Jen Conley

A hard-hitting addition to the Gutter Books Rock Anthologies series, nominated for an Anthony Award No one personifies the FTW rock-and-roll ethic better than the Man in Black. Johnny Cash's music can be captured in that one iconic photograph. Guitar slung off his shoulder, sneer on his lips, middle finger extended to let the status quo know what he thought of it. Which is why Cash's music speaks to so many of the marginalized, the forgotten, the misunderstood, the disen-franchised. Featuring some of today's best crime fiction writers, Just to Watch Them Die is a kick-ass collection of wronged men and women who, like Johnny, walk the line every day, fighting for what they believe is right.

All Due Respect's third issue features a story by and an interview with Jake Hinkson, whose latest book, Saint Homicide, has that tasty combination of old-fashioned religion and murder. Plus new fiction from Angel Luis Col n, Jen Conley, Rob Hart, Jessica Adams, Patti Abbott, Chris Leek, Mike McCrary, and Alec Cizak. From thugs throwing rocks at freight trains to ex-convict converts to Buddhism, All Due Respect's got it all.

Danny Zelko, 13 going on 14, needs to get rid of his mom's boyfriend, Harry. The guy is a creep. Drinks too much, locks Danny out of the house, gets in Danny's face and calls him Danielle. Of course everyone blames Danny. It's his fault he gets into fights at school. It's his fault he can't control his anger. It's his fault Harry is such a jerk. Danny isn't such a bad kid--he has his own lawn business, makes his own dinner, even takes out the garbage and closes up the house without being asked. All he wants is for his mom to be like she used to be--a real mother who acted like one. Because Harry makes her stupid. When she gets around him, she forgets about her kids. Disappears with him, doesn't stick up for her own son. And the prospect of spending another day with this man makes Danny feel helpless and broken. So when Danny's sister, Lisa, reveals that Harry and their mom are getting married, Danny, never the one to cower, decides to do something. That's right, one way or another, he will get rid of Harry. Set in 1983, New Jersey, Seven Ways to Get Rid of Harry is packed with Danny's friends and enemies, a few fist fights, heartbreak and fury, and a little humor too.