Welcome to Mystery Month!

You’ll notice that the words on the photo are different from the title of this post. That is because when I use those words in a post, all the social media channels block the post because their bots think it is promoting… crime.

So let’s call it mystery month! and have we got some mysteries for you!

HARD-BOILED AND LOADED WITH SIN (A NOIR ANTHOLOGY) features 18 hard-hitting tales by today’s top indie writers. Edited and featuring an introduction by Dianne Pearce, this must-read collection includes the following tales…

PRIDE GOETH BEFORE by SUZANNE MATTABONI
THE THIRD REFILL by ALBERT TUCHER
ELEGY IN A CITY CHURCHYARD by WILLIAM F. CRANDELL
THE LISSOME LIQUIDATOR by JAMES DONZELLA
LEAVING by ALBERTO AMBARD
GET ON HOME by DENA LINN
A DARK PLACE by QUINTIN PETERSON
ALPHABETIC KARMA by SCOTT ARCHER JONES
CHUMP CHANGE by SUSAN WALSH
HER EYES WERE OPEN by BENJAMIN FINE
THE LADY WITH EMERALD GREEN EYES by JAMES DONZELLA
PEARL OF GREAT PRICE by PHIL GIUNTA
PROFIT AND LOSS by DIANNA SINOVIC
ANGEL DELORME AND THE CRAIGFLOWER BUS by MITCHELL TOEWS
TRACKER OF LOST SOULS by ROBERT POPE
DIG TWO GRAVES by ANDREW R. MIKOS
ROCK BOTTOM by QUINTIN PETERSON
THE BULLET TRAIN by R. DAVID FULCHER

If you think you know noir, think again!

Delve into the world of cozy mysteries with Just a Housecleaner, where Amy Willard weaves a captivating tale centered around a strong female protagonist and the bonds of friendship shattered by an unexpected tragedy.

Follow Patsy Taylor as she navigates the intricate web of grief and detective work in the wake of the sudden death of her dear and recently reacquainted friend, Veronica. 

With Patsy’s background in law enforcement, her sleuthing skills come to the forefront as she uncovers threats lurking within Veronica’s estate from unlikely sources. Along the way, a colorful cast of characters is introduced, each adding layers to the mystery surrounding Veronica’s demise.

As romance, grief, and intrigue intersect, Patsy embarks on a journey of self-discovery, unraveling truths that not only shed light on Ronnie’s death but also on her own heart. With touches of humor sprinkled amidst tense moments, Willard keeps readers engaged from start to finish.

Join Patsy as she transitions from housekeeper to investigator, determined to safeguard Ronnie’s legacy from falling into the wrong hands. Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries, Just a Housecleaner is a compelling read that skillfully blends suspense, humor, and heart. Dive in and uncover the secrets lurking within its pages!

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY, a thrilling crime anthology featuring work by twenty-three unique voices. This volume contains the following original works, among many others::
Puzzle Box No. 1 by Heidi J. Hewett
Reflections of Miss Ava by Phyllis Humby
Detective Show #2647 by Monte A. Anderson
Acts of Magic by David Yurkovich
Mark Twain’s Unscheduled Trip to Shanghai by Dianne Pearce
A Murder in Manila by Jonathan Ochoco
Sleep To See Tomorrow’s Memories of Yesterday by Robert Lewis Heron
The Case of the Mislaid Eggs by Patsy Pratt-Herzog
In Death, She Speaks the Truth by Liliana Widocks
Isla de Corazón Piedra by Michael Sarabia
The Discovered Country by Tom Barlow
Insomnia by Sharon Berg
The Infiltrator by Paulene Turner
My Illness Looks Like Darkness by Wendel Young

And our newest mystery treat:

“…a throwback to a time before graphic violence and hardcore police procedurals became the norm…Elliott crafts a pleasantly twisty mystery populated by rich characters… an intriguing tale that is sure to delight old-fashioned mystery lovers. A satisfying cozy mystery with just a hint of the supernatural.”
KIRKUS

A Witch Awakens is a ‘Fire Circle Mystery’ steeped in an Appalachian backdrop and traditions. It delivers a punch with the hard-hitting story of Cece Chagall, who moves back to her hometown of Eureka Grove in search of peace, only to herself involved in a murder…Readers seeking vivid, engrossing stories that weave supernatural overtones into issues of murder, discovery, and transformation will relish the combination of realistic characterization and community awakening that make A Witch Awakens a vibrant, thoroughly immersive experience.”
MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW

In the debut novel of the Fire Circle Mystery series, author Ellis Elliott blends elements of the supernatural into the cozy mystery genre resulting in an exciting reading experience. Readers meet Tennessee “Cece” Chagall, who returns to her hometown of Eureka Grove, Tennessee, after leaving New York. She resumes life as a dance instructor at her grandmother’s studio and reconnects with her old friend Bess. But her peaceful routine is shattered when a beloved local figure is murdered. Cece’s synesthesia—referred to as her “peculiars” by Aunt Granny Hazel—begins revealing clues that seem to guide her toward the truth. As she grapples with the strange sensory experiences that point her to the murder weapon, she leans on her eccentric aunt and the supportive women of the “fire circle” for insight. Blending small-town charm, quirky characters, and a classic whodunit feel, this mystery pays homage to traditional detective tales, steering clear of graphic content and gritty crime tropes.

So celebrate (Mystery) month by reading a great book!

PUBLISHING YOUR BOOK SHOULDN’T BE A MYSTERY

We invite you to join us at free webinar with a live Q&A afterwards. All are welcome, and we’d love to talk to you about your book.

Save your seat HERE.

Yes, you can bring a friend!

All attendees receive a free guide to self-publishing your book: all the things you might miss/forget if you’re new to this!

