Mysteries and Crime Fiction with a New England Twist
BOOKS & STORIES
Coming March 2025
"Little Glorious Life" in Deadly Yellowstone
Explore the treacherous and awe-inspiring landscape of America's first national park in this new anthology, "Deadly Yellowstone." With scalding geysers, stampeding buffalo, and ravenous grizzlies, danger lurks at every turn.
As a global tourist magnet, Yellowstone National Park attracts not only nature enthusiasts but also those with sinister intentions. Unravel the mysteries within the park's boundaries as thirteen gripping short stories delve into baffling events amidst the beauty and danger of Yellowstone.
Thirteen chilling tales of wildlife, mayhem, and murder in America's first national park
Edited by Lise McClendon Thalia Press
Out now!
Out February 1, 2025
"Lesson Learned" in
Gone Fishin' Crime Takes a Holiday: The Eighth Guppy Anthology
Vacations can be hazardous to your health
From a romantic getaway gone wrong to a creepy holiday cottage and an ill-fated cruise, twenty-three short-story writers explore the devious twists and turns of crime-on-holiday.
Out now!
"Canary in the Coal Mine"
in the Stone's Throw Anthology
Each month we offer a theme. We challenge our authors to hit the theme hard in stories that are shorter than short and darker than dark, then we publish the best of the best (they're all knockouts) on our website. And when we're done, we collect the stories in an annual print anthology.
This collection features a year's worth of hard-hitting noir, with stories by: Tom Andes, Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier, John Bovio, Leslie Elman, Maggie Nerz Iribarne, Vincent Marshall, Mike McHone, Sally Milliken, M.E. Proctor, L.P. Ring, Russell Thayer, and Justin Walsh.
A year's worth of bad decisions and desperate people. And we're just getting started. Check for new fiction each month at rockandahardplacemag.com/stones-throw.
October 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.
November 2023
"Icing 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.
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
February 2025
Gone Fishin' Crime Take a a Holiday: The Eighth Guppy Anthology Official release day on Dru's Book Musings. Read the first lines of each of the 23 stories here:
https://drusbookmusing.com/author-showcase-gone-fishin-crime-takes-a-holiday/
January 2025
My short story called "Cowboy Justice" is a finalist for the Historical Novel Society/North America anthology and will be published in the anthology for the Las Vegas conference taking place in June.
January 2025
Stone's Throw 2024 Anthology Released including my story "Canary in the Coal Mine."
October 2024
Cover Reveal! Gone Fishin' Crime Takes a Holiday: The Eighth Guppy Anthology from Wolf's Echo Press.
https://drusbookmusing.com/cover-reveal-gone-fishin-crime-takes-a-holiday/
Thanks to Dru's Book Musings!
July 18, 2024
'How low can you go?' a Limbo short (200 words max) published online at Punk Noir.
https://punknoirmagazine.wordpress.com/2024/07/18/how-low-can-you-go-a-limbo-short-by-sally-milliken/
https://punknoirmagazine.wordpress.com/category/punk-noir-magazine/page/11/
July 2024
Killer Nashville Announces the 2024 Silver Falchion Award Tops Picks
Hook, Line and Sinker: The Seventh Guppy Anthology is on the list in the Anthology Category. Winners will be announced on August 23, 2024 at Killer Nashville.
https://www.killernashville.com/2024-silver-falchion-award-top-picks
May 2024
'Vexation River' my WIP historical mystery based in 1882 Newburyport, MA made the Short List of the Historical Novel Society First Chapters competition in the Crime/Mystery Category. Amateur sleuth, Budding scientist, Gilded Age, small city on the coast...what's not to love! The ten entries proceed to the next round where they will be judged by HNS editors. Hoping for some great feedback to improve the manuscript. Good luck all!
https://hns2024.com/hns-uk-2024-first-chapters-competition/
January 2024
My story 'Adam-13' is the winner of the 2023 'Golden Donut Short Story Contest' from the Police Writer's Academy. The prompt was a photo of a skeleton wearing a police uniform and the story must have exactly 200 words. No more, no less. A challenge!
https://leelofland.com/writers-police-academy-golden-donut-short-story-winners-and-runners-up/
THE 2023 WINNING STORY IS:
“Adam-13”
by Sally Milliken
“Kent’s already on set,” Associate Producer Lia called as her head appeared in the makeup room doorway.
“Is Martin nearly ready for his closeup? We’re losing our light.”
“Hang on, he just needs a touch up of powder. His cheeks are shiny, that’s all,” I answered.
“Great.” She nodded. “I’ll send an intern to walk him to set.”
As soon as Martin was out of the chair, I followed, stopping next to Kathy. As a hair stylist, she was ready with brush in hand.
“I’m sorry the hat is covering the style work you did on Martin.”
“Thanks. Comes with the territory, though.” She shrugged. “You know how it is.”
“Mmmhmm. I’m using tricks I never even imagined.”
“Me too. After his hair flew off during the chase scene yesterday, I thought that would be the end.”
“Not that I’m complaining about steady work,” I began, “but how long are we gonna milk this thing?”
“As long as we bring in the money, the brass wants us to keep going.”
“Martin’s been dead for eight years.”
“Damn, nobody move, his tooth fell out again.”
“That’s a wrap for today, everyone.”
Judges’ comments about the winning story – We really enjoyed reading this submission and it stood out because it was so different to any of the other stories. There was almost a sense of dark comedy about it and we thought the twist at the end was super. The visual detail gave a great sense of setting and we thought the plot built well towards the final line. It also worked well with the photo. Well done!
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.
February 20, 2025 Noir at the Bar
Caffe Avellino
242 Humphrey St.
Swampscott, MA
CONTACT
My Newsletter. For periodic news and updates.
(I will not share your contact information with anyone.)
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