The First Two Pages: “The Cave Man” by Shannon Taft

 The First Two Pages: “The Cave Man” by Shannon Taft

Kathleen Kalb: Matters of Trust

 Kathleen Kalb: Matters of Trust

The First Two Pages: “Screaming Jenny” by Pat Remick

 The First Two Pages: “Screaming Jenny” by Pat Remick

Kathleen Kalb: Protect Your Heart - and Your Wallet!

 Kathleen Kalb: Protect Your Heart - and Your Wallet!

SleuthSayers: If You Don't Know Your Burro from a Burrow

SleuthSayers: If You Don't Know Your Burro from a Burrow: For today's post, I'm updating and expanding a column I wrote for the Criminal Brief mystery blog many moons ago. If you never saw t...

Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 84 Calls for Submissions in September 2026 - Paying Markets

Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 84 Calls for Submissions in September 2026 - Payin...: This September there are seven dozen calls for submissions. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees. As always, eve...

Kathleen Kalb: Who Can I Turn To?

 Kathleen Kalb: Who Can I Turn To?

A Writer's Life....Caroline Clemmons: Montana vs. Texas: Caroline’s Two Western Worlds

A Writer's Life....Caroline Clemmons: Montana vs. Texas: Caroline’s Two Western Worlds:  When readers think of Caroline Clemmons’ Western romances, Texas often comes first to mind—and for good reason. My mother loved Texas, knew...

SleuthSayers: You Are Entitled to Read My Story

SleuthSayers: You Are Entitled to Read My Story:   I am pleased as punch to report that the September/October issue of Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine features "Was That So Ha...

The First Two Pages: “Farewell to Baytown” by William Bankier and Josh Pachter

 The First Two Pages: “Farewell to Baytown” by William Bankier and Josh Pachter

Kathleen Kalb: Don't Join THIS Club

 Kathleen Kalb: Don't Join THIS Club

SleuthSayers: The Gingerbread Man

SleuthSayers: The Gingerbread Man: In June, Level Short released Wish Upon a Crime: Crime Fiction Inspired by Fairy Tales , an anthology I edited with Michael Bracken. The sto...

SleuthSayers: Whoa, Look at THAT!

SleuthSayers: Whoa, Look at THAT!: So far this summer, I've spent a lot of time on the computer, especially when it's hot as blazes outside, and at least some of it...

Kathleen Kalb: They're Out There

Kathleen Kalb: They're Out There

The First Two Pages: “A Complicated History” by Daniel Bartlett

 The First Two Pages: “A Complicated History” by Daniel Bartlett

SleuthSayers: Coming Up with a Story Idea to Fit a Prompt

SleuthSayers: Coming Up with a Story Idea to Fit a Prompt: I enjoy coming up with short story ideas from prompts, such as   an anthology's theme. A theme can get my brain cells firing as I try t...

Kathleen Kalb: Shiny New Thing

 Kathleen Kalb: Shiny New Thing

MWASW: Crossing the Finish Line by Carol Bennetts

 MWASW: Crossing the Finish Line by Carol Bennetts

The First Two Pages: “Bad Man Down” by Victor De Anda

 The First Two Pages: “Bad Man Down” by Victor De Anda

Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 40 Writing Contests in August 2026 - No entry fees!

Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 40 Writing Contests in August 2026 - No entry fees!: This August there are more than three dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. Prizes rang...