Mystery and Horror, LLC

What Mystery and Horror, LLC does

Mystery and Horror, LLC (MAHLLC) is an independent book publishing press legally organized in Florida in 2011 and operated by co-founders Gwen Mayo (Publisher) and Sarah E. Glenn (Editor in Chief). The press produces mystery fiction, horror fiction, and humorous paranormal short fiction, operating primarily as an anthology publisher anchored by its flagship annual series, Strangely Funny, alongside historical mystery and horror anthologies (History and Mystery Oh My!, History and Horror Oh My!, Mardi Gras Murder, Mardi Gras Mysteries, Undead of Winter, All Hallows' Evil, Mystery with a Splash of Bourbon), co-authored novels (the Three Snowbirds Mystery Series, the Nessa Donnelly Mystery series), and single-author works by contributing authors including Alex Azar, Monstermatt Patterson, Gareth Barsby, Ruschelle Dillon, D.M. Woon, B. David Spicer, E.M. Munsch, and Rosalind Barden.

The technology stack is standard for indie publishing and contains no proprietary components: print-on-demand is handled through CreateSpace (now KDP Print) for physical editions and Kindle Direct Publishing for ebooks, with formatting done to standard electronic submission requirements. Distribution is multi-channel across Amazon (print and Kindle), Barnes & Noble (print and Nook), Ingram (wholesale for bookstores and libraries), Smashwords, Kobo, Scribd, and iBooks, supplemented by direct sales to bookstores and libraries. Marketing runs through an active blog (active since 2013), a Mailchimp newsletter, social media, conventions and book fairs (Necronomicon Tampa, Sleuthfest, Wiregrass Barnes & Noble Local Author Event, Southwest Florida Reading Festival, Venice Book Fair), Goodreads giveaways, and virtual book tours.

The revenue model is essentially a single stream — one-time book sales — with novelists receiving 35% royalty on net profits plus a 50% discount on author purchases, and anthology contributors paid a flat $10 USD plus a contributor copy with no royalty. The press has no external funding, parent company, or institutional ownership; it is wholly founder-owned. Customer segments are horizontal: individual genre-fiction readers (mystery and horror enthusiasts) and independent authors seeking genre publication, with the founders' deep ties to Sisters in Crime and SinC Guppies providing a recurring author pipeline. As of February 2025 the press announced an indefinite operational hiatus citing a founder's family health crisis and hurricane damage to their Florida home, with relocation from the Tampa Bay / Safety Harbor area to Georgia underway and the Strangely Funny series positioned to conclude at Volume XI.

Name

Mystery and Horror, LLC

Legal name

Mystery and Horror, LLC

Website

https://mysteryandhorrorllc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Mystery and Horror, LLC is a privately held independent book publisher founded in 2011 by Gwen Mayo and Sarah E. Glenn, producing mystery, horror, and humorous paranormal fiction through anthologies, novels, and short story collections distributed via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Ingram.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Book Publishing

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Humor, Gift & Specialty Format Books (Journals, Coloring, etc.) (MPAJAAAN)

Keywords

• Independent book publishing
• Mystery fiction publishing
• Horror fiction publishing
• Anthology publishing
• Genre fiction press

Headquarters

HQ city

Tarpon Springs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Book Sales (Print and Digital): Revenue from sales of published books through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other retailers. Includes novels, anthologies, and single-author collections in mystery, horror, and funny horror genres.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Mystery and Horror, LLC is an independent book publishing press that publishes mystery, horror, and humorous paranormal fiction primarily through themed anthologies and standalone novels. The press produces its own books under the MAHLLC imprint and distributes them via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Ingram, Smashwords, Kobo, Scribd, and iBooks, with its flagship offering being the annual Strangely Funny anthology series.