We’ll conclude the event with a book giveaway!

WELCOME TO CRIME MONTH

June is “Crime Month,” and we want to hear from you! What’s your favorite mystery novel of all time?

Aside from the books we’ve published here, mine just might be A LITTLE YELLOW DOG.

Leave a comment with your favorite below, and one lucky respondent will get a print copy of the Hawkshaw Press book of their choice! (Winner chosen and notified July 1st!)

NOIR

Kindle Vella

What’s a noir anthology?

It could be crime.

It could be the kind of story that would look perfect filmed in black and white.

It could be sexy.

It could be rough.

Someone’s going to die in this book.

Someone’s going to rip-off some old broads too.

That romance is doomed from the start.

I wouldn’t take that train if I were you.

The cops are dirty, and they’re out to take everyone down.

But who is really gonna take the fall?

Who’s gonna take that last, long, lonely walk?

Hard-Boiled and Loaded with Sin… CLICK HERE for the full book on Kindle Vella to read now on your phone for pennies a story.

Coming to paperback and eReaders in June.

Summer is hot, and so is the dark of night.

It’s the perfect time for noir.

DON’T FORGET YOUR FREE JACK GRIFFIN TALE WRITTEN BY A U.S. VETERAN!

FREEBIE! HARDBOILED!

It’s your last 24 hours to get a copy of KENNEDY free!
If you ever enjoyed THE THIN MAN, or THE MALTESE FALCON, you’re going to LOVE KENNEDY! And the next book in the series releases this summer! Get your free read during our promotion now! FREE BOOK ends tomorrow, so don’t miss out! Perfect for fans of Washington DC, and noir writing, CRANDELL does a thrilling job of navigating the Nation’s Capital after World War I.

Vietnam Veteran WILLIAM F. CRANDELL and his first novel LET’S SAY JACK KENNEDY KILLED THE GIRL need one more review to hit the Amazon “magic 15!” When they do, Amazon will start advertising Kennedy! CAN YOU BE OUR 15th REVIEW?


Can we get your opinion? One of the ideas posited by HIBERNACULUM is the idea that human hibernation could help significantly reverse climate change.

What do you think?

Thoughts? Would you sign up to help reverse climate change? Take the poll in episode 8!

Did you know, HIBERNACULUM is almost at 50 likes? When Amazon sees a book performing well they promote it, and our other books too! Can you spare a few minutes to read an episode?

Can you help even more by interacting with the content through leaving a review? C’mon, sci-fi folks know all about interacting with content!

AWARD-WINNING WRITING IS NO MYSTERY…

ATWOOD20… expires 2/28/23.

But right now you can get a deal!

Sign up for editing in the month of February (2023) and mention the ATWOOD20 code to get 20% off of our editing service.

You do not have to begin or end editing in February. As long as you sign-up BEFORE 2/28/23. and request a START DATE for a slot before May 2023, the discount is yours.

Sign-up here. Don’t worry if you may not know your “exact” word count yet; just send a small sample and let us know what we can do for you.

Recent projects:

  • Helped two authors finish dystopian books of over 600 pages each.
  • Worked with an LGBTQ novelist on fantasy world-building.
  • Helped a humor/horror writer amp up the laughs.
  • Found the perfect ending to a horror short story.
  • Added pathos to a memoir.
  • Sharpened six query letters.
  • Provided three editorial assessments.
  • Got a manuscript ready for serializing on Kindle Vella.

Not everyone needs the same thing. Tell us how we can help you~

THE NEW HAWK

As we move further into 2023, we realized it was time to redo the Hawkshaw Press site (home of our crime fiction novels and collections). The site has gotten a fresh makeover, and we’ll be updating Gravelight and Out of This World soon as well.

Meanwhile, please drop by Hawkshaw Press and meander a while, Flatfoot.

CALL FOR SHORT STORIES

Welcome to HARDBOILED AND LOADED WITH SIN, the new anthology series by Hawkshaw Press. First issue drops SUMMER 2023.

Here’s the deets:

Fiction only.

Short stories 1500-7,500 words. If yours is longer send us a query @ publisher at Devil’s Party Press dot com.

12 pt New Times Roman, double-spaced.

Authors over 40 only.

Submit everything through our Duosuma page as a Word or Pages file.

FEE: 10 bucks

PAYMENT: All authors selected for publication receive a one-time royalty of 25 bucks, a copy of the anthology, and our semi-undying love.

See HAWKSHAW to submit.

FREE (& virtual) INDIE AUTHOR EVENT

Do you like Humphrey Bogart movies?
How about Raymond Chandler mysteries?

Join us online for a conversation with William F. Crandell, award-winning author of Let’s Say Jack Kennedy Killed the Girl, Book 1 in The Jack Griffin Detective Series.

In this hard-boiled adventure we find a young senator Kennedy’s personal and political future at risk when he’s set up to take the fall for a ghastly murder. Working against time, bureaucratic red tape, his own personal demons, and individuals who want him out of the way, Detective Jack Griffin must identify the real killer, assuming he survives long enough.

William F. Crandell returned home from the Vietnam War with a taste for adventure, a skeptic’s eye, and a hundred thousand stories. Awarded a Maryland State Arts Council Individual Artist Award for his private detective novel, Let’s Say Jack Kennedy Killed the Girl, Crandell has published short stories, book reviews, scholarly articles, journalism, state and federal reports, political analyses, and congressional testimony that he presented in Washington hearings. An Ohio native, Crandell received all his degrees at Ohio State University, completing his doctorate in American History with a study of the interaction of McCarthyism and Republican politics. Bill is a former DC speech writer for Veteran’s Affairs.
Click below to register for the Zoom link:

TALK WITH BILL CRANDELL