The following SMFS members have announced they are attending Bouchercon. Comment on this post to declare your attendance/availability. Also below is information on any meetups organized on Shortmystery:
Jack Bludis
Sheila Boneham
Fleur T.J. Bradley
Melodie Campbell
Jim Doherty
John M. Floyd
Barb Goffman
Toni L.P. Kelner
Deborah J. Ledford
Jan Long
Terrie Farley Moran
Jim O'Keefe
Rosa Pearl
Suzanne Rorhus
Kathleen A. Ryan
Harriette Sackler
Tom Sweeney
Gigi Vernon
Jim Doherty tells us it looks like SMFS will be part of the general awards ceremony Thursday evening at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Tom Sweeney will be presenting the 2012 Derringer plaques. Golden Derringer recipient Bill Pronzini will not be in attendance, but is gratefully accepting the award by mail.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Bill Pronzini is awarded the 2012 Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement
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| Bill Pronzini wears his Golden Derringer |
As announced on our discussion list by SMFS President Tom Sweeney:
The SMFS Golden Derringer committee has voted on the three writers nominated last spring, and has selected Bill Pronzini as the recipient of the 2012 Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer Award.
- Bill Pronzini is the author of over 300 short stories.
- He is the author or co-author of at least 10 collections.
- He has been twice nominated for the Mystery Writers of America's Edgar® in the short story category.
- He has been nominated for six Private Eye Writers of America Shamus awards in the short story category, including "Cats-Paw," for which he won.
- One of his "Nameless Detective" stories, "Incident in a Neighborhood Tavern," was both a Shamus and an Edgar® nominee.
- His career, in both novels and short stories, is notable for his ability to collaborate with so many different co-authors. In short fiction, his partners include Jeffrey Wallman, Barry Malzberg, and his wife, Marcia Muller.
Congratulations to Bill Pronzini and thank you to the SMFS members who took the time to nominate writers for the award and also to those who served on the selection committee.
Notified of the award by President Sweeney, Bill Pronzini replied:
I'm flattered and honored to be the recipient of this year's Golden Derringer, the more so because Ed Hoch was a long-time friend as well as a writer whose work I greatly admire and respect. To receive a life achievement award that bears his name is particularly gratifying. My thanks to those members who voted for me, and to you for the kind words on my stories. Much appreciated.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
2012 Derringer Award Results
The Short Mystery Fiction Society's 2012 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)
Best Short Story (1,001–4,000 words)
Best Long Story (4,001–8,000 words) (Tie)
Best Novelette (8,001–20,000 words)
And determined by a committee of the SMFS Officers, Awards Coordinator, and two members-at-large, the 2012 recipient of the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement:
Recipients may obtain award certificates by emailing Gerald So (G_SO at YAHOO dot COM). Recipients will be publicly recognized at the opening ceremonies of Bouchercon 2012, Thursday, October 4, in Cleveland, OH.
Best Flash (Up to 1,000 words)
- "Lessons Learned" by Allan Leverone (Shotgun Honey, July 29, 2011)
- "Company Policy" by Warren Bull (Yellow Mama, August 2011)
- "The Perfect Mark" by Melodie Campbell (Flash Fiction Online Magazine, July 2011)
- "Countdown" by John Kenyon (Thrillers, Killers, and Chillers, April 2011)
- "Heat of Passion" by Kathleen A. Ryan (A Twist of Noir, February 2011)
Best Short Story (1,001–4,000 words)
- "Touch of Death" by B.V. Lawson (Absent Willow Review Online Magazine, April 2011)
- "Coronation" by Adam Renn Olenn (Best New England Crime Stories 2012: Dead Calm, November 2011)
- "Sisters in Black" by Mary E. Stibal (Best New England Crime Stories 2012: Dead Calm, November 2011)
- "Fatal Flaw" by Cathi Stoler (Beat to a Pulp, April 2011)
- "Death Will Tank Your Fish" by Elizabeth Zelvin (Murder New York Style: Fresh Slices, 2011)
Best Long Story (4,001–8,000 words) (Tie)
- "Brea's Tale" by Karen Pullen (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, November 2011)
- "A Drowning at Snow's Cut" by Art Taylor (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, May 2011)
- "Facts Exhibiting Wantonness" by Trina Corey (Ellery Queens's Mystery Magazine, November 2011)
- "Ballistic" by Trey Dowell (Untreed Reads, July 2011)
- "Blue Amber" by William Burton McCormick (Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, June 2011)
Best Novelette (8,001–20,000 words)
- "Where Billy Died" by Earl Staggs (Untreed Reads, August 2011)
- "A Penny for the Boatman" by Doug Allyn (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, March/April 2011)
- "The Gun Also Rises" by Jeffrey Cohen (Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, January/February 2011)
- "Tomorrow's Dead" by David Dean (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, July 2011)
- "In Brightest Day" by Toni L.P. Kelner (Home Improvement: Undead Edition, August 2011)
And determined by a committee of the SMFS Officers, Awards Coordinator, and two members-at-large, the 2012 recipient of the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement:
- Bill Pronzini (Pronzini's acceptance remarks)
Recipients may obtain award certificates by emailing Gerald So (G_SO at YAHOO dot COM). Recipients will be publicly recognized at the opening ceremonies of Bouchercon 2012, Thursday, October 4, in Cleveland, OH.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Derringer Voting Nearing Close
Time is running out to vote for your favorite short mystery. The deadline for voting is March 31. I will be closing the poll at midnight. That means that all the procrastinating members of the Short Mystery Fiction Society should view this post as a wake up call.
