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.

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!

Shotgun Honey Presents Volume 4: RECOIL

May 8, 2020May 9, 2020 / Sarah M. Chen / Leave a comment

Today it’s out in the wild! I’m in Shotgun Honey’s 4th anthology Recoil, 23 Tales of Crime, edited by Ron Earl Phillips. I’ve never been in one of Shotgun Honey’s anthologies so I’m thrilled to be a part of this one. It has an excellent lineup of crime fiction authors. See for yourself!

My story “Hotelin” is about a teenage girl struggling to take care of her little sister while her single mother works two jobs and moves them from hotel to hotel. It’s a tale of revenge and community.

Available now at these links:

Amazon

B&N

Down & Out Books

Cut to the Chase!

March 20, 2020 / Sarah M. Chen / Leave a comment

My friend and co-editor, E.A. Aymar, writes a column for the Washington Independent Review of Books. His latest features short stories and he asked two very talented short story writers, Art Taylor and Tara Laskowski (who by the way are also in The Swamp Killers!) to name their favorites. Oh, and he also asked me.

So if you want an escape from all this craziness but still find it difficult to break away too long from the endless updates, then a short story is your answer!

Read the column for some excellent recommendations. I don’t really have a favorite short story but I do have a favorite short story writer. Read on to find out who!

MURDER-A-GO-GO’S out now!

March 27, 2019 / Sarah M. Chen / Leave a comment

It’s out in the world now! The anthology that I’m in featuring short stories inspired by the songs of The Go-Go’s is available for purchase. My story “Fading Fast” is a revenge tale gone horribly wrong.

All proceeds go to Planned Parenthood which really makes me happy. And the Foreword is written by Jane Wiedlin! Thank you to Holly West for making this happen and for being an amazing editor. Purchase links below!

Amazon

Down & Out Books

Noirville is out in the world!

March 30, 2018 / Sarah M. Chen / 4 Comments

My short story “A Real Scorcher” was selected out of hundreds to be included in British publisher Fahrenheit Press’s first short story collection aptly titled NOIRVILLE. It’s about a couple who go on a “let’s save our marriage” road trip to Mexico only to unexpectedly stop in Plaster City, a town nobody visits on purpose.

Copies are available at Fahrenheit Press’s website and also Amazon. And through 3/31, it’s free shipping for paperbacks. All the way from the UK!

Here’s the description of Noirville on Fahrenheit Press’s website:

Noirville – Tales From The Dark Side

It’s NOIR if we say it’s NOIR…

Towards the end of 2017 Fahrenheit Press launched a short story competition to showcase talented crime fiction writers from all around the world.

Our crack panel of judges whittled down the hundreds of entries we received to the 15 stories contained in this anthology. We believe these authors represent some of the most exciting crime fiction being written today.

This anthology contains stories by

S.E. Bailey
Sarah M. Chen
Patsy Collins
Russell Day
Jen Delozier
Paul Gadsby
Joe Guglielmelli
Chris Hyatt
Scott Miles
John Scheck
John Schreier
Jeff C. Stevenson
Alex Shaw
Marc Sorondo
Glenda Young

With huge thanks to our awesome judges;

Janet Emson
Gordon McGhie
Kate Moloney
David Nemeth
Jo Perry
Verity Wilde

Johnny Cash Anthology out now!

September 7, 2017 / Sarah M. Chen / Leave a comment

Gutter Books has come out with a killer anthology that features songs inspired by Johnny Cash. It’s a great lineup of authors like David Corbett and Rob Hart and is edited by Joe Clifford. I’m thrilled to be part of JUST TO WATCH THEM DIE with my story “Missouri Waltz.”

There are also stories by Jen Conley, S.W. Lauden, Danny Gardner, Angel Luis Colon, and Renee Asher Pickup, among others. Here’s the full list on author Max Booth III’s blog:

Tales from the Booth

Available now on Amazon: JUST TO WATCH THEM DIE

CRIME FACTORY ISSUE 18 IS OUT!

March 31, 2016 / Sarah M. Chen / Leave a comment

I’m excited to see the new issue of CRIME FACTORY, which includes my short story “A Summer Drive.” This is a story of four people who aren’t having a very good day as they drive through various L.A. neighborhoods. If you buy the print edition of issue 18, you will get the Kindle version free after purchase. And what a cool cover!

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BETTY FEDORA ISSUE #2 IS OUT IN THE WORLD!

December 8, 2015 / Sarah M. Chen / Leave a comment

Today is release day for my short story “Sensible Sleaze” in Betty Fedora, Vol. 2, a short story collection featuring kickass women in crime fiction. I’m thrilled with the cool-looking cover and can’t wait to read the other stories. Purchase as e-book or print here: BETTY FEDORA, VOL. 2

Betty Fedora, Vol 2. image