Short Stories North and South
The Perp Wore Pumpkin: A Humorous Crime Anthology to Benefit Second Harvest Food Bank
Synopsis: A bad meal is a misdemeanor but going to bed hungry is the biggest crime of all.
Ten short story authors have joined forces to write humorous crime stories containing some of their favorite Thanksgiving dishes. From murder to theft to bank heists, these authors have whipped up stories to tickle your funny bone, feed your urge for a good crime and make you a bit hungry in the process. Not to be outdone, Lisa Lynn provides the perfect accompaniment with recipes that people can make for the holidays using the basic staples found in nearly every home or from your local food bank.
Thanks to the publisher’s “Misti Gives Back” program, 100% of the net proceeds of the sales of this title will be split evenly among each of the contributors’ local Second Harvest Food Bank (a member of Feeding America) to help raise money to feed those most in need and at risk. If a contributor does not have a Second Harvest in their area, their share will go directly to Feeding America. Your purchase(s) ensure that more people will have access to food this holiday season and beyond.
A bit about my story—Hobo Hannah and the Great Pumpkin Heist
The tale of how a hobo turned county sheriff, her sidekick and a Maine Coon cat saved a community from harvest celebrations with no pumpkin pie.
From Amazon: Kindle or Trade Paper
From Misti Media: Epub or Paper
“An Educated Pig” in the anthology: The Big Fang
Synopsis: Sending a pot-bellied pig to school has unintended consequences. Not only does she learn to read and write, but she tracks down a pair of bank robbers.
22 fun mystery and crime “tails”, each featuring a rescue or adopted animal, from 22 amazing authors. This benefit anthology from Harbor Humane Society (West Olive, MI) includes cozies, capers, and humorous crime and mystery stories.
From Amazon: Kindle or Trade Paper
Monkey Business: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Films of the Marx Brothers
Synopsis: A Night at the Opera, A Day at the Races, Duck Soup, Animal Crackers…over the two decades between 1929’s The Cocoanuts and 1949’s Love Happy, the Marx Brothers—Groucho, Harpo, Chico, and sometimes Zeppo—entertained movie-goers around the world with their madcap antics, rapid-fire dialogue, and prowess on the piano, the harp, and in song.
Now, a Who’s Who of award-winning crime writers pays homage to the Marxes in fourteen short stories, each inspired by one of the brothers’ thirteen studio films. (Wait a second: fourteen stories inspired by thirteen films? How does that add up? You’ll find the answer to that question…and so much more!…inside the covers of this book.)
To paraphrase Groucho: Outside of a dog, this book will be your best friend. (Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.)
From Amazon: Kindle or Trade Paper or Hardcover
“A Fowl Play Holiday” in The Killer Wore Cranberry: A Sixth Scandalous Serving
Synopsis: Everyone’s favorite Thanksgiving-themed mystery anthology is back for a sixth outing, celebrating not just the best in murder-most-fowl short stories (not a turkey among them), but also ten years of Untreed Reads Publishing!
In addition to enjoying the holiday magic that is bumping off family members we don’t like, this year’s Killer also honors the dedication to the writing world by the late TKWC contributor Earl Staggs.
Serving up a sixth season of stories are the following dinner guests: Bobbi A. Chukran, Bert Paul, C.C. Guthrie, Catina Williams, Herschel Cozine, J.B. Toner, Joseph S. Walker, Kari Wainwright, Lesley A. Diehl, Steve Liskow, Steve Shrott and Trey Dowell. Lisa Wagner returns with all-new recipes, helping you to fill your stomach and tickle your funny bone at the same time.
So have a seat, grab a plate of food (we wouldn’t try the stuffing if we were you), and get ready to laugh until you’re cranberry in the face!
A 5-star review from Long and Short Reviews!
I’d heartily recommend The Killer Wore Cranberry: A Sixth Scandalous Serving to anyone who has strong feelings about Thanksgiving regardless of what sort of feelings those are. There’s something for everyone here, from folks who adore this holiday to the ones who can’t wait for it to be finished!
Available In Digital Formats At Untreed Reads
Available In Paper Formats At Untreed Reads
“Room Service” in the BOULD Awards 2020 Short Story Anthology
Synopsis: In this third annual edition, you’ll find 53 of the weirdest, most outrageous, wackiest, scariest, puzzlingest (is that really a word?) short stories submitted for this anthology in 2020. (There were 21 in the 2018 edition, 40 in 2019, all selected by a panel of independent judges.)
You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll be shocked, scared, and maybe even perflutzed by some of the stories you’ll find, in many different genres and styles. But with nearly every story, we know you’ll be surprised.
We expect the 2021 edition to be BOULDer (no relation to the city in Colorado), and that’ll raise the bar even higher for the 2022 edition. We might wind up changing “Limitless” to “Loopy” if writers can really let their inhibitions go and let their haywire creativity loose.
But now it’s time for you to quit reading these promo bits, brace yourself and dig in. Have fun!