That's right people. Next week is the final week of voting. Dive into reading! Make your opinion heard on which of the nominees will be awarded this year's Derringers.
The judges have made their choices. Trust me, choosing wasn't easy. There were lots of great stories and they had the daunting task of narrowing the choices down to the five best in each category.
It is your turn. Jump in and place your vote for the best, that one great story that deserves to take home the prize.
That's right people. Next week is the final week of voting. Dive into reading! Make your opinion heard on which of the nominees will be awarded this year's Derringers.
The judges have made their choices. Trust me, choosing wasn't easy. There were lots of great stories and they had the daunting task of narrowing the choices down to the five best in each category.
It is your turn. Jump in and place your vote for the best, that one great story that deserves to take home the prize.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Derringer Awards Voting is Open
All stories selected by the judges as finalists for the 2012 Derringer Awards have been posted to the Derringers Voting Group Files section. Now it is time for the members of the Short Mystery Fiction Society to start reading these excellent stories.
Voting is open until the end of March. I look forward to seeing which stories will win the Derringer Awards.
Voting is open until the end of March. I look forward to seeing which stories will win the Derringer Awards.
2012 Short Mystery Fiction Society Finalists
Voting opens today for the Derringer Awards. Below are the five stories selected by our judges as finalists in each category. Congratulations to each of the finalists for the excellent work published in 2011. I look forward to seeing more stories from all of you.
I do not envy our members the task of narrowing the stories to one winning entry in each category. In my opinion, these are all winners.
Finalists for Best Novelette:
Jeffrey Cohen, "The Gun Also Rises: an Aaron Tucker Mystery," Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, January/February 2011
Toni L. P. Kelner, "In Brightest Day," Home Improvement: Undead Edition, August 2011
Doug Allyn, "A Penny for the Boatman," Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, March/April 2011
David Dean, "Tomorrow’s Dead," Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, July 2011
Earl Staggs, "Where Billy Died," Untreed Reads, August 2011
Finalists for Best Long Story
Art Taylor, "A Drowning at Snow’s Cut," Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, May 2011
Trina Corey, "Facts Exhibiting Wantonness," Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, November 2011
Trey Dowell, "Ballistic," Untreed Reads, July 2011
Karen Pullen, "Brea’s Tale," Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, November 2011
William Burton McCormick, "Blue Amber," Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, June 2011
Finalists for Best Short Story:
Elizabeth Zelvin, "Death will Tank Your Fish," Murder New York Style: Fresh Slices, 2011
B.V. Lawson, "Touch of Death," Absent Willow Review Online Magazine, April 2011
Mary E. Stibal, "Sisters in Black," Best New England Crime Stories 2012: Dead Calm, November 2011.
Cathi Stoler, "Fatal Flaw." Beat to a Pulp Online, April 2011
Adam Renn Olenn, "Coronation," Best New England Crime Stories 2012: Dead Calm, November 2011.
Finalists for Best Flash Fiction Story:
Warren Bull, "Company Policy," Yellow Mama, August 2011
John Kenyon, "Countdown," Thrillers, Killers, and Chillers, April 2011
Al Leverone, "Lessons Learned," Shotgun Honey, July 2011
Melodie Campbell, "The Perfect Mark," Flash Fiction Online Magazine, July 2011
Kathleen Ryan, "Heat of Passion," A Twist of Noir, February 2011
I do not envy our members the task of narrowing the stories to one winning entry in each category. In my opinion, these are all winners.
Finalists for Best Novelette:
Jeffrey Cohen, "The Gun Also Rises: an Aaron Tucker Mystery," Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, January/February 2011
Toni L. P. Kelner, "In Brightest Day," Home Improvement: Undead Edition, August 2011
Doug Allyn, "A Penny for the Boatman," Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, March/April 2011
David Dean, "Tomorrow’s Dead," Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, July 2011
Earl Staggs, "Where Billy Died," Untreed Reads, August 2011
Finalists for Best Long Story
Art Taylor, "A Drowning at Snow’s Cut," Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, May 2011
Trina Corey, "Facts Exhibiting Wantonness," Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, November 2011
Trey Dowell, "Ballistic," Untreed Reads, July 2011
Karen Pullen, "Brea’s Tale," Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, November 2011
William Burton McCormick, "Blue Amber," Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, June 2011
Finalists for Best Short Story:
Elizabeth Zelvin, "Death will Tank Your Fish," Murder New York Style: Fresh Slices, 2011
B.V. Lawson, "Touch of Death," Absent Willow Review Online Magazine, April 2011
Mary E. Stibal, "Sisters in Black," Best New England Crime Stories 2012: Dead Calm, November 2011.
