Arthur Machen

Otis Adelbert Kline

Sarah M. Chen

Hulbert Footner

Mel Gilden

Jeffrey J. Mariotte

Marsheila Rockwell

Stephen D. Rogers

Hal Charles

Here is the 34th issue of Black Cat Weekly, packed with more than 500 pages of great reading, with contents ranging from mystery to adventure to science fiction and fantasy. The complete contents includes: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Skin,” by Stephen D. Rogers [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “Booked for Murder,” by Hal Charles [solve-it-yourself mystery] “Grateful Touring,” by Sarah M. Chen [Barb Goffman Presents short story] The Case of Shem Packer, by Hulbert Footner [novel] “The Dragoman’s Secret,” by Otis Adelbert Kline [novelet] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Skin,” by Stephen D. Rogers [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “A Single Feather,” by Marsheila Rockwell and Jeffrey J. Mariotte [Cynthia Ward Presents short story] The Case by Case Casebook of Emily Silverwood, by Mel Gilden (Part 3 of 4) [Serial Novel] “Towers of Death,” by Henry Kuttner [novelet] The Hill of Dreams, by Arthur Machen [novel] Non-Fiction: Arthur Machen: Weaver of Fantasy, by William F. Gekle [author study]

Black Cat Weekly #34

Pamela Samuels Young

Wrona Gall

Welcome to the Sisters in Crime/Los Angeles Chapter short story anthology, Avenging Angelenos. It has been my honor to serve as president of the chapter these past few years, and I am so proud of the people and the work that went into making this specific anthology happen. The biennial anthology is one of my favorite benefits that we offer to our chapter members. Only chapter members can submit. For our new writers, it’s an opportunity to get that all-important first credit. For many of our established writers, it’s a chance to shake the stuffing out and try something different. For others, writing the short story is what they do and it’s a chance to celebrate that. Our stories are chosen blind, so that even the newest writer will not get lost. It’s a complicated process and a lot of work for our committee to make sure that the stories get to our editors in a timely fashion. Our committee also must find those editors, which this year was no simple feat. Let’s be real, the pandemic had so many of us freaking out that the thought of taking something on like this was just too much. Pandemic or not, people need to meet, to connect, to find some measure of peace in the middle of chaos, and that’s what a good short story can do. That’s also what we try to do as Sisters in Crime. Our national organization is about inclusion and we do our best, in our own stumbling, faulty way, to comply. Our job is to offer support for our members and make sure that all voices are heard. Which is another reason why this anthology is so important to me. It’s another platform, another opportunity to let our members’ voices be heard. Come hear what we have to say, then come join us and let us hear your story. Anne Louise Bannon President, Sisters in Crime/Los Angeles Marie Stein Henry Forman Julia Bricklin SINCLA Anthology Committee With an introduction by Frankie Y. Bailey and eleven original stories by Avril Adams, Paula Bernstein, Hal Bodner, Jenny Carless, LH Dillman, Gay Toltl Kinman, Melinda Loomis, Kathy Norris, Peggy Rothschild, Meredith Taylor, and Laurel Wetzork.

A Sisters in Crime/Los Angeles Anthology

Avenging Angelenos

Sarah M. Chen’s Anthony Award-nominated and IPPY Award-winning debut. Life is a constant party for restaurant manager, Finn Roose. When he seduces an underage woman on one of his booze cruises and loses her—literally, it sets off a massive search involving the police, her parents, and a private investigator. Finn is an expert manipulator but his endless lies only tighten the screws on himself and his unsuspecting best friend. Finn scrambles to make things right which may be too much to ask from a guy who can’t resist a hot babe and a stiff drink. Praise for CLEANING UP FINN: “Chen creates a compelling character with restaurant manager Finn Roose. Readers with certain taste (like me) will enjoy watching this self-deluded ladies man bumble from one mistake to another, trying to hide his involvement with a missing teenage girl. Sarah M. Chen creates a hybrid West Coast restaurant noir novella. A great read.” —Travis Richardson, author Lost in Clover “A speedboat ride along the Southern California coastline where the sun shines a light on the lecherous locals. Finn Roose is an opportunistic restaurant manager who finally gets in over his head when he meets an underage femme fatale. Lives are shattered and bullets fly through the salty ocean air in this fast-paced debut from Sarah M. Chen.” —S.W. Lauden, author of Bad Citizen Corporation and Crossed Bones “If you like your crime fiction the way Finn Roose likes his women, hard and fast, you’ll love Sarah M. Chen’s debut novella. A challenging, unsentimental look at a man who may be beyond redemption. Chen is a writer to watch.” —Matt Coyle, author of the Anthony Award-winning Rick Cahill crime series “Cleaning Up Finn is a complex morality tale of debauchery, selfishness, sacrifice, and guilt. This romp of a noir through Southern California’s South Bay will stay with you, challenging your ideas of poetic justice and leaving you wanting more from Sarah M. Chen.” —James W. Ziskin, author of the Anthony, Barry, Macavity and Lefty Award nominated Ellie Stone mysteries “A gritty and compelling journey, Chen navigates the intricate labyrinth of great modern storytelling with believable style. I’ll be tapping my foot waiting for more from this incredible author and more of her character Finn.” —Darrell James, author of the award-winning Del Shannon series

