Monday, December 15, 2014

Members' Publication News

The following members sent in publication news this month:
  • Barbara Eliasson, "Neighbors", Kings River Life (December 29, 2014)
  • Robert Lopresti, "The Center of the Universe", Audible.com audiobook of Seattle Noir (Akashic Books, 2009; Audible Inc., 2014)
  • Edith Maxwell's previously published short crime stories are now available as standalone ebooks.

Email news for next month's post to Gerald So (G_SO at YAHOO dot COM).

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Ed Gorman accepts the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement

By Gerald So

Yesterday, this year's Golden Derringer recipient, Ed Gorman, blogged that he'd heard about the award from SMFS member Terrie Farley Moran.

I got in touch with Ed through his blog post, sent him his Golden Derringer certificate, and put him in touch with plaque-maker Jim Doherty.

Here are Ed's words of thanks from his email to me:

Thanks so much, Gerald. This really means a lot to me. As I mentioned Ed was always so damned nice and helpful. And his talent was so varied and masterful. Thanks very much for writing and please thank the Committee for me.

Best, Ed

I also mentioned if he'd like to blog or send in a further message of thanks, I would post or link to it here.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Ray Daniel at Bouchercon 2014 Derringer Presentation

Photo by Hank Phillippi Ryan

Called to the stage by Derringer presenter Catherine Dilts, Best Long Story winner Ray Daniel gave a short speech of thanks.

Ray also recorded an acceptance video:


Full list of 2014 Derringer finalists and winners

Monday, November 24, 2014

Members' Publication News

The following members sent in publication news this month:
  • Tace Baker, Bluffing is Murder, Barking Rain Press (November 2014)
  • Linda Cahill, "Special Delivery", The Whole She-Bang 2 (Sisters in Crime Toronto, November 2014)
  • Jan Christensen, A Broken Life (October 24, 2014)
  • Gail Farrelly, "Busted", Kings River Life (November 22, 2014)
    • "The Ghost Who Came to Dinner", Yonkers Tribune (November 28, 2014)
  • Kaye George, "Elk Island", Jack Hardway's Crime Magazine (November/December 2014)
  • Teel James Glenn, The Journey Of One (Double Dragon Publishing, November 2014)
    • "The Penny Problem" was accepted to Hardboiled: Crime Scene (Forthcoming from Dead Gun Press)
  • Barb Goffman, "A Year Without Santa Claus", Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine (January/February 2015)
  • Charlaine Harris and Toni L.P. Kelner ed. Dead But Not Forgotten: Stories from the World of Sookie Stackhouse (November 25, 2014). Toni also has the story "The Real Santa Claus" in the anthology under her pen name Leigh Perry.
  • Robert Lopresti, "The Roseville Way", The Anthology of Cozy Noir (Darkhouse Books, October 2014)
  • Andrew MacRae ed. The Anthology of Cozy Noir (Darkhouse Books, October 2014)
  • Edith Maxwell, "Pickled", That Mysterious Woman: Shaker of Margaritas (November 2014)
  • Gigi Pandian, "The Haunted Room", Murder at the Beach: The Bouchercon 2014 Anthology ed. Dana Cameron (Down & Out Books, October 2014)
  • Judy Penz Sheluk, "Plan D", The Whole She-Bang 2 (Sisters in Crime Toronto, November 2014)
    • The Hanged Man's Noose, Barking Rain Press (July 2015)
  • Gerald So, "A Definition of Noir (poem)", Noir Riot, Volume 1 (Out of the Gutter, September 2014)
  • Georgia Ruth Wilson, "Remember Me", That Mysterious Woman: Shaker of Margaritas (November 2014)

Email Gerald So (G_SO at YAHOO dot COM) to send news for next month's post.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Bouchercon 2014 Photos from Gigi Pandian

SMFS member Gigi Pandian sent in the following:

Short & Sweet: Why We Love Reading & Writing Short Stories
L to R: John Shepphird, Michael Sears, Jay Stringer,
Steve Steinbock, Brian Thornton, Clare Toohey

Murder in a Locked Room: Solving the Perfect Crime
L to R: Marvin Lachman, Janet Dawson, Bill Gottfried,
Gigi Pandian, Jeffrey Deaver, Laurie R. King

Friday, November 7, 2014

SMFS at Bouchercon 2014, Long Beach, CA

Six days until Bouchercon, the World Mystery Convention. This post will coordinate events, panels, and informal gatherings with SMFS members.