From Amazon: Kindle or Trade Paper
From Barnes and Noble: Nook
“Drip-Dry and Wrinkle-Free” in the BOULD Awards 2019 Short Story Anthology
Are you an adventurous, daring reader? Like to explore new frontiers? If so, this one’s for you.
In this second annual edition, you’ll find nearly 40 of the weirdest, most outrageous, wackiest, scariest, puzzlingest (is that really a word?) short stories submitted for this anthology in 2019. That’s nearly twice the number of stories in the 2018 edition, our first.
You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll be shocked, scared, and maybe even perflutzed by some of the stories you’ll find inside, in many different genres and styles.
But with nearly every story, we know you’ll be surprised.
These stories have all been anonymously selected by a panel of independent judges.
We expect the 2020 edition to be BOULDer (no relation to the city in Colorado), and that’ll raise the bar even higher for the 2021 edition. We might wind up changing “Limitless” to “Loopy” if writers can really let their inhibitions go and let their haywire creativity loose.
But now it’s time for you to quit reading these promo bits, brace yourself and dig in. Have fun!
Short synopsis: Why do I like bad boys? They cheat, they lie, but there’s something about not being able to trust them that makes them irresistible.
From Amazon: Kindle or Trade Paper
From Barnes and Noble: Nook
“Lunchbreak” in The Best Laid Plans
Whether it’s a subway station in Norway, ski resort in Vermont, McMansion in the suburbs, or trendy art gallery in Toronto, the 21 authors represented in this superb collection of mystery and suspense interpret the overarching theme of the best-laid plans in their own inimitable style. And like many best-laid plans, they come with no guarantees.
Short synopsis: Things don’t always go as planned. A sandwich is a sandwich until it becomes murder!
Review:
“The plan hadn’t been to lose his job, have no savings, and be forced to live in a trailer in a scrub palmetto field forty miles from the coast while working a roofing job in August. Myra, his wife, isn’t much help or support either as she has taken everything that has happened in recent months pretty hard. In “Lunch Break” by Lesley A. Diehl, Ben can at least talk to Ralph about how things are falling apart.” —Kevin Tipple
From Amazon: Kindle or Trade Paper
From Barnes and Noble: Trade Paper
“A Season to Worry” in The Killer Wore Cranberry: A Fifth Course of Chaos
Synopsis: Just when you thought it was safe to head to the table for Thanksgiving feasting, the Killer Wore Cranberry series is back with a fifth course of pure chaos!
The Killer Wore Cranberry has been acclaimed worldwide for its wicked combination of humor and Thanksgiving-themed mysteries, and this year’s installment is sure to carry on everyone’s new, favorite holiday tradition.
So have a seat, pick up your fork and knife (on second thought, maybe not the knife) and get ready to have so many laughs it’s criminal!
Available in all digital formats at Untreed Reads
Available in all print formats at Untreed Reads
An Aunt Nozzie novella “Bobbing for Murder” in Happy Homicides: Fall into Crime
Short synopsis for the novella: Darcie hopes for the best when her grandmothers and Aunt Nozzie arrive for a visit in the autumn, but their past get-togethers have often resulted in gun shots, car chases and exploding sauces. The trio of trouble arrive in a motorhome filled with bushels of apples which her aunt intends to make into applesauce for transport and sale back home, and Nozzie insists they visit a nearby orchard to purchase more.
Her grandmothers take a shine to the man living next to Darcie, and at the orchard, Aunt Nozzie and the president of the college where Darcie teaches find companionship in a jug of cider. Love is in the air for everyone it appears, except for Darcie. Nozzie invites the president to a Halloween party at Darcie’s house, a costume party where hiding behind a mask only ups the likelihood that something can go wrong. If the burgeoning relationship between the prez and her aunt doesn’t go well, Darcie could lose her job, and the president might lose his life. Anything can happen when Aunt Nozzie and the grandmothers come for a visit and design their own Halloween costumes.
Aunt Nozzie and the grandmothers first appeared in the Thanksgiving anthologies, The Killer Wore Cranberry, Vols. 1-4 published by Untreed Reads. The author felt moving the trio to another holiday might prevent another murder, but that’s no guarantee.
Review:
“One cannot go wrong with 12 lively tales for the price.”—SusieQ
“The mysteries in this collection were easy reads that were both engaging and entertaining and just enough of a tease to whet your appetite for more.”—Dru Love
From Amazon: Kindle
From Barnes and Noble: Trade Paper
“Leave it to Cleaver” in The Killer Wore Cranberry: A Fourth Meal of Mayhem, Thanksgiving Anthology
The Killer Wore Cranberry anthology is back with an all-new set of flavorful stories, guaranteed to whet your appetite for both your favorite holiday fare and a tasty crime story. In this collection of humorous short mysteries, see what happens when sisters are pushed over the edge, dentists dine with crime bosses, 1950s private detectives deal with dames and sweet potatoes and a family has a bit of a problem with their future son-in-law. And that’s just the tip of the turkey leg!
