03 June 2023

Springtime Stories



I live in Mississippi--the land of magnolia blossoms, blues music, and gator-related accidents (just kiddin'), and where spring thankfully sprang early this year. That was fine with me--I'm one of those folks who absolutely hates cold weather, and when temperatures start to rise it helps not only the greenery but my mood in general.

I've also been fortunate in the story department, this spring. For my SS column today I thought I'd take a look at the different kinds of stories of mine that were published in the past two months, and where they appeared. (This is also the kind of post that requires no work or research, so there's that, too.)

Here goes.

April 1 -- "A Bad Hare Day," Mystery Magazine, April 2023 issue. Most of my stories at MM and its predecessor, Mystery Weekly, have been regular, traditional crime stories between 2000 and 5000 or so words, but this is one of what Mystery Magazine calls You-Solve-It mysteries, flash-length puzzle stories written with an "interactive" format that lets readers try to figure the solution out for themselves. This story involves an attempted robbery by a guy in a bunny costume who performs for a birthday party at the mansion of a Southern big-shot, and is an installment of a series that I long ago labeled my "Law and Daughter" stories, featuring Sheriff Lucy Valentine and her amateur-sleuth mother Fran. "A Bad Hare Day" is about 1000 words and was submitted and accepted back in February 2022. I understand there's a fairly long queue for the You-Solve-Its, so--as in this case--it can sometimes be a while before accepted stories show up. FYI for those writers who don't already know this: Mystery Magazine is one of those publications that pay on acceptance, and they do it promptly--so, many thanks, Kerry!

April 3 -- "Theft at the Rest Stop," Woman's World, April 3, 2023, issue. Editor: Alexandra Pollock. Woman's World's guidelines say their mini-mysteries--which they call Solve-It-Yourself mysteries--should be 700 words max, though mine are always much shorter, between 500 and 600 (once those started working, I've stayed at that length ever since). This particular story is a whodunit involving a crowd of people at a rest stop on an interstate highway, one of whom has stolen a fellow traveler's wallet. On hand to do the police work are Sheriff Charles "Chunky" Jones and his former fifth-grade teacher Angela Potts, a duo who have served me well at WW (thank you sincerely, Alex Pollock!). A reader once told me Chunky and Angela remind her of Sheriff Taylor and Aunt Bee, which I took as high praise--but in truth, my sheriff is far lazier and larger than Andy, his "assistant" is smarter and nosier and bossier than the TV sheriff's mild-mannered aunt, and both of my crimefighters live in a town that so far has never been given a name. For those who're interested, "Rest Stop" (my original title) is 529 words and is my 127th story at WW. It was submitted in February 2023 and accepted later that month.

April 10 -- "Summer in the City," More Groovy Gumshoes: Private Eyes in the Psychedelic Sixties, Down & Out Books. Editor: my psychedelic fellow SleuthSayer Michael Bracken. As I told Michael while I was writing this story, I probably had more fun plotting it than I've had with any in a long time. Required content for this anthology was (1) a private-investigator protagonist and (2) a plot involving a notable event from the 1960s. I think the moon landing and Woodstock were taken, so I chose the Detroit riots, a crime-spree of looting and arson and violence that took place there in July 1967. One of my story's unlikely heroes is a college student from the South who's taken a summer job selling Webster's Dictionaries door-to-door in Flint, Michigan, one of the places that saw spinoff riots that same month. The crime in this story, though, isn't looting and shooting--it's diamond smuggling, which was big business in certain areas back then, and the plot involves a missing delivery of South African jewels, the bad guys' efforts to find them, and a private eye hired to locate and rescue the dictionary-salesman kid who's gotten himself caught in the middle of it. I gave the story the title of a song: "Summer in the City," by The Lovin' Spoonful, which was recorded the year before but was still popular during what would come to be known as The Summer of Love. The story is about 5800 words, was submitted in January 2022, and was accepted that same month. (Michael, it's always a pleasure and honor to be in one of your anthologies.)

