Saturday, June 12, 2021

Wishing on the Moon with Judy Penz Sheluk

HALLIE EPHRON: It's such a good idea--an anthology of mystery and suspense stories linked by a common element: moonlight. That's the brainstorm behind MOONLIGHT & MISADVENTURE, a stellar anthology edited by Judy Penz Sheluk.

Today Judy is here to reveal what it is about moonlight that inspired her to put together the collection. She blames it entirely on her mother...


JUDY PENZ SHELUK: I was about twelve when I first met Virginia, the daughter of a friend of my parents. We were the same age, give or take a few months, but Virginia had this cool factor about her that I couldn’t begin to emulate. Where my hair was a wavy mass of frizz, Virginia’s locks were long and sleek, and while the time would come when I’d stand a good four inches above her petite five-foot-two frame, the time hadn’t come yet.

Last, but certainly not least, Virginia was a Funkenmariechen at the Toronto German Club, a fact my mother lorded over me after I’d given up both ballet and tap for lack of talent and desire.

I may have been a lot of things at twelve, but a masochist wasn’t one of them. The last thing I wanted to do was watch Virginia strut her stuff in a red velvet minidress and white lace-up boots to an adoring audience.

Anyway, it was at my parent’s cottage late one night, the adults playing cards at a nearby neighbor’s, when Virginia insisted that we go out and make a wish on the full moon. I remember it being hot and muggy, the air thick with mosquitoes, but the idea of making a wish overrode any thoughts of discomfort. Besides, you didn’t say no to Virginia. Or at least, I couldn’t.

For the wish to come true, Virginia had informed me, you had to stare at the full moon, then tap your right index and middle fingers against your left wrist while making your wish.

It went without saying that you couldn’t tell anyone your wish. Furthermore, she said, because it was a blue moon, we could each make a double wish. What finger tapping had to do with anything was beyond me, but of course I did it, and I’ve done it since, more times than I’m willing to admit.


What can I say? Having a wish come true is a bit like winning the lottery. You can’t win without a ticket, and your wish certainly won’t come true if you never wish it.

All of that and more came into my head has I tried to come up with an underlying theme for the third Superior Shores Anthology. Moonlight, I thought. But moonlight and what? Moonlight & Murder...too limiting. Moonlight & Mayhem...mayhem is so overdone. Moonlight & Misadventure...that had a nice ring to it.

As for what I wished that night, I suppose it’s okay to tell you now. I wished that I’d grow up to be a writer. Oh, and to be taller than Virginia.

Both came true. I’m pretty sure it’s all in the finger-tap.

Or maybe, it’s all in the believing. I’ll let you decide.
Readers: Have you ever wished on the full moon? Have any other moon superstitions
(my mother was a firm believer you should NEVER see the full moon through glass (window or windshield). Very bad luck until the next full moon!

About Moonlight & Misadventure: Whether it’s vintage Hollywood, the Florida everglades, the Atlantic City boardwalk, or a farmhouse in Western Canada, the twenty authors represented in this collection of mystery and suspense interpret the overarching theme of “moonlight and misadventure” in their own inimitable style where only one thing is assured: Waxing, waning, gibbous, or full, the moon is always there, illuminating things better left in the dark.

Featuring stories by K.L. Abrahamson, Sharon Hart Addy, C.W. Blackwell, Clark Boyd, M.H. Callway, Michael A. Clark, Susan Daly, Buzz Dixon, Jeanne DuBois, Elizabeth Elwood, Tracy Falenwolfe, Kate Fellowes, John M. Floyd, Billy Houston, Bethany Maines, Judy Penz Sheluk, KM Rockwood, Joseph S. Walker, Robert Weibezahl, and Susan Jane Wright.

About Judy Penz Sheluk: A former journalist and magazine editor, Judy is the author of two mystery series: The Glass Dolphin Mysteries and the Marketville Mysteries. Her short crime fiction appears in several collections, including The Best Laid Plans, Heartbreaks & Half-truths, and Moonlight & Misadventure, which she also edited. Judy is a member of Sisters in Crime National, Toronto, and Guppy Chapters, International Thriller Writers, the Short Mystery Fiction Society, and Crime Writers of Canada, where she serves as Chair on the Board of Directors. Find the Book: https://books2read.com/u/47NPkj

53 comments:

  1. Oh, Judy, “Moonlight and Misadventure” sounds like a perfectly fascinating book . . . definitely on my must-read list.

