Anthology / Short Story Collection LARCENY & LAST CHANCES: 22 STORIES OF MYSTERY & SUSPENSE with Judy Penz Sheluk

Desperation, determination, and desire.
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. Edited by Judy Penz Sheluk and featuring stories by Christina Boufis, John Bukowski, Brenda Chapman, Susan Daly, Wil A. Emerson, Tracy Falenwolfe, Kate Fellowes, Molly Wills Fraser, Gina X. Grant, Karen Grose, Wendy Harrison, Julie Hastrup, Larry M. Keeton, Charlie Kondek, Edward Lodi, Bethany Maines, Gregory Meece, Cate Moyle, Judy Penz Sheluk, KM Rockwood, Kevin R. Tipple, and Robert Weibezahl.

Author recently sat down with The Big Thrill to discuss XXher latest genre, LARCENY & LAST CHANCES: 22 STORIES OF MYSTERY & SUSPENSE.

Judy Penz Sheluk

Can you pinpoint a moment or incident that sparked the idea for this book?

The idea for a multi-author anthology first came to me in 2018. I’d just established my own publishing imprint, Superior Shores Press, and I wanted to give the press some legitimacy beyond just self-publishing. I also wanted to support short crime fiction, which is where I got my start as a mystery author. This is the fourth book in the Superior Shores Press Anthology series. The first three are The Best Laid Plans (2020), Heartbreaks & Half-truths (2021), and Moonlight & Misadventure (2022). I thought I might leave it at that, but the theme of larceny and last chances just kept calling to me. I do love alliteration!

A novel is such a major undertaking; there’s the writing of it, of course, then you’re spending months and months revising, polishing, and then promoting it. How did you know this was the book you wanted to spend the next couple of years on?

In this case, it was the call for submissions in 2023. I capped it at 80, which gave submitting authors a 1 in 4 shot of being included. There’s a lot of pressure and responsibility, reading stories by other authors, many whom I either know (and) or admire. Promotion wise, I’m hoping it won’t be all about me — I want to give everyone in the collection who wants to shine, a time to shine.

Were there any particular books, movies, or songs that were knocking around in your head while you were writing this one?

My story in the collection is titled The Last Chance Coalition. The opening scenes are culled from a personal experience—everything is grist for the mill, right? The “get-even” part, that’s pure make believe, but it felt good to serve up revenge, even if it was very cold and quite imaginary.

When you first created your protagonist for this book, did you see an empty space in crime lit that you wanted to fill? What can you share about the inspiration for that character?

My story: well, she’s based on me, so she has my dark sense of humour and a very long memory. I can’t speak for the other 21 authors, except to say that they took the theme and ran with it in very unexpected ways. I was blown away by their interpretations and creativity.

In addition to a great read, what do you hope readers will take away from this story?

A new, renewed, or ongoing love of short crime fiction.

What can you share about what you’re working on next?

Book 5 in my Marketville Mystery Series, which is also a mashup of my Glass Dolphin Mystery Series. So maybe it’s book 1 in the Glass Marketville (or Marketville Glass) series. Miles to go before I sleep on that one.