Product overview

Mystery and Horror, LLC is an independent book publishing press that produces mystery books, horror stories, and funny paranormal fiction for indie readers. The company operates primarily as an anthology publisher, with their flagship product being the annual 'Strangely Funny' series featuring humorous paranormal stories. They publish novels by their co-founders (Gwen Mayo and Sarah E. Glenn) including the Three Snowbirds Mystery Series and the Nessa Donnelly Mystery series, as well as single-author collections and anthologies from various contributing authors. Their portfolio includes horror anthologies like 'History and Horror, Oh My!' and mystery anthologies like 'Mardi Gras Murder' and 'History and Mystery, Oh My!'. The company also publishes standalone novels including Nightmare Noir by Alex Azar, Big Shots and Bullet Holes by B. David Spicer, and works by E.M. Munsch and Rosalind Barden.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strangely Funny Anthology Series Annual anthology series featuring funny paranormal/horror short stories; the flagship series of the press, with volumes I through XI+ published since 2013 for mystery and horror fiction readers.
• History and Mystery, Oh My! Historical mystery anthology featuring stories set at least fifty years ago, with contributors including Edith Maxwell, Jason Andrew, and Harriette Sackler; targeted at readers of historical and cozy mysteries.
• History and Horror, Oh My! Historical horror anthology featuring twenty stories including tales about the trial of Socrates, Glamis Castle curse, and American Civil War horrors; targeted at horror and historical fiction readers.
• Mardi Gras Murder Thirteen tales of crime set during Mardi Gras, featuring stories from Harriette Sackler, Marian Allen, Debra H. Goldstein and Nathan Pettigrew; targeted at mystery readers.
• Mardi Gras Mysteries Sequel to Mardi Gras Murder offering seventeen tales of crime, mayhem, and murder set during Carnival in New Orleans; targeted at mystery readers.
• Undead of Winter Sixteen tales of the undead, all set in winter, featuring stories from D.J. Tyrer, Tom Wescott, Jay Wilburn, and Shenoa Carroll-Bradd; targeted at horror fiction readers.
• All Hallows' Evil Thirteen mystery stories set during the Halloween season, featuring stories from Gloria Alden, Barb Goffman, Robert Holt, and Wenda Morrone; targeted at mystery and seasonal fiction readers.
• Mystery with a Splash of Bourbon Anthology celebrating Kentucky bourbon culture with eighteen crime stories interwoven with articles on bourbon history, edited by Susan Bell and Elaine Munsch; targeted at mystery readers.
• Paradise is Deadly Anthology of nineteen crime fiction stories from the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of Sisters in Crime featuring mystery subgenres from cozy to thriller, with introduction by Lisa Black; targeted at mystery readers.
• Three Snowbirds Mystery Series Historical mystery novel series set in 1920s Florida during the land boom, written by co-founders Gwen Mayo and Sarah E. Glenn, featuring characters Cornelia Pettijohn and Teddy Lawless; targeted at historical and cozy mystery readers.
• Nessa Donnelly Mystery Series Historical mystery novel series featuring former Pinkerton Agent Nessa Donnelly investigating murders in Kentucky, with titles Circle of Dishonor and Concealed in Ash; targeted at historical mystery readers.
• Nightmare Noir Paranormal mystery novel by Alex Azar featuring Detective James S. Peckman who investigates supernatural cases after his family died under supernatural circumstances; targeted at paranormal mystery readers.
• Big Shots and Bullet Holes WWII noir mystery by B. David Spicer featuring con-woman turned detective Kissy Lisbon investigating missing persons and Nazi sympathizers in Cincinnati, 1942; targeted at noir and historical mystery readers.
• Sparky of Bunker Hill Series Young adult mystery series by Rosalind Barden featuring Sparky, a 1930s Los Angeles youth framed for murder, including titles like Sparky of Bunker Hill and the Cold Kid Case; targeted at young adult mystery readers.
• Ha-Ha! Horror Humor book by Monstermatt Patterson featuring monster jokes, puns, and horror-themed comedy; won FAPA Gold Medal in Humor category; targeted at funny horror readers.
• Bride of Ha-Ha! Horror Sequel to Ha-Ha! Horror featuring more monster jokes, art, and rhymes by Monstermatt Patterson; targeted at funny horror readers.
• Arithmophobia Collection of short stories by Ruschelle Dillon exploring the impact of numbers on life, with haunting and humorous elements; targeted at horror and dark humor readers.
• Reindeer Christmas/horror novel by Gareth Barsby reimagining Santa Claus and his reindeer in a darker context; targeted at horror readers.
• A Haunting at Marianwood Paranormal mystery novel by E.M. Munsch featuring retired Army colonel Dash Hammond investigating a haunting at a Kentucky motherhouse; targeted at paranormal mystery readers.
• Tales of The Bastard Drunk Short horror story collection by D.M. Woon featuring horror fiction; targeted at horror fiction readers.
• TV Monster Print children's book written and illustrated by Rosalind Barden and published by MAHLLC; targeted at young readers.
• American Witch Satirical literary novel by Rosalind Barden available as an e-book and published by MAHLLC; targeted at literary fiction readers.