April 25 -- "The Florida Keys," Crumeucopia: Strictly Off the Record, Murderous Ink Press. Editor: John Connor. Florida stories are always fun to write because it's such a crazy place (just ask another fellow SleuthSayer, Leigh Lundin), and most of this one takes place at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach, a setting I loved and knew well from my IBM days. The story features a vacationing exotic dancer named Roxanne Key, her husband Dennis, their daughter Jacqueline, and a world-weary detective team named Mason and Biggs. This is more of a whydunit than a whodunit, and includes plenty of clues that were great fun to plant and hide, and also the kind of goofy humor that wouldn't fit into a lot of the mystery/crime stories I've written lately. "The Florida Keys" runs about 2500 words, was submitted in October 2022, and was accepted in January 2023. Big thanks to John Connor (!), who also edited my five previous Crimeucopia stories.

May 1 -- "Shadygrove," Get Up Offa That Thing: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of James BrownDown & Out Books. Editor: Gary Phillips. This was the first of two of my stories published this May that were written for music-themed anthologies. This one was based on Brown's song "Try Me," but I gave the story a different title--in fact the title is the name that one of my characters gave to the setting of the story: a small stand of cottonwoods on the edge of a stream in Central Texas. It features a bounty hunter, the woman he loves (or thinks he loves), and several deadly members of an outlaw gang. The thing that made this story fun to write, for me, was its plot twists: there are at least four surprise reversals in the course of the story, which I hope are as entertaining for folks to read as they were for me to create. All of us know you have to be careful with this kind of thing--it's easy to put too many twists in a story--but I hope it worked, here. "Shadygrove" is around 3200 words, was submitted in October 2021, and was accepted a month later. Though it took awhile to get into print, it was worth the wait--Gary's a great editor.

May 23 -- "The Devil's Right Hand," Weren't Another Way to Be: Outlaw Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Waylon Jennings, Gutter Books Rock Anthology Series. Editor: Alec Cizak. Outlaw fiction?--How could I not want to write a story for a book of outlaw fiction? And who doesn't like the music of Waylon Jennings? For this antho, Alec wanted us to use the song titles as the titles of our stories, and that seemed to work well here. Mine's about a regular guy who gets mistaken on the trail for a famous outlaw in the 1880s, and an ill-advised plan to have him use that uncanny resemblance to rob a bank in the prairie town of Longbow. Like "Shadygrove," this one has twists and reversals galore. There are some bad folks who start out good and good folks who start out bad--I always like that--and a setting that I found myself sad to leave when the writing was finished. Characters include an aimless drifter, a snake-oil salesman (saleslady, actually), a tired sheriff, a smart deputy, and a legendary but reluctant gunfighter. It wound up around 5500 words, was submitted in August 2022, and was accepted the following month. I've had the good fortune to work with Alec on three stories before this one, and he came through as usual. Matter of fact, just about all the anthologies I've been in for the past several years have been blessed with fine editors.

May 26 -- "Last Day at the Jackrabbit," Strand Magazine, Issue #69. Editor: Andrew Gulli. A reader/friend told me this past week that this story reminded him a bit of Hemingway's "The Killers" (I was flattered but I suspect the similarity came from its being set in a diner). In my case it was the Jackrabbit Diner, named for its owner, Jack (you guessed it) Hopper. Jack doesn't show up in the story, though--he's at home drunk as a skunk, as usual--and his head waitress, Elsie Williams, is this story's protagonist. Her less-than-brilliant boyfriend, Mike McCann, has just robbed the players of a high-stakes poker game in a nearby city, never realizing that they're also members of a much more dangerous group--and now they're after him. The lovebirds try to fly the coop, but complications ensue. Another FYI: This story idea began with its ending, and I worked backward from there. It was an ending inspired by the final scene of the 1974 movie adaptation of John Godey's The Taking of Pelham One Two Three--and it's stayed on my mind for more than forty years. I also divided the story up into five parts, which I don't usually do. The sections were: 1. Extermination, 2. Redirection, 3. Coverup, 4. Killing Time, and 5. Termination. More than you wanted to know, right? Anyhow, "Last Day at the Jackrabbit" was my 25th story at the Strand--it's 4000 words, it was submitted in October 2022, and it was accepted in January 2023. Andrew Gulli, by the way, is wonderful. (Hope he reads this . . .)

