In April 2015, B.K. Stevens debuted the blog series “The First Two Pages,” hosting craft essays by short story writers and novelists analyzing the openings of their own work. The series continued until just after her death in August 2017, and the full archive of those essays can be found at Bonnie’s website. In November 2017, the blog series relocated to my website, and the archive of this second stage of the series can be found here.
Kate Fellowes steps up with week with a First Two Pages essay on her story “The Buddy System” from Hook, Line, and Sinker: The Seventh Guppy Anthology, the latest collection from the Guppy Chapter of Sisters in Crime. Edited by Emily P.W. Murphy and published by Wolf’s Echo Press, Hook, Line, and Sinker focuses on “grifters, con artists, and their marks” with stories by (in order of appearance) C. N. Buchholz, Lida Bushloper, Susan Daly, Steve Shrott, Kait Carson, Judith Carlough, Sandra Benson, Sally Milliken, Wrona Gall, M. R. Dimond, Mary Dutta, Kim Keeline, Shannon Taft, Merrilee Robson, Lisa Anne Rothstein, KM Rockwood, Frances Stratford, Jane Limprecht, Vinnie Hansen, Ann Michelle Harris, A. W. Powers, Kate Fellowes, and M. A. Monnin.
Kate Fellowes is the author of six novels, including A Menacing Brew, and she’s had short stories and essays in a variety of anthologies and periodicals including Victoria, Woman’s World, Brides, and Romantic Homes. Proof positive of her skillful economy and efficiency: She won the San Diego Public Library’s Matchbook Short Story contest by crafting a mystery just fifty words long. Kate is also a founding member of the Wisconsin Chapter of Sisters in Crime. You can find more about her at https://katefellowes.wordpress.com.
In addition to enjoying the preview below of Kate’s story “The Buddy System,” don’t miss Vinnie Hansen’s essay last week on “Perfect Partner,” and do check out the Wolf’s Echo Press website for links to buy Hook, Line, and Sinker in both ebook and paperback.
Please use the arrows and controls at the bottom of the embedded PDF to navigate through the essay. You can also download the essay to read off-line.
Fellowes-First-Two-Pages
Great setup! I can’t wait to read this.
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I really enjoyed reading about your writing process. Having a child-centered con-artist story was an intriguing change of pace resulting in a sweet, poignant tale. I have enjoyed every story in this anthology.
Well, you’ve hooked me! I am excited to read the full story now. I’ll check out the anthology from my local library. ❤️
I love your strategy of flipping around the first idea. Rejecting the first five impulses might take more discipline than I have to spare!
Loved the innocence versus the scam involved in your story. It’s a perfect blend and great read.
Thanks so much for having me on the blog today, Art. I appreciate the opportunity to talk about my story. This anthology is full of such intriguing tales and I’m always amazed at the variety of crimes we all come up with.
What a great setup for a story and I enjoyed reading about your process in planning it. I’m so excited to be in this anthology with you and your wonderful story.
I enjoyed your story, Kate. The whole anthology seems really strong to me.
What a gift to have another writer at your fingertips!