Many writers avoid creating characters of different ethnic backgrounds than their own out of fear that they might get it wrong. To address this fear, Nisi Shawl and Cynthia Ward collaborated to develop a workshop that addresses these problems with the aim of both increasing writers skill and sensitivity in portraying difference in their fiction as well as allaying their anxieties about getting it wrong. Writing the Other: A Practical Approach is the manual that grew out of their workshop. It discusses basic aspects of characterization and offers elementary techniques, practical exercises, and examples for helping writers create richer and more accurate characters with differences.

Welcome to Black Cat Weekly #23. Lots of good stuff this time—highlighted by a novel from Golden Age mystery author Rufus King, Duenna for a Murder. Plus a few novellas, and lots of great short stories, a solve-it-yourself mystery from Hal Charles, and great selections from Michael Bracken (Laird Long’s “Taken for a Ride”—which qualifies as both a mysery and a fantasy story) and Barb Goffman (Michael Allan Mallory’s “Random Harvest”). On the science fiction side, the Cynthia Ward Presents story is missing this week, but that’s only because we have a fantastic alternate-history story from Cynthia herself! Check out her “On Stony Ground.” Plus an epic disaster story from Allan Danzig, a fantasy from Unknown by Lester del Rey and James H. Beard, a space-based tale by Richard Wilson, and a miniature military SF story from Larry Tritten. Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Soul Searching,” by Laird Long [short story] “A Fine Kettle of Fish,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Dead Wrong,” by Frank Kane [short story] “Taken for a Ride,” by Hulbert Footner [short novel] “Random Harvest,” by Michael Allan Mallory [Barb Goffman Presents short story] Duenna to a Murder, by Rufus King [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “On Stony Ground,” by Cynthia Ward [short story] “Corrigan’s Homunculi,” by Larry Tritten [short story] “Carillon of Skulls,” by Lester del Rey and James H. Beard [short story] “Abel Baker Camel,” by Richard Wilson [short story] “The Great Nebraska Sea,” by Allan Danzig [short story]

The ninth issue of Black Cat Mystery features a stellar lineup of new stories (and one classic reprint). Here are— LAST RITES, by Stacy Woodson THE JERICHO TRAIN, by John M. Floyd CORAL COVE, by B.A. Paul THE ALLEY, by Ann Aptaker SONNY'S ENCORE, by Michael Bracken SWITCH AND BAIT, by Cynthia Ward BECOMING ZERO, by James A. Hearn THE MURDER OF JONATHAN GREYSTONE, by Barry Fulton YOU GOTTA BE IN IT!, by Elliott Capon THE YOU-DON'T-KNOW-THE-HALF-OF-IT-DEARIE BLUES, by Michael Kurland A FIGHTER BY HIS TRADE, by Graham Powell Classic reprint: SMELLING LIKE A ROSE, by Gil Brewer

The 47th issue of Weirdbook presents another mindbending excurion to the far reaches of terror and the imagination. Here and fantasy and horror stories spanning time and space, by some of the best authors currently practicing. This issue contains: THERAPOSA, by Jessica S J Brown THE DRAGONS OF THE NIGHT, by Darrell Schweitzer IT STARTS NOW, by Lorenzo Crescentini UNDERHEAD, by Charles Wilkinson BYE, BYE, CUBBY, by Franklyn Searight DIMENSIONS OF SCALE, by John R. Fultz A DEAD MAN’S TALE, by Adrian Cole RETURN TO SENDER: ARMSTRONG-9, by Samson Stormcrow Hayes BUTTERFLIES AND MOONBEAMS, by Kenneth Bykerk HEX ON THE BEACH, by Bryce Beattie FERAL, by Joe Arcara SIGYN HANTA AND BRONWYN DULCEA SPERANZA, by Patrick S. Baker EGO URN, by Eddie D. Moore SWEET HONEY IN THE BONES, by Matt Thompson NIGHT SHIFT, by Cynthia Ward THE HORROR FROM THE STARS, by Steve Dilks BELLICO AND THE HUSKS OF THE “HEAVENSENT”, by Richard Toogood DON’T OPEN YOUR EYES, by Taylor Grant THE IRON LAW, by David C. Smith

