Akashic Books loves stories about place. Their amazing NOIR series includes dozens of location-focused anthologies such as DETROIT NOIR, NEW ORLEANS NOIR, and MOSCOW NOIR. (Taking a parochial view of my home state, they’ve published collections set in both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.)
On their website, Akashic has a series called MONDAYS ARE MURDER, where place is also preeminent.
I couldn’t be more pleased that they chose to publish my story “Sugartime” — set in the City of Brotherly Love — as part of MONDAYS ARE MURDER. “Sugartime” involves two Philadelphia politicians, ambition, corruption, and a hitman. It’s bound to have a happy ending, right?
This is the second story I’ve written featuring the same main character, a used bookstore owner who has a much more dangerous side job. The first was published by Shotgun Honey in 2012: “12 Before 9”.
One final note: This story’s title comes from a song by the band Poole (off the album The Late Engagement), which also happens to count among its members my friend Harry Evans.
I hope you enjoy “Sugartime”! (By the way, it’s available in both English and Spanish. My thanks to translator Carolina Maria Russo-Holding.)
Erik Arneson 