Saturday, February 21: Mississippi Mud
A BOOKFUL OF AUTHORS
by John M. Floyd
For the past eight years or so, at a college near my home, I’ve taught night courses on the subject of writing and selling short fiction. And one of the things I always try to point out, in the sessions on submitting and publishing, is an often-overlooked market for short stories — especially for mystery/crime shorts. That market is anthologies.
Writers usually contribute stories to anthologies in one of two ways: (1) by invitation, usually from the person editing the volume, or (2) by responding to an open “call for submissions.” If you accept the invitation (or, as in case #2, the editor accepts you), an anthology project can provide you some exposure as well as a little extra cash.
From a reader’s viewpoint, anthologies provide an opportunity to see the work of a number of different authors in one book.
Questions & Preferences
Several quick questions, to those reading this blog. Do you, personally, enjoy anthologies? If so, do you prefer those that are themed, like Greatest Mystery Stories or The Year’s Best Science Fiction or Stories from the South? Do you search out those that happen to feature your favorite authors? Would you rather read an anthology, or a collection of one particular author’s work? Does it matter?
It will probably surprise no one that I’m especially fond of mystery anthologies, both as a writer and a reader. Some of the most worthwhile, I think, are the regular “year’s best” offerings and the occasional MWA themed anthologies. I also like the Barnes & Noble short-short-story hardcovers like 100 Malicious Little Mysteries, 100 Crooked Little Crime Stories, etc. There are many hidden gems to be found in those volumes, though none of them, alas, are mine.
Sinful Thoughts
As for me, I’ve been invited to be in a few anthologies, I’ve been left out of many, and I’ve weaseled my way into several. I think the project I most enjoyed was Seven By Seven, edited and published by Tony Burton of Wolfmont Press in Georgia. It involved seven authors from seven different states, and the interesting part was that each of us had to write seven short stories about the Seven Deadly Sins. (I’m not at all surprised that my fellow CBer Deborah Elliott-Upton made the cut, but I’m still surprised that I did. Probably a mixup of some kind.)
Anyhow, at the time, all I remembered about the Seven Deadlies was the old movie with Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman, so I had to go look up the list. But the real challenge was that each of our stories had to be less than 600 words. That made it fun. The resulting book, which contained 49 mystery/suspense tales, is — according to Tony — still selling pretty well after almost three years.
Taking Up Collections
As for my own tastes, I must admit that I prefer collections (of a single author’s work) over anthologies, probably for the same reason that I usually seek out novels by authors I already know and like. I loved the recent collections by Stephen King (Just After Sunset), James Lee Burke (Jesus Out to Sea), and Laura Lippman (Hardly Knew Her). An extra bonus to reading those books was the reassurance that some bigtime authors still seem to like the short-story form as much as I do. I also thoroughly enjoyed — thanks to Jeff Baker’s kind advice — Bill Pronzini’s Short Felonies, which isn’t new but was new to me. (By the way, if anyone doubts that Stephen King can write a good mystery short story, take a look at “Mute,” one of the entries in Just After Sunset. It’s impressive.)
So that’s my pitch for this week. The next time you’re in a bookstore or library or cruising Amazon in search of a novel, try an anthology — or a collection — of short fiction instead.
A good meal is just as good eaten slowly, one little bite at a time.
I have mixed emotions about anthologies. Perhaps it depends upon mood. Just read King’s and it was fascinating, including “Mute” and one I believe was called “Rest Stop.”
Years ago I had a story in an anthology similar to the one you mentioned. There was a story from every state. Mine was set in Indiana. The kicker was some other states were represented by such people as Edgar Allan Poe and Jack London. A cousin who had always believed I was somewhat of a wastrel looked it over and said, “You’re in rather fast company here.” I tried to come up with a snappy comback but the best I could do was, “Cream rises to the top.” He responded with a vulgar reference to something unpleasant that floats.
Dick, I doubt I’ll ever be included in an anthology with names such as those. You were indeed in fast company — but maybe they were too! The most interesting anthology I can remember is a book I can’t seem to find at the moment, but I know it’s here someplace — it was called something like FIRST CRIMES, and it included the first appearances of the series characters of some big-name authors. I love that kind of thing.
>Do you, personally, enjoy anthologies?
Well, I’m volunteering my time as an editor of one, so I’d have to say “Yes.”
>If so, do you prefer those that are themed?
I don’t have a preference either way, although I do enjoy themed ones–the differing takes each author has on the theme is often a real treat.
>Would you rather read an anthology, or a
>collection of one particular author’s work?
Hmm. A tough question. I think, in the end, I would say I’d prefer a collection by a single author over an anthology of several authors, on the grounds that I would choose a particular author’s collection because I was already invested in his writing style, his narration of ideas, and his storytelling.
Anthologies are overlooked markets, and good ones. I’ve gotten in more than one in ym time, and it’s been a fun ride.
John, once more our minds are intune. I was going to write an article about the 2008 short story collection you have illustrated today. Not bad sharing thoughts with someone as gifted as you though. Great post!
Dick, what was the anthology? I’ve got to read it! A favorite type of mine is the single-author collection where the author talks about how the stories came to be (Horace Gold’s “The Old Die Rich” is an early example.) And I love colloections where I can discover a new (to me) author among familiar names. John, I loved this! Now I have to get the Burke and Lippman (and Seven By Seven…)
It is (or was) “ATreasury of American Mysteries” and was published by Bonanza Books in 1989. Martin Greenberg was one of the editors, as might be expected. There also was a story by O. Henry and many other famous writers. I really was in over my head this time.
I’ve never seen that one Dick, but I have a copy of “A Treasury of American Horror Stories that must have come out a little before that! Thanks!
A TREASURY OF AMERICAN MYSTERIES is now on my books-to-find list. I’ll let you know, Dick, when I locate it.
Sorry to correct a contributor, but the actual title is “A Treasury Of American Mystery Stories.” And Dick, I’m sure the legendary literary names among the authors would have welcomed your presence!
John, I’m not likely to pick up a collection if I haven’t read at least one story by the author. But I might spring for an anthology that only has one story by an author I care about, or a theme that intrigues me. The great thing about this is that I might discover a new favorite writer.
That said, there’s nothing like reading a collection of stories by an author I already know I enjoy. Is it okay to love both anthologies and collections?!?!
Pete, I also enjoy both. I have one anthology called 100 DASTARDLY LITTLE DETECTIVE TALES — How could you not love that one? (Even the title is mysterious — are the tales dastardly little??)
Hi John,
Here I am–late to the party.
Since childhood I have loved short stories. In my adulthood, when most magazines stopped publishing fiction, I was bereft until I discovered anthologies.
I think anthologies are making a huge comeback because people miss short fiction.
And since you mentioned Tony Burton at Wolfmont, I am sure you will be glad to know that his latest Toys For Tots release, Dying in a Winter Wonderland, wound up as number 8 on the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association 2008 Best Seller list. (soft cover.)
Terrie