It’s difficult to plan ahead during a pandemic, but it is important to realize things will eventually return to normal or we will find/create a new normal.

For June, we’ll be featuring some authors of short stories and discussing the art of writing a short story vs. a novel.

Did you know several short stories have been adapted into award winning feature films?

Orlando Bartro will be back with another fascinating article and we’re hoping to have something from Jackie Zataweski and other guest contributors. Linda Cahill will share a few summer recipes from Pampered Chef.

I’ll be reviewing The Swamp Killers, an anthology of short stories featuring some authors who have graced our pages in previous months and I’ll have short story recommendations for children and adults.

And yes, there will be pie as we continue our “Twelve Months of Pie” series with a wonderful recipe for Razzleberry Pie to usher in summer.

Stay safe and follow all social distancing and shelter in place recommendations for your area. We hope you enjoy this issue.

See you next month,

Fran

Answers to the May 2020 Quiz – Murder and Mayhem by Numbers

Dividing Zero Covert operatives Beth and Meghan Petersen are featured in this first book in the Gemini Series of thrillers by Ty Patterson

One was a Soldier a Clare Ferguson and Russ Van Alstyne mystery by Julia Spencer-Fleming

Two Little Girls in Blue twin telepathy fuels a mother's search for a kidnapped child, presumed dead in this thriller by Mary Higgins Clark

Three Men Out a collection of Nero Wolfe mystery novellas by Rex Stout.

The Sign of Four (also known as The Sign of the Four) a Sherlock Holmes mystery by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Five Little Pigs a Hercules Poirot mystery by Agatha Christie

Six Days of the Condor a conspiracy thriller by James Brady

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle Aiden has eight days to solve a murder of Evelyn, but everyday he wakes up in a different person’s body destined to start over in this unique debut novel by Stuart Turton.

When Eight Bells Toll Millions of pounds in gold bullion are being pirated in the Irish Sea in this British suspense thriller by Alistair MacLean

Nine Elms A detective’s career ends in disgrace after using extreme methods to catch a serial killer, but 15 years later, Kate Marshall gets the opportunity to clear her name when a copycat killer strikes in this thriller by Robert Bryndza

The Woman in Cabin 10 murder on a luxury cruise ship in the North Sea in this mystery thriller by Ruth Ware

Eleven on Top a Stephanie Plum mystery by Janet Evanovich

12 Angry Librarians Charlie and his adorable Maine Coon cat, Diesel are back solving crimes in this mystery by Miranda James.

14 Days to Die when her perfect husband hires a hit man to kill her Sarah Johnson has just two weeks to make the killer a better offer in this thriller by A.B. Whelan

The 20th Victim a Women's Murder Club mystery by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

The Thirty-Nine Steps this mystery thriller by John Buchan is the first of five novels featuring action hero Richard Hannay. This book has been adapted for film several times including the famous film version by Alfred Hitchcock in 1935.

52 Pickup: Harry Mitchell is being blackmailed, but the blackmailers might have chosen the wrong man to mess with in this thriller by Elmore Leonard

61 Hours A tour bus crashes in a savage snowstorm and lands Jack Reacher in the middle of a deadly confrontation in this thriller by Lee Child.

99 Red Balloons Two little girls go missing decades apart in this mystery thriller by Elisabeth Carpenter.

Hundred-Dollar Baby a Spenser mystery by Robert B. Parker