2011 Derringer Award Results

The Short Mystery Fiction Society's 2011 Derringer Awards results were determined by a vote of the membership at large after member-volunteer judges narrowed the submissions to finalists. Winners bolded:

Best Flash (Up to 1,000 words) (Tie)

• "The Book Signing" by Kathy Chencharik (Thin Ice: Crime Stories By New England Writers, November 2010)
• "The Unknown Substance" by Jane Hammons (A Twist of Noir, December 27, 2010)
• "Blues in the Night" by Carol Kilgore (Dark Valentine Vol. 1, No. 1, June 2010)
• "Stick a Needle in My Eye" by Julia Madeleine (Powder Burn Flash, 2010)
• "Homeless" by Patricia Morin (Mystery Montage, October 2010)

Best Short Story (1,001–4,000 words)

• "Pewter Badge" by Michael J. Solender (Yellow Mama)
• "Broken Down on the Bonneville Flats" by Jack Bates (Beat to a Pulp)
• "My Asshole Brother" by Eric Beetner (A Twist of Noir)
• "Angel of Mercy" by David Price (Beat to a Pulp)
• "Seventy-two Hours or Less" by Michael J. Solender (A Twist of Noir)

Best Long Story (4,001–8,000 words) (Tie)

• "Care of the Circumcised Penis" by Sean Doolittle (Thuglit Presents: Blood, Guts, and Whiskey)
• "Interpretation of Murder" by B.K. Stevens (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine)
• "Silicon Kings" by Richard Helms (The Back Alley Webzine)
• "The Little Nogai Boy" by R.T. Lawton (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine)
• "A Tour of the Tower" by Christine Poulson (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine)

Best Novelette (8,001–17,500 words)

• "Rearview Mirror" by Art Taylor (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine)
• "The Scent of Lilacs" by Doug Allyn (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine)
• "The Gods for Vengeance Cry" by Richard Helms (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine)
• "Deserters" by Chris Muessig (Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine)
• "The Man With One Eye" by Stephen Ross (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine)

And determined by a committee of the SMFS Officers, Awards Coordinator, and two members-at-large, the 2011 recipient of the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement:

• Ruth Rendell

Recipients may obtain award certificates by emailing SMFS Vice President Gerald So (G_SO at YAHOO dot COM).

The 2011 Derringer Winners

The Short Mystery Fiction Society is pleased to announce the winners of the 2011 Derringer Awards for short mystery fiction:

Best Flash Fiction Story (under 1,000 words) - (TIE)

"The Book Signing," by Kathy Chencharik, Thin Ice: Crime Stories by New England Writers, Leslie Wheeler, Mark Ammons, Barbara Ross, Kat Fast, Eds., Level Best Books, November, 2010

and

"The Unknown Substance" by Jane Hammons, A Twist of Noir, December 27, 2010


Best Short Story (1,001-4,000 words) - "Pewter Badge," by Michael J. Solender, Yellow Mama, August, 2010

Best Long Story (4,001-8,000 words) - (TIE)

"Care of the Circumcised Penis" by Sean Doolittle, Thuglit Presents: Blood, Guts & Whiskey, Todd Robinson, Ed., Kensington Publishing Corp., May, 2010

and

"Interpretation of Murder" by B. K. Stevens, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, December, 2010


Best Novelette (8,001-17,500 words) - "Rearview Mirror" by Art Taylor,
Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, March, 2010

Recipient of Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer Award for Lifetime Achievement - Ruth Rendell

We offer hearty congratulations to these authors for their demonstrated excellence in short fiction, and our sincere thanks to all who submitted stories.

Presentation of the Awards will take place in conjunction with the short story panel at Bouchercon 2011, held in St. Louis, MO in September.

Larry W. Chavis
Derringer Coordinator, 2011

2011 SMFS Derringer Award Finalists

For Best Flash (Up to 1,000 words)

• "The Book Signing" by Kathy Chencharik (Thin Ice: Crime Stories By New England Writers, November 2010)
• "The Unknown Substance" by Jane Hammons (A Twist of Noir, December 27, 2010)>
• "Blues in the Night" by Carol Kilgore (Dark Valentine Vol. 1, No. 1, June 2010)
• "Stick a Needle in My Eye" by Julia Madeleine (Powder Burn Flash, 2010)
• "Homeless" by Patricia Morin (Mystery Montage, October 2010)

Best Short Story (1001 - 4000 words)

"My Asshole Brother" by Eric Beetner published in A Twist of Noir
"Seventy-two Hours or Less" by Michael J. Solender published in A Twist of Noir
"Broken Down on the Bonneville Flats" by Jack Bates published in Beat to a Pulp
"Angel of Mercy" by David Price published in Beat to a Pulp
"Pewter Badge" by Michael J. Solender published in Yellow Mama

Best Long Story (4001 - 8000 words)

"A Tour of the Tower: by Christine Poulson published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine
"Care of the Circumcised Penis" by Sean Doolittle published in Thuglit Presents: Blood, Guts, and Whiskey
"Interpretation of Murder" by B. K. Stevens published in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine
"Silicon Kings" by Richard Helms published in The Back Alley Webzine
"The Little Nogai Boy" by R. T. Lawton published in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine

Best Novelette (8001 - 17,500)

"Deserters" by Chris Muessig published in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine
"Rearview Mirror" by Art Taylor published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine
"The Gods for Vengeance Cry" by Richard Helms published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine
"The Man With One Eye" by Stephen Ross published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine
"The Scent of Lilacs" by Doug Allyn published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine

The winners will be announced on March 31. Congratulations and best wishes to each of the finalists!