The Haunts & Horrors Megapack offers everyting from ghosts to vampires, from things that go bump in the night to nameless presences -- and much more! Here are 31 tales to chill the blood, including: SURREAL ESTATE, by Nina Kiriki Hoffman BIRTHMARK, by Seabury Quinn THE MONKEY’S PAW, by W.W. Jacobs FUGUES, by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro DEAD BABIES, by Lawrence Watt-Evans THE MUFFIN MAN, by Mike Brines THE SILENT MAJORITY, by Stephen Woodworth THE TOMB, by H.P. Lovecraft GONE, by Nina Kiriki Hoffman THE MEAT FOREST, by John Haggerty ETERNITY AND THE DEVIL, by Larry Hodges MISS FAVERSHAM’S ROOM, by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro THE DAMNED THING, by Ambrose Bierce THE SHADOWS OF THE DEAD, by Louis Becke BONESY, by Larry Hodges VENGEANCE IN HER BONES, by Malcolm Jamieson LITTLE PIECES, by Matt Piskun THE MAN WHO LIVED by Raymond F. O’Kelley THE FOND NIGHTMARE, by Colin Azariah-Kribbs THE RESIDENCE AT WHITMINSTER, by M.R. James LOST PROPERTY, by David Anderson THE BLISSFUL HOUSE ON BLYSWORTH STREET, by Skadi meic Beorh THE BONE FLUTE, by M.E. Brines A FAULT AGAINST THE DEAD, by Nina Kiriki Hoffman BUCK, GLORY RAE, & THE THREE LITTLE PIGS, by John Gregory Betancourt THE HAUNTING OF DORIC LODGE, by James C. Stewart LUGAR DE LA PAZ, by B.N. Clark THE HOUSE AND THE BRAIN, by Lord Edward Bulwer-Lytton WHITE BEAUTY, by Cynthia Ward FEAR, by Guy de Maupassant GENIUS LOCI, by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro And don't forget to search this ebook store for "Wildside Megapack" to see more entries in this series, covering classic authors and subjects like mysteries, science fiction, westerns, ghost stories -- and much, much more!

Sometimes the road gets in your head, when you're driving an 18-wheeler for hours. But sometimes the sound of your wheels drives out the rest of the world, leaving you mercifully empty inside. The only time you're vulnerable is when you stop.

The Fourth Science Fiction Megapack selects 25 more modern and classic science fiction stories, by talented authors new and old. Authors in this volume include: Mary A. Turzillo, E.C. Tubb, Murray Leinster, Philip K. Dick, Kurt Vonnegut Jr., Jason Andrew, Henry Kuttner, Cynthia Ward, George H. Scithers and John Gregory Betancourt, Milton Lesser, John Russell Fearn, Harry Harrison, Isaac Asimov, Ayn Rand, and many more Complete contents "Zora and the Land Ethic Nomads," by Mary A. Turzillo "Food for Friendship," by E.C. Tubb "The Life Work of Professor Muntz," by Murray Leinster "Tiny and the Monster," by Theodore Sturgeon "Beyond Lies the Wub," by Philip K. Dick "Pictures Don’t Lie," by Katherine MacLean "The Big Trip Up Yonder," by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. "Storm Warning," by Donald A. Wollheim "The Application of Discipline," by Jason Andrew "Tom the Universe," by Larry Hodges "Wild Seed," by Carmelo Rafala "Tabula Rasa," by Ray Cluley "The Eyes of Thar," by Henry Kuttner "Regenesis," by Cynthia Ward "Not Omnipotent Enough," by George H. Scithers and John Gregory Betancourt "Plato’s Bastards," by James C. Stewart "Pen Pal," by Milton Lesser "Living Under the Conditions," by James K. Moran "The Arbiter," by John Russell Fearn "The Grandmother-Granddaughter Conspiracy," by Marissa Lingen "Top Secret," by David Grinnell "Living Under the Conditions," by James K. Moran "Sense of Obligation," by Harry Harrison "Angel's Egg," by Edgar Pangborn "Youth," by Isaac Asimov "Anthem," by Ayn Rand And don't forget to search this ebook store for more entries in the "Megapack" series -- covering Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Mysteries, Westerns, Cthulhu Mythos, and many other subjects.

