Dru's Book Musings: New Releases ~ Week of August 2, 2026

 Dru's Book Musings: New Releases ~ Week of August 2, 2026

Lesa's Book Critiques: September Treasures in My Closet – Part 2

 Lesa's Book Critiques: September Treasures in My Closet – Part 2

Dru's Book Musings: New Releases ~ Week of July 26, 2026

 Dru's Book Musings: New Releases ~ Week of July 26, 2026

Thursday Treats: 7/23/2026

Some reading opportunities of interest this week.

 

SMFS list member Mia Dalia announced that her short story, B Minor, was published online at The Sunlight Press. You can read it for free here.

 

SMFS list member James Patrick Focarile announced that his short story, What Whiskey Won’t Cure, was published online at The Saturday Evening Post. You can read it for free here.

 

Black Cat Weekly #255 is out and includes short stories by SMFS list members N. M.  Cedeño (Mirror Life Meltdown), Stacy Woodson (She Loves You), and others. You can pick up the latest issue here. 

 

SMFS list member James W. Ziskin announced that his latest novel, The Prank, comes out on the 28^th. “Set in Christmas 1968, a thirteen-year-old sociopath befriends his teacher, unaware she loved the man his prank accidentally killed.” Published by Level Best-Historia, the read is available in both digital and print formats at Amazon and other vendors.

 

As I told you earlier this month, Level Best—Level Short is scheduled to release on the 28^th the anthology, What the World Needs Now: Mystery Stories Inspired by the Music of Burt Bacharach. SMFS list members Joseph Goodrich (The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance) and Josh Pachter (Me Japanese Boy) are included in the charity anthology edited by Martin Edwards. Funds raised are for autism charities in the US and UK. The digital version is up for preorder at Amazon.

 

Coming early next month. and edited by SMFS list members, Editors Gigi Pandian and Tom Mead, All the Crime in the World: Locked Room Mysteries and Impossible Puzzles. According to the synopsis, the anthology will feature 14 short stories by Victor Bonini, James Scott Byrnside, Shelly Dickson Carr, S.A. Cosby, Anne van Doorn, Martin Edwards, Sulari Gentill, Paul Halter, Christopher Huang, Vaseem Khan, Josh Pachter (The Allegory of the Five Senses), Masaya Yamaguchi, Ovidia Yu, and a brand-new collaboration from the editors. It is currently available for preorder at the publisher, Crippen and Landru.

 

And, finally, for something completely different, the fantasy novel, Immortalized Memories of the Omniverse: Rise of the Draconic Hero, by Alex Rosen  is now out. Epic Fantasy and more are present in this read. I am reading more than one book right now, always a dangerous practice on my part, and this is one of them. I am not one for fantasy these days, but I am enjoying it. Sent to me by the publisher, you can get it at Amazon or many other vendors.

 

 

Until next time…. 

 

 

Kevin R. Tipple ©2026

MWA: New Books by MWA Members – July 2026 (Includes Short Stories)

 MWA: New Books by MWA Members – July 2026 (Includes Short Stories)

Lesa's Book Critiques: August Treasures in My Closet

 Lesa's Book Critiques: August Treasures in My Closet

Thursday Treats: 6/25/2026

Some reading opportunities of interest this week….

 

Fellow SMFS list member Norman Birnbach announced that his short story, An Eye for an Eye, was published online at Literary Garage. Read the tale for free here. 

 

Fellow SMFS list member Abe Margel announced that his short story, Honoured Guest, was published online at The Piker Press. The story is free to read here.

 

Black Cat Weekly #251 is now out. Among the various reads is the cover story, The Grudge,  by Robert Lopresti. His story is also the latest in a long line of SMFS list members being featured on the cover. You can pick up the latest issue here. 

 

SMFS list member C. Mathew Smith announced that his novel, The Ones in the Corner, was now out. Published by Winding Road Stories in a variety of formats, you can pick up the crime fiction read at Amazon and other vendors.

 

Rock and a Hard Place Press published Curtis Ippolito’s new crime fiction read, Waves of Burden. Learn more at the publisher with vendor links to pick it up in either print or eBook formats, or go to Amazon for the eBook only. It released on June 24rth.

 

SMFS list member and the force behind Guilty Crime Story Magazine, Brandon Barrows, latest book, The Darker the Night, is scheduled to be released on July 7^th. The mystery, published by Rowan Prose Publishing, is available to preorder in multiple formats at Amazon and other vendors.

 A reminder that the anthology, Streets of Your Town: PI Stories, is coming out on June 27^th. Per the Amazon author listing, Frank Zafiro, Phillip Thompson, Meagan Lucas, Gary Phillips, Craig McDonald, Douglas Corleone, Chris Bauer, Jo Ayker, Mark Newman, and Sean O'Leary, all have stories in read. You can preorder it at Amazon now for $6.99.

 

Finally, Boots, BBQ, and Bloodshed: Metroplex Mysteries Vol. V, is coming out on July 1^st. Edited by SMFS list member Michael Bracken, published by Sisters in Crime North Dallas, the read has short stories by SMFS list members Karen Harrington (We Have Lost The Plot), M.E. Proctor (Five-Pointed Stars), Tiffany Seitz (The L-Knife Murder), and Shannon Taft. You can pick up the digital read at Amazon.

