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STAFF M-E

 

 

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
J.R.G. DeMarco

J.R.G. DeMarco lives and writes in Philadelphia and Montréal.

He was recently given the "Best Magazine Editor" Reader's Choice Poll Award from Preditors & Editors.

Before devoting his time more fully to fiction and non-fiction projects he was Editor-in-Chief of The Weekly Gayzette (Philadelphia); Editor-in-Chief of NGL, a national magazine; and has been an editor or contributing editor for a number of publications including Il Don Gennaro, a national Italian-American magazine.

Currently a columnist for X-Factor magazine in print and online (www.xfactor.com), he has also been a columnist for The Advocate, In Touch, and Gaysweek (NY). His writing has appeared in PGN, The New York Native,GCN, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Welcomat, and a number of others publications.

Several of his stories have been anthologized in the Quickies series published by Arsenal Pulp Press and in Men Seeking Men (Painted Leaf Press). His essays have been published in anthologies including Gay Life (Doubleday), and Hey Paisan! (Guernica),We Are Everywhere (Routledge), BlackMen WhiteMen (Gay Sunshine), and Men's Lives (Macmillan).

A number of his plays have been produced in Philadelphia, NY, and elsewhere around the U.S.

A serious student of sociological issues, his work has been published in The International Encyclopedia of Marriage and Family (Macmillan); and two of his articles appear in the Encyclopedia of Men and Masculinites (ABC CLIO)

One of his greatest loves is mystery (all kinds); he has written a number of mystery stories and is currently working on the first of a new series of mystery novels. He also has an abiding interest in alternate history, speculative fiction, young adult fiction, vampires, werewolves, science fiction, the supernatural, mythology, and more. You can learn more at www.josephdemarco.com

 

Web Advisor

Jason Li

Jason was in on the redesign of the site from the very beginning. He has given his advice and fixed problems as the arose and continues to do so. Though he is extremely busy with two other major facets of his life, he never fails to lend a hand when needed. He is currently working on revamping the archives and that should be up and working some time on 2006 which will make readers and writers happy. Jason is also creative in his own right and loves writing stories of his own as well as working on translations of Chinese literature.

 

Senior Editor
Julie Obermiller
Julie Obermiller lives on the shores of Lake Ontario in Western New York with her cat Sneakie Pie, a healthy crop of dust bunnies and stacks of books. A freelance journalist with a weekly column in the Lockport Union Sun & Journal, her excuse for not becoming the next best-selling author is that she's too busy reading her beloved cozies. A hopeless anglophile and lover of Brit mysteries, Obermiller is also a part-time clown, community activist, self-professed slug and author of the soon-to-be-published Murder in Mason Jars, first in a series of Maggie Miller Mysteries.

 

Art Director
Gin E. L. Fenton
Gin, a creative workaholic, is art director and illustrator for several magazines and publishing companies creating book covers and illustrations for both print and online magazines, and books of all kinds. She loves to keep busy, and eats, sleeps and breathes for her Art in all its forms. Gin has painted all her life, and has mastered many mediums including oils, pastels, ink washes, watercolors, computer-aided art, graphic and web design, clay sculpture, soft sculpture, and is an accomplished glamour portrait artist. She published her own fantasy art ezine, Merlin's Dreams Zine. Preferring primarily figurative subjects, she loves creating dramatic illustrations for mystery, crime, suspense, glamour, pinup, romance, noir, intrigue, human interest, and fantasy stories, articles, and books. She lives in Texas with her retired physician husband, who dotes on her, even though she sometimes neglects him for her computer and drawing tablet. Her website: www.artpinups.com E-mail: gin@ginelf.com Portfolio Gallery : http://artisthome.com/Folio/folio.htm

 

Assistant Editor

Lance Zarimba

Lance Zarimba has short stories published in the Mayhem in the Midlands anthology and Who Died In Here? anthology. He has won the VLP short story contest and his "Secret Santa" story has appeared on Without A Clue web site. He writes a "Therapy" series where Taylor, an occupational therapist, stumbles across murders and mayhem and is helped, but mostly hindering, in solving the crimes with his friends.

 

Assistant Editor

Virginia LoMonaco

A native Californian, Virginia Lo Monaco has recently returned from Italy, where she lived for almost 16 years. She has published many short stories. "A Man of Honor," one of her short stories published in Futures Mystery Anthology Magazine, was nominated for a Pushcart Prize and, after she translated it into Italian, won 2nd place in the Akery National Literary Competition in Acerra, Italy. Her SF short story, "Intermezzo a Cappella" won an Honorable Mention in the Writer's Digest 2001 Writing Competition in the Genre Short Story classification, finishing 11th in a field of over 1600 genre short stories. She was Mystery Editor for Futures Mystery Anthology Magazine and is an active member of Private Eye Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters In Crime-Los Angeles Chapter.