Cleaning Up Finn

Bill Fitzhugh

Kat Richardson

Jonathan Brown

Nick Kolakowski

Frank Zafiro

Colin Conway

Sam Wiebe

Brian Thornton

Scott Kikkawa

Debbie Mack

Jim Winter

A 509 Crime Anthology

A Bag of Dick's

Mark Edwards

Hilary Davidson

Jennifer Hillier

Jenny Milchman

Shannon Kirk

Elizabeth Heiter

Alan Orloff

Gwen Florio

E.A. Aymar

Angel Luis Colón

Wendy Tyson

Rob Brunet

J.J. Hensley

It happened the night Maggie Wilbourne was to be put to death, the first woman executed by the state of Pennsylvania in modern times. That was when a group of women passionately protesting Maggie’s imprisonment struck. They blew up a local dam, flooding the town of Everton and indirectly inspiring a hellish night of crime and chaos. Fourteen of today’s new and most exciting contemporary crime writers will take you to the fictional town of Everton, with stories from criminals, cops, and civilians that explore the thin line between the rich and the poor, the insider and the outsider, the innocent and the guilty. Whether it’s a store owner grimly protecting his property from looters, an opportunistic servant who sees her time to strike, or two misguided youths taking their anger out against any available victim, The Night of the Flood is an intricate and intimate examination of the moment when chaos is released—in both society and the human spirit. Praise for THE NIGHT OF THE FLOOD: “Plenty of complex characters and hard edges. Take a breath, then hang on and enjoy this entertaining romp.” —Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author “Bravo to all the authors who contributed to The Night of the Flood, a collection of brilliant short stories about residents of the dysfunctional town of Everton who are thrust into the turbulence of decisions that will forever change who they thought they were. A stormy page-turner that will leave you wanting more.” —Sandra Brannan, author of the award-winning Liv Bergen Mystery Series “A brilliant, multi-leveled concept, Faulknerian in its structure. A novel in stories. Wow. Fourteen new exciting crime writers create a rare three-dimensional mosaic of a doomed town and the night hell flooded through it. Terrifically exciting. Wonderfully inventive.” —David Morrell, New York Times bestselling author of Murder As a Fine Art

A Novel in Stories

The Night of the Flood

Gary Phillips

Joe Clifford

Sean Lynch

Eric Beetner

Alec Cizak

Paul D. Brazill

Scott Adlerberg

Jen Conley

Patricia Abbott

Eryk Pruitt

Anonymous-9

Will Viharo

Chris Rhatigan

Ron Earl Phillips

Preston Lang

Rob Pierce

Sean Craven

S.W. Lauden

Renee Asher Pickup

Todd Morr

Travis Richardson

Greg Barth

C. Mack Lewis

Deadlines is a tribute anthology dedicated to the memory of writer and crime fiction enthusiast, William E. Wallace. A career journalist, Wallace got a first-hand look at the darker side of humanity working at various papers in California before settling at the San Francisco Chronicle. Upon retiring, Wallace engaged fully into the crime fiction community connecting with writers and readers not only to promote his own writing, but to promote other writers he enjoyed. It is through William E. Wallace’s career and his stories that the contributors to this anthology take inspiration. These stories are presented with appreciation to his unselfish contribution to our community and our publications. All proceeds of this publication will be donated to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund in the name of William E. Wallace. Learn more about the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund at cbldf.org. And read William E. Wallace’s blog at PulpHackConfessions.com. Thank you to those who contributed their time and stories: Preston Lang, Jen Conley, Joe Clifford, Will Viharo, Paul D. Brazill, Patricia Abbott, Rob Pierce, Sean Craven, Eric Beetner, Sarah M. Chen, Nick Kolakowski, S.W. Lauden, Scott Adlerberg, Gary Phillips, Renee Asher Pickup, Eryk Pruitt, Todd Morr, Travis Richardson, Anonymous-9, Sean Lynch, Alec Cizak, Greg Barth, C. Mack Lewis. A joint publication of Shotgun Honey and All Due Respect.

Deadlines: A Tribute to William E. Wallace

Tom Ward

Michael Haynes

Nick Andreychuk

Mike Miner

Tom Swoffer

Kou K. Nelson

C. D. Reimer

Tekla Dennison Miller

Laird Long

Josh MacLeod

Martin Roy HIll

Gary Cahill

The first Plan B collection showcases a wide variety of plans gone sideways — private eyes getting stuck on cases they really don’t want to take, petty criminals getting in over their heads, law enforcement professionals on the wrong side of the bars, and upstanding citizens finding themselves to be not so law-abiding after all. These stories are as varied as they are excellent — there are light-hearted tales to make you smile, literary pieces that challenge the definition of crime writing, and realistic portraits of difficult and disturbing decisions. Whatever your tastes, I’m sure you’ll find something to enjoy here and maybe something to surprise you.

a mystery and crime anthology

Plan B Volume I

Sarah M. Chen

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