Let’s Talk

Fifth Monday Guest Author Judy Penz Sheluk

Anthologies & Lemon Meringue Pie

As the editor and publisher of four (soon to be five) multi-author anthologies of mystery and suspense, I’m often asked how I select the stories that appear in the collections. It’s a fair question. Over the course of those five anthologies, I’ve read close to 400 submissions. Of those, I’ve selected about 100 stories. And whether I know the author, or don’t, the acceptance (or rejection) is never personal.

A good story, you see, is a bit like a lemon meringue pie. The beginning (meringue) needs to make me want more, the crust (end) needs to satisfy, but it’s the body (lemon) that makes or breaks the story (the pie).

Second, but equally important since all my Superior Shores anthologies have a theme (The Best Laid Plans; Heartbreaks & Half-truths; Moonlight & Misadventure; Larceny & Last Chances; Midnight Schemers & Daydream Believers), every story must fit the theme. It doesn’t have to be blatant, but it needs to be there, the same way the tang of the lemon should be tart but never mouth-puckeringly sour.

Third, and this is sometimes just tough luck for one author, and good luck for another, there can’t be two stories with the same basic premise. One story with a black cat, fine. Two, not so much. Which means even if there are two brilliant stories with a black cat, only one will make the cut. Oh, and no werewolves. I really do not get werewolves.

Of course, story selection is just the beginning. There’s editing (usually three rounds per story, though sometimes more), story order (there may be 20+ stories, but it needs to feel seamless to the reader, sort of like a good record album), formatting the interior pages (a messy interior is like a messy pie), and cover art. But that, dear readers, is a blog post for another day.

READERS: When reading an anthology, do you read the stories in order? Or do you select by author or story title or some other way? I’d love to know!

About the author: The Past Chair of Crime Writers of Canada (CWC) and a former journalist and magazine editor, Judy Penz Sheluk (author/editor) is the multiple award-winning author of seven bestselling mystery novels, two books on publishing, and several short stories. In addition to CWC, Judy is a member of International Thriller Writers and the Short Mystery Fiction Society. Find her at www.judypenzsheluk.com.

About the books:
The Best Laid Plans: 21 Stories of Mystery & Suspense
Whether it’s a subway station in Norway, ski resort in Vermont, McMansion in the suburbs, or trendy art gallery in Toronto, the 21 authors represented in this superb collection of mystery and suspense interpret the overarching theme of the best-laid plans in their own inimitable style. And like many best-laid plans, they come with no guarantees. https://books2read.com/SSA-Plans

Heartbreaks & Half-truths: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense
Lovers and losers. Whether it’s 1950s Hollywood, a scientific experiment, or a yard sale in suburbia, the twenty-two authors represented in this collection of mystery and suspense interpret the overarching theme of “heartbreaks and half-truths” in their own inimitable style, where only one thing is certain: Behind every broken heart lies a half-truth. And behind every half-truth lies a secret. https://books2read.com/SSA-Heartbreaks

Moonlight & Misadventure: 20 Stories of Mystery & Suspense
Whether it’s vintage Hollywood, the Florida everglades, the Atlantic City boardwalk, or a farmhouse in Western Canada, the twenty authors represented in this collection of mystery and suspense interpret the overarching theme of “moonlight and misadventure” in their own inimitable style where only one thing is assured: Waxing, waning, gibbous, or full, the moon is always there, illuminating things better left in the dark. https://books2read.com/SSA-Moonlight

Larceny & Last Chances: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense
2025 Derringer Nominee for Best Anthology (winner announced May 2025)
On promo for only .99
Sometimes it’s about doing the right thing. Sometimes it’s about getting even. Sometimes it’s about taking what you think you deserve. And sometimes, it’s your last, best, chance. https://www.books2read.com/larceny

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