Black Cat Weekly #270 (Halloween Issiue #2)

Welcome to the final Black Cat Weekly.

When I started this magazine, the goal was to put all the money from sales back into the magazine to acquire more and more stories. It was meant to be a venue to showcase short fiction. We grew from 2 modern stories per issue to 6 or 7 in most issues. And with this issue, we’ve hit 10 for the very first time: 9 originals and one reprint (from Nina Kiriki Hoffman, whose amazing stories are always favorites of mine). 

One other thing you may notice: 6 of this issue’s stories are from staff members. It’s a nod to the multi-talented people who have helped make my vision for Black Cat Weekly a reality. Barb Goffman and Michael Bracken have been with us since almost the beginning, acquiring stories for their own little corners of the magazine. (And they are incredible authors on their own, too, as you’ll soon find out, if you don’t already know.) Paula Messina, Ryan Hines, and Tom Easton answered my call for volunteers to help with reading submissions—and we received thousands of them—despite their own busy schedules, and they’re also excellent writers: take a look for yourself. Even if some of them can be a bit silly. (I’m looking at you, Paula!) There’s a reason I’ve always said writers make the best editors. And lastly but not leastly, Ron Miller—our multi-talented art director, who has also become one of our most popular writers—is back with another Velda, P.I. story. And a silly cover.

Of course, we also have stories by other writers, too. Bobbi A. Chukran has a weird western that’s perfect for Halloween. Thanks to Barb Goffman, we have an original from Steve Hockensmith, and thanks to Michael Bracken, we have an original from Robert Jeschonek. And no issue would be complete without a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles. (We plan to publish a collection of them next year. Keep an eye out for it!)

Parting is such sweet sorrow. But the magazine will be reborn under a new publisher in a few weeks, rebranded Black Cat Mysteries (see the “Important Announcement” at the end for full details), so all is not lost. If you like mysteries, you’ll love what they have planned.

Now, for the very last time, I’m delighted to present this issue’s lineup—

Cover Art: Ron Miller

NOVELETTES

“The Biggest Grudge of All,” by Robert Jeschonek [Michael Bracken Presents]

In a world that tracks every grudge, who would murder a blameless Null?

“Black Cat Velda,” by Ron Miller [Velda, P.I. series]

A wild party, a mysterious murder—and a detective dressed as a cat!

SOLVE-IT-YOURSELF MYSTERY

“Bad Luck,” by Hal Charles

Can you solve the mystery before the detective? All the clues are there!

SHORT STORIES

“The Sentry,” by Steve Hockensmith [Barb Goffman Presents]

A Halloween watch, a dead employer, and no sign of an intruder…

“Just One Twist,” by Barb Goffman

The life she built in hiding may end with one turn of the doorknob.

“The Closer,” by Paula Messina

Can a rock band pull off the perfect heist during its final concert?

“Twilight Animals,” by Nina Kiriki Hoffman

Milo came to study suburbia. Something in the hedges studied him…

“The Wolf That Ate John Chapman’s Soul,” by Ryan Michael Hines

Appleseed plants orchards. Something wicked follows in his wake…

“The Incident at Muley Showalter’s Place,” by Bobbi A. Chukran

What did Muley find beneath the dry Texas earth—and who will believe it?

“The Candidate—159 Minutes,” by Thomas A. Easton

Politics comes calling—and an unlikely candidate won’t be bought.

“Zombie Girl’s Temporary Agency and Spare Parts Emporium,” by Michael Bracken

Need a zombie? One clever entrepreneur has a corpse for every job!