Cover Stories

 Someone on the Short Mystery Fiction Society asked members if any of their stories had ever been used for magazine covers. I have been lucky enough to experience that 7 times.  Here they are.

Train Tracks on a shirt

 When my story "Train Tracks" appeared in the cover of Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine my sister Joann Lopresti Churchill had this shirt made for me.  I never thought to put it up on this page, but I have a reason to do it now (as some readers may know...).

Back in Japan

Tokyo Sogen was so pleased with the response to their edition of SHANKS ON CRIME that they bought the rights to put out another collection of my stories.  THE RED ENVELOPE AND OTHER STORIES was released last week.  As best I can make out the Japanese title reads:  SOLVE MYSTERIES AT THE COFFEE SHOP ON HOLIDAYS.  Why not?

Besides the title story, the book contains: The Accessory, Brutal, The Center of the Universe, Crow's Lesson, The Roseville Way, Shooting at Firemen, Train Tracks, and Two Men One Gun,

Train Tracks and Catherine Dilts

Catherine Dilts is one of the few people who regularly review mystery short stories.  Today she picked four highlights out of the current AHMM.  One, I am happy to say, is "Train Tracks."

The Song Behind Train Tracks

Today at SleuthSayers I explain how Utah Phillips indirectly led me to writing "Train Tracks."

The story behind Train Tracks

Today at Trace Evidence I explain the true story of the Orphan Train, which inspired my tale "Train Tracks," in the latest AHMM.

Train Tracks at the University

Well, that's nice.  Western Washington University acknowledged my new story in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine. 

Trains Tracks on the cover

I have not seen the January/February 2018 issue of Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine yet, but today I saw the cover.  Take a look at "Train Tracks," my 28th appearance in AHMM.  My fourth shot on the cover.  What a thrill.