Thursday, November 13

8:30–10:30 P.M. - Promenade 104 A-B-C - Author Speed Dating Hosted by Smith & Wesson

Enjoy a continental breakfast along with tableside pitches from as many as 50 authors.

4:00–5:00 P.M. - Regency D - Short But Mighty: The Power and Freedom of the Short Story

Moderator Travis Richardson, Craig Faustus Buck, Barb Goffman, Robert Lopresti, Paul D. Marks, Art Taylor

6:30 P.M. - Pacific Ballroom at the Arena - Murder at The Beach "Hollywood Premiere" Opening Ceremonies Hosted by Harper Collins

Follow the red carpet and lights to the Opening Ceremonies of Bouchercon 2014 Murder at the Beach. Introduction of honored guests, Anthony Award nominees and other key people. Mystery awards will be given from other prestigious organizations [including the 2014 Derringer presentation by member Catherine Dilts]. No-host Bar. Light refreshments.

Friday, November 14

1:30–2:30 P.M. - Promenade 104 B - Long and Short of It: Writing Short Stories and Full-Length Novels

Moderator Terrie Farley Moran, Dana Cameron, Jeffery Deaver, Brendan DuBois, Toni “Leigh Perry” Kelner, Simon Wood

1:30–2:00 P.M. - Harbor C - Author Focus: Mark Troy

Saturday, November 15

8:30–9:30 A.M. - Promenade 104 B-C - Men of Mystery event hosted by Jane Hansen

11:00–11:30 A.M. - Harbor A - Author Focus: Catherine Dilts

3:00–4:00 P.M. - Regency D - Short and Scary: Thriller and Noir Short Stories

Moderator Toni “Leigh Perry” Kelner, Scott Adlerberg, Jack Fredrickson, Lori Rader-Day, Charles Salzberg, Dave Zeltserman

Sunday, November 16

10:00–11:00 A.M. - Regency D - Short and Sweet: Why We Love Writing and Reading Short Stories

Moderator Clare Toohey, John Shepphird, Michael Stanley (Michael Sears), Steve Steinbock, Jay Stringer, Brian Thornton

To update this post, email Gerald So (G_SO at YAHOO dot COM).

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Donate to Hero Dogs In Memory of Jeremiah Healy

With the rest of the crime fiction community, the SMFS was saddened by the August suicide of member Jeremiah Healy. With permission from his fiancee Sandra Balzo, Jerry's friends and fellow authors have found a way to prolong his legacy after his own heart. Brendan Dubois explains:

Besides his work as an attorney and an author, Jeremiah Healy was a U.S. Army [veteran], and was also a lover of dogs. We have therefore reached out to a service dog organization in Maryland that trains dogs to assist wounded veterans, and they will be thrilled to receive donations in Jerry's name.

The group is called Hero Dogs, and is based in Maryland...They are an IRS approved 501(c)(3) organization and operate entirely on donations. You can donate via their website, or by sending a check to Hero Dogs, P.O. Box 64, Brookeville, MD 20833-0064. But *please* ensure either by writing on the memo section of your check, or using the form on their website, that you're making this donation in Jerry's name.

That way, Hero Dogs can track how many donations come in, so that they can be used in some way to keep Jerry's memory alive in years to come. Please donate what you can, and please share this link. Thanks to all of you who were friends or fans of Jerry's.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Members' Publication News

The following members sent in publication news this month:
  • M.H. Callway, Windigo Fire, Seraphim Editions (October 2014)
  • Peter DiChellis, "One Fingertip", Thrills, Kills, 'n' Chaos (October 15, 2014)
  • John M. Floyd, "A Loan-ly Murder", Woman's World (October 20, 2014)
  • Barb Goffman, "The Shadow Knows", Chesapeake Crimes: Homicidal Holidays (Wildside Press, October 7, 2014)
    • "It's a Trap!", The Killer Wore Cranberry: A Fourth Meal of Mayhem (Untreed Reads, October 2014)
  • Jay Hartman ed. The Killer Wore Cranberry: A Fourth Meal of Mayhem (Untreed Reads: October 2014), featuring several SMFS members
  • Robert Lopresti, Shanks on Crime, a collection of 13 Leopold Longshanks stories
  • Jacqueline Seewald, Death Legacy (coming to ebook October 27 from The Novel Fox)
  • Judy Penz Sheluk, "Live Free or Die", World Enough and Crime (Carrick Publishing, October 2014)
  • Gerald So, "What Are Friends For?", Shotgun Honey (October 6, 2014)
  • B.K. Stevens, "True Enough: Bolt's Last Case", Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine (December 2014)
  • John Weagly, Ten Tentacles (Amazon Createspace)

To send news for next month's post, email Gerald So (G_SO at YAHOO dot COM).