Cathi Stoler, "Fatal Flaw." Beat to a Pulp Online, April 2011
Adam Renn Olenn, "Coronation," Best New England Crime Stories 2012: Dead Calm, November 2011.
Finalists for Best Flash Fiction Story:
Warren Bull, "Company Policy," Yellow Mama, August 2011
John Kenyon, "Countdown," Thrillers, Killers, and Chillers, April 2011
Al Leverone, "Lessons Learned," Shotgun Honey, July 2011
Melodie Campbell, "The Perfect Mark," Flash Fiction Online Magazine, July 2011
Kathleen Ryan, "Heat of Passion," A Twist of Noir, February 2011
Sunday, January 1, 2012
2012 Derringer Awards Submission Instructions
The period to submit stories for the Derringer Awards is open as of Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012, at 12:00 p.m. (noon), Eastern Standard Time. The following link will take you to the blog page which details the complete rules and guidelines for the Derringer process. http://shortmystery.blogspot.com/2008/08/smfs-derringer-awards-procedure.html
1.) Who can submit: Members of SMFS as of Dec. 31, 2011 or editors of publications (print or online; see link above to read qualifications for 'publication') that feature short mystery fiction.
2.) Submission limits: Each member of SMFS may submit up to two (2)stories, your own or someone else's. Please note that a story's author need not be a member of SMFS, but the submission must be made by either a member or the editor of the publication in which the story first appeared in 2011. Submission limits for editors are detailed below, from the blog page: If the publication contains up to 25 stories first appearing in 2011, up to 3 of these may be submitted by the editor for Derringer consideration in 2012." 26 to 50 stories first appearing in 2011, up to 4 of these may be submitted by the editor for Derringer consideration in 2012." 51 to 75 stories first appearing in 2011, up to 5 of these may be submitted by the editor for Derringer consideration in 2012." more than 75 stories first appearing in 2011, up to 6 of these may be submitted by the editor for Derringer consideration in 2012. By the way, editors who are also SMFS members still have their two-story quota as members, in addition to the number allowed for their magazines.
3.) Publication date: Only stories first published in English in 2011 are eligible for the 2012 awards. If a story appeared, for example, in a "Winter 2010-2011" issue, or a "December 2010-January 2011" issue of a publication, it would be eligible for consideration this year. On the other hand, one appearing in such issues for 2011-2012 would be eligible for consideration in the 2013 award cycle.
4.) Submission format: Please submit each story, with its author and publication data, to me at hypatiax@aol.com in Rich Text Format(*.rtf). I will check the story's eligibility and strip identifying data from it before sending it on to the appropriate judges. The subject line of your email should read: Derringer - Story Title - Category
The Categories are:
Best Flash Story - up to 1000 words
Best Short Story - 1001 to 4000 words
Best Long story - 4001 to 8000 words
Best Novelette - 8001 - 17,500 words
PLEASE NOTE: Again, submissions begin at 12:00 EST Sunday, Jan. 1. Please don't send anything before that time, as it will be discarded.
Gwen Mayo
Derringer Coordinator 2012
1.) Who can submit: Members of SMFS as of Dec. 31, 2011 or editors of publications (print or online; see link above to read qualifications for 'publication') that feature short mystery fiction.
2.) Submission limits: Each member of SMFS may submit up to two (2)stories, your own or someone else's. Please note that a story's author need not be a member of SMFS, but the submission must be made by either a member or the editor of the publication in which the story first appeared in 2011. Submission limits for editors are detailed below, from the blog page: If the publication contains up to 25 stories first appearing in 2011, up to 3 of these may be submitted by the editor for Derringer consideration in 2012." 26 to 50 stories first appearing in 2011, up to 4 of these may be submitted by the editor for Derringer consideration in 2012." 51 to 75 stories first appearing in 2011, up to 5 of these may be submitted by the editor for Derringer consideration in 2012." more than 75 stories first appearing in 2011, up to 6 of these may be submitted by the editor for Derringer consideration in 2012. By the way, editors who are also SMFS members still have their two-story quota as members, in addition to the number allowed for their magazines.
3.) Publication date: Only stories first published in English in 2011 are eligible for the 2012 awards. If a story appeared, for example, in a "Winter 2010-2011" issue, or a "December 2010-January 2011" issue of a publication, it would be eligible for consideration this year. On the other hand, one appearing in such issues for 2011-2012 would be eligible for consideration in the 2013 award cycle.
4.) Submission format: Please submit each story, with its author and publication data, to me at hypatiax@aol.com in Rich Text Format(*.rtf). I will check the story's eligibility and strip identifying data from it before sending it on to the appropriate judges. The subject line of your email should read: Derringer - Story Title - Category
The Categories are:
Best Flash Story - up to 1000 words
Best Short Story - 1001 to 4000 words
Best Long story - 4001 to 8000 words
Best Novelette - 8001 - 17,500 words
PLEASE NOTE: Again, submissions begin at 12:00 EST Sunday, Jan. 1. Please don't send anything before that time, as it will be discarded.
Gwen Mayo
Derringer Coordinator 2012