ryan‘s latest psychological thriller, All This Could Be Yours. I was lucky enough to be an early reader of this one, and I think it’s her best one yet. Ever gracious, Hank once invited me to write guest post on the esteemed Jungle Red Writers blog, a true honor.

It feels good to pay it forward to other writers. Recently, I was privileged to participate in educational panels at Killer Nashville, where I shared what I know about the seemingly endless variety of mystery genres. I also discussed how to create characters that resonate with readers.

I’ve learned a thing or two at Killer Nashville myself. It was a joy to listen to the wisdom of Sara Paretsky, this year’s conference honoree. Many thanks go to Clay Stafford and his team for nurturing new and seasoned writers alike.

Writers who support other writers are the angels of this business.

Thanks to all who take time from your own creative efforts to nurture those of others.

And while I’m at it, on behalf every writer I know, deepest thanks to readers who like our books and contributed comments and reviews for them. When all is said and done, we’d be lost without the readers who support us.

To book lovers everywhere, I wish you happy reading!

Gay Yellen’s award-winning writing career began in magazine journalism.  She later served as the contributing editor for the international thriller, Five Minutes to Midnight (Delacorte), which debuted as a New York Times “Notable.”

Her multi-award-winning Samantha Newman Mystery Series is packed with suspense and laced with touches of romance, heart, and humor. Available on Amazon or through your favorite bookseller. 

How Many Widgets, Possessions, and Words Do You Need?

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How Many Widgets, Possessions and Words Do You Need? by Debra H. Goldstein

I recently moved from Birmingham, Alabama to Atlanta, Georgia. In making the move, I went from a house to a condo. Even though we gave away furniture as we downsized into three other homes over the years, this is the smallest footprint I have lived in since my post-college days. That meant that every box, filing cabinet, or whatever that I had simply had movers take from house to house (attic to attic) had to be gone through. As a writer, I can only compare the process to editing and revising my work.

During this move, I had help packing and unpacking my kitchen and breakfront. The people who helped me unpack also organized things into drawers and cabinets. They placed things logically. They also left me two boxes marked “Please Review.” When I finally looked in the cupboards, I was amazed how many glasses, mugs, and Tupperware pieces that I’d accumulated. This was brought home even more when I opened the “Please Review” boxes and discovered they were filled with more spatulas, spoons, can openers that couldn’t be fit into the kitchen drawers. In the end, I’ve made a lot of trips to Goodwill.

Looking at my kitchen, the comparable for writing would have been if rather than a packer, I’d hired an editor. The editor would have suggested ways to pare down my extraneous words (possessions).

In the end though, like with anything I write, the final product rests with me. Whether a short story, novel, or my kitchen, I’m the one responsible for the result. Do you ever feel like that with things in your life?

 

donalee Moulton

Firsts and seconds

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by donalee Moulton

cover of donalee Moulton's book Melt

The Lotus Detective Series Book 2

My new book, Melt, is a first for me. It’s the second in my new (and first) mystery series, the Lotus Detective Agency. I’ve discovered the joys, and the angst, of going deeper into characters, inventing new plots for familiar people (albeit fictional), and striving to balance the context for those who read the first book, Bind, and those who are discovering Charlene, Lexie, and Woo Woo for the first time.

It’s essential that Melt stands on its own. As part of a series, I’ve also discovered it’s essential Melt gently reminds readers – in their hearts and their minds – about what they enjoyed in the first book.

Now the question: What happens in book three?
The answer: I have no idea.

Until then, let me share a little bit about Melt and what you can expect.

Melt is a mystery. Melt is a story about friendship. Melt is what happens when like minds and divergent hearts come together to prevent a seventeen-year-old boy from going to jail for the rest of his life.

