My congratulations to this year's Derringer finalists. The finalist stories are posted here to be read and voted on by SMFS members. To be eligible to vote for the Derringer winners, you must have joined Shortmystery before February 1, 2009. This cutoff is in place to prevent ballot-stuffing and recruiting people to the group simply to vote for any particular finalists.
Voting opened April 1 and will end April 30, at 11:59 PM ET. The Derringer polls record members' Yahoo! IDs so Awards Coordinator Nikki Dolson can check that each voter joined the group before February 1, 2009.
The automated results are unofficial. Nikki will do the official vote count and announce the winners on May 1.
Wednesday, 1 April 2009
2009 Derringer Finalists
The finalists for the 2009 Derringer Awards are:
BEST FLASH STORY (Up to 1,000 Words)
Black Pearls by James C. Clar (CRIME AND SUSPENSE)
Incident in Itawamba by Gary Hoffman (TEACAKES AND AFTERNOON TALES)
No Flowers for Stacey by Ruth McCarty (DEADFALL: CRIME STORIES BY NEW ENGLAND WRITERS)
No Place Like Home by Dee Stuart (MYSTERICAL-E)
This Bird has Flown by BV Lawson (ARMCHAIRINTERVIEWS.COM)
A Killing Season by J.F. Benedetto (WOMAN'S WORLD)
Rainy Day Fund by J.K. Cummins (WOMAN'S WORLD)*
*Correcting an oversight discovered late, "A Killing Season" and "Rainy Day Fund", tied for sixth place in the judging, were added as finalists.
BEST SHORT STORY (1,001-4,000 Words)
Independence Day by Allan Leverone (CRIME AND SUSPENSE)
Regrets, I’ve Had a Few by Allan Leverone (TREI LITERARY MAGAZINE)
Stalkers** by Lew Stowe (CRIME AND SUSPENSE)
Taste for It by Sophie Littlefield (DARKEST BEFORE DAWN)
The Cost of Doing Business by Michael Penncavage (THUGLIT)
Wishing on Whores** by John Weagly (THIEVES JARGON)
**tie score in the judging
BEST LONG STORY (4,001-8,000 Words)
Bonnie and Clyde Caper by O’Neil De Noux (EQMM)
Dead Even by Frank Zafiro (MEDIUM OF MURDER)
The Art of Avarice by Darrell James (POLITICS NOIR)
The Big Score by Chris Holm (BACK ALLEY)
The Quick Brown Fox by Robert S. Levinson (AHMM)
BEST NOVELETTE (8,001-17,500 Words)
Haven’t Seen You Since the Funeral by Ernest B & Alice A. Brown (AHMM)
Jack Best and the Line in the Sand by Steve Olley (MYSTERICAL-E)
Panic on Portage Path by Dick Stodghill (AHMM)
Too Wise by O’Neil De Noux (EQMM)
Vegetable Matters by Terry W. Ervin II (MINDFLIGHTS)
Congratulations to the finalists! And a HUGE THANK YOU to the judges without whom this never would have happened. But now folks it's your turn. The stories are in FILES section of our group page. Head there to read our finalists stories then head over to the polls to place your vote. The polls be up shortly.
Remember to be eligible to vote you need to have joined SMFS before Feb. 1st.
BEST FLASH STORY (Up to 1,000 Words)
Black Pearls by James C. Clar (CRIME AND SUSPENSE)
Incident in Itawamba by Gary Hoffman (TEACAKES AND AFTERNOON TALES)
No Flowers for Stacey by Ruth McCarty (DEADFALL: CRIME STORIES BY NEW ENGLAND WRITERS)
No Place Like Home by Dee Stuart (MYSTERICAL-E)
This Bird has Flown by BV Lawson (ARMCHAIRINTERVIEWS.COM)
A Killing Season by J.F. Benedetto (WOMAN'S WORLD)
Rainy Day Fund by J.K. Cummins (WOMAN'S WORLD)*
*Correcting an oversight discovered late, "A Killing Season" and "Rainy Day Fund", tied for sixth place in the judging, were added as finalists.
