New "Nameless, Texas" Novella coming soon!

Dear Reader-Friends,

Way back in 1999 or 2000, I started my very first cozy mystery about a fiber artist who lives in a small Texas town. This was several years before I wrote LONE STAR DEATH, my historical Texas mystery. Now, 14 years later, I've decided to revisit my first book, polish it and publish it as a novella.

Back then, I had an idea for a sleuth who was a weaver. I'd written a lot about the fiber arts, had a degree in textiles, and was an internationally known "expert" in the field. I had wanted to do some fiction writing for a while, and figured that I'd combine my two interests. This particular story involves natural dyeing with plants---specifically, indigo---in the story line. I had written several how-to books on the craft and grew an extensive dyer's garden of my own.

One of my how-to books written under my previous name, Bobbi A. McRae

Thing is, back then, the popularity of the "occupational" cozy sleuth hadn't come about just yet, and  although publishers were intrigued and somewhat interested, they weren't sure they could sell this idea. I have to laugh at that concept now, because we all know those types of books are very popular.

Lots has happened between there and here in my writing life, and when I finally sat down to revise the story, it seemed  like visiting with some old friends I haven't seen for a while.

Thing is, they aren't old friends. Once I started revising the text, I realized they are the same folks who inhabit my current "Nameless, Texas" short story series.  You'll find Aunt Jewel, Kendra, Jeremy and more. There are a few new ones and some of the relationships have changed, but in general, it's the same place. That tickles me. :-)

I kept the original idea of the story and changed it a bit to fit my Nameless story world. A few  things surprised and amused me--especially the pay phones and film cameras used in the story. They definitely added to the time the sleuth spent chasing around town and waiting for film to be developed, but was easy to fix. 

And since I've been writing a lot of short stories and prefer the shorter length, I decided to make the novel a novella, coming in around 30,000 words. I hope it will appeal to the many readers who like my short story series and the quirky folks who inhabit Nameless, Texas.

So keep an eye peeled for DYE, DYEING, DEAD---coming by the end of July!

(And yes, it's spelled that way on purpose.) :-D

Happy trails,

bobbi c.

May is Short Story Month!

Dear friends,

Those of us who write short stories are glad to see a whole month devoted to them.  We like to think that the short story is undergoing a bit of a renaissance.  In the past, as Anne R. Allen mentions in her blog post from yesterday, The New Golden Age of Short Fiction: 12 Reasons to Write a Short Story This Month, authors have used short stories as practice runs for longer works, such as novels.

But some of us write short stories predominantly, and there are even online groups for authors who do so.  Like the Short Mystery Fiction Society, for example. I'm a proud member of the group.

 One of our members, author Susan Oleksiw, is writing on the SMFS blog today about her experiences in writing short fiction, and the differences in writing short crime fiction vs. the crime novel.

You can read one of Susan's short stories, The Secret of the Pulluvan Drum, free online.

Other members of the SMFS have stories free to read online:

Ben Solomon, The Hard-Boiled Detective, has a story,  No. 3: Simeon Von Runk, here.

Georgia Ruth, has a story titled The Blue Ridge Wreath over on Stupefying Stories.

Other online stories to read or listen to were written by SMFS member Rob Lopresti.

Shanks on the prowl (podcast)
Shanks holds the line
Snake in the Sweetgrass (podcast)
Crow's feat

And here are two dramatizations of his stories by the Midnight Mystery Players:
Crow's avenue
Crow's feat

And a story by Jan Christensen, Why I Quit Jogging. You can find more of Jan's mystery stories on her website.

With the ease of publishing digital e-books now on Amazon for the Kindle and for other devices, many authors are taking matters into their own hands and publishing their own collections of stories.  Many small presses are popping up and publishing anthologies of stories, too.  From science-fiction/fantasy, to mystery/suspense, action-adventure or horror---no matter what you love to read, you can find numerous short story collections out there now.  And many of the classic pulp authors are being re-published, too.

There are lots of new online 'zines that publish short stories, way too many to mention here.  Over the past few years, some of my stories have been published online, free for readers. And many public libraries have special sections for short story collections. Check 'em out!

If the last short story you read was something back in high school, give it a chance again.  They are great for filling in all those "waiting times"---take out your smart phone or Kindle and read a short story.

A few of my short stories that have been published over the past few years are listed through the "Free Macabre & Mystery Short Stories" link above.  I hope you enjoy them!

I  have also published a series of "Nameless, Texas" short mystery stories for sale over on Amazon.

Happy reading!

bobbi c.

New Short Story -- Aunt Jewel & the Poisoned Potlikker

Available now, on Amazon.com!

Aunt Jewel and the Poisoned Potlikker

Number Three in my "Nameless, Texas" short story series!

A new 4,800 word cozy mystery short story from Bobbi A. Chukran. . .

When Kendra Louise Harper's Aunt Jewel decides to make a traditional "mess" of turnip greens to take to the annual Giving of Thanks community dinner and gathering in Nameless, Texas (population 2,354), little does she know that her special dish will become the source of widespread illness and even a death. The disaster comes a bit too close to home when Kendra's best friend, Jeffrey, becomes violently ill after he eats a "healthy" amount of the greens.

Question is, who would poison the potlikker, and why?  How did it happen?  Why was Aunt Jewel's dish targeted?

What exactly DID Bertha Smithton see early that morning at Aunt Jewel's house?

What would motivate someone in the little community to take such desperate measures?

Filled with quirky characters, this latest cozy mystery in the "Nameless, Texas" short story series will delight those who love tales of small town murder.

Includes free recipe for "Aunt Jewel's Slow Cooker Turnip Greens with Potlikker" and a free chapter from LONE STAR DEATH.

Also in the Series:

Aunt Jewel and the Purloined Pork Loin

Dewey Laudermilk and the Peckerwood Tree