My Reading At Dallas Noir at the Bar Sunday 11/3

Next Sunday, I and a group of far more talented writers, will be reading at the Dallas Noir at the Bar at The Wild Detectives. Things kick off at 7:30 PM. If you are in the Dallas area, I hope you come on out and see us.

For my part, I will be reading an excerpt from my short story, The Hospital Boomerang, published in the anthology, Larceny & Last Chances: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense. Published by Superior Shores Press, edited by Judy Penz Sheluk, the read is available in both print and digital formats at Amazon and other vendors.

My short story is a Texas based crime fiction tale set in a small town. Our narrator is a bit bitter and has gone through some things over the years. He also has a bit of a sarcastic streak as he narrates the story.

If you can’t make it out, or just want to whet your appetite for it, I posted an excerpt from it earlier this year here on my blog.

I also discussed the story and what I was trying to do in it at Art Taylor’s The First Two Pages back in June. You can read that piece here.

Folks that have read it, seemed to like the story, as it has gotten positive praise. That includes author Rob Lopresti who reviewed it on his Little Big Crimes blog.

I hope to see you there.

Guest Post: First Lines in Larceny & Last Chances: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense-- Part 2 by Judy Penz Sheluk

Please welcome Judy Penz Sheluk back to the blog today as she shares some of the first lines from the stories in the new anthology, Larceny & Last Chances: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense, releasing Tuesday. Part 1 ran last Sunday on the SMFS blog. The anthology was released last Tuesday and includes my short story, The Hospital Boomerang.

 

 

Larceny & Last Chances: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense

First Lines: Part II

 

That’s right. Part II. If you missed Part I, you can find it on the Short Mystery Fiction Society’s blog spot, where it was posted on June 16^th. And now, here’s Part II (or, for those of you not keeping up, the first lines of the final 11 stories in Larceny & Last Chances: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense):

 

No Good Deed by Kate Fellowes

 I’ll just say, that Bible should have been mine in the first place.

 

Incidents & Intentions by Wil A. Emerson

Lily unlocked the back door of the thrift shop using a key that didn’t belong to her.

 

A Tight Squeeze by Larry M. Keeton

My wife, Denise, was dead.

 

Not This Time by Mary Wills Fraser

I’m hiding in my ex-husband’s closet when my phone rings.

 

Wheel of Fortune by John Bukowski

Karl slid his last token into the slot and pushed the glowing button.

 

Robbery at The Birdcage by Cate Moyle

Deputy Michelle Simmons received the dispatch call at 05:49 and steered her cruiser toward the village of Dunecrest.

 

The Crimson Salamander by Tracy Falenwolfe

Since her induction into The Modus Operandi Supper Club, Billie Burgess often said Mark Luxor was the devil.

 

The Case of the Pilfered Parka by Gina X. Grant

Five minutes into the interview, Noah was ready to confess.

 

A Promise Kept by Karen Grose

The only reason I’m working at Big Jim’s is because no one else wanted the job, let alone applied.

 

The Pool by Brenda Chapman

Greg opened the gate to his neighbor’s backyard and surveyed the wide expanse of fresh sod, his gaze coming to rest on the newly installed, inground pool that sparkled like a box of gems in the June sunshine.

 

The Last Chance Coalition by Judy Penz Sheluk

I watch Jake McFadden strut into O’Leary’s Bar & Grill with the swagger of a man who’s dabbled with the big time and likes to flaunt it.

Have a favorite? Leave a comment. We really do love comments.

 

About the anthology

Larceny & Last Chances: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense

Edited by Judy Penz Sheluk

Publication Date: June 18, 2024

 

Sometimes it’s about doing the right thing. Sometimes it’s about getting even. Sometimes it’s about taking what you think you deserve. And sometimes, it’s your last, best, hope. Edited by Judy Penz Sheluk and featuring stories by Christina Boufis, John Bukowski, Brenda Chapman, Susan Daly, Wil A. Emerson, Tracy Falenwolfe, Kate Fellowes, Molly Wills Fraser, Gina X. Grant, Karen Grose, Wendy Harrison, Julie Hastrup, Larry M. Keeton, Charlie Kondek, Edward Lodi, Bethany Maines, Gregory Meece, Cate Moyle, Judy Penz Sheluk, KM Rockwood, Kevin R. Tipple, and Robert Weibezahl.

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4bq7wwo 

 

Judy Penz Sheluk ©2024 

Judy Penz Sheluk is a former journalist and magazine editor and the bestselling author of two mystery series, several short stories, and two books on publishing. She is also the publisher and editor of four Superior Shores Anthologies. Find out more at www.judypenzsheluk.com.

Short Story Excerpt: The Hospital Boomerang by Kevin R. Tipple

 

This Tuesday is Publication Day for the new anthology, Larceny & Last Chances: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense. Published by Superior Shores Press, edited by Judy Penz Sheluk, the read is available in both print and digital formats at Amazon and other vendors. It also contains my short story, “The Hospital Boomerang.”

My short story is a crime fiction tale set in small town Texas.  Our narrator is a bit bitter and has gone through some things over the years. He also has a bit of a sarcastic streak as he narrates the story.

Below is a small excerpt from the beginning of the tale. I hope you will want to see more and pick up the book.

 

 

The Hospital Boomerang by Kevin R. Tipple 

 

It was the damn beeping that woke me up. I opened my eyes, only to see the same crappy tile overhead that I had seen once before. A heart monitor and an IV drip machine beeped. I looked down my bed. Neither wrist was handcuffed to the rail of the bed. An improvement over my last visit.

            The pain in my stomach was not an improvement. Neither was the pain that ripped through me when I moved my legs.

            “Damn.”

 

I am also going to have a guest post on Art Taylor’s The First Two Pages  where I go into a bit more depth about the tale and what I tried to accomplish in it. Will let you know when that piece goes live. It should be up soon. 

Hope you check out the read. I am still amazed to be in the book. 

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