BEST SHORT STORY (1,001-4,000 Words)
Independence Day by Allan Leverone (CRIME AND SUSPENSE)
Regrets, I’ve Had a Few by Allan Leverone (TREI LITERARY MAGAZINE)
Stalkers** by Lew Stowe (CRIME AND SUSPENSE)
Taste for It by Sophie Littlefield (DARKEST BEFORE DAWN)
The Cost of Doing Business by Michael Penncavage (THUGLIT)
Wishing on Whores** by John Weagly (THIEVES JARGON)
**tie score in the judging
BEST LONG STORY (4,001-8,000 Words)
Bonnie and Clyde Caper by O’Neil De Noux (EQMM)
Dead Even by Frank Zafiro (MEDIUM OF MURDER)
The Art of Avarice by Darrell James (POLITICS NOIR)
The Big Score by Chris Holm (BACK ALLEY)
The Quick Brown Fox by Robert S. Levinson (AHMM)
BEST NOVELETTE (8,001-17,500 Words)
Haven’t Seen You Since the Funeral by Ernest B & Alice A. Brown (AHMM)
Jack Best and the Line in the Sand by Steve Olley (MYSTERICAL-E)
Panic on Portage Path by Dick Stodghill (AHMM)
Too Wise by O’Neil De Noux (EQMM)
Vegetable Matters by Terry W. Ervin II (MINDFLIGHTS)
Congratulations to the finalists! And a HUGE THANK YOU to the judges without whom this never would have happened. But now folks it's your turn. The stories are in FILES section of our group page. Head there to read our finalists stories then head over to the polls to place your vote. The polls be up shortly.
Remember to be eligible to vote you need to have joined SMFS before Feb. 1st.
Monday, 9 March 2009
Poll Results: Derringer Eligibility of Issues with Overlapping Years
By a margin of 24 AGAINST, 10 FOR, SMFS members have rejected the proposed Derringer rules change.
Derringer eligibility of magazine issues with overlapping years stands as follows:
Derringer eligibility of magazine issues with overlapping years stands as follows:
In the case of magazines or e-zines which cover more than one month and overlap years, the later year shall be the determining factor. (Example: December 2008/January 2009 issues would be eligible in 2010.)
Sunday, 8 March 2009
DERRINGER SUBMISSIONS
This is it! THE FINAL WEEK! So send in those stories to me!
Below are the current accepted stories. If you've sent me stories and haven't received a reply email and don't see your submitted story below, please email me. I'll be accepting submissions until March 15th and then I close up shop. The judges will read and score the submissions, the scores will be tallied and the finalists will be announced. Then it will be up to the SMFS members to choose the winners. So keep sending in your favorite mystery and crime stories from 2008!
CURRENT SUBMISSIONS ACCEPTED::
1,000 words or less:
ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND COMMON CENTS
BLACK PEARLS
BIRTHDAYS
BORED TO DEATH
I GOTTA GO
ICE SHACK
INCIDENT AT ITAWAMBA
KILLING SEASON
NO FLOWERS FOR STACY
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
RAINY DAY FUND
RAINY DAY ROBBERY
RIVAL PASSIONS
SECRETS
SERIAL KILLER
SWEETHEART
THE NAME GAME
THIN ICE
THIS BIRD HAS FLOWN
1,001-4,000 words:
A CHRISTMAS CAROLE
A SIMPLE KINDNESS
AN APPOINTMENT UP THE MOUNTAIN
BAD LUCK, GOOD FORTUNE
BUTTERFLY
CAB RIDE
COMING UP ROSES
COMPULSIVE BUBBA
COURTESY CALL
CRUCIAL MOMENT
DADDY'S LITTLE GIRL
DEATH HAS POUTY RED LIPS
DING DONG THE SNITCH IS DEAD
DUGOUT DUDES
FLOWERS FOR AMELIA
FRUITS
GRACIE’S GIFT FROM THE EAST
HARD CASE
HEIDEGGER'S CAT
IN THE NICK OF TIME
INDEPENDENCE DAY
JUST CALL ME NICK
LAP DANCE
LOVE IN VAIN
MARSDEN MEETS SCARFACE
NO EXCEPTIONS
NUMBER ONE WITH A BULLET
OUT OF ORDER
REGRETS, I'VE HAD A FEW
RETRANSFORMATION
SANCTUARY LOST
SHUTTERBUG
STALKERS
STUCK IN THE MIDDLE
TEMECULA REVENGE
THAT NIGHT IN GALVESTON
THE BIG BASH
THE DEVIL TO PLAY
THE LAST DANCE
THEY TAKE YOU
TIME TO SETTLE UP
THOROUGHLY YOURS
TODAY YOU DIE
TRASH TALK
TROUBLE IN PARADISE
VENGENCE IS MINE
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO MARILYN?
