Category Archives: Writers

“The Joy and Sorrow of Magazines” (by Maxim Jakubowski)

This is the first post for our site by Maxim Jakubowski, but he’s someone whose name is known to nearly everyone in the mystery field. He worked for many years in publishing and later owned London’s Murder One bookstore for … Continue reading

Posted in Books, History, Magazine, Writers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

“A Semiforgotten Masterpiece of Short Fiction” (by Kevin Mims)

With EQMM’s 80th anniversary issue (September/October 2021) on sale now, this post, which begins by marking another significant anniversary in crime fiction, seems apt. It also calls attention to an important collection of short fiction of which I’d been unaware. … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Fiction, Genre, Guest, History, mystery fiction, Novels, review, reviews, Writers | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“Mystery/Suspense and the Beauty of Brevity” (by Trey Dowell)

Yesterday, EQMM’s 80th Anniversary Issue (September/October 2021) went on sale. In it you’ll find Trey Dowell’s flash-fiction thriller “The Problem With Fish Markets.” (And yes, it’s possible to write a genuine international-intrigue thriller in one thousand words—though I might not have … Continue reading

Posted in Fiction, Genre, Guest, Noir, Readers, Story, Suspense, Writers, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

“Tick-Tick-Boom!: Ratcheting Up the Tension with a Ticking Clock” (by Sandy Smith)

Sandy Smith makes her EQMM debut in our 80th Anniversary Issue (September/October 2021)—on sale next week!  She’s had a number of stories published elsewhere. Two were nominated for Best of the Net (2018 and 2019) and another for the Pushcart … Continue reading

Posted in crime, Editing, Readers, Writers, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

“July Fifth in Worcester, Mass.” (by Michael Grimala)

Michael Grimala moved to Nevada in 2012 to take a job as a reporter for the Las Vegas Sun, but he’s a native of Massachusetts, where he set his debut short story, “A Trunk Full of Illegal Fireworks.” As you … Continue reading

Posted in Department of First Stories, Guest, Story, Writers | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

“If It Weren’t for Ellery Queen” (by Hal Charles)

Hal Blythe and Charlie Sweet have been writing together for more than forty-five years. Together, as Hal Charles, they are the authors of more than 200 short stories, one of which is “Nothing Good Happens After Midnight,” in our current … Continue reading

Posted in Ellery Queen, Guest, History, Magazine, Publishing, Writers, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

“The Secret of Las Vegas” (by Melissa Yi)

Melissa Yi is a Canadian ER doctor who writes medical thriller novels starring doctor-sleuth Hope Sze. One of the books in the series, Stockholm Syndrome, was named one of the best crime novels of its season by CBC Radio’s The … Continue reading

Posted in Fiction, Guest, History, romance, Setting, Writers, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

The Puerto Rican Mystery: Steven Torres Interviews Cina Pelayo and Richie Narvaez

Once in a while we have the privilege of bringing readers an interview on this blog. In this one, Steven Torres talks to Cina Pelayo and Richie Narvaez. Currently a resident of Connecticut, Steven Torres is a Derringer Award winning … Continue reading

Posted in Characters, Fiction, Genre, Guest, Interview, Setting, Writers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

“Chaos and Community at a Family Seder” (by Elizabeth Zelvin)

Several weeks ago, I contacted Elizabeth Zelvin, one of our genre’s most celebrated short-story writers, and asked for a post in time for Passover. The timing seemed important, because Liz’s story in our current issue (March/April 2021) is set at … Continue reading

Posted in History, Setting, Writers, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

“I Thought Up This Title in the Bath” (by Mat Coward)

Mat Coward’s latest short story for EQMM, “Yeah, I Meant to Do That,” appears in our current issue (March/April 2021). The British author’s novels span the genres of crime, fantasy, and science fiction, but he’s particularly distinguished in the mystery … Continue reading

Posted in Writers, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments