A Bag of Dick’s (a 509 Crime Anthology)

November 22, 2021 / Sarah M. Chen / Leave a comment

Today is release day for A Bag of Dick’s: a 509 Crime Anthology, edited by Colin Conway. Yes, that’s the title and no, it’s not what you think. Apparently, there’s an old school burger joint in Spokane, WA that’s called Dick’s Hamburgers where you can buy burgers by the bag. Hence the title. So when I was asked to contribute a short story to this, I had to say yes. I mean who wouldn’t, right?

The stories all feature the desperate, the criminal, and the opportunists as they scramble to find a Dick’s bag to earn a Get out of Jail Free card. My story is called “Her Father’s Daughter” and it’s a dual POV with a young woman whose boyfriend isn’t the brightest criminal. She should know because her father used to be one too, but he’s left all that behind him. Or so he tells her.

Link to buy is here: A Bag of Dick’s and here’s the anthology description:

With scorching tales from Jonathan Brown, Sarah M. Chen, Bill Fitzhugh, Scott Kikkawa, Nick Kolakowski, Debbi Mack, Kat Richardson, Brian Thornton, Sam Wiebe, Jim Winter, and Frank Zafiro.

Detective Jim Morgan just gave Roy Utt the opportunity of a lifetime. What happens next is the stuff of legend.

In an instant, Roy Utt’s life changed, and it happened at Dick’s Hamburgers.

A guy ran from the parking lot with a bag of burgers clutched to his chest. To Roy, it was life on the street—weird things happen, and wondering why is wasted time.

But today is no ordinary day because Detective James Morgan was also there. Unlike Roy, Morgan isn’t in the habit of dismissing bizarre events. Instead, he wants to know what was in the bag, and he’s giving Roy the incentive to find it—a Get Out of Jail Free card.

If Roy knows one thing, it’s that Morgan’s word is better than the dry sandwiches and mushy apples in lock-up.

With the clock ticking on the deal, Roy is already sharing too much information. The allure of a Get Out of Jail Free card attracts the smart, the cunning, and the stupid. An all-out scavenger hunt is underway in the criminal underworld.

Will Roy earn his Get Out of Jail Free card, or will he become a footnote in the legacy of the streets?

A Bag of Dick’s is a collection of twelve short stories from crime fiction’s liveliest voices. Get your copy today and experience the 509 in a way you never expected.

La Di Dada Event

October 13, 2021 / Sarah M. Chen / Leave a comment

Today is the Maintenant 15: Humanity Reboot Dada event in DTLA!

It’s in Grand Park from 4pm to 6pm on Wednesday, October 13. I’ll be attending virtually through Zoom, but if you’re in the area and would like to see the performers live, you should check it out!

Otherwise, you can view the livestream on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/threeroomspress

I’ll be reading from my story “Safe Mode” about Words going on strike.

Hope to “see” you there!

Maintenant 15: A Journal of Contemporary Dada Art & Writing

September 15, 2021 / Sarah M. Chen / Leave a comment

Out now from Three Rooms Press and edited by Peter Carlaftes and Kat Georges is Maintenant 15: A Journal of Contemporary Dada Art & Writing.

I have my first dada piece of writing included in this journal which is really exciting. The theme was “Humanity: The Reboot.” My piece is called “Safe Mode” and it imagines a world in which words go on strike due to human abuse.

Here’s the description of the journal from the Three Rooms Press website:

“A smorgasbord for those who are sick and tired of it.” —Seattle Book Review

The 2021 edition of the world’s premiere journal of contemporary dada writing and art considers humankind past and present with a collection of contemporary dada art and writing driven by the theme “HUMANITY: THE REBOOT.” More than 250 creators from 33 countries establish that social protest can be creatively acheived via risk-taking art. The premier journal gathering the work of internationally-renowned contemporary Dada artists and writers, Maintenant 15 offers compelling proof that Dada continue to serve as a catalyst to creators more than a century later.

The annual MAINTENANT series, established in 2008, gathers work of contemporary Dada artists and writers from around the world. The new issue features cover art by renowned Cuban American artist Edel Rodriguez, whose work has been featured on the covers of TIME, The New Yorker, Der Spiegel, and more.

Learn more here: Maintenant 15

Stay tuned for info on an upcoming Dada event! And in person too! (outdoors and also available on Zoom)

1455 Literary Summer Festival

July 16, 2021July 16, 2021 / Sarah M. Chen / Leave a comment

I’ll be speaking on a short story panel this Saturday, July 17 at 10:00am PST for an awesome literary festival celebrating storytelling. It’s my first event for 2021 and it’s free to register!

I’ll be on with Steph Cha and Nikki Dolson with Ed Aymar moderating.

This discussion will focus on the state of short stories in crime fiction, its past and how social changes are affecting the form. Steph Cha was recently the new editor of the celebrated series, the Best American Mystery Stories, and her stewardship promises to bring forth an exciting new era in crime fiction. And Sarah M. Chen and Nikki Dolson are both celebrated practitioners of short fiction who can discuss the history of the form and what the future promises.

Release Day for Avenging Angelenos

June 11, 2021June 11, 2021 / Sarah M. Chen / Leave a comment

Today is the publication day for the digital version of the Sisters in Crime / Los Angeles anthology Avenging Angelenos! The print version will be available in the coming days.

I was lucky enough to be co-editor of this short story collection and couldn’t be prouder of the eleven writers we chose to be included in this anthology. The theme if you haven’t guessed is revenge and the stories we selected vary widely from historical to otherworldly. The introduction is by Frankie Y. Bailey, a prolific mystery writer and criminal justice professor.

Editing these stories was very rewarding and I thoroughly enjoyed working with these talented writers. I also owe a lot to my fantastic co-editors, Wrona Gall and Pamela Samuels Young, and of course to Sisters in Crime / Los Angeles for giving me this opportunity.

And what a gorgeous cool cover!

Hope you enjoy!

With an introduction by Frankie Y. Bailey and eleven original stories by: Avril Adams, Paula Bernstein, Hal Bodner, Jenny Carless, LH Dillman, Gay Totl Kinman, Melinda Loomis, Kathy Norris, Peggy Rothschild, Meredith Taylor, and Laurel Wetzork.

Published by Down & Out Books

To purchase, click here: Avenging Angelenos: A Sisters in Crime / Los Angeles anthology

Derringer Awards

May 2, 2021 / Sarah M. Chen / Leave a comment

I’m so excited to announce that my story “Hotelin'” won a Derringer Award for Best Long Story from the Short Mystery Fiction Society!

It’s an honor I’ve wanted since I started writing crime fiction short stories back in 2007! I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Ron Earl Phillips of Shotgun Honey for accepting my story and publishing it in Shotgun Honey, Volume 4: RECOIL.

It’s especially exciting to be a winner along with my friend and writer group buddy, Travis Richardson. Yay!

Here’s the official announcement: Short Mystery Fiction Society Announces Derringer Winners!

Chatting with Authors YouTube Interview

April 30, 2021 / Sarah M. Chen / Leave a comment

A big thank you to Janet Lynn and Will Zeilinger for inviting me to participate on their YouTube channel “Chatting with Authors.” We discussed short story writing and the novel-in-stories concept. I hate listening to myself talk (and especially watching myself) so hopefully I’m making sense!

Derringer nominations are announced

April 4, 2021April 4, 2021 / Sarah M. Chen / Leave a comment

I’m so excited to say my short story “Hotelin'” is a Derringer nominee! The Short Mystery Fiction Society awards the Derringers every year to the best mystery short stories in 4 categories: Flash, Short, Long, and Novelette.

Since I’ve been writing short stories, I’ve submitted my story for consideration for a Derringer. And now finally, 30 short stories and 14 years later, I’m a nominee! Don’t ever give up, people.

“Hotelin'” is in the Long category which are 4001-8000 words.

“Hotelin'” was published last year in the Shotgun Honey Presents Volume 4: Recoil anthology. It’s about a single mother struggling to raise two girls as they move from motel to motel.

If you’d like to read the story, click the link below!

Hotelin’Download

Winners are announced May 1!

Low Down Dirty Vote, Vol. 2 Event

September 17, 2020September 17, 2020 / Sarah M. Chen / Leave a comment

We’re celebrating National Voter Registration Day! Join us on Tues 9/22 at 6:30PM PST for readings, interviews, cocktail recipes, and book giveaways! I’ll be reading from my short story “Unit 805.”

And our awesome publisher, Mysti Berry, will be signing a $10k check for SPLC! Woot!

Here’s more info:

The authors of Low Down Dirty Vote, Volume II are celebrating National Voter Registration Day:

Writers will interview each other, and some will read a page or two from their stories in LDDV Vol II.
Readers & fans who attend and can show proof of voter registration can win a free copy of LDDV Vol II.
We’ll share the recipe for Pisco Punch (a San Francisco invention, like cipino and the Hangtown fry!).
We’ll show the $10k check as it is signed and put into an envelope and addressed to SPLC.
Answer attendee questions.

Please join us for this free event!