The Lipstick On His Collar Still Doesn't Match Mine

It would be hard to pinpoint exactly when Crimeucopia moved from being a 'scratch project title' and became a masthead-but it seemed to match our idea of presenting as wide a spectrum of Crime fiction genres as we could. From there it was probably Fate which brought together the Aly Fell base artwork, and the 16 contributors who went on to become the initial Countesses of Crime and appeared in The Lady Thrillers.

Since then, there have been a further 22 Crimeucopias, including this one-but that's about as much 'statistical analysis' as we're prepared to bore you with. We couldn't tell you exactly how many submissions we've received over the last 4 years. We couldn't tell you how many of those came from established writers, some successful in other genres, who decided to take a chance on us. Nor could we tell you how many of those submissions were from writers who came to make their very first sale to us-and hopefully went on to bigger and better things. Because when it comes to submissions then everyone is equal, regardless.

But the one thing we can tell you is that, looking back over all 23 anthologies, we know we would not have changed a thing. Which is why, 4 years down the proverbial publishing line, we feel it's time to celebrate the anniversary with another all-women anthology-and let these 19 Countesses of CrimeL

Nina Mansfield, Vera Brook, donalee Moulton, Jill Hand, Stormy White, M. Cedeño, Maroula Blades, Mary Jo Rabe, Denise Johnson, Christina Hoag, Marie Anderson, Heather C. Morris, Wendy Harrison, Ruth Morgan, Diane Arrelle, Issy Jinarmo, Lyn Fraser, Kimberly Scott, and Carol Goodman Kaufman - tell it like it is, was, or could have been....

Because, in the eclectic, off-centred spirit of our Murderous Ink Press motto: You never know what you like until you read it.