AUTHOR TERESA INGE ON THE JOY OF SHORT STORY WRITING

Teresa Inge is an author in more than a dozen anthologies and novellas including Virginia is for Mysteries, Mutt Mysteries, Coastal Crimes, and Promophobia, an Agatha award-winning collection. When not writing, Teresa can be found showing her 1955 Torch Red, Ford Thunderbird at car shows. Learn more about her and her short stories and novellas at her website.

Short Story Anthologies  

I love reading and writing short crime fiction in the anthology format. Especially cozy mysteries that have appealing characters, a small-town setting, and the violence is set off stage. Plus, the mystery is always solved at the end of the story.

 

Mystery anthologies include several different authors, which means different stories, viewpoints, and writing styles. Most have a theme for authors to base their story around, and each story exposes readers to various contributors they might not otherwise have read. 

 

In short stories, every word, sentence, and paragraph is important to move the plot forward due to the shorter word counts in anthologies. This means, readers get a fast-paced and well-developed story they can’t put down.

 

I was first introduced to short stories as a teenager when I read “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe. The story features a murderer who tries to persuade his readers of his mental stability while telling the tale of a brutish act. Needless to say, I was hooked on reading short stories but realized I preferred no guts or gore.

 

As a short story writer, I am published in fifteen anthologies and novellas. I coordinate many anthologies and create the book title and theme. I also get to work with multiple authors and mentor new writers. The process is rewarding in the development and editing stage of each short story and the anthology publication.

 

In my latest anthology, First Comes Love, Then Comes Murder, the book has nineteen juicy tales of revenge, betrayal, bad breakups, and a few I dos and some I don’ts. My story “Maid of Murder,” features wine shop owner Lainey Gentry who discovers a dead body in her wine room and tries to clear her name after being accused of murdering a drunken bridesmaid at a bridal party wine tasting. The theme for the book takes ruthless relationships to an all-new level, which makes excellent reading of short stories.

 

5 benefits of buying and reading short stories:

1. A certainty you’ll read the entire piece. 

2. A pleasure of finishing a story.

3. An incentive to read the next story in the anthology.

4. A convenient way to try new genres and authors.

5. A great read between novels.

First Comes Love, Then Comes Murder

Nineteen juicy tales of revenge, betrayal, bad breakups, and a few I dos and some I don’ts by Heather Weidner, Debra H. Goldstein, Sandra Murphy, Kristin Kisska, Eleanor Cawood Jones, Allie Marie, Ellen Butler, Maggie King, Mary Dutta, and Teresa Inge

 

Each short story takes ruthless relationships to an all-new level in all kinds of places like destination weddings, riverboat cruises, wineries, bachelorette parties, creepy stalkers, cheating spouses, and sneaky friends trying for their version of happily ever after. So, settle in for some love stories with a twist of revenge, infidelity, and murder. 

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#COOKING WITH CLORIS--HEATHER WEIDNER SHARES TREATS FOR YOUR FAVORITE CANINE

Mystery author Heather Weidner has been a mystery fan since Scooby-Doo and Nancy Drew. She writes the Delanie Fitzgerald series, and her short stories have appeaedr in the Virginia is for Mysteries series, 50 Shades of Cabernet, and Deadly Southern Charm. Her novellas appear in The Mutt Mysteries series. Learn more about Heather and her books at her website/blog  and at the Mutt Mysteries website. Today Heather’s sleuth Cassidy Green, owner of the Amelia speedway in “The Fast in the Furriest” from To Fetch a Scoundrel, is here to share a recipe for the treats she makes for her Rottweiler Oliver.

Oliver’s Favorite Dog Treats

Ingredients:

1 cup creamy peanut butter

3/4 cup milk

1 large egg

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 T baking powder

1/3 cup oats (quick or rolled)

2–3 strips cooked bacon, chopped

Preheat oven to 325°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, mix the peanut butter, milk, and egg with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula. Add the flour and baking powder. Make sure it is mixed thoroughly. Add the oats and bacon. 

