I’m happy to welcome back author Joanna Vander Vlugt. Today, Today, Joanna shares the release of her anthology, Murder on the Menu, along with a short essay reflecting on the journey that brought it to life—the lessons learned, the unexpected turns, and what the experience revealed about writing, perseverance, and her mini-Schnauzers.

Here’s Ozzy!

Walk Out the Door First

How did I teach Ozzy, my ten-year-old mini-Schnauzer, to become an alpha? That memory from three years ago resurfaced when I pursued creating an anthology of short mystery stories. My spouse and I were getting a new puppy, also a mini-Schnauzer, and the breeder told me, if Ozzy and the pup were to get along, the pup needed to know who’s the boss. So, when the dogs were fed, Ozzy’s bowl was put down first, then the pup’s. When I took the dogs for a walk, Ozzy trotted out the door first, then the pup. Those two dogs got along great.

In January 2026, instead of making a New Year’s resolution I wouldn’t keep, I decided I’d publish an anthology. I contacted Winona Kent, former Chair of the Crime Writers of Canada. Winona has extensive writing experience and multiple novels published, including The Jason Davey Mystery Series. When I returned to writing after a ten year absence, Winona was the first writer I met. She agreed to be a guest on my podcast. She believed in me, and sometimes that’s all it takes.

For the stories, I decided on a 5000-word count and a theme encompassing food, cafés, diners, bakeries, and desserts. I had never published an anthology before and instead of soliciting stories, I approached writers. Two stories in Murder on the Menu were previously published in U.S. anthologies. The writers had their rights back, and I thought let’s bring those stories home.

Lesson one learned: Just because a short story has been published, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s ready for publication in another anthology. That story was written with a different demographic in mind. I also had four to six unpublished stories. Published or not, each story was edited. Winona and I fell into a system. I’d work with the writer through various drafts, then, when the writer and I believed the story was solid, it was bumped upstairs to Winona.

When I realized we would benefit from a meeting, I organized a Zoom call. Back to Ozzy. He was content to be one of the pack, as am I. The realization that I was leading this venture hit me, when during our first meeting, four eager writers (our pack), looked at me for direction. I was tempted to turn around to see who they were looking at.

Throughout the months I shared insights, asked questions, noted feedback, and asked for assistance when needed. As the Second-Act Sleuths, we pooled our strengths, be it social media posts, proofreading, or promotion. I never wanted a writer to feel pressured to do more. Writing is one facet in our complicated lives. My heart warmed when one writer, unbeknownst to us, reached out to her media contacts. The next thing we knew, she was scheduling us interviews on Radio Sidney and in the local paper. When Vicki Delany, the recipient of the 2019 Derrick Murdoch Award for contributions to Canadian crime writing, advised that she enjoyed the anthology and would write the Foreword, we were ecstatic!

We learned about each other. One writer is a medal-winning tri-athlete; two really love chocolate; the fourth can write in the voice of a UK citizen; and the fifth can write in the voice of a Greek male.

Lesson two learned: Passionate as I am about writing and wanting to put the best story forward, there is a fine line editors walk. They shouldn’t project their vision of the story onto the writer. There was an instance when I overstepped in communicating with a writer. I apologized, and I wish I had communicated better. I reminded myself of my own critiquing advice: address the issue, explain, make suggestions, and hopefully we can come to an agreement. I’m working towards my Simon Fraser University editing certificate. I have completed the Stylistic Editing and Structural Editing courses. In the Proofreading course, which I’m now taking, that lesson is emphasized.

With this anthology, I wanted to “pay it forward” and publish a story from a writer who hadn’t been previously published. I remembered hearing Judee Fong at an open-mic night, reading her story, which involved a dark-chocolate-loving detective. Her story made me laugh. She joined the Second-Act Sleuths. I’ve lost track the number of times I’ve wanted a dark chocolate cherry bomb after reading Judee’s story.

When I found myself short a story, Winona said something along the lines of, “Give me three weeks, and I’ll have one for you.”

Did she deliver. Her story Angostura Bitters came in around 12,000 words. She edited it, and brought it in around 9000. It is the longest story in the anthology; however, the reader doesn’t register that. Winona seamlessly pulls the reader into Bertie Caroway’s 19th century manor with her humour and sarcasm—two ingredients which can be found in all the stories.

Word of our anthology has spread across provinces. I’ve been contacted by a writer requesting to be considered for the next one, and there will be a second one. The theme has been chosen but that’s top secret. The current Second-Act Sleuths want to be contributors, which tells me, despite my mistakes, I’ve also done a few things right. In September 2027, I’ll be putting out a call for short stories. I look forward to welcoming new writers into the Second-Act Sleuths fold.

Lesson three learned: I forgot how much I love book design.

During the creation of Murder on the Menu, Ozzy crossed over the rainbow bridge. Eight weeks ago, Ozzy Imprint became a registered book production proprietorship with its own business number and seal. My eyes still brim with tears when I think about teaching my old mini-schnauzer how to become an alpha. Ozzy was a sweet dog, who waited near the kitchen island as I made my mocha, then traipsed down the hall with me into the office. Ozzy taught me how to walk out the door first.

Blurb

Murder on the Menu begins with Winona Kent’s short story, Between Stations, which whisks readers back to 1973 and seventeen-year old Lucy, who moves to London in need of adventure, and does she ever find it. In CJ Papoutsis’s, Murder at the Acropolis, Nick “The Bookie,” the owner of a Greek café in a sleazy part of Victoria finds a body outside his back door. In Winging It, Zosia, a Polish immigrant living in Sacramento, drops out of college when her older brother is shot and killed during a convenience store robbery. She buys a food truck and sells chicken wings to support herself but making ends meet is a challenge. Angry when a customer appears to be conducting criminal activity at one of the tables, Zosia decides to investigate. Why would a killer poison his victim, steal his ugly ornament and leave a piece of decadent dark chocolate beside the body? Soon-to-be-retired Detective Newton Figby is hot on the trail in Death with Chocolate. The concluding story, The Lady in Pink, touches upon a cold case file involving a senator’s son, and three teenage girls, who may, or may not have committed murder.

These are a few of the entertaining stories that can be read in Murder on the Menu. Available on October 6, 2026, at your favourite book retailer or through the following universal link https://books2read.com/u/3GyNVa

Contributors

WINONA KENT
Between Stations
Angostura Bitters

DEBRA HENRY – Winging It

C.J. PAPOUTSIS
Murder at the Acropolis
Mother Always Kept a Gun

JUDEE FONG – Death with Chocolate

JOANNA VANDER VLUGT
Mr. Buffed and Buttered
The Lady in Pink

Biography (Joanna Vander Vlugt)

Joanna Vander Vlugt is an author and illustrator. As a child she hated to read, and it wasn’t until she read Enid Blyton’s adventure series, The Famous Five, that Joanna’s world changed. Joanna’s short mysteries have been published in a variety of mystery anthologies. She draws upon her 13 years’ experience working in the prosecutor’s office and 10 years working in the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner for inspiration for her Jade & Sage Thriller Series. She has taken SFU’s Structural Editing, and Stylistic Editing courses, and she is continuing her editing education this Fall.