Dear Anthony Award ballot fillers,
Please consider "The Skies Are Red" for Best Short Story and ON FIRE AND UNDER WATER: A CLIMATE CHANGE ANTHOLOGY for Best Anthology. #bouchercon
More about both here: arttaylorwriter.com/2025/10/28/t...
Cover of the Jan/Feb 2026 issue of EQMM depicting a watercolor painting of a man in a fedora and trench coat
The table of contents of the Jan/Feb 2026 EQMM issue: Santa Dash in Blue By PAT BLACK Lord of Misrule BY THOMAS K. CARPENTER Season of Giving BY ANNA SCOTTI Aurora Australis BY MANDY LANGE Crumbs BY LATOYA JOVENA 123 The Adventure of the Belgravian Banshee BY MICHAEL MALLORY 128 Sherlock Holmes Has Domestic Trouble BY ANDREW ARMSTRONG 142 The Great Almond Heist BY SMITA HARISH JAIN .. 147 221C Baker Street BY DAVID FRYER .. 158 Coins in the Box BY KATE HOHL 172 DEPARTMENT OF FIRST STORIES Death in Little Village BY WALID TUERINA ..13 Skeleton Crew By V.G. BURKE 160 PASSPORT TO CRIME The Yellow Dog By TAPANI BAGGE... 39 BLACK MASK Murder Me in the Neon Lights By C.W. BLACKWELL, 72 POETRY 106
The first page of my story: MURDER ME IN THE NEON LIGHTS.
**BlueSky Giveaway**
My Jan/Feb 2026 EQMM author issues came, featuring my Black Mask story MURDER ME IN THE NEON LIGHTS.
Like and repost and I’ll pick a random account for a free autographed copy!!
Both are extremely worthy. Please consider nominating these incredible books.
My latest story Burning Shadows came out this week in Dog Named Dog Quarterly. Lot of creative fiction inside. You can pick it up here.
a.co/d/0dRvqR7Z
How could I not? Lol
Pledged 🤘
New flash story out at @mrbullbull.bsky.social !
"My girlfriend Annesa says she needs to visit her ex-boyfriend’s grave today because she felt his presence in second period during a lesson about tectonic plates crashing against each other." - @rjbrash.bsky.social mrbullbull.com/newbull/flas...
DERRINGER AWARD FINALIST! Big thanks to every SMFS member who voted for ON FIRE. And the warmest of congratulations to Editor @curtisippolito.bsky.social, and our 15 contributors. Great news.
About that great writing news I teased…
I’m thrilled to announce I signed with RHP to publish my next novel, WAVES OF BURDEN. In working with the team last summer I found everyone to be passionate, dedicated, and so thoughtful. I can’t think of a better press to bring this story into the world.
NEW THIS SUMMER from RHP Press: WAVES OF BURDEN. The new novel from Anthony Award-winning author @curtisippolito.bsky.social. You don't want to miss this one.
Climate change is real. 15 short stories from some of the best crime fiction writers today. Guest-edited by Anthony winning author @curtisippolito.bsky.social Listen to what @jordanharper.bsky.social says and order your copy today: bit.ly/4nOVXoK
Thrilled that On Fire and Under Water is a Finalist for the Best Anthology Derringer Award!Congrats to the other five well-deserving finalists also! This is an honor and I’m so happy for everyone at @rhppress.bsky.social and our 15 contributors for making this anthology such a great success.
WHATEVER KILLS THE PAIN: Derringer Award-winning author @cwblackwell.bsky.social mourns an America lost to the shadows, exploring a broken economic system that has given rise to rampant inequality, violence, and darkness. Take it from @hlessig.bsky.social: bit.ly/4runwWU
3 BY NICK KOLAKOWSKI: The “Jake Halligan” trilogy is an action-packed, blood soaked saga that will leave you wanting more! Pick up all three books by @nkolakowski.bsky.social for that crime fiction lover in your life today: bit.ly/3J1ekYN
Such a good story!
If you’re going to Left Coast Crime, some cool guys and I will be reading at Book Passage on Thursday night to celebrate the launch of The Savage Waves of Spring anthology.
Time to read more gut-punching crime fiction anthologies from RHP. Add one or two or three collections to your wish list today. Better than broccoli: bit.ly/3MbYXOk
Advance praise for the debut collection by @marythor.bsky.social. Out March 15th from RHP Press. #literaryfiction #crimefiction #darkfiction
So proud and thrilled for these three! I knew they would crush it. If you’re in Colorado, they’ll be doing two more events soon, so keep an eye out.
Puja Guha, CE McKenna, and Raymond J Brash at the Highlands Ranch branch of the Douglas County Libraries in front of a sign for their Crime Fiction Author talk.
It was so cool to have my very first live speaking event for the anthology ON FIRE AND UNDER WATER this past weekend. My friends @pujaguha.bsky.social and Raymond J. Brash joined me to chat with Douglas County readers about climate change, crime, and revisiting our favorite places through words!
This year, read more gut-punching crime fiction anthologies from RHP. Add one or two or three collections to your wish list today: bit.ly/3MbYXOk
Climate change is real. 15 short stories from some of the best crime fiction writers today. Guest-edited by Anthony winning author @curtisippolito.bsky.social Listen to what @jordanharper.bsky.social says and order your copy today: bit.ly/4nOVXoK
Photo of Goodreads review page for On Fire and Under Water: a climate change crime fiction anthology that deserves more reviews.
I won’t review this book out of principle, but it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t!
If you’re a SMFS member, would love if you would nominate On Fire and Under Water for Best Anthology.
In case you missed the virtual event with @johncopenhaver.bsky.social, Mysti Berry, and myself, here it is on YouTube. Check it out and let us know what you think.
Had a great time talking to @frank212.bsky.social about my recent collection WHATEVER KILLS THE PAIN from @rhppress.bsky.social, writing crime fiction, and the fable of the American dream. Check it out here 👇👇👇
Make a resolution to read more gut-punching crime fiction anthologies from RHP. Add one or two or three collections to your wish list today: bit.ly/3MbYXOk
On Fire and Under Water: A Climate Change Crime Fiction Anthology
I only had one credit this year, and I’m damn proud of it. Closing out this challenging year, I extend my deepest appreciation to the editors and staff at @rhppress.bsky.social for the opportunity and to the talented 15 writers who made On Fire and Under Water a success.
tinyurl.com/46z7cvx6
My year-end newsletter is here. scottvondoviak.substack.com/p/best-of-2025
