Mysteries and Crime Fiction with a New England Twist
BOOKS & STORIES
Coming Fall 2024
"First Thanksgiving"
in Season's Readings: More Sweet, Funny, & Strange Holiday Tales
This story is the First Place Winner in the Bethlehem Writers Group 2023 Short Story Writing Contest.
Published November 2023
"Ice on the Cake"
in Malice, Matrimony, and Murder: A Collection of Cozy Mystery and Crime Fiction Stories
An anthology of 25 new stories by 25 different authors as well as an overarching mega mystery.
"Trailblazer"
in Hook, Line, and Sinker The Seventh Guppy Anthology
Emily P.W. Murphy, ed. January 2023
23 original tales of grifters, con artists, and their marks
ABOUT
MY DREAM
Publish crime fiction and mystery.
Long stories and short.
I started out asking the question whether it was possible for a 50+ aged person who has never written fiction to research, write, and publish a historical mystery novel. I fell in love with writing short stories along the way. Now I'm attempting both. I will face rejections (and already have!) but hope to savor every minute of it. I know it won't be easy or quick. Join me on my journey.
March 2020. My teaching job was on hold, four teenagers and spouse at home on zoom. What was I going to do? With no plan in mind, I opened a spiral notebook and began to write.
BIO
After a career in environmental education, Sally Milliken now writes contemporary and historical mysteries and crime fiction, trying to incorporate her love of and respect for nature in her writing. She enjoys cold water dipping in the Merrimack River with her mermaid sisters, playing ice hockey with the Clippers and the Panthers, and creating bowls on the pottery wheel. She and her family live in coastal Massachusetts.
NEWS
January 2024
My story "Canary in the Coal Mine" was chosen as the January selection for Stone's Throw, the online Magazine for Rock and a Hard Place Press. The theme for the month was about characters emboldened by success and how that new confidence might be the very thing that brings them down. Read the story here:
https://www.rockandahardplacemag.com/stones-throw/jan2024-canary-in-the-coal-mine
At the end of the year, it will be combined in an anthology with the other 11 stories from each month, each with a different theme.
November 23, 2023
The anthology Malice, Matrimony and Murder was released today. Huge thank you to organizer and editor Marla Bradeen. Hurrah!
Press:
https://wickedauthors.com/2023/11/16/welcome-wil-a-emerson-and-marriage-matrimony-and-murder/
https://arttaylorwriter.com/2023/11/14/the-first-two-pages-sabotage-and-a-murder-mystery-by-lynn-hesse/
https://www.karendocter.com/karens-killer-book-bench-malice-matrimony-murder-wedding-cozy-mystery-anthology-by-nikki-knight-aka-kathleen-marple-kalb-etal/
https://gdcramer.com/2023/11/20/barbara-howard-pentagon-veteran-treasure-hunter-author/
https://arttaylorwriter.com/2023/11/21/the-first-two-pages-chill-by-ashley-ruth-m-bernier/
https://chicksonthecase.com/2023/11/22/malice-matrimony-and-murder/
Dru's Book Musings post: https://drusbookmusing.com/lyla/
June 2023
My story "First Thanksgiving" won First Place in the Bethlehem Writers Group, LLC 2023 Short Story Writing Contest. The story will be published in an anthology called Season's Readings: More Sweet, Funny, & Strange Holiday Tales in the fall of 2024. Many thanks to the Bethlehem Writers Group and judge Barb Goffman for this huge honor.
https://bwgwritersroundtable.com/short-story-award-2/
May/June 2023
Kickstarter campaign for Malice, Matrimony, and Murder: A Collection of Cozy Mystery and Crime Fiction Stories. This anthology of 25 new stories will be published in Fall 2023 with my story "Icing on the Cake."
The anthology includes an overarching Wedding Whodunit that the reader can solve. Collect clues from the stories, solve the whodunit, and the reader will receive a digital download of extras in one compilation not available anywhere else. Extras include recipes, character interviews, bonus stories, and more!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/marlabradeen/malice-book/description
January 2023
First Publication! My short story "Trailblazer" is published in Hook, Line, and Sinker The Seventh Guppy Anthology. Emily P.W. Murphy, ed. and cover designer. Thank you Guppies! Absolutely thrilled.
Cover Reveal!
Dru's Book Musings. https://drusbookmusing.com/cover-reveal-hook-line-and-sinker/
EVENTS
Events will be added as they are scheduled.
CONTACT
My Newsletter. For periodic news and updates.
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