    I never heard about moon-wishing, so I haven't ever wished on a full moon [or tapped my wrist], but I could maybe try this when the next full moon comes around. [Glad to know your wishes came true . . . .] :)
    The only moon “superstition” I can readily recall is that if you see a halo around the moon on a clear night, it’s a sure sign that bad weather is coming . . . .

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    1. Full moons do feel magical. I also love the occasional thin crescent "Cheshire Cat" moon

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  2. Well, I had to go look up Funkenmariechen - marching dance athletes in short skirts? No wonder you didn't want to watch Virginia. I wonder what she's doing now.

    But congratulations on the anthology - it's a great title. I've wished on a star, and a friend did a tapping thing as a kind of therapy. But I don't think I've heard of any moon supersitions.

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    1. Edith, Virginia and her parents moved to San Diego when we were 14. She still lives there. I visited with my mom a few times (lovely city) until Virginia's mom died (very young, 45). V and I were about 21 at the time. I found Virginia on FB a few years back and we were supposed to meet when I went to LCC San Diego...but of course, Covid put an end to that. Based on her FB pix, she still looks amazing.

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    2. I wished on a star (star light, star bright, first star I see tonight...) not the moon ... and the tapping thing reminded me of the silliness of Bedknobs and Broomsticks incantatation Treguna Mekoides Trecorum Satis Dee

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  3. Hi, Judy!

    No full moon wishes for me, and now I'm concerned because I always gaze at the moon through glass. My full moon experiences all evolve from my work as a first responder on the ambulance. Things always got...well...WEIRD during full moons. Always.

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    1. Yes, there is definitely full-moon nuttiness. And more births, too.

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    2. That is what I've heard, too, Annette. One of the reasons for lunatic, after the latin, luna, meaning moon...I'm full of this useless moon trivia!

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    3. Isn't the increase in births related to something about gravitation - the way the moon is related to the tides?

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    4. The sheriff's deputy would always stop in more often during the full moon nights, when I worked in a liquor store during college.

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  4. Welcome to JRW, Judy. I love the title. Misadventure is a wonderful word and encompasses so many possibilities!

    Like Annette, I am pretty sure I have doomed myself with the full-moon glass gazing. All I can say is, "That explains a lot!"

    When I was a teacher, the whole school knew when there was a full moon!

    The anthology sounds great. I love it when natural phenomena are moving forces in a story. It will be so interesting to see how everyone has used the moon in theirs.

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    1. Thanks Judy. I hope you check out the collection. It was so much fun to read all the entries (93 in all) to see what creative ways authors came up with to spin the theme. I believe I selected the best 20!

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  5. Like Edith, I've had experienced tapping as a therapy, but maybe Virginia invented it in the first place. It would be just like her, wouldn't it?

    We always wished on stars, not the moon. "Star light, star bright", etc. Wonder why your mother believed seeing the moon through glass was bad luck. That's a new one for me.

    My daughter the nurse spent six years in various emergency rooms, here in Cincinnati, and in Cleveland. She is convinced about the effects of the moon, especially on people who are skating close to the edge in the first place. Her dad was a cop, and he always said the same thing. Both my (current) husband and I have trouble sleeping when there's a full moon.

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    1. Karen, I have the same sleeping problem around full moon.

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    2. Hi Karen (and Danielle)...I, too, often have sleepless nights on the full moon. So strange, how it impacts us. And you're right, Virginia probably invented it!

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    3. I have trouble sleeping because invariable the moon shines SO BRIGHTLY through the gap between my shade and the windowsill. Blinding.

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  6. Judy, I am always glad to meet a new to me Canadian author here.
    I like the title of your anthology. I’m not usually a great fan of short stories but I’m looking forward to try those ones.

    One of my friend always has her haircut on a full moon because she believes that it gives strength to them.

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    1. Thanks Danielle, I hope you try the collection! And I've never heard that about a haircut. Interesting.

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  7. Looking forward to spending some quality time with Moonlight and its wonderful authors.

    I spent some time working in an emergency department- things got nuts during the full moon. Never wished on it, but now, I'll have to give it a try!

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  8. Welcome Judy.

    "Having a wish come true is a bit like winning the lottery. You can’t win without a ticket, and your wish certainly won’t come true if you never wish it." I'm pondering this as we speak. Great thought.

    Having worked in Labor and Delivery back in the day, I can't tell you how we dreaded the full moon. A heavenly body that can move the seas twice a day, not to mention obscure the rising sun as it did this past week, certainly affects the affairs of humans. But I can't say I've heard of wishing on it until now.