Roll out the mix onto a floured surface and cut into shapes using cookie cutters or a knife. Arrange on the baking sheets. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until very lightly. Remove from the oven and flip the treats to bake the other side for 10-12 more minutes.

Allow to cool completely before serving to your pup. Cover and store leftovers at room temperature for up to 1 week or in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. 

To Fetch a Scoundrel

Mutt Mysteries, Book 2

The mystery-solving mutts are back! To Fetch a Scoundrel, the second in the Mutt Mysteries collection, features four tail-wagging novellas. Each story puts pups’ noses to the ground, as scandals are unleashed and killers are collared. Once you’ve finished reading these tall “tails,” you’ll no longer wonder “Who let the dogs out?” You’ll just be glad somebody did! Stories include:

“The Fast and the Furriest” by Heather Weidner

Isn’t there enough action under the lights at the Amelia Race Track without the drama of a love triangle? An altercation leads to murder, and owner Cassidy Green and her Rottweiler Oliver have to uncover clues and find the killer before the bad publicity destroys her business.

“Pawsitively Scandalous” by Jayne Ormerod

What’s with the crime wave in the Grant’s Garden neighborhood? First a respectable member is arrested for crimes unknown, and then another neighbor dies under mysterious circumstances. Pilar Pruitt and her black lab/mix Natti are on the case, and the secrets they uncover are paws-itively scandalous!

“Ruff Goodbye” by Rosemary Shomaker

Does everyone bar owner Len Hayes knows have a secret? Yes, and secrets unravel after a funeral home visitation for Len’s late friend Curt. Miniature poodle Cloud signals danger. A certain black Lab may safeguard the truth. Will canine intervention ensure no one pays the ultimate price?

“A Doggone Scandal” by Teresa Inge

Catt Ramsey, owner of the Woof-Pack Dog Walkers, is back on the case when she receives a mysterious note in her pet supply order. Convinced the sender’s motive is scandalous, Catt packs up her SUV and heads to the Outer Banks with her sister Em, family friend Jonathan Ray, and pups Cagney and Lacey to solve the mystery.

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MYSTERY AUTHOR HEATHER WEIDNER ON VIRGINIA NEW YEAR'S TRADITIONS

Heather Weidner has been a cop’s kid, technical writer, editor, college professor, software tester, and IT manager, but because she’s been a mystery fan since Scooby-Doo and Nancy Drew, she now writes mystery novels, novellas, and short stories. Learn more about her and her books at her website. 

Virginia New Year’s Traditions

Thank you so much for letting me visit today. I write mystery novels, novellas, and short stories. The three novels in the Delanie Fitzgerald series are Secret Lives and Private Eyes, The Tulip Shirt Murders, and Glitter, Glam, and Contraband. My sleuth Delanie is a sassy, redheaded private investigator who owns Falcon Investigations in Central Virginia. Her partner, computer guru (and hacker) Duncan Reynolds, is a whiz at getting computers to cough up information to help them with their investigations.

I write where I know. I have lived in Virginia all of my life (Virginia Beach and Chesterfield County – outside of Richmond) and all of my stories and novels are set in the Commonwealth. The region, with its mix of rural, suburban, and urban neighborhoods, is a great place to live and write novels. I work in downtown Richmond on a hill above the former Tredegar Ironworks with one of the best views in RVA. This region is home to the state capital, but in many ways, it’s still a close-knit community. And I’m excited to share some Virginia traditions for the New Year.

Virginia is full of culinary traditions that tie to its culture and history. Some are standard southern foods and others are used in holiday decorations and festivities.

Oysters have been a part of our menus since the Native Americans introduced them to the colonists at Jamestown. Oyster stew is often a regional tradition for New Year’s Day. Virginia is also famous for its peanuts. These are enjoyed year-round, but they are quite popular as gifts during the holiday and for tailgating parties. The taverns in Colonial Williamsburg are famous for their peanut soup recipes. Peanuts were first grown commercially in the U.S. in Waverly near Suffolk.