 

 

Until next time…. 

 

 

Kevin R. Tipple ©2026

Thursday Treats: June 6/18/2026

 Some reading opportunities of interest this week….

 

Fellow SMFS list member Mike McHone announced last week that his short story, The Suicide Disease, was published online at Cold Caller. Mr. McHone stated that this is his 50^th story published. Read the tale for free here. 

Fellow SMFS list member Abe Margel announced that his short story, Redside Ride, was published online at Academy of the Heart and Mind. The story is free to read here.

 

Mr. Margel is also in the new issue of the online publication, Yellow Mama #116. Along with Abe Margel (Exit Through the Back Door) are SMFS list members Elizabeth Dearborn (Who Knew?), Joan Leotta (My Child's New Friends: Poem), J. R. Lindermuth (The Choice),  Joan Leotta (My Child's New Friends: Poem”), and Ed Teja (Clever is for Horses), among other works. As always, you can read the issue for free at the website.

 

Also now out is the latest issue of Black Cat Weekly. SMFS list member Steve Liskow announced the publication of his short story, Pictures at an Execution, appears in Black Cat Weekly #250. His story is also the latest in a long line of SMFS list members being featured on the cover. You can pick up the latest issue here. 

 

Also now out is Thriller Magazine: June 2026. The latest issue features five crime fiction tales. Available at various vendors, you can also pick it up at Amazon. This magazine is also part of their Kindle Unlimited program. During the current ninety-day trial program, as an Amazon Prime member, you can read for free.

 

Speaking of the Kindle Unlimited program, while poking at the offerings, I discovered that the anthology, Streets of Your Town: PI Stories, is coming out on June 27^th. Per the Amazon author listing, Frank Zafiro, Phillip Thompson, Meagan Lucas, Gary Phillips, Craig McDonald, Douglas Corleone, Chris Bauer, Jo Ayker, Mark Newman, and Sean O'Leary, all have stories in read. It will be part of the program at release or you can preorder it at Amazon now for $6.99.

 

By the way, and this is a pet peeve, when something claims to be freaking UNLIMITED, it really should mean UNLIMITED. The Kindle Unlimited program limits you to twenty titles at a time in your “library.” When you are sharing your deal with an adult son who is really into fantasy reads, you hit 20 titles very fast. You then discover that you are very limited at Kindle Unlimited.

 

Back in early April in a previous edition of this column, I told you that author Beau Johnson announced on Threads that his books, out of print due to the demise last year of the previous publisher, were coming back into print. Shotgun Honey released, A Better Kind of Hate: Stories, in both eBook and print format the day after that column ran. The Big Machine Eats: Stories, part of the Bishop Rider series, in both eBook and print formats is now available at the publisher and Amazon.

 

Rock and a Hard Place Press has announced they are publishing Curtis Ippolito’s new crime fiction read, Waves of Burden. Learn more at the publisher with vendor links to pick it up in either print or eBook formats, or go to Amazon for the eBook only. It releases on June 24rth. It is my current read via an ARC at the time I am writing this post. Look for the review here soon.

 

Speaking of upcoming reviews, months ago through NetGalley I was able to read and review the soon to be released anthology, Birds of Prey: New Crime Stories. Edited by Harlan Coben and C.J. Box, the book features eleven short stories. Published by The Mysterious Press, the book comes on  June 23^rd in a variety of formats. I will have a publication day review of it here on the blog next week. The read is up on Amazon and other vendors to preorder as well.

 

By the way, if you like what we do here, please consider spreading the word of these posts. Also, if you can, please consider making a donation through the PayPal widget on the left side of the blog. I try not to talk about it, or beg, but the desperation is very real. The hits keep coming here and things are really bad.

 

Until next time….

 

Kevin R. Tipple ©2026

Dru's Book Musings: New Releases ~ Week of June 14, 2026

 Dru's Book Musings: New Releases ~ Week of June 14, 2026

The First Two Pages: “The Briar Patch” by Tom Milani

 The First Two Pages: “The Briar Patch” by Tom Milani

Thursday Treats: June 6/4/2026

The latest reading opportunities…

 

Punk Noir has published, Champagne For My Real Friends, Real Pain For My Sham Friends — Issue 4.  This series of flash short stories are all free to read online at their website. You can also read the first issue for free here as well as the second here and the third here.

 

Fellow SMFS list member Brandon Barrows announced that he had gotten all right back after the previous publisher closed and Sinners Ride was back in print. Published by Full Speed Publishing, the read is available in both eBook and print formats at Amazon. Additionally, he noted that the “Paperback edition contains two bonus stories never before in print, including the Derringer Award-nominated "The Right to Hang!"’

 Fellow SMFS list member Abe Margel announced that his  mystery short story, Preferred Puff, was published online at Story Quilt. The story was published a month ago and is free to read here.  

 

Fellow SMFS list member Richard Helms announced publication of his book, GREAT WHITE: an Eamon Gold novel. He says this will be the final book of this San Francisco based private investigator mystery series. Published by  Barbadoes Hall Communications, you can pick it up at Amazon in digital or print formats.

