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Anthology Challenges for the Writer and the Reader

Francelia Belton • Jan 25, 2023

Today I welcome friend and short story author Francelia Belton as she shares her latest project. If you're interested in purchase a copy for your own collection, don't wait--it goes away on January 31st!


When writing a short story with the goal of having it included in an anthology, a writer faces a few challenges. The anthology has a theme the writer must adhere to. The problem comes about in making sure that all the stories are not focusing on the same aspect of the theme. Nothing worse than reading an anthology of dog stories, and every story is about a collie saving a little boy named Timmy who fell into a well. Sure, there may be nuances in how one writer describes the dog or the boy, but the reader would end up reading multiple stories about a dog saving a little boy, and who wants to read a collection like that?

 

No, the anthology must stay focused, yet wide enough to make sure there is an adequate variety of stories that represents the overall theme. That's how it worked for Festive Mayhem 3. This is the second Festive Mayhem anthology I have participated in. In Festive Mayhem 2, all the stories had to be a culinary cozy mystery that happened in one of the fourth quarter holidays. However, with Festive Mayhem 3, the theme opened up somewhat. We could write within any mystery or crime genre; that meant from cozy to noir. And the holiday could take place at any time of the year. That's why there are stories that take place during the Martin Luther King Jr holiday weekend all the way to the Christmas season.

 

But not only is there a variety of stories that must adhere to the anthology theme, writer's styles are as different as different can be. For instance, in Festive Mayhem 3, cozy stories reside next door to gritty noir stories, and therein lies the challenge for the reader. How are they to know which stories are which and how to avoid them if it is not to their preferences?

 

This is where Festive Mayhem 3 comes through.

 

In the anthology's introduction, there is a brief message explaining how each story is rated and denoting which category the stories fall into: Cozy, Cold, or Chilling. Cozy reassures readers that there is no on-the-page sex or foul language; whereas with Cold, a reader can expect a sprinkling of that flavor, and Chilling alerts the reader to bank on it. But be assured, one level is not better than the other. It's just a matter of preference for both the writer and the reader. Like all fiction, there's something for everyone.

 

For my short story, I decided on Easter because I needed a holiday where family and mayhem could happen, but didn't want to pick the obvious choice of Thanksgiving or Christmas. However, please keep in mind, this is a book of crime and mystery short fiction. The keyword being fiction. Most holiday family gatherings do not end with a family member dying, no matter how big the disagreements are. And full disclosure, my short story, "Black Easter," rated a "Cold" designation, because one character used foul language a couple of times and spoke a blasphemous line. However, what they say about writing fiction is true, characters truly have a mind of their own. The author's only job is to record what they hear and see while scribbling it down on the page as fast as they can.

 

Question for readers:

Is there a preferred genre you like to read in, or are you open to reading in other realms?

 

For myself, I read primarily in the crime and suspense genre, but I will also read historicals, science fiction and fantasy. I also sprinkle in some rom-coms and YA on occasion.

 

About Festive Mayhem 3:

This limited-edition collection includes brand-new stories set throughout the year, as well as some reissued seasonal favorites. Whether you enjoy humorous cozy mysteries with plucky amateur sleuths, or hard-boiled noir starring gritty private investigators, this anthology is for you.

 

The anthology is disappearing after January 31, 2023, so don't wait! It would be criminal to miss it!

 

It's available at all ebook retailers: https://www.crimewritersofcolor.com/bookdetails?book=147

 

What you'll find inside:

 

• "Black Easter" by Francelia Belton (Cold). In 1967, a militant husband and father tries to push his political views onto his wife's conservative family at the annual Easter social—and things don’t end well.

• "A Deadly First" by Delia C. Pitts (Chilling). Thanksgiving takes a fatal turn when New York private eye SJ Rook finds himself thrust into his first murder case in this darkly atmospheric tale of noir. (Originally published with the first Festive Mayhem.)

• "Whiteout Wipeout" by Paige Sleuth (Cozy). A lost cat leads Cherry Hills, Washington, animal rescue maven and amateur sleuth Imogene Little to the body of a murdered man at the start of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend.

• "The Troublesome Rich Girl" by Stella Oni (Cozy). When Elizabeth agreed to look out for the rebellious teenager Tayo Adelaja and her cousin Angelica, she enlisted the help of the Mews hotel's social media obsessed apprentice, Rosie O'Toole—only for the three to disappear!

• "Trace of Lace" by Barbara Howard (Cozy). On the eve of his wedding day, Milo has to save his bride when news of a serial killer near Birston College puts the campus on lockdown.

• "A Christmas Tip" by Elizabeth Wilkerson (Cozy). A surprise Christmas bonus becomes too tempting for Philadelphia nursing assistant Brianna Byers to resist—even if accepting requires some skillful skirting of the law. (Originally published with the first Festive Mayhem.)

• "Serenade for Suicide" by Carolyn Marie Wilkins (Cold). The melody turns deadly when music teacher Bertie Bigelow invites her Grammy-winning ex to give a songwriting workshop at an inner-city community college.

 

About Francelia: 

Francelia Belton’s love of short stories came from watching old Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock Presents television shows in her youth. She published a collection titled, Crime & Passion: Three Short Stories, and her fiction has appeared in various publications, including "Dreaming of Ella" in Denver Noir and "Black Easter" in Festive Mayhem 3.

 

She is an active member of Sisters in Crime and has served as President (2019-2021) and Vice President (2015-2018) for the Colorado chapter. She is also an active member of Mystery Writers of America and Crime Writers of Color.

 

Connecting Online:

Her website: https://FranceliaBelton.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/francelia.belton/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/francelia-belton

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15972908.Francelia_Belton  

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