 

Assistant Editor/Columnist

Tim Matson

Tim Matson lives with his wife Susan, and their two miniature schnauzers Asta and Archie, in a suburb of St. Paul, MN. When he isn't toiling away at his day job, Tim spoils his wife and dogs mercilessly, and finds time to write when they take naps on the couch. His stories have been accepted at Mysterical-E and Futures Mystery Anthology Magazine. He is currently working on his second novel.

 

Columnist

Nicholas Fuller

Born Canberra 1983. Lived in Brussels 1993 - 1996; returned Canberra 1997. Currently studying Arts at the Australian National University - Honours in History this year, in English next. Edited Gladys Mitchell's Sleuth's Alchemy for Crippen and Landru, have contributed articles to CADS and to the Margery Allingham festschrift. Interests: detective fiction (favourite authors: Gladys Mitchell, John Dickson Carr, Agatha Christie, Dorothy L Sayers, GK Chesterton and HC Bailey), Doctor Who and European history (Rome and England from the Wars of the Roses on, particularly C19th - present).

 

Columnist

Jim Doherty

A police officer for more than ten years like his character Dan Sullivan, began his law enforcement career as a reserve cop in Berkeley , California , while simultaneously working on his bachelor's degree at Cal . Sullivan stories have previously appeared in Writers' Journal , Blue Murder , Hand Held Crime , Over My Dead Body! , and the upcoming anthology The Race Is On . Sullivan is also the protagonist of Jim's first (and still unpublished) novel, An Obscure Grave , which was a finalist in the 2004 Debut Dagger competition conducted by the British Crime Writers Association. In addition to his fiction, Jim is also the author of two non-fiction books. Just the Facts – True Tales of Cops & Criminals is a collection of true-crime articles, one of which, “Blood for Oil,” won the 2005 Western Writers of America Spur Award in the Short Non-Fiction Category. Raymond Chandler – A Master of American Noir is a series of lectures on Chandler 's early work available as an e-book on the Barnes & Noble website, and used in conjunction with an on-line course about Chandler that Jim teaches. A native San Franciscan, Jim currently lives in Chicago with his lovely wife, Katy. His website can be found here: http://www.deadlyserious.com/JimDoherty

 

Columnist

Christine A. Verstraete

Christine A. Verstraete is an award-winning journalist whose nonfiction and fiction has been published in various newspapers and magazines. She is working on a mystery novel and has had short fiction published in Mysterical-E, Orchard Press Mysteries, Mouth Full of Bullets, Flashshot, Flashquake, and Futures Mysterious Anthology. Contact her at http://cverstraete.com

 

Columnist

Byron McAllister

Byron McAllister was always intrigued by whatever appeared to be “fundamental,” but what he thinks the word means has changed gradually through several sciences to mathematics, philosophy, and now—inevitably—to mystery writing. Besides a few technical and historical papers from his earlier career, his published writings (often jointly authored by his spouse) include maybe thirty or so poems, half a dozen mystery short stories, and let's not forget an e-published novel, “Undercover Nudist,” http://ebooksonthe.net which has just come out in paper. Despite the modesty of these achievements, Byron thinks he's entitled to express strong, though variable, opinions on everything. He's saving mention of his hobbies and such, because maybe they'll serve as subject matter for future columns.

 

A Title
YOUR NAME

OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND -- CONTACT US

Editorial positions are open and we are always looking for Columnists with good ideas.

 

CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE
Writers

Annette Dashofy, a member of Sisters in Crime, the Short Mystery Fiction Society and Pennwriters, is from rural southwestern Pennsylvania where she lives with her husband and two old cats. She is a fiction and freelance writer as well as a yoga instructor and has recently acquired an agent for her mystery novel. Check out her website at www.annettedashofy.com and her blog at http://annettedashofy.blogspot.com

Vero G. Caravetta has been a film buff and a mystery fan since he can remember. He has reviewed film for a number of small publications in the Midwest. Since his move East to New York, he has thrown himself into his work Off-Off Broadway. He would eventually like to try his hand at fiction.