This is a special issue—our 50th, as you may have noticed from our cover. To celebrate, all past and present editors were to contribute a story. (It helps that they are also amazingly talented writers.) So we have stories from Michael Bracken, Barb Goffman, Paul Di Filippo, Darrell Schweitzer, and Cynthia Ward in addition to our other fare. But wait! There’s more! This issue features four original tales—Elizabeth Zelvin has a fantasy/mystery stories, Phyllis Ann Karr has a weird western, and Cynthia Ward has a gonzo science fiction crowd-funding story. And I have completed a story by the late H.B. Fyfe, who was best known for his science fiction stories, though this one is a revenge tale that most closely fits the mystery genre. And the good stuff doesn’t stop there. We also have a superhero story from Darrell Schweitzer. Space Opera from Algis Budrys and E.E. “Doc” Smith. A historical mystery novel by western author B.M. Bower. A historical investigation from Charles Todd. A Mallworld story from Somtow Sucharitkul (who also writes as S.P. Somtow). And no issue is complete without a solve-it-yourself mystery by Hal Charles. All in all, this is an probably our best Black Cat Weekly yet. Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “The Ladies of Wednesday Tea” by Michael Bracken [short story] “Hidden in Plain Sight” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Ice Ice Baby” by Barb Goffman [short story] “Flayed” by H.B. Fyfe and John Gregory Betancourt [short story] “Blood Money” by Charles Todd [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “The House of Marble” by Elizabeth Zelvin [Michael Bracken Presents short story] The Eagle’s Wing, by B.M. Bower [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “The House of Marble” by Elizabeth Zelvin [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Rise and Fall of Whistle-Pig City” by Paul Di Filippo [short story] “Rabid in Mallworld” by Somtow Sucharitkul [short story] “Fighting the Zeppelin Gang” by Darrell Schweitzer [short story] “Winona of Bleeding Kansas” by Phyllis Ann Karr [short story] “The Campaign Is Now Officially Complete” by Cynthia Ward [short story] “Blood on my Jets” by Algis Budrys [short story] The Skylark of Valeron, by Edward E. Smith, Ph.D. [novel]

DREAMING KANDRESPHAR, by Darrell Schweitzer EYE OF WISDOM, EYE OF PAIN, by John R. Fultz THE THING THAT ISN’T HIS MOTHER, by Lorenzo Crescentini THE SIRENS SING AT SUNSET, by Allan Rozinski ZOLTÁN, by Cynthia Ward CHARMED, I’M SURE, by Franklyn Searight PANDEMONIUM, by Thomas Vaughn WHISPERS, by Ashley Dioses TRYING TO FIND IT IN MY CITY, by Chad Hensley A WITNESS OF THE LAST DAYS OF EN-FANULK, by Adrian Simmons THE ACQUISITION OF LADY BRACKNELL, by R.C. Mulhare THE NIGHT MARE, by K.A. Opperman WHITSUN, by Simon Bestwick A COMEDY OF TERRORS, by Adrian Cole WILDFIRE, by Sharon Cullars RECORDED DELIVERY, by Alexander Hay THE DIVINE FLOUTIST, by Jessica Amanda Salmonson THE GHOSTS OF OLD SAMHAIN, by Frank Coffman SESSA’S SONG, by David C. Smith A STREAK OF GRAY, by Mark McLaughlin

This issue brights quite a selection of mysteries and crime stories—8, in fact. (Though two are doing double-duty as science fiction.) Michael Bracken has selected a story by our acquiring editor Cynthia Ward for this issue—“Roadsong,” which (along with Eando Binder’s tale) is also science fiction. Barb Goffman has picked a winner by John Shepphird this issue. Plus we have classics by Stephen Wasylyk, James Holding, Dorothy B. Hughes, and Nicholas Carter. And what issue would be complete without a solve-it-yourself mystery by Hal Charles? On the science fiction side, Cynthia Ward has picked “Memorabilia,” a post holocaust story, by Holly Wade Matter, plus we have a classic fantasy by Lester del Rey (from Unknown), and a classic science fiction story by Jerry Sohl (from Infinity). Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Alligators Don’t Ask for Payment,” by Stephen Wasylyk [short story] “Shima Maru,” by James Holding [short story] “A Ring of Truth,” by Hal Charles [solve-it-yourself mystery] “Of Dogs & Deceit,” by John Shepphird [short story] The Bamboo Blonde, by Dorothy B. Hughes [novel] Following a Chance Clue, by Nicholas Carter [novel] “The Sign of the Scarlet Cross,” by Eando Binder [short story] “Roadsong,” by Cynthia Ward [short story] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “The Sign of the Scarlet Cross,” by Eando Binder [short story] “Roadsong,” by Cynthia Ward [short story] “Memorabilia,” by Holly Wade Matter [short story] “Death in Transit,” by Jerry Sohl [short story] “Anything,” by Lester del Rey [short story]