Thursday Treats: 10/22/2026

Some reading opportunities of interest this week.

 
Black Cat Weekly #268 is out and again features short stories and more. Halloween is the theme, but the issue is as wide ranging as ever. John Bentacourt reminds everyone that there are only two more issues before it goes to Level Best Books and becomes a monthly. To learn more, read the note at the end of the issue from the new publisher. SMFS list members by Leslie Budewitz (This Little Piggy) has the cover and Shari Held (Cordelia’s Quest) and by A.L. Sirois (Drowning in Monstrosity) also reported being in the issue. You can pick up the issue at the website.

 

Personal Note: My understanding is that when it becomes Black Cat Mysteries next month and relaunches as a monthly release, a subscription will be $60 bucks a year. As folks are well aware, as I have made no secret of it, things are very bad here so I will not be a subscriber. I hope the new venture works, but this reader has been priced out. And that should not be taken as a criticism of what they are doing. If anything, it is yet another indictment of my failure in life.

 

Author Maryann Miller announced on Twitter that her new book, Second Chances And Other Stories, is now available for preorder. Published by MCM Enterprises, the read is about characters experiencing life in many different ways. Scheduled to be published on November 24rth, when it will also be available on KindleUnlimited, the read can be purchased now on Amazon.

 

 

Released last week is the new anthology, Songs to Woody. Published by Cowboy Jamboree Press, the read includes short stories by SMFS list members Zakariah Johnson (Oklahoma Hills) and Stephen M. Pierce (This Machine Kills Itself). You can pick it up at Amazon.

 

Out at the end of the month is the new anthology, The Power of 13.  Authored by members of The Mesdames of Mayhem, a Canadian mystery writing collective, and published by Carrick Publishing, the read of 21 stories celebrates their 13th anniversary. The SMFS list members that have announced their presence in the read via the SMFS list are: J.E. (Jayne) Barnard (13 the Hard Way), M. H. Callway (Amdur's Mouse), Melodie Campbell (An Unlucky Stiff), Therese Greenwood (A Hard Ticket), Madona Skaff (Lennie and the 13), Hope Thompson (The Anniversary), Sylvia Maultash Warsh (Catalina andMr.  the King of the Fishes), and Melissa "Yi" Yuan-Innes (Flamingo Flamenco), Sylvia Maultash Warsh (Catalina and the King of the Fishes). It is available for preorder at Amazon and other vendors.

 

 

Speaking of SMFS, The Short Mystery Fiction Society, I remind you of other reads by our members as recently compiled and posted by SMFS President Joseph S. Walker. In his October 7^th post titled, A Plethora of Pulse-Pounding Pages as the Short Mystery Fiction Society Enters a New Age!, Mr. Walker details numerous reads and includes the launch of the first issue of the new SMFS Mystery Magazine. All the details are in his post on the SMFS blog.

 

 

Coming in November from Murderous Ink Press is the anthology, Crimeucopia - Objection! Overruled!! SMFS list members in the read are John M. Floyd (Nothing but the Truth), and Wil A. Emerson (Three Strikes—You’re Out). The read is available for preorder at Amazon and other vendors.

 

 

The Sisters in Crime Colorado Chapter has announced that their latest anthology, Colorado Mystery Merge: Crime Fiction Collection 2, is coming out tomnorrow. SMFS list members Chris Dreith (The Clueologists Club), and Lisa Harkrader (The Mall Walkers), reported being in the read. The 26 tales are not only complete individual mysteries; they also provide the clues to solve the overarching mystery of the book. Sounds pretty cool to this reader. Learn more at their website. You can also preorder the digital format at Amazon.

 

 

A reminder that Tollund Man: Stories by SMFS list member Jeff Esterholm is now out. Published by Cornerstone Press, you can get it at Amazon.

 

Finally, at the end of the month, A Fatal Affair: The Murder of Helen Grier by Amanda Capper and Judy Penz Sheluk will be released by Superior Shores Press. This is a true crime read on the case of the death of Helen Grier. Was it murder or something else? You can get it in eBook and print formats at Amazon and other vendors.

 

 

Until  next time….

  

Kevin R. Tipple ©2026

Picture taken earlier this week. Vote. It matters.