SMFS Official Announcement: 2025 The Silver Derringer For Editorial Excellence

The Short Mystery Fiction Society is pleased to announce the 2025 recipient of

THE SILVER DERRINGER FOR EDITORIAL EXCELLENCE

Janet Hutchings

On rare occasions, the SMFS Awards Committee presents a special lifetime award: The Silver Derringer for Editorial Excellence.  The award was most recently presented to Cathleen Jordan in 2002.  This year, the committee is delighted to present the award once more, to Janet Hutchings.  From 1991 until her retirement at the end of 2024, Janet served as just the third editor-in-chief of Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, indisputably the most important publication in our genre.  To mention just a few of her accomplishments during this remarkable thirty-three year run, Janet introduced readers to a huge number of the best authors in the business, including Ian Rankin, Ann Cleeves, Jeffrey Deaver, Val McDermid, Marcia Muller, and many more; created the “Passport to Crime” department, which has presented the work of hundreds of international authors; and guided Queen into the twenty-first century with its first blog, podcasts, and digital editions.  It is safe to say that no living person has done as much for short mystery fiction, and we are honored to recognize Janet’s overwhelming contributions and influence.

Photo by Melodie Campbell

SMFS Official Announcement: 2025 Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer For Lifetime Achievement

The Short Mystery Fiction Society is pleased to announce the 2025 recipient of the

EDWARD D. HOCH MEMORIAL GOLDEN DERRINGER FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

Art Taylor

This year’s recipient of the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement is Art Taylor.  Jon L. Breen has accurately described Art as “one of the finest short-story writers to come to prominence in the twenty-first century.”  His many awards include an Edgar, an Anthony, four Agathas, four Macavitys, and four Derringers.  Art brings to the mystery story an unusually rich sense of character and theme; his stories are not merely puzzles to be solved, but insightful and engaging meditations on the mystery of life itself.  He is also one of the finest scholars of the history of mystery fiction, particularly in its short form, and unfailingly generous in his support for other writers, including through his continuation of the “First Two Pages” blog series begun by B. K. Stevens.

Art Taylor's words on this honor:

"I’ll admit to being of two minds about receiving this year’s Golden Derringer Award. Thrilled by the honor, of course, but also stumbling over that phrase lifetime achievement—scrambling suddenly to take stock of where I’m at, what I’ve accomplished, what more I might have accomplished, and what possibilities still await (hopefully!) in the further lifetime ahead. To be honest, a lifetime achievement suggests I at least know what I’m doing, but—another admission—each blank page still leaves me scratching my head a-fresh: What now? What next? 

Whatever my struggles or status, however, I hope my work as a writer, an editor, and especially as a teacher have helped inspire and encourage other writers, at all stages, who have endeavored  to find their own way past that blank page and into a short story—both throughout our mystery community and especially in the Short Mystery Fiction Society, to whom I’m so overwhelmingly grateful for this award."

Image by Bethany Maines

SMFS Official Announcement: 2025 Derringer Award Winners

  

Since 1998, the Short Mystery Fiction Society has awarded the annual Derringers—named after the popular pocket pistol—to outstanding published stories. The Short Mystery Fiction Society is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 Derringer Awards for works published in 2024.

 As reported by Derringer Coordinator Paula Messina…

FLASH

"Kargin the Necromancer" by Mike McHone
(Mystery Tribune, December 15, 2024)

SHORT STORY

"The Wind Phone" by Josh Pachter
(Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, September/October 2024)

LONG STORY

"Heart of Darkness" by Tammy Euliano
(Scattered, Smothered, Covered & Chunked: Crime Fiction Inspired by Waffle House, Down & Out Books)

NOVELETTE

"The Cadillac Job" by Stacy Woodson
(Chop Shop Episode 1, Down & Out Books, January 1, 2024)

ANTHOLOGY

Murder, Neat: A SleuthSayers Anthology
Edited by Michael Bracken and Barb Goffman, Level Best Books

The complete list of 2025 finalists can be found here.

SMFS Official Announcement: 2025 Derringer Award Finalists

Since 1998, the Short Mystery Fiction Society has awarded the annual Derringers—named after the popular pocket pistol—to outstanding published stories. The awards recognize outstanding stories published during 2024. Results of membership voting are scheduled to be posted on May 1, 2025.

The full listing of our nominees and the markets that published the finalist stories has been compiled and supplied by Derringer Coordinator Paula Messina.