 

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Editor John Connor of Murderous Ink Press announced that his latest anthology, Crimeucopia - New Kids In Da 'Hood, will be released on June 9^th. Features 16 crime fiction short story tales including ones by fellow SMFS list members Thomas F. Gorham III (Classless Reunion) and L.C. Parfomak (Tuberose) It can be preordered at Amazon now.

 

On another list I am on, author Carole Shmurak announced that Buried Under Books: A Susan Lombardi Mystery had been published. This fifth book in the series is out in digital and print formats from Park Court Press. You can pick up the read at Amazon..

 

I have a lot of author alerts set up on Amazon. I have left them going, even when I am way, way, way behind in a series. That was how I found out that author Ed Lynskey’s new book, Sister: A P. I. Frank Johnson Mystery is releasing on June 20^th. Published by ‎ECL Press, this 38^th book in the long running series can be preordered here.

 

That is not all from this author either. Mr. Lynskey’s book, Berried Clues: An Appalachian Farmers' Market Cozy Mystery, was published on June 1^st. Also from ECL Press, this too can be picked up on Amazon here.

 

The latest issue of Black Cat Weekly also came out. Black Cat Weekly #248 includes a short story by fellow SMFS list member   Dave Zeltserman (Sleeping Dogs) among other works. You can pick up the latest issue of this weekly, multi genre, magazine here.

 

 

Fellow SMFS list member, Michael Bracken, announced that the anthology, Wish Upon A Crime: Crime Fiction Inspired by Fairy Tales, is now out. Coedited with Stacy Woodson of the SMFS, the book features short stories from Donna Andrews, Michael Bracken (editor), David Dean, John M. Floyd, Barb Goffman, Debra H. Goldstein, James A. Hearn, Adam Meyer, Tom Milani, Laura Oles, Josh Pachter, Joseph S. Walker, Andrew Welsh-Huggins, and Stacy Woodson (editor). Published by Level Short (an imprint of Level Best Books), the anthology is available in both print and digital book versions at Amazon.

 

Until next time….

 

 

Kevin R. Tipple ©2026

SleuthSayers: Twenty-Two and Counting

SleuthSayers: Twenty-Two and Counting: More than a few people have asked me why the cover image of CRIME SCENES , my recently published collection of stories from Level Best Books...

Dru's Book Musings: New Releases ~ Week of May 31, 2026

 Dru's Book Musings: New Releases ~ Week of May 31, 2026

Thursday Treats: 5/28/2026

The latest reading opportunities…

 

Punk Noir has published, Champagne For My Real Friends, Real Pain For My Sham Friends — Issue 3.This series of short stories are all free to read online at their website. You can also read the first issue for free here as well as the second here.

 

A few weeks back, fellow SMFS member Judy Sheluk announced that her short story, The Last Detail, was published online at Brown Hound Press. She also said this was a great publication to work with and was very enthusiastic about the market for other writers. Fellow SMFS list member Shelly Jones was equally enthusiastic when she announced that her short story, Bloom, was published by Brown Hound Press. You can read the tale, for free, here. A reminder for fellow writers, this is a paying market.

 

Fellow SMFS list member Nick Guthrie announced that his WWII mystery short story, In the Ruins, was published online at Cold Caller. You can read the tale for free here.  

 

Fellow SMFS list member Christina Hoag announced that her non fiction book, I Am the Famous Carlos: The Story of the Jackal, the World's First Celebrity Terrorist, was released earlier this month. Published by Three Jandals Press, the read is available at Amazon and other vendors.  

 

According to Amazon, Scenic & Sinister: An Indiana Landmarks Anthology was released back in April. It was only this past week when two fellow SMFS list members announced it was out and that they had stories in it. Michael Dabney (Death—In 9 Innings) and Shari Held (Send in the Clowns) reported their presence in the anthology published by Speed City Press (publishing imprint of the  Indiana chapter of Sisters in Crime). You can get the book at Amazon or other vendors.

 

The latest issue of Black Cat Weekly also came out. Black Cat Weekly #247 includes short stories by fellow SMFS list members  John Floyd (200 Feet) and Shari Held (Cruisin’ for Trouble) among other works. You can pick up the latest issue of this weekly, multi genre, magazine here.

 

Finally, fellow SMFS list member, Michael Bracken,  announced that the anthology, Wish Upon A Crime: Crime Fiction Inspired by Fairy Tales was now up on Amazon for preorder ahead of the June 2^nd release. Coedited with Stacy Woodson also of the SMFS, the book features short stories from Donna Andrews, Michael Bracken (editor), David Dean, John M. Floyd, Barb Goffman, Debra H. Goldstein, James A. Hearn, Adam Meyer, Tom Milani, Laura Oles, Josh Pachter, Joseph S. Walker, Andrew Welsh-Huggins, and Stacy Woodson (editor). Published by Level Short (an imprint of Level Best Books), the anthology is available in both print and digital book versions at Amazon.

 

Until next time….

 

 

Kevin R. Tipple ©2026