by Kim in Dedham, Massachusetts enjoying Crime Bake.
Today is my day for the giveaway! Leave a comment by midnight to be entered to win an autographed copy of Windward: Best New England Crime Stories.
Well, it’s finally happened. This weekend we launched our first anthology as the new editors of Level Best Books. Windward has been a labor of love and I am proud to be a part of the team along with Harriette Sackler, Shawn Reilly Simmons, and Verena Rose.
It was a year ago this weekend that Level Best Books was passed from one Wicked Cozy editor (Barbara Ross) to another (that would be me!). I had spent the last five autumns coming to New England for the fabulous Crime Bake conference and have many of the anthologies that the previous Level Best Books editors had published. I was happy to pick up the torch and carry on the tradition of this wonderful New England anthology.
The submissions came rolling in from January 1st. – May 31st. at a high rate of speed. All in all there were 225 stories to read. In the end thirty- three stories were selected that included the Al Blanchard Award winner.
I am happy to announce we will be publishing additional anthologies with Busted: Arresting Stories from the Beat to be released in April 2017.
It has been an exciting weekend for all involved and I would like to thank the Crime Bake committee for their warm welcome and assistance, the talented authors who submitted their stories and most of all Barbara Ross who gave me one pep talk after another and filled me with the encouragement I needed to see this project through.
We are winding up another spectacular conference weekend. There were plenty of laughs, lots of dancing and, most of all, a strong writers community to support and cheer for each other.
Join us next year, won’t you?
Do you enjoy reading and/or writing short stories? Which story has been the most memorable?
Congratulations! Can’t wait to have a minute free to dive into my copy.
Thanks, Edith!
Wonderful! I enjoy reading short stories. I am reading, in spurts, The Mysterious Press anniversary anthology : celebrating 25, years at present as well as a few other books. My library loves me as I really increase their circulation stats.
Gram, I am sure your library – as well as many writers – is appreciative of your love of reading. Thank you!
I am not a huge fan of short stories because they just aren’t meaty enough, but some times it just depends on what type of short story. If they are a branch off of a series that I like I might be more apt to try them.
Stormi, recently every short I’ve written has featured my Quaker midwife and her 1888 setting from my series. It’s fun, and she gets to explore smaller cases that might not fit into a longer book.
Hi, Stormi! I have to tell you that there was a time I felt the same way. However, I began reading a Shirley Jackson collection and it changed my mind. It was also through a short story I discovered Nancy Martin’s series featuring the Blackbird sisters. You definitely should give them another try!
Love short stories! Can’t think of just one right nite… Thank you for the opportunity!!!
I hope you have the opportunity to read these wonderful stories.
I’ve just put this title on my amazon wish list! Congratulations to all who wrote and edited!
Thank you, Kimberley! I think you will enjoy the stories.
It’s so great that the tradition continues!
I am, too! Thanks!
I love anthologies! They’re a great way to meet new authors.
I agree. They are also a good way to learn about a series. Thanks for reading!
Always loved the Level Best anthologies because they lived up to that name. Wishing the new team all the best – success, happiness and good reading. Sorry to have missed the unveiling of your first anthology and what appears to have been a top notch Crime Bake.
Thanks, Debra. Really missed seeing you!
I’ve never written a short story but I’ve read a few. I don’t have a favorite but Christmasy feeling ones always make me smile.
Sally, I love Christmas stories. Last December, for my book club, we each brought our favorite Christmas story. I was surprised at how many there were!
Congratulations! I am sure the book is great. Keeping my copy for that lovely, quiet space between Christmas and New Year’s.
Thanks, Barb! I hope you enjoy the book.
Kim, you were glowing at Crime Bake–clearly this new gig suits you! I just picked up my ebook copy. Looking forward to reading it at my cabin over Thanksgiving weekend.
Thanks, Jane. It was lovely to spend time with you.
Congrats on your first anthology as editor! (And I wouldn’t turn down a copy of this book if I should happen to win.)
Thanks, Mark!
I am a reader and I like to read short storie and at the same time, I’ve always got a novel going too! Congrats on the new anthology.
Thank you, Mary Jane. I’m with you, I always have a few things I’m reading at the same time.
I do love short stories, and loved them even more when I was teaching and my free time was limited. Different ones surface depending on what’s happening. Right now, I’m thinking about Judith Merril’s “Survival Ship.” <3
I will need to check out that story. I also read many a short story while teaching. It was great for when my kindergarten class was napping.
Reading them with high school classes meant reading the really good ones three to five times . . . every year. I have some nearly memorized.
Love the title of the new anthology. Can’t wait to read it.
Thank you! Glad you like it!
I’m not a big fan of short stories as a whole. The one big exception is Sherlock Holmes. I’m even a member of the ACD Society! However, I also love any copies!
Darn autocorrect! I love cozies, not copies!
There are a few cozy stories in this anthology that you might like.
Congratulations on the anthology! It’s great to be able to read a selection of stories set in the same region by a range of familiar and new authors.
Thank you!
Hi, Grace! You won the Windward anthology!! Congratulations! I pulled your name from the basket this morning. Please send your address to me and I will get your copy in the mail. My email is kkurthgray@gmail.com.
Hi Kimberly. Wow, that’s great news! I sent you an email with my mailing address. Looking forward to reading these great stories!!
I can’t wait to read this new Anthology.
I hope you like it Annette!
I was never really a short story fan until about a year ago. Now, I am a big fan of anthologies. This anthology sounds great!
I hope you enjoy this one!
Love anthologies- such a great way to be introduced to new to me writers.
I feel the same way.
Congrats on your award! I really enjoy reading anthologies, I like the collection of stories by different authors and seeing their different style of writing. Would enjoy reading “Windward”.
I think this is an anthology you will enjoy reading.
Congratulations! I’m glad the anthology continues on. Looking forward to reading it! š
Thank you, Jonathan!