I have several more stories coming up this month, and I 'm sure my feelings about those will be as fond as my memories of the ones above. I've said this many times, and I truly mean it: One of the reasons I love writing short stories is that every one of them is so different. I get to try lots of varied plots, places, characters, etc., and do it over and over and over again, without having to wait months or years between projects. No offense, novel writers--you're still my heroes--but I dearly love writing these shorts. 


If you're a writer, what are some of your recent published stories? Any we might not have heard about? Which are your favorites? Which markets are you most attracted to lately, with your submissions? What kinds of stories are you working on now--or waiting to have published?

I hope you're having as much fun with this stuff as I am.



27 comments:

  1. John, I have long suspected, and am now convinced, that you are more than one person. So prolific! Seriously, congratulations on having so many stories published. I’ve only had two stories published so far this year, with three more due out this fall. You’re an inspiration to us all. Looks like I better get writing again.
    Edward Lodi

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    1. Edward, you're too kind. The truth is, most of these stories have been circling for a long time and just chose these two months to land--sometimes when it rains, it pours. (Hold on, I'm trying to think of yet another cliche I can use . . .)

      All I do is try to keep as many stories out there circulating as I can, and see what happens. A couple of writer friends and I were talking about all this yesterday, on a Zoom call, and we agreed that there's no way to predict for sure whether a story'll be a winner or not--you just choose the best places you can to submit to, and see what happens. The only exceptions are anthologies for which you write a specific story to a specific theme--in that case, if you don't screw it up, it's found an instant home. Everything else is chance.

      Congratulations, by the way, on your five recent successes. Keep it up!

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  2. I'm speechless - your non-stop production and publications have me in absolute awe. Congratulations!

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    1. Hey Eve. Thank you so much. (I wish it really was non-stop.) I have hills and valleys, like all writers, and I've been fortunate recently.

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  3. I'm laughing at Edward's comment because I've thought the same! John, you are a miracle, and an inspiration. My own work has been primarily novel lately (pun intended.) The Merry Widow Murders had it's launch last night at the MOTIVE crime and mystery festival in Toronto, and I was reminded by publisher AT the podium, on camera, that book two is due this month! I'm missing the fun of writing short stories, and will have to rectify that soon.

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    1. How kind of you, Melodie. Actually, you're one of the heroes I mentioned. Yes, the novels are harder work, but they're where the money is. My short-story sales will buy me a burger occasionally if I tell them to hold the fries.

      Congratulations again, by the way, on the launch. Go meet that deadline for the next one!

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  4. Elizabeth Dearborn03 June, 2023 12:22

    Why stop at only two people ... John, you produce enough for many more than that especially if one of them is as unproductive as (cough) myself! Ever since I gave up on my subscription to Woman's World I'm always delighted to find one of your stories elsewhere. Mystery Magazine is great, isn't it? I didn't realize they had so many subs for the You-Solve-It section, though.

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    1. Hey Elizabeth--thank you. Yep, I've mostly been writing longer stories than the ones WW publishes, lately, but I sneak one in there now and then. As for Mystery Magazine, that information is several months old--at one time I was told they were actively wanting the interactive mysteries and I think there were a lot of submissions after that. Those are still fun to write, and it's easier to work a good story into 1000 words than it is at WW, who wants a max of 700. And yes, MM IS great!

      Thanks as always for stopping in, here.

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    2. Woman’s World is available on Apple News so you can read John’s stories!

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  5. Really enjoyed this, thank you! And I hear you on this: "One of the reasons I love writing short stories is that every one of them is so different." O, and as you asked, I've got but one out this month: "Judge Not" in latest issue of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine. :)

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    1. Well, oops, I'm not Anonymous, I'm Twist Phelan. :D

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    2. Hey Twist--thanks for the note. Yep, the fact that every one of our stories is so different from the last is, to me, what makes this so interesting and so much fun to do. I've been working on two stories this afternoon that couldn't be less alike, in their casts, their settings, their themes, their plots, etc.--even the lengths are way different. One will probably be 6 or 7000 words and the other'll barely be 1000. And one's grim and one's funny. As for your story you mentioned, hey, having one in EQMM is quite enough for the whole month, in my view. I've not read that one, and I look forward to it. Thanks again!

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  6. Congratulations! Always admire (and envy!) your productivity—and not just any quantity of stories, but the quality of them too!!

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    1. Ha! And I'm not anonymous either: Art Taylor here!

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    2. Art, I so appreciate that--thank you. You know I feel the same way about your stories. By the way, there's something I need to talk with you about--I'll send you an email tonight.

      As for being anonymous, Blogger often decides I'm anonymous as well--I have to jump through hoops each time, to try to get it to recognize me. Frustrating! For me, one thing that helps is to use a different browser (my usual is Safari).

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  7. John, you just keep on keepin’ on, my friend! Not counting Michael Bracken, you produce enough published short fiction for any *ten* other writers!

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    1. Josh, I write and submit a lot of stories, but I bet you'll find yourself doing the same, now that you're (officially) retired. As I told someone else recently, I'm one of those folks (fortunate? unfortunate?) who have a lot of ideas churning around, and the only way to get them out of my head is to write them down. So if/when the idea machine ever slows down, I guess my writing will also. Thank you, as always!!

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  8. Damn, Dude, I need to hang out with you and see if some of that output volume will rub off on me. Good on you.

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    1. R.T., hanging out'd be fine with me, but I doubt you need any writing advice of any kind. You're doing great as it is. As for a bunch of publications happening around the same time, that's just the result of a bunch of stories submitted/accepted at different times in the past. It does feel good when it happens, though!

      Thanks for the note, my friend. Take care!

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  9. Seven! Wow! I'd like to get that many published in a year. You are Da Man! If your productivity ever overwhelms you, I can take some and put my name on them for you. Congrats for all this!!

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    1. Kaye, you are so kind. (I'd be proud to have your name on my stories!) As for productivity, we both know these things come in spurts, and--as I think I said earlier--it's just a result of sending out a bunch of stories and seeing when they make it back home. Strangely enough, I've had two more stories published since I posted this column Friday night--but now I might go weeks without another. Hills and valleys.

      By the way, I was very pleased to find that you and I'll be working together on another project soon--looking forward to that.

      Thanks so much for your note. Keep up the great writing!

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    2. I'm pleased about that too! Thanks!!

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  10. John I am seriously jealous of your publication record! :D I'm just getting back to writing something other than the two (or three!) regular flash fiction gigs I have and have just finished the first full-length story I've written in about a year! The last couple of years have been busy and a mess, but the writing helps a lot! John, you are a lot of fun to read and a lot of fun to know! Keep up the good work!

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    1. Jeff, sounds like you're doing fine, to me. Congrats on the completion of your "longer" story--but don't shortchange yourself about those flash stories. Good flash fiction is just as hard to write as a good longer story--and can even be harder.

      It's been great knowing you as well, and especially meeting you face-to-face in (where was it?) Indianapolis? all those years ago. And thanks also for all the favors you've done me in the past, and even one when I messaged you earlier today. (Seriously.) I appreciate it!

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    2. I think it was in Cleveland, sometime around 2012. (I have no memory, I just Googled the year and how to spell "Cleveland.") What they say about conventions is true; people who only see each other every few years will fall in like old friends! Take care Old Friend!

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    3. Yep, Cleveland's right. I clearly remember the area of the building we were in, etc., I just couldn't remember which hotel it was. I've missed a lot of Bouchercons over the years, but I've enjoyed every single one I've attended, and the most fun is always meeting new friends and seeing old ones. Looking forward especially to being in New Orleans again in a couple years! Take care, yourself!

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    4. I'll have to look into going there!

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