At its heart, Melt is a puzzle. Luke Castle is arrested for transporting narcotics in the back of a food truck. He confesses. Everyone knows the teenager is not the mastermind behind the $6 million in cocaine nestled among 150 sacks of flour. The lead prosecutor, the defence attorney, and the reluctant detective first class hauled into the judge’s office all admit the kid is innocent. The problem is his professed guilt – a confession he refuses to recant. The legal eagles are at a loss. First question that must be answered: Why is Luke Castle lying?

At its heart, Melt is about friendship. Three women met at a yoga studio. They’re now part owners of that studio – after helping to catch a thief. Now, they’re asked to help figure out what is going on with Luke Castle, bringing new approaches and new ways of ingratiating themselves with the likely suspects: drug lord, drug lord’s sons, bitter daughter-in-law, rebellious younger brother. Lending a helping hand brings them together in unexpected and ultimately profound ways. We root just as much for these women as we do for the dealer (or dealers) to be unveiled. There is a cast of regulars, including the police detective and the yoga instructor. Each a three-dimensional, likeable, and flawed human being. (Madoff, a Westie, makes periodic appearances.)

At its heart, Melt is funny and fun to read. It’s like coming home to a steaming bowl of tomato soup on a cold winter day. Comfortable and delicious. Like a perfect downward dog.

Officer Friendly by Saralyn Richard

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In the business of writing mysteries, a person can hardly avoid the police. I know. I’ve written seven mysteries, eight if you include my children’s book, which is a bit of a mystery. Throughout the journey, I’ve relied on advice from various law enforcement personnel to help me tell an authentic, believable story.

Sometimes I consult with coroners, sheriffs, jailers, FBI agents, or courtroom professionals, but the people I have the most questions for are police officers, and, fortunately, I’ve never met a single one who turned me down.

I even received a phone call once from the Chief of Police in West Brandywine, the real-life version of Chief Paul Schrik, who heard I was writing about his department, and wanted to make sure his officers were giving me good information.

Depending on which U.S. state the story takes place in, I may need specific procedural information that requires consultation with experts. For example, in some states, there are coroners, while in others there are medical examiners. Certain crimes may be misdemeanors in one state, but felonies in another.

One of the bright lights in my research work is a dear friend, who happens to be a captain in the local police force. I met him when he was teaching a class in criminal justice next door to my class in creative writing. Over the years he’s responded to my calls for literary assistance hundreds of times. There’s probably more of him in Detective Parrott or Sergeant Schmidt than anyone else on the planet.

This week I had the pleasure of visiting the local police station, where historical artifacts lie in glass cases and on the walls. I met with a dispatcher and lieutenant, who permitted me to ask questions and take photos. They also pointed me in the direction of a wonderful Facebook group of retired police officers, who maintain a bank of historical information in their heads.

Everyone has been super friendly and accommodating. They apparently have a vested interest in the veracity of my portrayal of the department, and I couldn’t be happier to have them as partners.

The book takes place in 1903 Galveston, when the city was rebuilding after the Great Storm of 1900, still the most devastating disaster on U.S. soil in history. Here are some photos I took.

If you have any stories to share about immigrants, hurricanes, or crime at that time in history, please share them with me at saralyn@saralynrichard.com.

Saralyn Richard writes award-winning mysteries that pull back the curtain on settings like elite country manor houses and disadvantaged urban high schools. Her works include the Detective Parrott mystery series, Bad Blood Sisters, Mrs. Oliver’s Twist, A Murder of Principal, and Naughty Nana, a children’s book. An active member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America, Saralyn teaches creative writing and literature. Her favorite thing about being an author is interacting with readers like you. For more information, check https://saralynrichard.com.

REMEMBERING MADAME CURIE

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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 Curie made a lasting impression upon me, both as the story of a woman driven to obtain an education and as a daughter’s tribute.

Pierre and Marie Curie
Wikipedia

I clearly remember reading about Marie becoming so consumed by her studies in Paris that she forgot to eat, except maybe some cherries. Her compulsion was discovered when she fainted while with companions and her sister quickly acted to restore Marie’s health. I must admit, I have never been so obsessed with studying that I forgot to eat; however, I’ve been fortunate. I’ve always been able to go to school. In Poland, where Marie grew up, women were not allowed in institutions of higher education. She attended a clandestine “Floating University.”