Join us at our table for ten great stories from returning Cranberry authors Big Jim Williams, Lesley A. Diehl, Earl Staggs, Barbara Metzger, Steve Shrott, Laird Long and Barb Goffman. We’ve brought along some new friends too: Sandra Murphy, Rob Chirico and Debra H. Goldstein. And, again this year, Lisa Wagner presents three recipes in-between the stories that are sure to have your guests killing for seconds!
At the head of our table is J. Alan Hartman, the Editor-in-Chief of Untreed Reads Publishing who has curated all four installments of The Killer Wore Cranberry plus the anthologies Year’s End, The Untreed Detectives and Moon Shot.
So, turn off that football game. Tell Grandma you just don’t have time for green bean casserole or gelatin mold. Let Uncle Bernie sleep off the tryptophan in the recliner. Then, find yourself a comfortable spot away from the carving knives and get ready to laugh, solve crimes and experience our fourth meal of pure mayhem!
Available in digital formats at Untreed Reads
Available in paper formats at Untreed Reads
“A Saucy Kind of Holiday” in The Killer Wore Cranberry: Room for Thirds
You can’t keep a good turkey down!
In 2010, The Killer Wore Cranberry showed how funny murder and food could be.
In 2012, Untreed Reads presented a new installment of the worldwide, bestselling anthology (The Killer Wore Cranberry: A Second Helping) proving that this was a hilarious mystery anthology with legs. Drumsticks, to be exact.
It’s 2013 and Killer is back with all new crimes, all new capers and all new laughs that are guaranteed to make you forget the in-laws at this year’s holiday gathering.
Join all of these fantastic authors as they make your Thanksgiving holiday murderous and fill you with laughter: Barbara Metzger, Mary Mackey, Toni Goodyear, Barb Goffman, Herschel Cozine, Lesley A. Diehl, Big Jim Williams, Elizabeth Hosang, Randall DeWitt, Sharon Daynard, Sarafina Gravagno, Laird Long, Rhett Shepard, Warren Bull, Lee Hammerschmidt and Mary Patterson Thornburg.
This year Killer is also introducing great recipes from vegan cookbook author Lisa Wagner to accompany the stories. After all, you can’t have murder and humor on an empty stomach!
So loosen your belt, push out from the table a bit and get ready to devour some of the funniest crimes you’ll ever experience at a Thanksgiving table. There’s always Room for Thirds!
Available in all digital formats at Untreed Reads
Available in all print formats at Untreed Reads
“Mashed in the Potatoes” in The Killer Wore Cranberry: A Second Helping
It’s the Thanksgiving mystery anthology everyone’s been dying for!
In 2010, The Killer Wore Cranberry showed how funny murder and food could be. Now, in 2012, Untreed Reads presents a new installment of the worldwide, bestselling anthology with a table full of seasoned authors and new voices alike.
Join all of these fantastic authors as they make your holidays murderous and fill you with laughter: Arthur C. Carey, John Weagly, Earl Staggs, Amanda Lundberg, Betsy Bitner, S. Furlong-Bolliger, Steve Shrott, Andrew MacRae, Zoe Burke, Arlen Blumhagen, Lesley A. Diehl, Gail Farrelly, Herschel Cozine, Linda S. Reilly, Stephen D. Rogers, Barb Goffman and Laura Hartman.
So make some room for that extra portion of turkey, scarf down another slice of pumpkin pie and make room in the basement for all the dead bodies in this hilarious short story anthology that’s destined to become a holiday classic.
Available in all digital formats at Untreed Reads
“Murder with All the Trimmings” in The Killer Wore Cranberry, Thanksgiving Anthology
Nothing says Thanksgiving like food and murder. If you’ve ever thought about knocking off Uncle Seymour when he grabs the last slice of pumpkin pie or you think the turkey might be giving you the evil eye, this is the anthology for you! Authors Barb Goffman, Stephanie Beck, Laird Long, Beth Mathison, Earl Staggs, Lance Zarimba, Lesley A. Diehl, Jack Bates and Kathleen Gerard bring you servings of your favorite Thanksgiving dishes with a dash of mystery and a hearty helping of humor. You may still have to deal with the in-laws, but this anthology may make Aunt Esmerelda’s green bean casserole a bit more tolerable to handle.
Available in all digital formats at Untreed Reads
“Mother Gets a Lift”
Synopsis: Angela Baker should be thrilled at having given birth to her third baby, but her mother always finds a way of spoiling the moment. This time Mom takes a cruise specializing in plastic surgery and ends up overboard, murdered and leaving Angela to identify the body. But is it Mom? Angela isn’t certain but, then again…who would be? The woman has become unrecognizable as a result of too many little “”procedures.””
Pushed by a detective determined to close the book on the murder, Angela does her own investigating and turns up more than one mother as well as the knife-wielding doctor from hell.