There’s something about the mysterious that us humans find endlessly fascinating.
It’s the lure of the unknown, I suppose, that draws us in. It’s the idea of being able to try solving what seems unsolvable. It’s what keeps us reading mysteries and watching all those TV crimes shows, too.
With that thought in mind, for this issue I thought I’d talk with one of the most prolific short mystery writers I know. Over the 24 years Mississippian John M. Floyd has been writing mysteries, he’s published an incredible 800 short stories. Add in essays, nonfiction and some 300 poems and he says he’s probably written over 1,400 pieces—so far.
But of all he’s written, it’s the mystery genre that has continued to captivate him since he first began submitting stories in 1994. Writing mysteries, he says, “seemed natural, since I grew up faithfully watching Alfred Hitchcock Presents on TV, plus all those primetime cop shows that were a big thing in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s—and reading AHMM, EQMM, etc. I loved those stories. Still do.”
He also enjoys, and is inspired by, the work of others. A good lesson other writers can take to heart.
“I suppose one of the things that inspires me is reading great writers—some of my favorites are Lee Child, Joe Lansdale, Nelson DeMille, Nevada Barr, the late Jack Ritchie, etc.,” he says. “I also get inspiration from movies (a good story is a good story, in any medium). As far as what inspires my ideas, that’s a hard question. That kind of inspiration comes from everywhere—people you know, places you’ve visited, news headlines, and so on. Ideas are all over the place.”
Retired after 30 years as a systems engineer and marketing representative with IBM (part of that time he served in the Air Force working in electronics and left as a captain), it’s easy to see how Floyd gets those ideas. He’s used to solving problems; a good attribute for mystery writing.
“I like creating and solving puzzles (I think most mystery writers do),” he says. “Also, it occurred to me at some point that mystery writers have one advantage over writers in almost any other genre: all good stories have conflict, but with crime stories, some conflict is already there and built-in. And I’ll take any help I can get.
He needs no help, it seems, as he just keeps writing and writing. Thus far, his work has appeared in over 250 publications including The Saturday Evening Post to The Best American Mystery Stories.
Last year alone he had 34 stories published in the Strand Magazine, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine and a story in the debut issue of Black Cat Mystery Magazine (Sept. 2017), including 13 short mysteries in Woman’s World Magazine. (Most recent was “A Christmas Card” in the 12/11/17 issue.)
This year, he’ll see publication of his stories “Scavenger Hunt” in the Jan/Feb. issue of AHMM and “Lights Out” in the Jan/Winter issue of Flash Bang Mysteries. Oh, and then he has 15 more stories scheduled for publication in EQMM, Black Cat MM, and elsewhere.
His 2016 book, Dreamland, a collection of 30 stories, includes two Derringer winning stories, an Edgar nominated story, and the story chosen by James Patterson for inclusion in The Best American Mystery Stories. Or if you prefer puzzles, his book, Fifty Mysteries: The Angela Files, contains a new selection of his fun Angela Potts/Chunky Jones short mysteries done in a stories in the front, solutions at the end format. His seventh book and next collection of stories, The Barrens, will be published this summer.
Along the way, Floyd has won three Derringer Awards, been nominated for the Edgar Award and is a three-time Pushcart Prize nominee. But it’s not the awards that keep him writing, though he is humbled by the accolades and honored to be considered. So, what does keep him going?
“It’s probably all the ideas zinging around in my head all the time,” he says. “The truth is, I honestly can’t imagine NOT writing. It’s great fun for me, and a stress-reliever as well.”
Sounds like he’ll continue writing and providing some great stories for readers to enjoy in the years to come. Lucky us. See what he’s up to at www.johnmfloyd.com.
Mystery Awards!
It’s also award season. All are deserving, but since we’re talking short stories, here are the nominations in that category for the 2018 Edgar Awards. Congratulations to all! See the full list of categories at http://www.theedgars.com/nominees.html.
Best Short Story:
“Spring Break” — New Haven Noir by John Crowley (Akashic Books)
“Hard to Get” — Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine by Jeffery Deaver
“Ace in the Hole” — Montana Noir by Eric Heidle (Akashic Books)
“A Moment of Clarity at the Waffle House” — Atlanta Noir by Kenji Jasper (Akashic Books)
“Chin Yong-Yun Stays at Home” — Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine by S.J. Rozan
Happy Reading! See you next time!
In recognition of his lifetime achievements, John was awarded the 2018 Golden Derringer Award by the Short Mystery Fiction Society this month.
John, I know I speak for all mystery writers and readers when I say, “Don’t stop, don’t even slow down, just keep the great stories coming.”
John, I know I speak for all mystery writers and readers when I say, “Don’t stop, don’t even slow down, just keep the stories coming.”