THE GIFT OF MURDER

by Deborah Elliott-Upton

I met mystery writer Tony Burton several years ago through the Short Mystery Fiction Society, an online group. Not unlike Criminal Brief, SMFS’s members are mostly writers whose discussions are usually about writing, although here our emphasis is more on sharing our love of the mystery short story, whether as readers or writers or both. I say Tony and I “met”, but even after four years, we still have not met in person. Shortly after I’d joined SMFS, Tony began another listserv, crimeandsuspense@yahoogroups.com. Several of those I knew through SMFS also joined and other discussions concerning mystery writing were born. Until recently, Tony published an online magazine, Crime and Suspense. He’s since handed over the reins of the magazine to other capable hands so he can spend more time on his own writing and publishing business, Wolfmont Publishing.

In 2006, Tony wanted to compile mystery flash fiction short stories dealing with the common thread of the Seven Deadly Sins. Soon he found so many authors wishing to be included, he decided on “auditioning” writers. We were instructed to write no more than 600 words per story with Greed as the theme. I happened to be one of the lucky ones selected to make the cut. In fact, I was the only Texas writer selected, although the call for submissions went out globally. I like to joke I was the Lone Star in the book. The book was available on April 1st, 2006. During the quick deadlines – I think we were turning in a story a week for seven weeks – I met John Floyd, whose column appears Saturdays on Criminal Brief. (I also “met” other terrific writers sharing credits in Seven by Seven, such as B. J. Bourg, Kimberly Brown, Sunny Frazier, Gary Hoffman and Frank Zafiro).

Since the inception of Wolfmont Publishing, Tony has wished to help other writers whether they be new writers or previously published. He also has a soft spot for children. In September 2007, an anthology of holiday crime stories to benefit the United States Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots was published by Wolfmont Publishing. For the last three years, Wolfmont has published anthologies of short crime fiction with the theme of crimes centered around the winter holiday season and have donated over $6,600 to the Toys for Tots Foundation. This year, a fourth book is soon to be published. Tony announced, “This fourth book will be our largest thus far to help Toys for Tots, with 278 pages of great stories.”

The Gift of Murder, the 2009 anthology, contains nineteen stories of crimes occurring during Christmas, Chanukah and Kwanzaa, and some of the stories even combine all three holidays.

The nineteen authors from across the United States and Canada who donated their time and talents and include: Marian Allen, J.F. Benedetto, Austin S. Camacho, Herschel Cozine, Bill Crider, Gail Farrelly, Barb Goffman, Peg Herring, Stefanie Lazer, Kris Neri, Anita Page, Randy Rawls, Stephen D. Rogers, Carolyn J. Rose, Sandra Seamans, Steve Shrott, Earl Staggs, Elizabeth Zelvin and yours truly. (Remember a few months ago I mentioned how hot the temperature was but I was thinking snow while writing a short mystery? That was for this anthology!) The very capable editor is John M. Floyd.

We’re hoping The Gift of Murder will push Wolfmont’s total contribution for the four years over $10,000 given to Toys for Tots. Books can be ordered from Wolfmont, from any of the authors, or from your local bookseller.

Please consider buying a copy for yourself and another as a gift and help us reach our goal and, more importantly, to help children have a happier holiday this year.