Tag Archives: san francisco

“Dames, Derringers and Detectives: Moggie Noir” is Available Featuring my Short Story: “Last Wish of a Dead Man”

moggie noir 3

Cover art for “Dames, Derringers and Detectives: Moggie Noir”

My hardboiled detective story “Last Wish of a Dead Man” is now available in the Raconteur Press anthology Dames, Derringers and Detectives: Moggie Noir in paperback and Kindle formats.

The blurb at Amazon says:

In this iteration, Moggie Noir is more than a framework, it’s a mewed.

I feel it is safe to say that we are most inspired by the creative expressions of authors who view genre notes for story calls as a guideline, and who then proceed to stretch the idea like Coney Island saltwater taffy. In this way, we have not been disappointed. The trick is to tug at the theme but still have the recognizable touches that tell the reader this is a noir story rather than a slapstick comedy or big fish story.

So, in this taffy-pulling spirit, we bring you our third Moggie Noir salvo, “Dames, Derringers, and Detectives.” This gritty set of tails will have you rooting for the good guys, hissing at some bad cats, and maybe—just maybe—you’ll see how true love can win in the end.

The publisher said guest editor Rita Beeman adored my story, which is very nice to hear.

In late 1940s San Francisco, private detective Margie Potter has developed a unique reputation in the afterlife. She solves the murders of ghost, sometimes without realizing it. In her first story “The Haunted Detective” featured in The Trench Coat Chronicles, Margie goes up against hardened gangsters to solve the murder of her best friend which occurred years ago and almost ends up as a ghost herself.

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“The Haunted Detective’s Cat” is now available in the anthology “Moggie Noir: Alley Cat Alibi”

moggie noir cover

Cover art for the anthology “Moggie Noir: Alley Cat Alibi”

If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.

It’s finally here. My short story “The Haunted Detective’s Cat” is now featured in the Raconteur Press anthology Moggie Noir: Alley Cat Alibi.

As I mentioned in my previous announcement, a moggie or moggy is:

…an informal British term for a cat, especially one that does not have a pedigree or is otherwise unremarkable.

For this story, I chose to revive my 1940s San Francisco private detective Marguerite “Margie” Potter who you met four years ago (if you were lucky) in my short story “The Haunted Detective.” You can find that tale in the pages of the Celestial Echo Press anthology The Trench Coat Chronicles (still available for your Kindle device at a very reasonable price).

However, as far as Alley Cat Alibi is concerned, here’s the Amazon description:

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My Short Story “The Haunted Detective’s Cat” Has Been Accepted Into the Anthology “Moggie Noir 2”

moggie noir 2

Proposed cover art for the Raconteur Press anthology “Moggie Noir 2.”

If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.

Raconteur Press has just accepted my short story “The Haunted Detective’s Cat” for their upcoming anthology “Moggie Noir 2” (title and cover image subject to change).

The basic requirements are “crime noir” and “a cat.” A moggie or moggy is:

…an informal British term for a cat, especially one that does not have a pedigree or is otherwise unremarkable.

My story involves San Francisco Private Detective Marguerite “Margie” Potter set in the summer of 1948. Here’s a small sample:

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Uncle Chun’s Chicken with Oyster Sauce

chicken

PHOTO PROMPT © Mr. Binks

If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.

“You’re going to love this. Uncle Chun serves the best chicken with oyster sauce.” Mike and his wife had retired and left San Francisco years ago. Now he was helping his daughter Liz move into the City.

“Mikey.” The older man felt a hand on his shoulder and Chun’s voice sounded all too worried. “You and Liz come with me to the back. Hurry, please.”

The two men had known each other for a long time and Mike took Liz’s hand to follow him.

“Daddy, what…?”

They barely made it into the kitchen when the two rival gangs started shooting.

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Kickstarter for “Zehlreg A. Grindstone’s Spectacular Western Oddity Emporium” Launches Tomorrow!

zagIf you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.

Remember when I said that my western/horror short story “Blood Trail” was accepted for publication by End of the World Pubishing?

Well, the kickstarter starts tomorrow morning, Friday, May 31st!

According to the publisher, the final word count will be around 125K, which is huge. Also, reaching for the stars, they also want to raise enough for an audiobook as well.

Go to the Zehlreg A. Grindstone’s Spectacular Western Oddity Emporium kickstarter page. If necessary, create an account (I had to go through about a dozen captchas just to make mine).

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Collector’s Item

guitar

PHOTO PROMPT © Jennifer Pendergast

If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.

“You’re kidding. No. Absolutely not.” Daniel stared in disgust at the rainbow-striped acoustic guitar. It was hanging with others of the more common variety in a second-hand store catering exclusively to metanormal customers.

“I’m serious. In a couple of months, when GenZ discovers the music of legendary folk singer Kain DeMarko, it will be worth millions. He played it three times at the Fillmore West during the Summer of Love.”

“You are the silliest predictive AI I’ve ever engaged.” He’d just leased Sofia and uploaded her into his cranial implant last week.

“It’s on discount for one-fifty. C’mon, buy it.”

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My Short Story “The Simulated Woman” Was Accepted Into the Anthology “Existential Hologram”

simulated

Scene from the 2017 movie “Blade Runner 2049”

If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.

I was just informed by Starry Eyed Press that my cyberpunk SciFi short story “The Simulated Woman” has been accepted into their forthcoming anthology “Existential Hologram.”

I don’t have any information about when this will be published, no cover art (the image above is taken from the 2017 film Blade Runner 2049), really nothing at all except the anthology description listed when the open submissions call became available:

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“The Trench Coat Chronicles” Now Available at Barnes & Noble

Cover image for the anthology “The Trench Coat Chronicles”

I’m pleased to announce that the Celestial Echo Press “hard-boiled detective” anthology The Trench Coat Chronicles is now available Barnes & Noble.

Edited by Ruth Littner, Ann Stolinsky. it features my short story The Haunted Detective.

In 1947 San Francisco, Marguerite Potter has just gone into business for herself as a Private Detective after learning the trade from her more experienced mentor. Used to the rough and gritty streets of the City that Never Sleeps, even Margie is startled when her first client is the young woman who became her friend when Potter arrived in the City, a woman who had been murdered six years ago.

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Preview of my Short Story “The Haunted Detective”

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Promotional image for the Gemini Wordsmiths anthology “The Trench Coat Chronicles”

About six weeks ago, I announced that my short story “The Haunted Detective” was accepted for publication in the Gemini Wordsmiths anthology “The Trench Coat Chronicles.”

The graphic above not only includes my name among the accepted authors but relates that this book will be available sometime around the winter holidays.

If you can’t wait, here’s a small excerpt:

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The COVID-19 California Police State

cdc map

Found at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website

No, I’m really not that paranoid, but you have to admit that people are probably getting nervous about not just the pandemic, but governmental responses.

First, the rise of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic across the globe. Then the hoarding, including guns and ammo, and then martial law…well sort of.

Yesterday, I heard that San Francisco and several of the surrounding countries all went on lockdown:

Almost 7 million people are affected by the lockdown that went into place Tuesday as Bay Area counties followed San Francisco’s lead in ordering residents to shelter in place. It was the first of such measures in the United States as authorities try to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Okay, I get it. The northern California authorities are trying everything they can think of to flatten the curve.

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