SMFS Official Announcement: 2020 Derringer Award Winners

Since 1998, the Short Mystery Fiction Society has awarded the annual Derringers—after the popular pocket pistol—to outstanding published stories. The awards recognize outstanding stories published during 2020. 

As posted late last night to our list by 2020 Derringer Awards Coordinator Tony Rudzki, these are the official 2020 Derringer Award Winners: 

FLASH (ranges up to 1,000 words)

Josh Pachter,  The Two-Body Problem, Mystery Weekly Magazine: October 2019. 

SHORT (ranges from 1,0001 to 4,000 words)

John Floyd, On the Road with Mary Jo, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine: Jan/February 2019

LONG (ranges from 4,001 to 8,000 words)

Sandra Murphy, Lucy’s Tree, The Eyes of Texas: Private Eyes from the Panhandle to the Piney Woods  Editor Michael Bracken

NOVELETTE (ranges from 8,001 to 20,000 words)

Brendan Dubois ,with His Sister’s Secrets, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine: July/August   2019

  

The full list of the finalist for this year, as posted by the Derringer Coordinator, can be found here. 

The Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement is annually awarded to an outstanding living writer of short mysteries, selected by a five-member panel of the SMFS President, Vice President, and Awards Coordinator, and two regular members. This year's recipient:

Josh Pachter

As Bouchercon in Sacramento this fall has been cancelled, it is unknown at this time that there will be a virtual presentation made. Scheduling remains very fluid. Winners are able to receive their medals by mail.