WHEN A BRIGHT STAR FADES
WHO’S BEEN SLEEPING IN MY BED?
WISHING ON WHORES
4,001-8,000 words:
AN ARBITRARY DEPRIVATION OF LIFE
ART OF AVARICE
BAGGING THE TROPHY
BALLPOINT
BETWEEN US GIRLS
BITTER HONEY
BONNIE AND CLYDE CAPER
BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON
CEMETARY PLOT
CHARM CITY
CIRCULATION
COMPULSIVE BUBBA
COOKIES
DARK
DEAD EVEN
DIVINE HEALING
DOG ON BALMY BEACH
EGYPTIAN EYES AND IRISH LIES
FAMILY PLOT
GIRL OF MY DREAMS
GEORGIE
IT TORE THE LAUGH FROM MY THROAT
JOHNNY, REMEMBER ME
MEAN STREETS
MISSING BUT NOT MISSED
SOLDIERS
SPRAY THAT IS SHED BY THE STAR
THE BIG SCORE
THE BONEHOLDER
THE LENGTH OF A STRAW
THE INSTRUMENT OF THEIR DESIRE
THE QUARRY
THE QUICK BROWN FOX
THERAPY
VACATIONLAND
8,001-17,500 words:
HAVEN'T SEEN YOU SINCE THE FUNERAL
JACK BEST AND THE LINE IN THE SAND
PANIC ON PORTAGE PATH
TOO WISE
VEGETABLE MATTERS
Below are the current accepted stories. If you've sent me stories and haven't received a reply email and don't see your submitted story below, please email me. I'll be accepting submissions until March 15th and then I close up shop. The judges will read and score the submissions, the scores will be tallied and the finalists will be announced. Then it will be up to the SMFS members to choose the winners. So keep sending in your favorite mystery and crime stories from 2008!
CURRENT SUBMISSIONS ACCEPTED::
1,000 words or less:
ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND COMMON CENTS
BLACK PEARLS
BIRTHDAYS
BORED TO DEATH
I GOTTA GO
ICE SHACK
INCIDENT AT ITAWAMBA
KILLING SEASON
NO FLOWERS FOR STACY
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
RAINY DAY FUND
RAINY DAY ROBBERY
RIVAL PASSIONS
SECRETS
SERIAL KILLER
SWEETHEART
THE NAME GAME
THIN ICE
THIS BIRD HAS FLOWN
1,001-4,000 words:
A CHRISTMAS CAROLE
A SIMPLE KINDNESS
AN APPOINTMENT UP THE MOUNTAIN
BAD LUCK, GOOD FORTUNE
BUTTERFLY
CAB RIDE
COMING UP ROSES
COMPULSIVE BUBBA
COURTESY CALL
CRUCIAL MOMENT
DADDY'S LITTLE GIRL
DEATH HAS POUTY RED LIPS
DING DONG THE SNITCH IS DEAD
DUGOUT DUDES
FLOWERS FOR AMELIA
FRUITS
GRACIE’S GIFT FROM THE EAST
HARD CASE
HEIDEGGER'S CAT
IN THE NICK OF TIME
INDEPENDENCE DAY
JUST CALL ME NICK
LAP DANCE
LOVE IN VAIN
MARSDEN MEETS SCARFACE
NO EXCEPTIONS
NUMBER ONE WITH A BULLET
OUT OF ORDER
REGRETS, I'VE HAD A FEW
RETRANSFORMATION
SANCTUARY LOST
SHUTTERBUG
STALKERS
STUCK IN THE MIDDLE
TEMECULA REVENGE
THAT NIGHT IN GALVESTON
THE BIG BASH
THE DEVIL TO PLAY
THE LAST DANCE
THEY TAKE YOU
TIME TO SETTLE UP
THOROUGHLY YOURS
TODAY YOU DIE
TRASH TALK
TROUBLE IN PARADISE
VENGENCE IS MINE
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO MARILYN?
