Diner Crime/Noir/Neo-Noir Anthology

Who can forget the opening of Tarantino’s debut neo-noir film Reservoir Dogs? Or the opening and closing to his follow-up Pulp Fiction? These are just two examples in which a diner plays a pivotal role in a narrative. How many sleazy backroom deals are carved up in a diner, waffle house, Denny’s, bodega, or any number of seemingly innocuous locations? We are Outcast Press, and in collaboration with guest editor Craig Clevenger (author of The Contortionist’s Handbook and Dermaphoria) want to pay homage to a staple in noir, neo-noir, and crime fiction: the diner (interpreted broadly—bar, waffle house, greasy spoon, coffee shop, truck stop, lunchroom, etc.) We are seeking the best crime/noir/neo-noir/transgressive short stories in which a diner-like venue plays a major role in the narrative. Your piece needn’t be narrowly focused on diner-like locations. However, such locations should function, at minimum, as the backdrop to your story. Perhaps your protagonist is a courier for the mafia, and drops off envelopes in the back of a pizzeria? Maybe a hitman meets clients at a waffle house, or a femme fatale hangs around upscale restaurants seeking her next victim? We’re looking for a diverse range of interpretations of the setting (the metropolitan and the middle-of-nowhere; the bright-enough-to-blind-you white tile and neon, and the rundown or abandoned) from a diverse range of writers, from both established names (we’ve snagged a few) and newcomers alike.

Country of Publication & Year Established

United States

Established in 2022