The pineapple, imported to the colonial era, is a holiday tradition in Virginia. It is often used in decorations and centerpieces. Through the years, the tropical fruit has become the symbol for “welcome” in Virginia. Colonial Williamsburg and the plantations on Route 5 are known for their traditional decorations. Later you could find representations of the fruit in and on textiles, china, pottery, silver, pewter, and paintings. 

The traditional Virginia New Year’s Day meal usually includes some representation of black-eyed peas, greens, oyster stew, pork, and cornbread.

Virginia cities ring in the New Year with their own traditions. Time Square in New York is famous for its ball drop. Richmond, the capital, has a ball drop. Roanoke, the Star City in the mountains, has a star drop. Fredericksburg drops a lighted pear, while Winchester, has a lighted apple drop. And the Eastern Shore, home of Misty of Chincoteague and the annual pony swim, has a lighted horseshoe drop.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday season and that you get to enjoy and share your traditions with family and friends. 

Glitter, Glam, and Contraband 

A Delanie Fitzgerald Mystery, Book 3

Private investigator, Delanie Fitzgerald, and her computer hacker partner, Duncan Reynolds, are back for more sleuthing in Glitter, Glam and Contraband. In this fast-paced mystery, the Falcon Investigations team is hired to find out who is stealing from the talent at a local drag show. Delanie gets more than she bargains for and a few makeup tips in the process. Meanwhile, a mysterious sound in the ceiling of her office vexes Delanie. She uses her sleuthing skills to track down the source and uncover a creepy contraband operation.

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BOOK CLUB FRIDAY--GUEST AUTHOR HEATHER WEIDNER

Heather Weidner has been a mystery fan since Scooby Doo and Nancy Drew. Now she’s a mystery author with short stories appearing in two anthologies as well as a mystery series. Learn more about her and her books at her website. 

My Homage to Nancy Drew – Girl Sleuth

I write mystery novels and short stories. Secret Lives and Private Eyes is the first in the Delanie Fitzgerald mystery series. (The Tulip Shirt Murders, the second in the series, launches in mid-November.) My sleuth Delanie is a sassy, redheaded private investigator who zooms around Central Virginia in her black Mustang.

I have loved mysteries since Scooby Doo and Nancy Drew. And I was over the moon in 1977 when the “Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys” TV show debuted. (It didn’t hurt that Shaun Cassidy played Joe Hardy.) My friends and I raced through all the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys collections at the public library in Virginia Beach. My favorite is still The Crooked Bannister (1971) with its hot pink cover. I loved the plot twists and the double meanings. From that point on, I was hooked on mysteries. From there, I moved on to Alfred Hitchcock, Agatha Christie, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. But Nancy Drew is still one of my favorite sleuths.

In the late 1980s, I had a double major in English and history. My research project in “Adolescent Literature” was a comparative study of the original Nancy Drew mysteries from the 1930s with the updated ones in the 1980s and their influence on generations of readers.

As a pre-teen reader, I was so impressed that Nancy could solve crimes before the professionals and adults did. I adored Nancy’s freedom. She had a car. She did things that other girls didn’t, and she could solve crimes. She influenced generations of women like Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, Oprah Winfrey, and Sonia Sotomayor. Nancy has been a role model for lots of young girls for over eighty years.

The Nancy Drew mysteries were written by several ghostwriters under one pseudonym, Carolyn Keene. The series has undergone several revisions and updates over the years, but Nancy’s spirit prevailed. The famous yellow spines were added to the books in 1962. That was the set that I remember reading. And her stories have been translated into over twenty different languages.

The girl detective appeared in several movies from the 1930s to the 2000s and TV shows through the years. Her face and logo have graced all kinds of merchandising from jewelry, lunch boxes, and clothing to board and video games. She has appeared in novels, coloring books, and graphic novels.

There are some similarities between the iconic Nancy Drew and my private investigator. I didn’t intentionally mean to create the parallels, but subconsciously, her character influenced my mystery writing. Both females are fearless, smart, and feisty. Delanie and Nancy both have red hair. (Nancy Drew started out as a blonde in the 1930s, but artists in the 1940-50s depicted her as a redhead.)