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Logo & Gift Shop

Lapel pin by Pattie Tierney
Artist John Moody drew the Short Mystery Fiction Society logo in 2003. Its derringer represents the Society's Derringer Awards, which date back to 1998 annually honoring outstanding published mystery & crime short stories up to 20,000 words, living writers' outstanding bodies of work, and people who've greatly advanced or supported the form.

The lapel pin pictured at right was designed by Pattie Tierney in 2009. Order by emailing PATTIE dot TIERNEY at GMAIL dot COM. The cost is $12, which includes postage, payable by check or PayPal.

Members may show the logo on their websites.

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

How to Vote in SMFS Polls

To elect our officials, decide the Derringer Awards, or resolve other issues on Shortmystery or its subgroups, we use that group's Polls feature:

To vote, you need to be a group member able to log into the particular Polls webpage with your Yahoo! ID and password. If you're a member but can't log in, you need to enable Web access.

Once logged in, you will see any open poll questions:


Click on the question you want to vote on and you'll see the answer choices:


Click on the circle to the left of your choice. This fills the circle with a white checkmark against a green background, the record of your vote.

If you want to change your vote before polling ends, return to the poll page and click on the circle to the left of your new choice. The white checkmark and green background will move accordingly.

If you just want to withdraw your original vote, click on the same circle you did before and it will go blank.

For this example, let's say you change your vote from Sample Choice B to Sample Choice C. When polling ends, the breakdown of votes is shown, your final choice highlighted green:

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Members' Publication News

The following members sent in publication news this month:

To send news for next month's post, email Gerald So (G_SO at YAHOO dot COM).

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Derringer Presentation at Bouchercon 2014


Bouchercon 2014 (Long Beach, CA) Chair Ingrid Willis has approved a short Derringers presentation as part of the opening ceremonies Thursday, November 13.

On behalf of SMFS President Jan Christensen, VP John R. Lindermuth, Awards Coordinator Anthony Rudzki, and award plaque-maker Jim Doherty unable to attend, SMFS member and attendee Catherine Dilts will present the winners to the audience. Confirmed to be attending are winners Melodie Campbell, Ray Daniel, and Robert Lopresti.

Any video or photos of the presentation can be sent to G_SO at YAHOO dot COM for feature consideration here on the blog.

Friday, August 15, 2014

Members' Publication News

The following members sent in publication news this month:
  • BJ Bourg, Alive Into Hell: A Collection of Crime Stories (August 2014)
  • Bobbi A. Chukran, Dye, Dyeing, Dead (Limestone Ledge Publishing, July 2014)
    • "The Winged Crusader", Kings River Life (August 16, 2014)
    • Guest post on Killer Crafts and Crafty Killers (July 28, 2014)
    • Interviewed by Lois Winston on Killer Crafts and Crafty Killers (August 22, 2014)
    • Interviewed by Linda Hall (August 23, 2014)
  • Peter DiChellis, "The Second-Worst Day", Hellnotes’ Horror in a Hundred (July 25, 2014)
  • John M. Floyd, "Molly's Plan", The Strand Magazine (July-September 2014)
  • B.V. Lawson, Played to Death (Crimetime Press, July 2014)
  • William Burton McCormick, "Killing Sam Clemens", Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine #13 (May/June 2014)
  • Terrie Farley Moran, Well Read, Then Dead (Berkley Prime Crime, August 5, 2014)
  • J.P. Seewald, "A Cold Place to Die", Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine #13 (May/June 2014)
  • Julie Tollefson, "A Haven of Learning...and Death", Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, (October 2014)

To send news for next month's post, email Gerald So (G_SO at YAHOO dot COM).

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Members' Publication News

The following members sent in publication news this month:
  • John M. Floyd, "The Train to Graceland", Woman's World (June 30, 2014)
  • Georgia Ruth, "Pickin' Banjo", Bethlehem Writers Roundtable
  • Jacqueline Seewald, Three poems, Eldritch Press

To send news for next month's post, email Gerald So (G_SO at YAHOO dot COM).

