Another great season of Bloody Thursdays came to an end with a panel discussion on mystery short stories and the annual Friends of Mystery Book Sale. There was also birthday cake, sweet treats, and lots of readers and writers on hand.

The discussion was robust and wide-ranging, with panelists Evan LewisBill CameronKristine Rusch, and Dean Wesley Smith fielding questions from moderator (and FOM Programs Director) John Walsdorf and from the audience. Topics included the challenges of writing short stories versus novels, the ways each author approaches their craft, and the current state of the short story landscape.

Dean and Kris talk books before the panel

Dean and Kris talk books before the panel

Of particular interest to audience members was where to find good short stories, and the panelists weren’t short of ideas. Traditional digests like Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine and Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine were discussed, as well as mystery anthologies. Also covered was the recent surge in online and digital source, including both independent publishing and web-based magazines like Blood and Tacos, Plots With Guns, and ThugLit.

All agreed that between traditional, online, and e-publishing, a wide variety of great reading is easy to find, and opportunities for authors are greater than they’ve been for a long, long time.

Evan Lewis ponders the book selection

Evan Lewis ponders the book selection

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