Also, I remember the unfortunate circumstances by which Pierre Curie died—being struck by a horse-drawn vehicle as he crossed the street and his skull being crushed by a wheel. His death devastated Marie. When she was offered his professorial position, she addressed the first class beginning with the sentence he had last spoken.

This week, I watched the movie Madame Curie that was based on Eve Curie’s biography and starred Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon. I recognized glimpses of what I remembered from the book, but I also noticed a few Hollywood touches, particularly romantic elements to appeal to an audience.

What the book did not tell was a relationship Marie had with a fellow scientist, Paul Langevin, after Pierre’s death. According to Wikipedia, Langevin was a married man who was estranged from his wife. The press portrayed Marie as a “foreign Jewish homewrecker” (her family was not Jewish). The news of the affair broke while she was away at a conference. She arrived home to find an angry mob at her door and, with her daughters, had to take refuge in a friend’s house.

Additionally, I learned that Pierre and Marie initially were buried with his family, then later, to honor their achievements, they were exhumed and interred in the Paris Pantheon. Because of their exposure to radium, their remains were encased in lead-lined coffins. According to Wikipedia, Marie Curie’s papers, including her cookbooks, also have been contaminated by radioactivity. Those wishing to consult them must wear protective clothing.

Eve Curie
Wikipedia

I looked up information about Eve Curie and found she was the member of her family who was not scientifically inclined. Instead, she gravitated toward literature and the arts. Her husband became the Executive Director of UNICEF and she was known as UNICEF’s first lady. According to Eve Curie’s Wikipedia article:  “She sometimes joked that she brought shame on her family. ‘There were five Nobel Prizes in my family’, she joked, ‘two for my mother, one for my father, one for [my] sister and brother-in-law and one for my husband. Only I was not successful.’”

I would disagree. Eve Curie’s words have been an important part of educating people about her mother’s legacy.

When Truths Collide (Part 2)

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“Everything is true but false, all at once,” Jim Reed wrote in his tiny treasure of random thoughts, “What More Can I Say?”

The serendipity and resonance of the Universe are startling.

Or, Dang, I’ve been thinking about that!

SEE MORE

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!

Creatures of Habit – An Author’s Writing Habits

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Creatures of Habit – An Author’s Writing Habits by Debra H. Goldstein

Since my Stiletto Writing day changed from every second Friday to the fourth Monday every other month, I’ve been in a state of confusion. It doesn’t seem like it should be that big a change, but I guess I’m more a creature of habit than I realized. Where I never was confused when I had to write a monthly blog, I now keep and regularly consult both my calendar and an email from Paula Benson so that I don’t accidentally post on her Mondays.

The art of writing has its own version of this kind of confusion. If one is blogging, writing a short story, creating a screen play, or authoring a novel, it is very easy to fall into using an idea or behavior pattern. Instead of being innovative, one can “nod,” “smile,” or “frown.” One can fashion a death scene, have a couple spar like how a couple in a prior work fought, or re-use a poison or weapon as the means of committing murder. It’s such an easy way of creating that authors don’t even realize they’re stealing from themselves. Doing this might be interpreted as being lazy, but it probably is more of letting the subconscious control the words that are being typed. Why should the subconscious modify itself when what it previously came up with was so good?

Obviously, the answer is to give the reader a more pleasurable experience and to encourage them, through constant innovation, to keep following the writer’s work. If nothing changed, there wouldn’t be a reason to explore an author’s writings. I work hard to get my posting date right – and to vary my works. What about you? Readers, do you stick with an author when nothing changes? Writers, how do you overcome your subconscious repeating your previously work?