Sunday, June 15, 2014

Members' Publication News

The following members sent in publication news this month:
  • M.G. Allen, Things, Kraken Press (July 6, 2014)
  • Larry Chavis, "Consider It Expedient", Kings River Life (June 28, 2014)
  • Jan Christensen, "Grave Matters", Kings River Life (June 28, 2014)
  • Peter DiChellis, "With Cunning Wickedness", The Shamus Sampler II (June 2014)
  • Catherine Dilts, "The Last Real Cowboy", Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine (September 2014)
  • Susan Furlong-Bolliger, "A Recipe for Crime", Woman's World #27 (June 26, 2014)
  • Susan Furlong-Bolliger, "Half-Baked in Fairview", Over My Dead Body!(June 2014)
  • Susan Furlong-Bolliger, "Far from Farview", Over My Dead Body (June 2014)
  • Sybil A. Johnson, "Annual Marriage Test", Mysterical-E (April 2014)
  • Terrie Farley Moran, "Dust to Dust", The Lizard's Ardent Uniform and Other Stories, (June 9, 2014)
  • Gerald So, "King of the Sea", Pulp Modern #7 (June 2014)
  • Ben Solomon, "The Hard-Boiled Detective Statement No. 3: Simeon Von Runck", The Shamus Sampler II (June 2014)
  • Serita Stevens, The Ultimate Writer's Workbook (Motivational Press, June 2014)
  • Mark Troy, "IFHC", an Ava Rome Mystery, The Shamus Sampler II (June 2014)

To send news for next month's post, email Gerald So (G_SO at YAHOO dot COM).

Monday, June 2, 2014

Announcing Our 2014—16 Officials

The Short Mystery Fiction Society is pleased to announce Jan Christensen, John R. Lindermuth, and Tony Rudzki, who ran unopposed for the offices of SMFS President, Vice President, and Derringer Awards Coordinator respectively, and were elected by acclamation. The President and Vice President serve two-year terms, the Derringer Awards Coordinator a one-year term, all beginning July 1.

Monday, May 12, 2014

Guest Post: Susan Oleksiw

SMFS member Susan Oleksiw's novel, For the Love of Parvati, third in her series featuring Indian American photographer Anita Ray, is due out May 21. As part of a blog tour to promote the novel, Susan contributed the following guest post:


When I asked about writing a post for the SMFS blog, Gerald So suggested a discussion of character development in short stories versus novels. Are series characters different in the two forms? Is anything missing? That’s a lot for a short post, but a short post is long enough to make a point.

My first reaction was yes, of course, lots of things are missing, echoing a general opinion I’d heard for years, since I first started reading crime fiction. People love Agatha Christie’s novels, but not her short stories as much. The late critic Robin Winks believed crime fiction needed a full-length novel to reach its potential. The short story didn't offer enough room for both character and plot, and was overall an unsatisfying medium for crime fiction. I was ready to write something along these lines when I thought about my own experience.

I tried writing a female amateur sleuth living in India almost twenty years ago—and got nowhere. I think I wrote four novels featuring various versions of Anita Ray. The novels were terrible. I got advice from an agent, and other readers, but I could not find the character who would make the story come alive. Nothing worked. I continued writing the Mellingham series with Chief Joe Silva and the occasional story along with reviews and articles while I stumbled along wasting paper and time on India stories that went nowhere.

I was about to give up in frustration when I decided I'd write a short story with Anita Ray and focus on a murder that grew out of Indian culture. Anita's role was to investigate, nothing more. Out of that restriction came the surprise of Anita’s personality.

Short fiction forces the writer, me, to find the essential nature or core of the protagonist. The novel allows time for exploration and explanation, but the short story crystallizes what is necessary. By doing so, the character takes on a vividness and sharpness in the short story that can be slow to appear in the novel. (And in my case didn't appear at all.)

I'll give as an example Robert Lopresti's story featuring the barely-making-it writer Leopold Longshanks in "Shanks Goes Hollywood" (AHMM, April 2005). In the first page we know who he is, how he feels about his career and that of his friends, and how smart his wife, Cora, is. It’s a good mystery and it’s fun, and we know the characters well. Every detail of the plot works, and there are no loose ends. I could cite other stories that remain more vivid than novels, such as "Goodbye, Pops” by Joe Gores (The Best American Mystery Stories of the Century, ed. Tony Hillerman), in which a man escapes from prison in order to see his father before he dies. The obvious examples are Sherlock Holmes stories or any story by Edgar Allan Poe.

So, is there a difference that matters between short crime fiction and the crime novel? In a novel we get to spend more time with the characters, the plot may be more convoluted, but it's easier to mask failings in a novel than in a short story. In short crime fiction the character has to arrive fully developed, clear and sharp, in a plot that works. There can be no loose ends, no details that don't quite work, and no bait-and-switch in the plot. This is not easy.