    Still pondering on how many wishes I've missed in eight decades.

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    1. Hi Ann, no time like the present to get wishing :-) As for dreading the full moon, I've heard that from many first responders and doctors, nurses etc.

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  9. What a clever idea, connecting the stories with the theme of moonlight! I'll definitely put this one on my list. Maybe I'll have to start wishing on the moon, too. But do you do this the first time you see the full moon? Because I get up often in the night, especially full moon nights, so I might have several opportunities for wishing!

    And, yes, whatever did become of dear Virginia?

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    1. Hi Judi, yes, must be the first sighting of the full moon! And if you read back, you'll see I've mentioned Virginia to Edith. She still looks great! Not sure if she still wishes on the moon.

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  10. I love this!!! Moonlight and Misadventure is a fabulous title and I’d never heard of wishing on a full moon before or that looking at one through glass was bad luck - this could explain so much about my life. LOL. Thank you for visiting us today, Judy. I am now very eager to read this anthology!

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    1. Thank you Jenn. I hope you enjoy it. Time to start wishing! Don't forget the finger tap.

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  11. I loved reading this,Judy (and not just because I have a story in the anthology.)
    While I don't have any moon-related traditions,I do have a particular star I wish on each night. 🌟

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    1. Thanks Kate! I've been known to wish on a star now and again. And toss coins into a fountain!

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  12. I have no moon-related anythings...yet. Who knows what I'll pickup by reading this anthology?

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    1. I hope you enjoy it Amanda. I also have a moonstone necklace and earrings...born in July (moon influence).

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  13. Earlier this week we were talking about MOONSTRUCK. The full moon plays a key role unleashing libido.

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  14. Judy, I love the way you came by the name for the anthology. I'm about to start reading it now. I wrote a short poem to the moon when I was three that my Mom enshrined in my baby book. I've never wished on it, but thanks to Virginia's instructions, I may start wishing soon. Whatever works!

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    1. Gay, great to see you here. When can we expect your next Body Book?

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    2. This one's been a doozie for me, Judy. Tough times the past couple of years have me way behind. I'm hoping for September, fingers crossed. Or, maybe I can wish on the moon! Thanks for asking.

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    3. Good luck Gay, get that finger tap down!

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  15. Great to see you here this morning, Judy, with your THIRD anthology. Your capacity for production continues to amaze me.

    Here I have to wave a bit and add, I've a tale in the collection too, so it's especially satisfying to be among such good company.

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    1. And Susan, you are the only author who has a story in all three anthologies. Maybe you are wishing on the moon too!

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  16. I never heard about wishing on a full moon, but I'm looking forward to reading the anthology. Love the title too.

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  17. Oh Judy, the moon is so mysteriously intriguing, and it's given credit for and blamed for so much human behavior. It's a perfect choice for a theme for your short story anthology. Congratulations on this new work. I just paused here to pre-order it.

    I do wish someone had told me earlier in life about wishing on the moon. Oh, the opportunities missed. Hahaha!

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    1. Thanks so much Kathy, I really appreciate it. And you'll find in the intro of the book some other superstitions (including new moon ones).

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  18. No moon superstitions here. My son waited an extra two weeks to be born during a full moon. My favorite full moon is one on Halloween, preferably a cool and breezy night with scudding clouds.

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  19. Welcome to Jungle Reds and congratulations on the new collection of stories.

    Never wished on a full moon. Your story about you and Virginia wishing on a full moon sounds like something from a preteen detective story or a Disney movie for children.

    Diana

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    1. Hi Diana, well, you know us writers. Everything is eventually grist for the mill!

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    2. Hi Judy, that is true! Look forward to reading your book!

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  20. What a great title for an anthology, Judy! And a great concept! I'll look forward to seeing all the stories the authors have come up with. No moon wishes or curses here, but maybe I will start!

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    1. Thank you Deborah! It was fun to put it together.

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  21. Oh, running in late! Congratulations, Judy! You always do such a great job with these.
    And oh, the moon. Is there something about looking at the new moon over your left shoulder? And isn't amazing, every time, to see the face?

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    1. Hi Hank! Yes, the Irish believe it’s viewing the new moon through glass that should be avoided, and that even the position of the new moon is important; for luck the new moon should be seen over the right shoulder, never the left. I cover off some of that in my introduction to the anthology! Love these superstitions. My mom was a master of those!

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    2. Oh, you DON'T look over the left shoulder. Whew. Thank you! Good to know. xoox

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