 

FLASH

 

Sweet Red Cherries by C.W. Blackwell

(Punk Noir Magazine, November 28, 2024)

 

Mob Mentality by James Patrick Focarile

(Shotgun Honey, June 20, 2024)

 

La Petite Mort by Susan Hatters Friedman

(Bristol Noir, February 16, 2024)

 

Kargin the Necromancer by Mike McHone

(Mystery Tribune, December 15, 2024)

 

Lockerbie, 1988 by Mary Thorson

(Cotton Xenomorph, October 13, 2024)

 

SHORT STORY 

 

"Skeeter's Bar and Grill" by Julie Hastrup

(Larceny & Last Chances: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense, Superior Shores Press)

 

"The Wind Phone" by Josh Pachter

(Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, September/October 2024)

 

"The Heist" by Bill Pronzini

(Shamus and Anthony Commit Capers: Ten Tales of Criminals, Crooks, and Culprits, Level Best Books)

 

"The Last Chance Coalition" by Judy Penz Sheluk

(Larceny & Last Chances: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense, Superior Shores Press)

 

"The Kratz Gambit" by Mark Thielman

(Private Dicks and Disco Balls: Private Eyes in the Dyn-O-Mite Seventies, Down & Out Books)

 

LONG STORY

 

"How Mary’s Garden Grew" by Elizabeth Elwood

(Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, January/February 2024)

 

"Heart of Darkness" by Tammy Euliano

(Scattered, Smothered, Covered & Chunked: Crime Fiction Inspired by Waffle House, Down & Out Books)

 

"Putting Things Right" by Peter W. J. Hayes

(Thrill Ride - The Magazine, December 21, 2024)

 

"Motive Factor X" by Joseph Andre Thomas

(Howls from the Scene of the Crime: A Crime Horror Anthology, Howl Society Press)

 

"Cold Comfort" by Andrew Welsh-Huggins

(Private Dicks and Disco Balls: Private Eyes in the Dyn-O-Mite Seventies, Down & Out Books)

  

NOVELETTE

 

"A Band of Scheming Women" by Joslyn Chase

(Thrill Ride - The Magazine, March 21, 2024)

 

"Christmas Dinner" by Robert Lopresti

(Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, November/December 2024)

 

"Barracuda Backfire" by Tom Milani

(Chop Shop Episode 4, Down & Out Books, April 1, 2024)

 

"Her Dangerously Clever Hands" by Karen Odden

(Crimeucopia - Through the Past Darkly, Murderous Ink Press)

 

"The Cadillac Job" by Stacy Woodson

(Chop Shop Episode 1, Down & Out Books, January 1, 2024)

ANTHOLOGY

Devil's Snare: Best New England Crime Stories 2024

Edited by Susan Oleksiw, Ang Pompano, Leslie Wheeler, Crime Spell Books

Friend of the Devil: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of the Grateful Dead

Edited by Josh Pachter, Down & Out Books

Larceny & Last Chances: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense

Edited by Judy Penz Sheluk, Superior Shores Press

Murder, Neat: A SleuthSayers Anthology

Edited by Michael Bracken and Barb Goffman, Level Best Books

New York State of Crime: Murder New York Style 6

Edited by D.M. Barr and Joseph R.G. De Marco, Down & Out Books

The 13th Letter

Edited by Donna Carrick, Carrick Publishing

The list of 2025 winners can be found here.

The 1998 SMFS Derringer Awards

The winners of the first annual Derringer Awards were announced in May, 1998. They were voted on by the members of the Short Mystery Fiction Society. The Award was established in 1998 and named to emphasize the short but deadly nature of the mystery fiction honored. Winners receive a certificate depicting the eponymous weapon.

THE WINNERS

FLASH (under 1000 words)

Michael Mallory, "Curiosity Kills"
Murderous Intent, Vol. 3, No. 4, Fall 1997.

SHORT STORY (1000-3000 words)

Kate Grilley, "Guavaberry Christmas"
Murderous Intent, Vol 3, No 4 Fall 1997

SHORT (3,000-10,000 words) - TIE

Kris Neri, "L.A. Justice"
Murder by Thirteen (L.A. Sisters in Crime anthology) Crown Valley Press, ISBN 0-9647945-3-5, 1997

TIED WITH

Barbara White-Rayczek, "The Adventurers"
Murderous Intent, Vol 3, No 1, Winter 1997

NOVELLA (15,000 to 35,000 words)

Margo Power, "Image of Conspiracy"
Madison Publishing Company, ISBN 1-881699-02-7 (pb) 1997

BEST FIRST STORY (any length)

Eileen Brosnan "Back Stairs"
Murderous Intent, Vol 3 #4 Fall 1997

THE NOMINEES

FLASH (under 1000 words)

Vicki Cameron, "Zebra Mussels"
Cottage Country Killers (anthology), General Store Publishing House, ISBN 1-896182-53-4 1997

Kimberly Haugh, "Exceptions"
Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, November 1997

Robert L. Iles, "What the Sheriff Saw"
Whispering Willows Mysteries, Summer 1997, ISBN 0-9653990-3-6

Tom Kreitzberg, "A New Beginning"
Murderous Intent, Vol. 3, No. 4 Fall 1997

Michael Mallory, "Curiosity Kills"
Murderous Intent, Vol. 3, No. 4, Fall 1997

SHORT STORY (1000-3000 words)

Dan Crawford, "All's Fair"
Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Vol. 42, No. 11, November 1997

Elizabeth Dearl, "Same Old Henry"
The Case (www.thecase.com) June 9, 1997

Kate Grilley, "Guavaberry Christmas"
Murderous Intent, Vol 3, No 4 Fall 1997

Peter Lovesey, "Never a Cross Word"
Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, February 1997

Ralph McInerny, "Copy Dog"
Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, February 1997