Anita Ray has gone on to appear in twelve stories, with another in the AHMM pipeline, and three novels, the third out this month. In some ways the stories are harder because every detail has to be right. But there's also a great sense of satisfaction in creating a perfect little gem. —Susan Oleksiw

Monday, April 21, 2014

Members' Publication News

The following members sent in publication news this month:
  • Jack Bates, "Didja Think of That?", Heater, Vol. 2, No. 3 (April 2014)
  • Peter DiChellis, "Murderous Lies", Plan B Magazine (March 14, 2014)
  • Gail Farrelly, "In Your Easter Bonnet", Kings River Life (April 16, 2014)
  • John M. Floyd, "Hildy's Fortune," Woman's World (April 7, 2014)
  • John M. Floyd, "Hunters", Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine (May 2014)
  • Toni Goodyear, "Melting Pot", Kings River Life (March 15, 2014).
  • Toni Goodyear, "Heart Surgery", Carolina Crimes: Nineteen Tales of Lust, Love, And Longing, (March 2014)
  • Toni L.P. Kelner, “Bell, Book, and Candlepin”, Games Creatures Play (April 2014)
  • BV Lawson, "The Least of These", Plan B Volume III (March 2014)
  • BV Lawson, "The Obsession", The Saturday Evening Post, (April 11, 2014)
  • R.T. Lawton, "Gibet de Montfaucon", Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine (June 2014)
  • Rob Lopresti, "A Bad Day for Bargain Hunters", Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine (May 2014)
  • Rob Lopresti, "The Accessory", Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine (June 2014)
  • R.Marquez, "Granny Mine", Crimespree Magazine, Issue 55 (March 2014)
  • R.Marquez, "The Obligation", KZINE, Issue 9 (May 2014)
  • R.Marquez, "The Courting", Shotgun Honey (May 28, 2014)
  • Ruth McCarty, "Do I Know You?", Over My Dead Body (April 2014)
  • William Burton McCormick, "Agoraphobic Alibi", Over My Dead Body (April 2014)
  • James O'Keefe, "The Adventure of the Deadly Interlude", The Plated Spoon and Other Tales of Sherlock Holmes (October 2014)
  • Leigh Perry, “The Real Santa Claus”, Dead But Not Forgotten (May 2014)
  • Jacqueline Seewald, The Bad Wife (Perfect Crime Books. March 2014)
  • Jacqueline Seewald, "Murder and Money", Over My Dead Body (April 2014)
  • Ben Solomon, "The Hard-Boiled Detective, Statement No. 18: Pandereos Ajax", Kings River Life (April 12, 2014)

To send news for next month's post, email Gerald So (G_SO at YAHOO dot COM).

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

2014 Derringer Award Results

The Short Mystery Fiction Society's Derringer Awards, honoring outstanding published stories and people who've contributed greatly to the genre, are determined by a January 1–March 30 process that considers the previous year.

The Awards Coordinator first posts the results to Shortmystery. Then the public announcement appears here.

For each category below, we show the winner first, then the alphabetized finalists:

Best Flash (Up to 1,000 words)

Best Short Story (1,001–4,000 words)
  • "The Present" by Robert Lopresti (The Strand Magazine, February-May 2013) (Rob's acceptance video)
  • "Pretty Little Things" by Chris F. Holm (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, July 2013)
  • "The Sweetheart Scamster" by Rosemary McCracken (Thirteen by the Mesdames of Mayhem, August 2013)
  • "The Little Outlaw" by Mike Miner (Plan B Magazine, August 9, 2013)
  • "The Cemetery Man" by Bill Pronzini (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, July 2013)

Best Long Story (4,001–8,000 words)
  • "Give Me a Dollar" by Ray Daniel (Best New England Crime Stories 2014: Stone Cold, Level Best Books, September 2013) (Ray's acceptance video)
  • "Myrna!" by John Bubar (Best New England Crime Stories 2014: Stone Cold, Level Best Books, September 2013)
  • "Bloody Signorina" by Joseph D'Agnese (Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, September 2013)
  • "Dance Man" by Andrew Jetarski (Last Exit to Murder, Down & Out Books, June 2013)
  • "A Dangerous Life" by Adam Purple (Best New England Crime Stories 2014: Stone Cold, Level Best Books, September 2013)

Best Novelette (8,001–20,000 words)
  • "The Goddaughter's Revenge" by Melodie Campbell (Orca Rapid Reads, October 2013)
  • "The Serpent Beneath the Flower" by Jack Bates (Mind Wings Audio, April 2013)
  • "For Love's Sake" by O'Neil De Noux (Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, July/August 2013)
  • "The Antiquary's Wife" by William Burton McCormick (Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, March 2013)
  • "Last Night in Cannes" by James L. Ross (Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, November 2013)

And a committee of the SMFS Officers, Awards Coordinator, and two members-at-large awarded the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer (Lifetime Achievement) to:

Recipients may obtain award certificates by emailing SMFS Vice President Gerald So (G_SO at YAHOO dot COM). Recipients will be publicly recognized at the opening ceremonies of Bouchercon 2014, Thursday, November 13, in Long Beach, CA.