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Florida Authors and Publishers Association (FAPA)minorOthersMystery and Horror, LLC is a member of the Florida Authors and Publishers Association. The company has received FAPA awards including Gold for Ha-Ha! Horror and Silver for History and Mystery, Oh My!
• Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of Sisters in CrimecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMAHLLC published the anthology 'Paradise is Deadly: Gripping Tales from Florida's Gulf Coast' featuring twenty authors from the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of Sisters in Crime. The chapter's anthology committee selected authors and stories, with MAHLLC serving as publisher. Lisa Black wrote the introduction.
• Sisters in CrimecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounders Gwen Mayo and Sarah Glenn are members of Sisters in Crime and its subgroup SinC Guppies. Multiple anthologies have featured Sisters in Crime authors and chapters.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Word Horde: Small independent press specializing in weird fiction, horror, and dark speculative genres. Comparable to MAHLLC in horror anthology curation, single-author collections, and digital-first retail distribution.
• Thunderstorm Books: Boutique horror publisher producing signed limited editions and trade paperbacks. Comparable to MAHLLC in niche horror focus, small editorial team, and reliance on genre community networks for author acquisition.
• Nightscape Press: Independent press focused on horror, dark fantasy, and speculative anthologies and novels. Comparable to MAHLLC in anthology-driven model, small team, and multi-platform digital distribution.
• Cemetery Dance Publications: Long-running independent specialty press focused on horror, dark mystery, and suspense. Closely comparable to MAHLLC in niche genre focus, anthology output, small-team operating model, and direct-to-reader distribution through its own store and major retailers.
• Raw Dog Screaming Press: Independent literary/genre hybrid press publishing horror, experimental, and dark fiction titles in print and digital. Comparable to MAHLLC in small-scale operations, niche genre focus, and POD + ebook distribution strategy.
• Down & Out Books: Independent crime and mystery publisher producing novels and anthologies from multiple authors. Highly comparable to MAHLLC in genre focus (mystery/crime), small-press structure, POD-friendly distribution, and author-friendly royalty terms.
• Crossroad Press: Independent digital-first publisher of mystery, thriller, horror, and speculative fiction, offering ebooks and audiobooks through major retailers. Comparable in multi-genre indie model and royalty-based author agreements.

Broad incumbents

• PS Publishing: Established UK-based independent press with a wider portfolio across horror, science fiction, and fantasy, including anthologies and limited editions. Comparable in genre specialism and small-press ethos, but larger in catalog breadth and international footprint.

Others

• Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA): Industry association for independent publishers that MAHLLC and its founders are members of. Not a competitor, but a peer organization providing distribution, marketing, and standards resources relevant to MAHLLC's operating context.
• Florida Authors and Publishers Association (FAPA): Regional industry association that MAHLLC belongs to and has received multiple book awards from. Functions as a peer industry body rather than a publisher competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mystery-and-horror-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mystery and Horror, LLC