A group of crime writers are publishing a digital short story anthology to help raise funds for charity Samaritans in the light of the coronavirus crisis.

With a foreword by Alex North, author of The Whisper Man (Penguin), the collection features stories from Victoria Selman, Phoebe Morgan, S R Masters, Elle Croft, Clare Empson, N J Mackay and James Delargy. There will also be tales from Kate Simants, Jo Furniss, Robert Scragg, Heather Critchlow, Rachael Blok, Dominic Nolan and Adam Southward.

Afraid of the Light will publish on 28th April 2020 in e-book via Amazon and all author payments will go to the charity.

North said: “The stories are wildly entertaining in their own right, but they also address the concerns and fears we all feel; isolation and loneliness; guilt and grief; justice and punishment. And perhaps most importantly of all: redemption and hope. Which brings me to Samaritans. The flipside of having stories to tell is that you need someone there to listen.”

Selman, who co-ordinated the anthology, said: “Crime fiction is as much about the psychology of the victims and perpetrators as the crime itself, which means mental health charities are always close to our hearts. Given the current climate, there has never been a better time to raise money for an organisation like Samaritans which offers a lifeline of human connection to those in need. It’s been a real pleasure working on this anthology with such a talented group of writers and for such a good cause.”

The anthology is the latest in a number of charitable publishing initiatives prompted by the coronavirus crisis, including Egmont's buy of Matt Lucas' picture book, in aid of the NHS. 

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