Nancy drove a sporty roadster. Her car was upgraded to a Mustang in the mysteries from the 1980s. My sleuth loves her black Mustang, nicknamed Black Beauty.

Nancy’s friends (Bess and George) were important in her life and to the stories just like Delanie’s partner Duncan (his English bulldog Margaret), and her girlfriends Paisley and Robin are key to her story life.

I like to think of my Delanie Fitzgerald as following in the footprints of the original girl sleuth.

Secret Lives and Private Eyes

A Delanie Fitzgerald Mystery, Book 1

Business has been slow for Private Investigator Delanie Fitzgerald, but her luck seems to change when a tell-all author hires her to find rock star Johnny Velvet. Could the singer—whose career purportedly ended in a fiery crash almost thirty years ago—still be alive?

As if sifting through dead ends in a cold case isn’t bad enough, Delanie is hired by loud-mouth strip club owner Chaz Wellington Smith, III, to uncover information about the mayor’s secret life. When the mayor is murdered, Chaz becomes the key suspect, and Delanie must clear his name. She also has to figure out why a landscaper keeps popping up in her other investigation. Can the private investigator find the connection between the two cases before another murder—possibly her own—takes place?

Secret Lives and Private Eyes is a fast-paced mystery that will appeal to readers who like a strong, female sleuth with a knack for getting herself in and out of difficult, and sometimes humorous, situations.

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A SEARS KIT HOUSE SLEUTH

The Yates model Sears kit house

Heather Weidner has been a mystery fan since Scooby Doo and Nancy Drew. Her short stories appear in Virginia is for Mysteries and Virginia is for Mysteries Volume II. Learn more about her and her writing at her website/blog. 

Secret Lives and Private Eyes

Between 1908 and 1940, homeowners could shop and purchase houses through the Sears and Roebuck catalog. The parts, including hardware and varnishes, arrived by railroad and were ready for assembly on the owner’s lot.

All materials arrived precut and fitted with instructions. Some homeowners hired contractors, while others assembled their own homes. The boards, molding, and pipes usually had markings still visible in many of the homes today. It was a great marketing plan by Sears to sell the home to buyers who would also need furnishings, household items, and lawn gear offered by their stores.

By 1937, according to the Sears Archives, home sales had reached $3.5 million. There were over 447 home models to choose from, and in 1923, Sears added barns to its offerings. During its run, Sears sold over 70,000 of these ready-to-be-assembled homes.

Private investigator, Delanie Fitzgerald in Secret Lives and Private Eyes, lives in a Sears Catalog home. While there are several of these houses in Hopewell, Virginia in the Crescent Hills neighborhood, I took the liberty of moving one to Chesterfield County for my character’s residence.

Delanie lives in the Yates model, which according to original advertising, “was a mellow house, pleasantly flavored with English-cottage characteristics.” Its first floor has four rooms and a bath. It also has a second floor with three bedrooms and a bath. The bungalow is quirky and quaint and matches her style. This model was marketed as a complete home on the first floor level. Buyers could finish the second floor at their leisure. In 1938, the Yates model originally cost between $1,812 and $2,058.

When my husband and I first moved to Central Virginia, we toured nearby Hopewell. I fell in love with the catalog homes that have lasted well over seventy years. It was the perfect residence for my spunky sleuth.

References

http://www.virginia.org/Listings/HistoricSites/SearsCatalogHomes/

http://searsarchives.com

http://www.arts-crafts.com/archive/kithome/rt-searskits.shtml

Secret Lives and Private Eyes

Business has been slow for PI, Delanie Fitzgerald, but her luck seems to change when a tell-all author hires her to find rock star Johnny Velvet. Could the singer whose life was purportedly cut short in a fiery car crash still be alive? And as if sifting through dead ends in a cold case isn’t bad enough, Chaz Wellington Smith, III, a loud-mouthed strip club owner, hires Delanie to uncover information on the mayor’s secret life. When the mayor is murdered, Chaz is the key suspect. Now Delanie must clear his name and figure out the connection between the two cases before another murder – probably her own – takes place.

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