Denim, Diamonds and Death offers a fine collection from authors supporting the 50th Anniversary of the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention in Dallas, Texas. Here are fifteen stories that run the gamut from heists to revenge, intricate plots to secrets uncovered, and more than a few tales that defy easy classification. Proceeds from the sale of the book will go to the 2019 Bouchercon’s official charity, Literary Instruction for Texas (LIFT). Edited by Rick Ollerman with stories by Carole Nelson Douglas, John M. Floyd, Dana Haynes, Thomas Luka, Michael Allan Mallory, Angela Crider Neary, Laura Oles, Josh Pachter, John Shepphird, Debra Luttanzi Shutika, Julie Tollefson, Tim P. Walker, Robb White, Kenneth Wishnia, and Mark Wisniewski.

Denim, Diamonds and Death: Bouchercon Anthology 2019

Literature & Fiction

Douglas, Carole Nelson

Shepphird, John

Floyd, John M.

Haynes, Dana

Pachter, Josh

Ollerman, Rick

Wishnia, Kenneth

Wisniewski, Mark

Neary, Angela Crider

Short Stories & Anthologies

Down & Out Books

It doesn't have to be the dark of a rainy night for it to be noir. It doesn't have to be shadowy rooms of Venetian blinds. It doesn't even have to be a femme fatale. Noir is somebody tripping over their own faults, somebody who has an Achilles heel, some kind of greed, or want or desire that leads them down a dark path, from which there is sometimes no return. No one is safe. There's no place to hide in this collection of twelve stories from the dark side of the American Dream. Stories of noir from Coast to Coast. Contributors: Colleen Collins-Denver, Colorado Brendan DuBois-rural Massachusetts Alison Gaylin-Hudson Valley, New York Tom MacDonald-Nashua, New Hampshire Andrew McAleer-Boston, Massachusetts Michael Mallory-Springfield, Missouri Paul D. Marks-Venice Beach/Los Angeles, California Dennis Palumbo-Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Stephen D. Rogers-Providence, Rhode Island John Shepphird-Los Alamos, New Mexico Jaden Terrell-Nashville, Tennessee Dave Zeltserman-small town Kansas Praise for the COAST TO COAST series: Murder from Sea to Shining Sea "A sterling collection of coast-to-coast crime stories dripping with local color-all of it blood red." -Chuck Hogan, Hammett Prize winner and international bestselling author of The Strain "Envelope-pushers A truly WOW collection by the best mystery writers out there-full of surprises only they can pull off." -Thomas B. Sawyer, bestselling author of Cross Purposes and Head-Writer of Murder, She Wrote "An engaging collection from a stellar cast of award-winning mystery authors guaranteed to keep you awake all night." -Hannah Dennison, author of the IMBA bestselling Vicky Hill Mysteries "This intriguing collection of stories from these masters of suspense will keep you guessing from cover to cover and coast to coast." -Raffi Yessayan, author of 8 in the Box and 2 in the Hat Private Eyes from Sea to Shining Sea "A tantalizing array of stories guaranteed to please fans of PI fiction. High fives all around " -MWA Grand Master Bill Pronzini "Tough, taut and terrific. This cross-country collection of sleuthing stories-from the best writers in the private eye biz-is wonderfully written, always surprising, and completely entertaining." -Hank Phillippi Ryan, Anthony, Agatha and Mary Higgins Clark Award-winning author "A bang-up read of PI fiction from a gallery of impressive authors. Compelling, fun, and full of clever surprises. A treat." -Shamus Award-winning author John Shepphird

Coast to Coast Noir

DuBois, Brendan

Gaylin, Alison

Mallory, Michael

MacDonald, Tom

Palumbo, Dennis

Collins, Colleen

Rogers, Stephen D.

Marks, Paul D.

McAleer, Andrew

There are a number of noteworthy articles in this issue of The Magazine. We are fortunate to feature some of the correspondence between two legends of crime fiction, Walter Satterthwait and Bill Crider, both of whom recently passed away. For those who knew Walter and Bill, or were just fans of their work, there is a touch of their personalities that comes through in these exchanges and, at least for a moment, gives us an opportunity to experience their unique voices just a little bit, just one more time. Jeff Vorzimmer, editor of last year's The Best of Manhunt collection, tells us about Stephen Marlowe's career in the piece leading into his story The Blonde at the Wheel. Jeff also contributed a story of his own and we're happy to have this opportunity to showcase his many skills. We also have a couple of repeat appearances by writers who have appeared in previous issues. Arthur Klepchukov is back, as is John M. Floyd and John Shepphird. And with original stories by veterans like Josh Pachter and James O. Born, and newer offerings by Michael Cahlin, Steven Nester and Ken Luer, we're showing the art of the crime fiction short story is still going strong. May it ever be so.

Down and Out the Magazine, Vol 2, Issue 2

Born, James O.

Marlowe, Stephen

Vorzimmer, Jeff

Stoll, Don

Luer, Ken

Nester, Steven

Struggling actress Jane Innes is seduced by a handsome new arrival in her acting class. He makes a proposition. He admits he’s a con man and needs Jane to pose as a rich, carefree heiress to fulfill her part in his intricate scam. Would you agree? Or run the other way? All goes as planned until Jane’s true identity threatens to surface and their scheme begins to crack at the seams. It all leads to a tangled maze of deception, depravity and murder. THE SHILL is part one of a trilogy from Shamus Award winning author, John Shepphird.

The Shill

Nominated for the 2017 Anthony Award for Best Novella Life can turn on a dime against the jagged cliffs of California’s Central Coast... Bruised, battered, but determined, Jane Innes must navigate a tangled web of deception, depravity and murder, and turn the tables on cunning swindlers. Using the art of deception, this out-of-work actress embarks on a daring caper—her last chance to take down a deadly adversary. Following THE SHILL and KILL THE SHILL, BEWARE THE SHILL concludes this thrilling trilogy from Shamus Award-winning author John Shepphird. Praise for the Shill books: “Sly, sexy and surprising, THE SHILL is a darkly comic Hollywood tale of a not-so-innocent out-of-work actress being groomed for larceny.” —Wallace Stroby, author of The Devil’s Share, Shoot the Woman First, and Cold Shot to the Heart “[THE SHILL is] a fast-paced heist story filled with colorful characters and interesting plot twists.” —S.W. Lauden, author of Crosswise “[KILL THE SHILL is] a fast and hard ride into a con trick. Told by a writer who pulls no punches this does not disappoint.” —Richard Godwin, author of Wrong Crowd “Hell hath no fury like an actress duped. Revenge is the motivation, deception the means to get even in this exciting crime thriller.” —Scott Adlerberg, author of Spiders and Flies and Jungle Horses, on KILL THE SHILL Meet the Author: John Shepphird is a Shamus Award-winning author and writer/director of TV movies. His three “Shill” novellas were inspired by noir master James M. Cain; it is a terse, tense, and twist-filled trilogy with a cast of characters immersed in the art of deception, depravity, and murder. Author’s website: JohnShepphird.com.

Beware the Shill (Shill Trilogy)

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