WHEN A BRIGHT STAR FADES
WHO’S BEEN SLEEPING IN MY BED?
WISHING ON WHORES
4,001-8,000 words:
AN ARBITRARY DEPRIVATION OF LIFE
ART OF AVARICE
BAGGING THE TROPHY
BALLPOINT
BETWEEN US GIRLS
BITTER HONEY
BONNIE AND CLYDE CAPER
BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON
CEMETARY PLOT
CHARM CITY
CIRCULATION
COMPULSIVE BUBBA
COOKIES
DARK
DEAD EVEN
DIVINE HEALING
DOG ON BALMY BEACH
EGYPTIAN EYES AND IRISH LIES
FAMILY PLOT
GIRL OF MY DREAMS
GEORGIE
IT TORE THE LAUGH FROM MY THROAT
JOHNNY, REMEMBER ME
MEAN STREETS
MISSING BUT NOT MISSED
SOLDIERS
SPRAY THAT IS SHED BY THE STAR
THE BIG SCORE
THE BONEHOLDER
THE LENGTH OF A STRAW
THE INSTRUMENT OF THEIR DESIRE
THE QUARRY
THE QUICK BROWN FOX
THERAPY
VACATIONLAND
8,001-17,500 words:
HAVEN'T SEEN YOU SINCE THE FUNERAL
JACK BEST AND THE LINE IN THE SAND
PANIC ON PORTAGE PATH
TOO WISE
VEGETABLE MATTERS
Sunday, 1 February 2009
Derringer Award Nominations
Nominations for the Derringer Awards will be accepted beginning February 1st. So think back about all those great stories you read in 2008. The ones you had to tell other people about. Pick the ones you love best and send them to me in an email. In the subject line type DERRINGER SUBMISSION – TITLE OF STORY and attach the story file, preferably in Word format but send it however. If I can’t open it we’ll figure out something. Please remove the author’s name from the stories. The attached files should have the title of the work and a word count included at the top of the story.
In the body of the email tell me the author's name, when and where the story was published. Also tell me who published the story. I’ll need to know if the person submitting the story is an editor, the author or a member of SMFS. Include indicate the length-category the work is to be entered in.
And last but not least, the submission must be a mystery of some sort.
In the body of the email tell me the author's name, when and where the story was published. Also tell me who published the story. I’ll need to know if the person submitting the story is an editor, the author or a member of SMFS. Include indicate the length-category the work is to be entered in.
And last but not least, the submission must be a mystery of some sort.
Poll Results: Derringer Category Names
With 54.9 percent of the vote, the following Derringer category names have been chosen:
Best Flash Story (Up to 1,000 words)
Best Short Story (1,001-4,000 words)
Best Long Story (4,001-8,000 words)
Best Novelette (8,001-17,500 words)
The category lengths in parentheses are not part of the category names, but they will stay in effect for sorting the Derringer submissions.
Best Flash Story (Up to 1,000 words)
Best Short Story (1,001-4,000 words)
Best Long Story (4,001-8,000 words)
Best Novelette (8,001-17,500 words)
The category lengths in parentheses are not part of the category names, but they will stay in effect for sorting the Derringer submissions.
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