Day of The Dark Anthology Debuts by Debra H. Goldstein

Day of the Dark Anthology Debuts by Debra H. Goldstein

Forty years is a long time.  In this case, on August 21, 2017, it will have been over forty years since a total solar eclipse passed over the continental United States. That’s why, according to news reports, people are booking hotels, signing up for excursions and making other plans to find a spot somewhere between Oregon and South Carolina to experience the eclipse. The location one chooses is important because it can mean the difference of having a second or up two minutes and thirty-eight seconds to view the moon pass between the sun and the earth.

Of course, when mystery writers think about the word eclipse, their excitement can become slightly skewed. Twenty-four authors proved that point in the anthology, Day of the Dark, which will be released by Wildside Press on July 21.

Edited by author Kaye George, who also has a story, The Darkest Hour, in the anthology, the stories roughly track the path across the United States that the shadow of the eclipse will take. A few occur on different continents and in timespans other than August 2017. The tales range from medium to dark, traditional to supernatural, but all meet the same standard of excellence.

Of course, I’m biased. One of my short stories, A Golden Eclipse, was accepted for the anthology. It reminds us that no matter what the event, there are always people ready to use any occasion to take advantage of others.

But don’t just read Day of the Dark for Kaye and my stories. There are twenty-two other authors included in the book.  These include Margaret S. Hamilton, Toni Goodyear, Kristin Kisska, Harriette Sackler, Joseph S. Walker, LD Masterson, Paul D. Marks, Katherine Tomlinson, Leslie Wheeler, Carol L. Wright, Christine Hammar, John Clark, Bridges DelPont, M.K. Waller, Laura Oles, Melissa Blaine, Cari Dubiel, Suzanne Berube Rorhus, Dee McKinney, Nupur Tustin, Cheri Vause, and KB Inglee.  Some are well known like Paul D. Marks, a 2013 Shammus winner and 2015 Anthony and Macavity nominee while, for others, like Nupur Tustin, this is their first published short story.

Not only are the authors diverse in their writing styles and story ideas, but they also proved their diversity when, after deciding that a portion of the proceeds Day of the Dark should be donated, they agreed that the causes to be supported will include Earth and Sky, Petconnect Rescue, Natural Resources Defense Council, Science Center in Finland, DonorsChoose.org, Friends of Goldendale Observatory, Friends of the Earth, Morehead Planetarium, Texas Museum of Science and Technology, DAPCEP.org for STEM education for future astronomers and scientists in Detroit, and personal friends in need. 

Whew! And so is the book.  I won’t be able to be anywhere to view the eclipse, but I’m okay with that.  I plan to be holed up with Day of the Dark. I’m certainly not waiting forty more years for this eclipse treat.