Aah, who doesn't love a good wedding? The flowers, the cake, and most important of all, the beautiful bride in her gorgeous dress. But then there's the multitude of things that can go wrong on this most sacred of traditional days. The meddlesome mother-in-law, the groom still hungover from last night's bachelor party, the photographer who forgot to show up. The bride losing her everlasting mind because the flowers aren't just right. The dead body behind the altar. . ..
Wait a minute, did I just say that? Of course I did. I write crime fiction. Thinking about the best places to hide a body is what I do.
Not really.
Okay, I do. . . but only when I'm writing a story.
And that's why I was thinking about corpses with knives in their backs at weddings. Because I needed to come up with a story idea for a wedding cozy mystery anthology. To be honest, it didn't take me long to figure out what I wanted to write and know which characters would be in the starring roles.
The best part about participating in this anthology is that I would be part of a Kickstarter campaign. It's a new path for authors and readers to connect. I've been a longtime fan of Kickstarter having backed 50 campaigns, with 20 of them being for fiction and non-fiction projects. Sure, some of them are with authors I already knew, but a lot were for new-to-me authors.
With authors like Brandon Sanderson bringing it mainstream, many people are discovering this option to connect with their favorite authors. Or, like in an anthology campaign like I'm participating in, to discover new ones.
But why support a Kickstarter campaign in the first place? Because there are lots of incentives and bonuses exclusive to backers. You won't find these special opportunities and rewards at any retail sites. For instance, in the anthology I'm participating in, you can get extra eBooks, and there's even an option to name a character. But most exciting of all, there's an overarching Wedding Whodunit with clues planted in all the stories that readers can solve.
So when it comes to planning a wedding, yes, thinking about the cake flavor you want could be important. Or, should there be a live band, and maybe depending on how deep the pocketbook goes, your high school nephew DJing may have to do.
But maybe what you should really think about is who you are marrying. Do you both have a lot in common, like reading cozy mysteries? Great! I know of a perfect book you can read on your honeymoon. No, not on your wedding night. For when you're lounging on the beach working on your tan. Geez, do you always have murder on your mind? Maybe you should meditate more.
About Malice, Matrimony, and Murder
Twenty-six cozy mystery and cozy crime fiction authors have teamed up to create Malice, Matrimony, and Murder, a collection of brand-new, wedding-themed short stories that will keep you wondering whodunit and what's next from the first page to the last. Between bad bridesmaids, conniving caterers, greedy guests, ill-mannered in-laws, savvy sleuths, and vengeful villains, this anthology has it all!
You can learn more and back the campaign here:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/marlabradeen/malice-book?ref=4oje6u
Bio:
Francelia Belton’s love of short stories came from watching old Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock Presents television shows in her youth. She published a collection titled, Crime & Passion: Three Short Stories, and her fiction has appeared in various publications, including "Sis Knows Best" in the upcoming Malice, Matrimony, and Murder.
She is an active member of Sisters in Crime and has served as President (2019-2021) and Vice President (2015-2018) for the Colorado chapter. She is also an active member of Mystery Writers of America and Crime Writers of Color.
She can be found online at: https://FranceliaBelton.com/
You can also follow her on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/francelia-belton
and Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15972908.Francelia_Belton
Great article, Francelia. So many creative authors in this anthology with murder on our minds, hmmm. It’s a wonderful collaboration and fun meeting more malice makers!
There are quite a few wonderful authors…can’t wait to read all the stories. Especially interested in the funding aspect. Thanks for stopping by today.
Thank you for hosting me today, Debra! I had a fun time writing about this topic. 🙂
Delighted to have you here today. Such an interesting topic.
Hi Barbara! Thank you for stopping by to visit. Yes, it is a fun and wonderful collaboration. Discovered many new to me authors to read right here in our group. 🙂
I only discovered Kickstarter last year, but I love how accessible it is. So many interesting and creative projects out there, and anyone can be a part of them! Thanks for shining a light on the platform and the anthology. So happy to be a part of this collaboration with you!
Glad to see the authors involved. Also interesting to learn how a kickstarter campaign worked out with an anthology,
Hi Marla! Thank you for inviting me to collaborate with you on this project. I look forward to seeing how it all turns out. 🙂
Nice blog post, Francelia! I always think of the wedding celebration scene in BBC’s “Sherlock” when the bribe and groom (Dr. Watson), and Holmes run out of the reception room to chase a killer.
That was a great scene…
Hi Kathleen! Thanks for visiting! I haven’t seen that show, but now I have a reason to check it out. 😀
Great article, Francelia! It’s been so much fun participating in this project, and I love seeing how it’s all coming together so nicely!
I’m excited to see so many of you that I know in the book. The project really melded together nicely.
Hi Ashley-Ruth! Thanks for stopping by. I’m enjoying the process too! 😀
This sounds like a great anthology. Just the kind of writing I like to create and read myself.
Best wishes.
It sounds like a varied and creative anthology. The best kind. Thanks for stopping by.
Great article, Francelia! Fantastic job of showcasing the Kickstarter model and getting everyone excited for the stories to come.
I agree that Francelia did an excellent job explaining the kickstarter model and getting us excited about the anthology.
Great article, Francelia! And it sounds like a great anthology too! Lots to like here!
Margaret,
Hope you are doing well. Thanks for stopping by. I agree, that there is a lot to learn … and a lot to like here. Debra
It is really exciting to be part of this project and that is in the way Marla and Francelia led this. I love weddings and all the drama that goes with that. This anthology will definitely sizzle with all the amazing story tellers involved.
Stella,
No question this will be an enjoyable anthology. Plus, the way it was funded makes it even more interesting.