Jan Christensen has had one mystery novel, "Sara's Search," published and  almost forty short stories, mostly mysteries, in such places as Futures Mysterious Anthology Magazine, Hardluck Stories, Red Herring Mystery Magazine , and Orchard Press , to name a few, as well as several in Mysterical-e. She can be reached at willwriteforfood@mindspring.com

Daniel B. Young is a fifty-seven year old retired private investigator. He was also an ex-teenage gang leader, Vietnam-era Navy sailor, steel mill laborer, overhead crane operator, computer programmer, security officer, executive bodyguard, undercover operative, and state licensed as a private investigator for ten years.  In his twenty year security and investigative career he made 360 felony arrests and retrieved seven fugitives [on behalf of the victims]. He lives with his thirty-five year marriage partner and proofreader Gloria. He has published online in “The Murder Hole”. “Without a Clue”, “Nefarious: Tales of Mystery”, “Mysterical-E”, “Web Mystery Magazine”, and “Quantum Muse”.

Suzanne Berube Rorhus lives in Michigan with her husband and three young daughters.  She has family in Norway , Memphis , and on Martha's Vineyard Island , and uses these locations in her stories.  Her first novel, Faithful Execution, is currently in New York looking for a home. The first chapter and a synopsis of this thriller are available at www.rorhus.com . She is now working on a second novel, a literary thriller remake of the Canterbury Tales .  In addition to writing, minding babies, and traveling, Suzanne is taking courses in criminal investigation.

J. Alan Brown has published almost two dozen stories and essays in print and on the web. He is currently working on his third novel. He can be reached at ReadJAlanBrown@hotmail.com

Fleur Bradley Originally Dutch, Fleur emigrated to the U.S. eight years ago.  Dozens of her short stories have appeared in publications like Versal, Shred of Evidence and Futures.She recently completed her first novel, a suspense entitled Roots Don't Lie

Scott Robinson is a first-time writer moving about within the state of California . Krung Thep is the first chapter in a forthcoming novella set in the great city of Bangkok . (Hence all the loose threads.) Krung Thep is the Thai name for Bangkok . It translates “city of angels.” For help throughout the writing process, the author is indebted to Thierry, Nuk and Guy for answering all the endless email. And as always, the work is dedicated to the family.

Gay Toltl Kinman has eight award nominations for her writing; several short stories published in American and English magazines; over one hundred and fifty articles; six children's books; a young adult novel, two adult mysteries, and five short plays produced. Kinman has a library degree and a law degree.

Sandra Seamans is a retired farmwife who loves to write stories. Her fiction has been published in "A Long Story Short", "Apollo's Lyre", and "A Flasher's Dozen" where she is also co-editor.

Luc Beaubois is a graduate student studying French Literature and is an aspiring writer. A lover of mystery writing, he is working on a novel and several short stories. Having been born and raised in New York, he is a lover of cities and the urban experience. You may contact him at beauboisnyc@yahoo.com

Pam Skochinski has had short stories published in numerous publications and e-zines including: Futures Mystery Anthology Magazine, Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, Flash Fantastic, Mysterical-E, A Flasher's Dozen, and Flashshot. Her short story, The Truth Is Out There , appears in Twisted Cat Tales , edited by Esther Schrader. Pam is on sabbatical from technical writing to spend more time with her children, living in “Pam”demonium with her family in California . You can find out more about her at www.pamskochinski.com

Rina Brundu is the author of the novel Tana di Volpe featuring the Sardinian detective Don Osvaldo Da Silva Ochoa. She was born in Villanova Strisaili, a small town in the Sardinian province of Ogliastra . Creator of the sardinian detective Don Osvaldo Da Silva Ochoa , she published her first short-story The wake in a Sardinian magazine while still at University. In July 2006, she won the AVANT GARDE LITERARY PRIZE with her short-story Sirbone . A writer with a strong interest in journalism, her works have been published in the national weekly magazine Diario, in the literary reviews Pentelite and I Siracusani , and in many websites. Tana di Volpe (Fox Den, 2003) is her first novel.

Bob Liter is a retired journalist who has written eight novels -- including four Nick Bancroft mysteries -- published by Renaissance E. Books. His e-mail address is bobliter@verizon.net

Patrick Reed is a computer professional located in Austin Texas. He is currently trying to get his first novel published

Jonette Stabbert lives in the Netherlands and shares her home with a 60-kilo (gentle) giant dog and four cats. She writes literary and genre fiction as well as non-fiction, is the author of more than 250 nonfiction articles, and her flash fiction has appeared in Amoret, FUTURES, Nefarious, Flashquake, Furious Pen, Mindprints, Flash Fantastic, Flashshot, 31 Eyes, Hiss Quarterly, River Babble, Apex Digest, Mysterical-E, Crime and Suspense and other publications. Jonette is a member of SinC, Guppies and SMFS. She is the editor of Amsterdam Scriptum, an online literary journal. http://www.stabbert.com/amsterdamscriptum.htm

Dawn Dowdle is a prolific reader and reviewer. She runs the Mystery Lovers Corner and Romance Lovers Corner sites. See her reviews for the web addresses.

