How much fun is it to visit a character after a series has ended? Lots! We’re delighted to welcome Sherry Harris back to tell us about her new short story! And P.S. how fabulous is the cover of that magazine?

I’m so delighted to be back visiting the Wickeds to talk about my short story “Light My Fire.” 

Late last November my friend and editor, Barb Goffman, called me saying she missed Sarah and the man in Sarah’s life, Seth. She asked if I’d be interested in writing a short story for the online short-story magazine Black Cat Weekly. They were doing a special Valentine’s Day edition and Barb thought this would be the perfect time to revisit Sarah’s world. My deadline was the first of the year and I had to include some romance. After mulling it over briefly, I said yes. 

And then I panicked! The last time I’d written about Sarah was five years ago when I turned in Absence of Alice. I knew the broad strokes of their relationship and knew that in Absence of Alice I’d put them in a situation that could tear them apart. But all the details were a little vague. If you haven’t read the series, there are some slight spoilers ahead. 

I started searching through old manuscripts for the word “Seth.” I started with Tagged for Death but then leaped forward to Sell Low, Sweet Harriet. Back and forth between manuscripts until I’d searched them all taking notes. Woah! I have put those two through the wringer. It was way worse than I remembered. 

All of that was helpful, but I still didn’t have a clue as to what the crime was, who died, or who did it. More panicked ensued. So, I reread the end of Absence of Alice because I knew the short story would take place after that. There it was in the last five lines—the leaping off point. Here they are: 

“Sarah?” Harriet walked over to me. 

“Hey, thanks for helping out today.” 

Harriet nodded, but little lines creased around her eyes. 

“What is it? What’s wrong?” I asked. 

“I need your help.” 

Everything started falling in place. “Light My Fire” takes place a week after the end of Absence of Alice. I knew I wanted to include my readers’ favorite things like the DiNapolis and fluffernutter sandwiches. Sarah and Seth were still on shaky ground. But at least I knew who did it and why. 

I sent the story in, Barb did her usual magical editing, and we were done. For some reason last week, I went back to look at the end of Absence of Alice again. Only this time I grabbed the book instead of my manuscript. Much to my surprise the five last lines I mentioned above aren’t in the book. I realized between the time I’d sent the manuscript in and the time the book came out, I’d found out Kensington wasn’t renewing the series. I hadn’t wanted the series to end with a cliffhanger, so I took them out during the production process. 

I keep wondering what story I would have written without those lines or if I would have written one at all! I had so much fun being back in Sarah’s world. I hope you read “Light My Fire” and love spending time with Sarah. 

“Light My Fire” came out on February 9th. Here’s a link to Black Cat Magazine: https://blackcatweekly.com/b/dyshu

Here’s the blurb: 

After narrowly escaping a fire that destroys evidence of a murder, Sarah Winston relies on her wits to prove a friend is innocent of the crime. At the same time, she’s trying to reignite her relationship with Massachusetts’ Most Eligible Bachelor. Will she be able to do both without anyone else getting burned?

Readers: Do you like reading short stories based on novels? 

Bio: Sherry Harris (https://sherryharrisauthor.com) is the Agatha Award nominated author of the Sarah Winston Garage Sale mystery series and the Chloe Jackson Sea Glass Saloon mysteries. She’s published short stories in Edgar Allan Cozy, The Beat of Black Wings: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Joni Mitchell, Black Cat Weekly, and Three Strikes You’re—Dead. Sherry is a past president of Sisters in Crime and a member of Mystery Writers of America.