Saturday, March 15, 2014

SMFS Anthology Plans

Interested members are exploring how SMFS-themed anthologies might be published. If you would like to participate or just hear the plans as they develop, please join the dedicated SMFS Anthology Plans Yahoo! Group.

Friday, March 14, 2014

Members' Publication News

The following members sent in publication news this month:
  • Paula Gail Benson, "Confidence in the Family," Murder Times Ten 2013 (Buddhapuss Ink, December 2013)
  • Paula Gail Benson, "Ghost of a Chance," A Tall Ship, a Star and Plunder (Dark Oak Press and Media, January 2014)
  • Nancy Sweetland, "The Middleman", The Saturday Evening Post, March 7.

To send news for next month's post, email Gerald So (G_SO at YAHOO dot COM).

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Derringer Presentation set for Bouchercon 2014


Bouchercon 2014 (Long Beach, CA) Chair Ingrid Willis has approved a short Derringers presentation as part of the opening ceremonies Thursday, November 13.

The winners will have been announced by March 31, and the next SMFS President and Vice President will have taken office July 1, but the Bouchercon presentation allows the winners recognition from the wider mystery/crime fiction community.

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Saturday, March 1, 2014

2014 Derringer Finalists

The Short Mystery Fiction Society announces the finalists for its 2014 Derringer Awards as determined by SMFS member volunteer judges:

For Best Flash (Up to 1,000 words)
  • "Final Statement" by Robert Bailey (The Flash Fiction Offensive, July 18, 2013)
  • "Not My Day" by Stephen Buehler (Last Exit to Murder, Down & Out Books, June 2013)
  • "The Needle and the Spoon" by Allan Leverone (Shotgun Honey, November 15, 2013)
  • "Luck is What You Make" by Stephen D. Rogers (Crime Factory, May 2013)
  • "Terry Tenderloin and the Pig Thief" by John Weagly (Shotgun Honey, June 21, 2013)

For Best Short Story (1,001–4,000 words)
  • "Pretty Little Things" by Chris F. Holm (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, July 2013)
  • "The Present" by Robert Lopresti (The Strand Magazine, February-May 2013)
  • "The Sweetheart Scamster" by Rosemary McCracken (Thirteen by the Mesdames of Mayhem, August 2013)
  • "The Little Outlaw" by Mike Miner (Plan B Magazine, August 9, 2013)
  • "The Cemetery Man" by Bill Pronzini (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, July 2013)

For Best Long Story (4,001–8,000 words)
  • "Myrna!" by John Bubar (Best New England Crime Stories 2014: Stone Cold, Level Best Books, September 2013)
  • "Bloody Signorina" by Joseph D'Agnese (Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, September 2013)
  • "GIVE ME A DOLLAR" by Ray Daniel (Best New England Crime Stories 2014: Stone Cold, Level Best Books, September 2013)
  • "Dance Man" by Andrew Jetarski (Last Exit to Murder, Down & Out Books, June 2013)
  • "A Dangerous Life" by Adam Purple (Best New England Crime Stories 2014: Stone Cold, Level Best Books, September 2013)

For Best Novelette (8,001–20,000 words)
  • "The Serpent Beneath the Flower" by Jack Bates (Mind Wings Audio, April 2013)
  • "The Goddaughter's Revenge" by Melodie Campbell (Orca Rapid Reads, October 2013)
  • "For Love's Sake" by O'Neil De Noux (Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, July/August 2013)
  • "The Antiquary's Wife" by William Burton McCormick (Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, March 2013)
  • "Last Night in Cannes" by James L. Ross (Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, November 2013)

Finalists may obtain certificates of achievement by emailing SMFS Vice President Gerald So (G_SO at YAHOO dot COM).

SMFS members who joined by December 31, 2013 vote to determine the winner in each category March 1–30, 2014. The winners will be announced Monday, March 31, 2014.