Kevin Tipple known to his always changing apartment neighbors as "that weirdo who always sits outside on the porch and reads" Kevin will read just about anything except horror. Some of his short stories have appeared in print in such magazines as Lynx Eye, Show and Tell, and Starblade, among others. He also assitant editor for the online site "Mouth Full Of Bullets." In his spare time when he isn't fooling with his short stories, Kevin is still plugging away at his first novel--a mystery. Kevin also likes walks on the beach, sunsets, fishing and like any beauty contestant, longs for world peace and an end to poverty and disease everywhere. He also is annoyed that the movie vision promise of "2001: A Space Odyssey" never came about. While wanting permanent moon bases immediately, he will settle for chocolate and hold it just right so that it sorta looks like The Monolith.

 

Artists

Gin E. L. Fenton -- see bio above

Teresa Tunaley: Originating from the UK but now residing in the Canary Islands, freelance artist Teresa Tunaley finds more time to devote to her love of art and painting. For years she has been doodling traditionally with pencils and dabbling with watercolours. More recently she uses a more modern technique and creates with her electronic tablet and pen in software such as Photoshop, Corel Draw and Paint Shop Pro. Web site portfolio www.artstopper.com     E-mail post@artstopper.com

Arthur King is a strange young curmudgeon who only exists for his art, which he says speaks for itself.  He has no use for people unless they want to give him money for his illustrations or have sex with him.  arthurkingart@gmail.com

Laura Givens is currently seeking the meaning of life in Denver , Colorado .  So far she has only determined that, despite conventional wisdom, the Hokey Pokey is not "What it's all about!".  She is a freelance artist and Associate art director/ Graphic designer for LBF Books.  More of her work can be viewed at:  www.storesonline.com/site/581321/    She can be contacted at lauragivens@lbfbooks.com

Vivian Prince is the only child of a shepherdess and a traveling evangelist. Thought to be retarded in an age that dyslexia was not heard of, her parents put her in the back seat of a Nash Rambler and taught her on the road. Stopping at every museum, science exhibit, historical park and art festival, she was encouraged to draw the lessons she learned. At the age of 22 she finally learned to read and is rarely seen without either a book or a pencil and paper in her hands. She may be contacted at prncjohn@aol.com .

Tim Ramstad The artist who created images for this website is a small, gnome-like creature called “Tim Ramstad”.  By Day, he serves his masters at a large corporate hive, concocting sugary drivel to feed the bottomless hunger of the mindless masses.  By Night, he works feverishly to open the Gates between the Spheres and free the Great Old Ones from their eldritch prisons.  He likes his meat rancid and his women room temperature.  His favorite color is pus. http://www.kutulukultus.com/

John & Flo Stanton John and Flo Stanton are a photography/writing team that pursues the dark corners and strange events of Indianapolis , Indiana.  Their work has appeared in a variety of publications, from The Indianapolis Star to Mt. Zion Speculative Fiction Review .  Visit their website at www.3AMBlue.com .

Kevin James Hurtack Kevin James Hurtack was born and raised in Western New York.  He earned a Bachelor's degree in the Fine Arts, with an emphasis on printmaking, painting, and photography, from Buffalo State College. His Art has appeared in various galleries in Buffalo, NY and over the past year he's done work for various small press magazines, particularly of the Horror genres.  A writer as well, his Horror short stories and Poetry have appeared in various publications.  Now living in Colorado, Kevin enjoys riding the trails in the Rocky Mountains on his Trek Mountain Bicycle in the summer, and snowshoeing in the later part of the year.  A collection of his Poetry and Art will be released in December of 2006. http://www.eternalnightmare .com/

 

Founder

Denise Batonne

Denise Batonne began writing professionally when she was hired as researcher for a small production company in Santa Monica.The position evolved into writer/producer on the project, The Shaping Of America, a series of historical spots on American history. A forerunner to the popular Ken Burns style of dramatic portrayals of historical figures and events, The Shaping Of America featured narrators Sally Kellerman, Robert Guillaume, Dennis Weaver and was voted Favorite Series. Denise has worked for Brentwood News and Venice Art Magazine interviewing and reviewing the work of personalities such as Dizzy Gillespie and Chris Connelly, editor of Premiere Magazine. Co-Editor of Techno Noir with Jeffrey Marks, her story "Mixo-Matic" appears in its pages. "The Ticket," Denise's first short story, was featured as Publisher's Choice in Futures magazine. Denise has a strong background in film and theatre.

She left Mysterical-E in early 2004 to pursue her own writing and other interests.