Michael Bracken

Edgar- and Shamus-nominated, Derringer-winning short story writer. Anthony Award-nominated editor.

[Michael Bracken @CrimeFicWriter]

Sleuths Just Wanna Have Fun: Private Eyes in the Material World, originally published by Down & Out Books, will be rereleased August 10 by Crimson Gate Books, and will soon be available for preorder.

[Michael Bracken @CrimeFicWriter]

"Satan's Wings," a story featuring PI Nathaniel Rose, is featured in today's Black Cat Weekly #256.

[Michael Bracken @CrimeFicWriter]

Registration is open for ShortCon 2027 in Alexandria, VA, June 5!

Presenters: Reed Farrel Coleman, Linda Landrigan, Libby Cudmore, and Tom Milani.

Registration includes a full day of useful information for writers of short crime fiction.

https://t.co/OZ8BgEueno

[Michael Bracken @CrimeFicWriter]

Today at SleuthSayers, I describe how events from my teen years played crucial roles in two recently published short stories.

SleuthSayers: Using Real Life in Fiction https://t.co/ivt2i2XCIB

[Michael Bracken @CrimeFicWriter]

@Durenajjaf7825 How old Ethan was when he married has no bearing on how old he was when his child was born. The child could have been born long before Ethan married, or long after. Therefore, without knowing Ethan's age at the birth of his child, there's no way to know how old Ethan is now.

[Michael Bracken @CrimeFicWriter]

@Simi_2210_ 45

3+7=10
10+14=24
24+21=45

[Michael Bracken @CrimeFicWriter]

@farman4x 99991

[Michael Bracken @CrimeFicWriter]

@hicasamadim Two ways to reach 9:

2 vertical lines times 2 horizontal lines = 4
4 vertical lines times 0 horizontal lines = 0
3 vertical lines times 3 horizontal lines = 9

Or

Count each place where a horizontal line intersects with a vertical line.

[Michael Bracken @CrimeFicWriter]

@hicasamadim 9

[Michael Bracken @CrimeFicWriter]

Debra H. Goldstein tells us how she structured the first two pages of her contribution to Wish Upon a Crime and, more importantly, what inspired her to write the story.

The First Two Pages: "Musicians of Bremen" by Debra H. Goldstein https://t.co/PzcMoHROuf

[Michael Bracken @CrimeFicWriter]

Paula Benson discusses her experiences at ShortCOn 2026:

https://t.co/AF7t0PjyrO

[Michael Bracken @CrimeFicWriter]

Laura Oles writes about "The Emperor's New Clothes," her contribution to Wish Upon a Crime.

High Tech, Hustle Culture, and Hope https://t.co/4ihbRJYkCJ

[Michael Bracken @CrimeFicWriter]

Wish Upon a Crime is taking Amazon by storm! The Kindle version is #7 and the paperback is #12 on the Hot New Releases list.

[Michael Bracken @CrimeFicWriter]

See this Instagram post by @arttaylorwriter https://t.co/2sf1O0Rxm1

[Michael Bracken @CrimeFicWriter]

Rick Pullen tells readers about "The Rise of Elaine's Literary Salon in Alexandria, Virginia"—the site of each year's ShortCon. Learn more about the restaurant and about Jeffrey James Higgins, the thriller writer who co-owns and manages the place.

https://t.co/H6cm7Z8Hzf

[Michael Bracken @CrimeFicWriter]

Fairy tales and crime fiction collide in Wish Upon a Crime.

Today’s most respected short-story writers reimagine familiar classics where the line between good and evil isn’t always clear.

https://t.co/PeSt44hN05

[Luke Deckard @drlukedeckard]

This is a hell of a collection with some of the best voices in the genre, and I genuinely don’t feel worthy to be in this, but this was my biggest win of 2025 as it came at a time when I was considering ditching writing professionally altogether. 2/2

[Michael Bracken @CrimeFicWriter]

I recently spoke to the SinC Heart of Texas Chapter about "What Makes a Good Short Story."

My presentation was recorded and is now available on YouTube: https://t.co/QlCoipDHQg

The first two-thirds is my presentation and the last third a Q&A covering a wide range of topics.

[Michael Bracken @CrimeFicWriter]

The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog: Announcing HOT SHOTS: CELEBRATING THIRTY YEARS OF ... https://t.co/NUqFmPosr3