Guest Post

Guest Chick: Judy Penz Sheluk

It’s always a pleasure to host our beloved Canadian friend Judy Penz Sheluk, whose career is awe-inspiring. Not only is she an accomplished author, she’s also launched her own publishing imprint to resounding success. Today she’s going to talk about the inspiration for the theme of her latest short story anthology.

I’m back visiting the Chicks once again, this time to tell you a bit about my fifth Superior Shores Anthology, Midnight Schemers & Daydream Believers. This go-round there are 22 stories representing 22 authors, and, as always, there’s not a werewolf in the lot (because I really don’t get werewolves).

I’m often asked how I come up with a theme. In the case of Midnight Schemers, the idea came to me at our camp on Lake Superior, where internet is patchy, streaming cost prohibitive, and DVDs (often discovered in dusty discount store clearance bins) are the viewing option of choice.

Anyway, I’d been rewatching, for the umpteenth time, our DVD of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. If you’ve never seen it (and you must), Jack Nicholson plays (to perfection) Randle Patrick (R.P.) McMurphy, a convicted criminal who pleads insanity as a means of avoiding manual labor while in prison. Like most schemes, his insanity defense sounds good on the surface, but McMurphy soon learns that the implacably manipulative Nurse Rached (brilliantly portrayed by Louise Fletcher) rules the psychiatric ward with intimidation and an iron fist.

It’s quickly apparent that McMurphy, despite his best efforts, is in a battle of wits that he will never win, no matter how much his fellow patients (and audience) want him to succeed. But here’s the thing—he never stops trying. McMurphy, you see, is not just a schemer, he’s the ultimate daydream believer. And we root for him because of it.

This year’s  batch of anthology authors were especially creative. There’s a guy fresh out of jail with a new skill: safecracking (“Ticket Out”). A group of assisted-living seniors who decide to plot their escape (“Evening Escapade”). A cop on the verge of retirement, trying to solve the “case that got away” with the help of a prop comedian (“Hopscotch & Pop Tart”). There’s even a homeless musician who impersonates a Silicon Valley CEO (“Making Up for Lost Time”). The common thread: every one of them is a daydream believer with a (not so) sure-fire scheme to get there.

Advance reviews for Midnight Schemers & Daydream Believers have been overwhelmingly positive, but my favorite is this one by multi-nominated author Joan Leotta: “There’s not a clunker in the bunch.”

R.P. McMurphy would be proud.

READERS: Desire or desperation, revenge or retribution—how far would you go to realize a dream?

SYNOPSIS: Midnight Schemers & Daydream Believers: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense featuresstories by Pam Barnsley, Linda Bennett, Clark Boyd, C.W. Blackwell, Amanda Capper, Susan Daly, James Patrick Focarile, Rand Gaynor, Gina X. Grant, Julie Hastrup, Beth Irish, Charlie Kondek, Edward Lodi, Bethany Maines, Jim McDonald, donalee Moulton, Michael Penncavage, Judy Penz Sheluk, KM Rockwood, Peggy Rothschild, Debra Bliss Saenger, and Joseph S. Walker.

Pre-order now at www.books2read.com/midnight-schemers

BIO: The Past Chair of Crime Writers of Canada (CWC) and a former journalist and magazine editor, Judy Penz Sheluk is the multiple award-winning author of seven bestselling mystery novels, two books on publishing, and several short stories. She is also the editor/publisher of five Superior Shores Anthologies, including the 2025 Derringer-nominated Larceny & Last Chances. In addition to CWC, Judy is a member of International Thriller Writers and the Short Mystery Fiction Society. Find out more about Judy Penz Sheluk and Superior Shores Press at www.judypenzsheluk.com.

23 thoughts on “Guest Chick: Judy Penz Sheluk”

  1. Judy, thank you so much for visiting with us and telling us about Midnight Schemers & Daydream believers. I love the theme and the stories you’ve described from the anthology sound perfect. I especially like the senior residents’ escape plan. Ha!

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    1. Thanks Liz. In virtually every case in the collection, there is never the intention to commit a crime, it just sort of happens…It’s not a dark collection (no murders). I wanted one that was lighter in tone.

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  4. I thought for sure there’d be a werewolf in this one, given the word “midnight” in the title, llol. (I’m not a fan of them either, but I did love the movie “American Werewolf in London.”)

    Thanks so much for visiting the Chicks today, Judy, and the new anthology sounds terrific–congrats!

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  5. Thanks for being here, Judy! Midnight Schemers & Daydream Believers sounds great–thank you for giving us a tantalizing taste of the stories! Hurrah to you and the contributors because putting stories together and writing them takes a lot of work!

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  6. Judy, so nice to have you back here on Chicks today! Thanks for sharing the new antho news–Midnight Schemers & Daydream Believers sounds like a true winner. The authors are new to me, and I love the idea of a lighter anthology. Can’t wait to read! (And I’ve never really thought about how far I’d go for something–but lately I’m beginning to consider, lol.)

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  7. Hi Judy! Welcome back to Chicks and congratulations on your new book. The stories sound intriguing and I’m looking forward to settling in with them.

    Your camp on Lake Superior brought back memories of summer fun on Lake Ontario. Miss those days!

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      1. If it’s any comfort, we’re dealing with black flies here in NH right now. Also no-see-ums. And our state bird, the mosquito. Fortunately we’re mostly indoors thanks to the constant rain. (This weekend will mark 13 weekends straight!)

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