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.

donalee Moulton

Three yogis, two cops, and one damn cute dog

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by donalee Moulton 
   
We’re leaving winter behind and welcoming spring. This spring is particularly celebratory. I’m welcoming a new book. Bind is the first in my series, the Lotus Detective Agency. I thought this month I’d share an excerpt with you – and would love your feedback.

First here’s a little background.

Everything that happens in a yoga studio is not Zen. Sometimes it’s grand larceny. Three yogis, two cops, and one damn cute dog join forces to discover who’s stolen a Patek Philippe watch from what was supposed to be a secure locker.  Time is ticking.

And now here’s the excerpt from Bind.

cover of Bind Ten yogis are in various stretches, twists, meditations, and yawns when Kristi walks back into the studio. She forces a smile, and the smile spreads of its own accord into her muscles, her bones, her heart. This is her sanctuary. She is at home here. The rawness she feels is still there, but it has moved to the edges now. Today’s bind is a yogi squat. One leg is extended; the other is bent. One arm goes under the bent leg; the other goes around the back until they meet. In theory. Lexie can’t wait until this mont Kristi takes this opportunity to explain the benefits of binds. “These poses allow muscles to release, relax, and open. You can go deeper. You can also focus on alignment and flexibility while building strength.” She breathes in. “Dear God,” thinks Lexie, “there’s more.” “If you make her stop,” Bonnie says to her higher spirit, “I will give you my first born.” Kristi continues to talk, and smile. “Remember to breathe when you’re in the bind. Don’t tighten. And come out of the bind if you feel any pain. Go to your edge, but no further.” Archina isn’t sure where her edge is, but she fears she left it behind several minutes ago. Woo Woo unbinds. She believes in the mind, body, spirit philosophy of yoga, but enough of this shit. If it’s one thing Kristi knows, it’s how to read a room full of yogis. The edge has been reached. She tells everyone to stand up, give themselves a hug, and as a special treat, this morning there will be an extended savasana that includes a meditation. (Kristi always has a guided meditation on her phone.) The room smiles, even Bhodi. Eleven bodies move from the vertical to the horizontal. Archina grabs a blanket; Lexie puts a bolster under her knees; Kevin, the newest member of the group, reaches for his socks. The Dalai Lama is midway through his 13-minute meditation on the disturbed mind when the studio door opens. Twelve faces turn to look at the human who belongs to the shoes that just clomped into their zen-like state. All twelve agree, zen is overrated. Standing at the entranceway to the studio is a 6’2” man with ripped muscles, ebony skin, and a three-day stubble. “He can bind with me any time he wants,” Kevin thinks. It takes the intruder less than a second to realize he has interrupted the class at an inopportune time. “I’m so sorry,” he says. “I thought class was over.” “We’re running a little late,” says Kristi in a voice the class has not heard before. “Please continue,” says Ripped. “I will come back.” “Too late now,” says Bhodi. He gets the evil eye from most of the class. “How can we help?” says Kristi introducing herself. Ripped steps forward, hand extended. “My name is Michael …” Before he can continue, Woo Woo interjects. “No, it isn’t. Your name is Lewis.” The demi-god looks at her in surprise. He’s not alone. The whole class stares at Woo Woo. “I’m so sorry,” Woo Woo says turning a deep magenta. “I don’t know why I said that.” But she does. Sometimes a thought, an image, a tickertape runs through Woo Woo’s mind. She knows it’s a message, and she usually tries to convey it. On this occasion, she wishes she hadn’t. Michael turns back to Kristi, leader of the pack. “Terrell. Michael Terrell.” “Did you want to join the class?” Bhodi asks. The snark is obvious. “Please,” thinks Kevin. “Please join.” Terrell smiles. “It’s on my bucket list, but today I’m here for a less pleasant reason. I’m a detective with the Halifax Police Department. I’m looking into a watch that seems to have gone missing from the gym.” Kristi tries to control her breathing. No one else tries to control anything. Lexie’s eyes fly wide open. Charlene gasps. Bonnie recoils. Honey farts.