Not too long ago, a cat showed up in my yard.  Nothing unusual about that.  I have really good chipmunks.  Many cats in the neighborhood pass through for a sunny nap and a quick snack. 

 

The unusual thing about this cat’s arrival is that he hasn’t departed.  Yes, I gave him a name.   Humphrey has his own dish and water bowl, and I even made him a little bed. 

 

It turns out that Humphrey is not a stray.  He lives with Debbie and Skip down the street.  Or, he used to live there.  Now he’s living in both places, and he seems to answer to both his names—he’s Gizmo to Debbie and Skip.

 

There’s another reason I write about Humphrey/Gizmo.  Debbie has Black Horse Pike photographs, and she has generously offered to share them with me for possible inclusion in the book. 

 

So not only was it a delight to have a cute kitty around to help with yardwork, but I've also met some great neighbors.  I just can’t help wondering how Humphrey/Gizmo knew I was writing that book…

 

Till next time,

 

Jill.

The Mid-Atlantic region has been suffering (okay, experiencing) some summer-like weather over the past week. This is all well and good on the home heating front, but it makes spending weekends outside at fall festivals a little dicey. 

 

The Collingswood Book Fair was great fun again, and clouds kept the temps down until the early afternoon. I think a sunburned nose is a small price to pay for meeting all those who stopped by my booth to talk about The White Horse Pike, plans for The Black Horse Pike and the great fun of writing crime fiction like the revenge stories in The EX Factor.

 

The Blackwood Pumpkin Festival was a lot sunnier, hotter, and more humid. Nonetheless, a number of people stopped by to talk history and to inquire about publication of The Black Horse Pike.

 

As usual, meeting people at events leads to new contacts and new ideas, and I’m looking forward to meeting with two local history groups this week and following all the leads I’ve been gathering.

 

So while the weather is about to break and temps will fall into the 60s by the end of the week, work on The Black Horse Pike will remain hot. 

 

Believe it or not, I do plan to produce another issue of my newsletter.  I promised not to clog the inboxes of my subscribers and I'll just stick to that excuse for not having written Issue #2 yet. 

 

I have sort of been waiting for an appropriate time to publish Issue #2.  If I'd won a Derringer Award I would have done it.  But I didn't so I didn't. 

 

But just last week I finished and polished three short stories that I hope will be included in Oh, Enemy Mine.  This is an anthology of revenge stories, sort of a sequel to The EX Factor, and published by Koboca Publishing.  So if any of those stories is accepted, I'll publish the newsletter to make that announcement.

 

I also want to include some suggested reading again, but if you read this before the newsletter is published, go check out the Amazon Shorts 49-cent downloads.  Do a search on Frank Zafiro and John Wilsky.  You can't go wrong reading their stuff.  And remember that my story, Unspoken, will soon be available there.

 

Also, I thought I had a flash fiction in Mouth Full of Bullets this month, but I can't find the June issue.  I'll have to ask BJ Bourg about that and post again.

 

I better save some news for the newsletter...

 

Till next time,

 

Jill.

Let’s start with the downs. My flash piece, Flight School didn’t capture enough votes to win a Derringer Award. I’m disappointed, of course, but not all that much. The competition is fierce. Casting my vote in a couple of award categories was a rather difficult undertaking. I hope others had the same problem!

 

I truly am flattered to have been nominated at all (thanks, Frank!). And thanks to the judges for selecting Flight School for the "final four" for reader voting.  Flight School was not only my first attempt at writing flash fiction, but also my first attempt at writing crime fiction. So to have risen to the ranks of Derringer Finalist at all is a true honor. Congratulations to all the winners!

 

On the ups…

 

My short story Unspoken has been accepted by Amazon Shorts for publication in their 49-cent download section. I’m looking forward to seeing the cover design for this story. I thought Amazon did a fine job with Homecoming. I will post the publication date for Unspoken as soon as I know of it.

 

Many thanks to the citizens of Magnolia, New Jersey! Despite a chilly wind and spotty cloud cover, they visited the annual flea market in droves. I had a wonderful time chatting with all who stopped by my table and learning ever more tidbits of history.

 

And it was a true delight was meeting members of the “Metzger/Mezger” family. Way back when, the Metzgers were the toll takers on the White Horse Pike in Magnolia.

 

You just can’t beat a day like that!

 

Till next time,

 

Jill.

 

I’m a little overwhelmed that my flash piece, Flight School, has been selected as a Derringer Award Finalist!

 

The Derringers are awarded each year by the Short Mystery Fiction Society.

 

This is the first year I was eligible and I thank Frank Zafiro for nominating Flight School. The judges waded through 170 blind nominations to select the 20 finalists (five in each of four categories).  Now it’s up to the members of the Short Mystery Fiction Society to read all the stories and vote for their favorites.

 

I am truly honored to have one of my stories among the finalists. 

 

Visit again to see who wins.

 

Jill.