Nancy Gotter Gates grew up in Columbus, Ohio. She has had more than two dozen short stories published including one that won first place in a Sleuthfest short story contest. Her first mystery, A Stroke of Misfortune, is set in Sarasota, Florida. Nancy lives in Greensboro, NC with her cats, Stacey and Annie.

Tommi Poag, dumped by her lawyer husband after 33 years, works in an insurance office where she meets Nina Sellars, who’s come to transfer her husband’s million dollar policy from California to Oak Ridge, NC where they now live. The two women discover that Tommi’s ex-husband is a first cousin to Nina’s father Frank, but neither woman knows why the men have not spoken to each other in thirty Years. A few months later, after Tommi and Nina have become fast friends, Nina is accused of killing her husband when their car is pushed into Lake Brandt. Tommi’s ex, Bernard, takes the case much to her chagrin, and she decides to surreptitiously help Nina, not sure that Bernard is capable. Another murder, a fire at Tommi’s condo, and an attempt on her life do not deter her. Devastating truths are unlocked as she delves into the family relationships.

Short and Sinister is an anthology of short stories by five prominent North Carolina Authors: Diane Lambright Berry, Nancy Gotter Gates, Elizabeth DiMeo, Helen Goodman, and Dorothy P. Oneil.

Tommi Poag, enlisted by her divorce lawyer and friend Evan McCandless to participate in a disaster exercise at a Girl Scout camp, grudgingly agrees to be a “victim.” Once the exercise is over, Tommi is horrified to find Evan dead at the camp’s border, his fake blood commingling with the real thing.

When Tommi’s ex, Bernard, suggests that Evan had many enemies, she considers it sour grapes because Evan had filed a malpractice suit against Bernard. Tommi is shocked when Bernard is arrested for Evan’s murder and accused of the killing of an insurance investigator originally thought to be a robbery gone wrong.

Tommi still harbors feelings of betrayal over the fact that Bernard left her for a younger lawyer after 33 years of marriage Bernard’s new wife begs Tommi to look into these deaths, and Tommi feels compelled to help. Her investigation brings her and her loved ones into grave danger that nearly stops her in her tracks.