Kris Neri, "Getting His"
Whispering Willow, Premier Edition, 1997

SHORT (3,000-10,000 words)

Colleen Mary Aminoff, "The Confession"
Red Herring Mystery Magazine, Vol. 4 No. 1 ISSN 1076-643X

Ann Bayer, "Gertrude"
Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, September/October 1997

Brendan DuBois, "Trade Wars"
Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, February 97

John M. Floyd, "King of the City"
Murderous Intent, Spring 97, V3 #2

Robert Gray, "The Word on the Street"
Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, December 1997

Robert l. Iles, "The Burning Woman"
Whispering Willows Mysteries, Fall 1997

Robert L. Iles, "A Hand in the Case"
Murderous Intent, Vol. 3 #2 Spring 1997

M.D. Lake, "Tea for Two"
Funny Bones, Signet Penguin Books ISBN 0-451-40720-2

Robert Lopresti "Uncle Victor on Watch"
Murderous Intent, Vol 3 #4 Fall 1997

Richard A. Lupoff, "Chinese Gunboats"
Murderous Intent, Vol 3 #4 Fall 1997

Michael Mallory "The Adventure of the Illustrious Patient"
Murderous Intent, Vol 3 #1 Winter 1997

Margaret Maron, "Shaggy Dog"
Funny Bones, Signet, Penguin Books ISBN 0-451-40720-2

Kris Neri, "L.A. Justice"
Murder by Thirteen (L.A. Sisters in Crime anthology) Crown Valley Press, ISBN 0-9647945-3-5, 1997

Anne Perry, "A Matter of Blackmail"
Mary Higgins Clark Mystery Magazine, Vol. 23, No. 3, Summer/Fall 1997.

Margo Power, "All There Is and More"
Murderous Intent, Vol 3 #4 Fall 1997

Polly Whitney, "Etiquette Lesson"
Murderous Intent, Vol 3 #4 Fall 1997

Jane Ann Tun, "Mea Culpa"
Cottage Country Killers (anthology) General Store Publishing House ISBN 1-896182-53-4

Barbara White-Rayczek, "The Adventurers"
Murderous Intent, Vol 3 #1 Winter 1997

NOVELLA (15,000 to 35,000 words)

Gillian Linscott "Poisoned with Politeness"
Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, September/October 1997 Double issue

Margo Power, "Image of Conspiracy"
Madison Publishing Company, ISBN 1-881699-02-7 (pb) 1997

BEST FIRST STORY (any length)

Eileen Brosnan "Back Stairs"
Murderous Intent, Vol 3 #4 Fall 1997

J.R. Chabot, "Quite Contrary"
Mary Higgins Clark Mystery Magazine, Vol. 23, No. 3, Summer/Fall 1997

K. R. MacLeish, "Neither Rhyme nor Riot"
Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, June '97

Nick Schinker, "Since My Last Confession"
Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, September/October 1997

Congratulations to all the winners and nominees!

A complete list of all finalist and winning stories for every year may be found here.

SMFS Official Announcement: 2024 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 Short Mystery Fiction Society is proud to announce the winners of the 2024 Derringer Awards for works published in 2023.

 

As reported by Derringer Coordinator Joseph S. Walker…. 

 

FLASH

 

THE REFEREE by C. W. Blackwell

(Shotgun Honey, October 12, 2023)

 

 

SHORT STORY

 

LAST DAY AT THE JACKRABBIT by John Floyd

(The Strand, May 2023)

 

LONG STORY

 

GOOD DEED FOR THE DAY by Bonnar Spring

(Wolfsbane: Best New England Crime Stories, Crime Spell Books)

 

 

NOVELETTE (TIE)

 

MRS. HYDE by David Dean

(Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, March/April 2023)

 

CATHERINE THE GREAT by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

(WMG 2023 Holiday Spectacular Calendar of Stories)

 

The complete list of finalists can be found here.

EDWARD D. HOCH MEMORIAL GOLDEN DERRINGER

 

Barb Goffman

 

HALL OF FAME

 

Rex Stout

SMFS Official Announcement: 2024 Derringer Award Finalists

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 2023. Results of membership voting are scheduled to be posted on May 1, 2024.

 

The full listing of our nominees and the markets that published the finalist stories has been compiled and supplied by Derringer Coordinator Joseph S. Walker.

 

FLASH

 

SLEEP ROUGH by Brandon Barrows

(Shotgun Honey, September 19, 2023)

 

THE REFEREE by C. W. Blackwell

(Shotgun Honey, October 12, 2023)

 

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN by Serena Jayne

(Shotgun Honey, January 9, 2023)

 

TEDDY’S FAVORITE THING by Paul Ryan O’Connor

(Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, Sept/Oct 2023)

 

SUPPLY CHAINS by Andrew Welsh-Huggins

(Black Cat Weekly #89)

 

 

SHORT STORY 

 

DENIM MINING by Michael Bracken

(Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, May/June 2023)

 

DOGS OF WAR by Michael Bracken & Stacy Woodson

(Mickey Finn: 21^st Century Noir Volume Four, Down & Out Books)

 

LAST DAY AT THE JACKRABBIT by John Floyd

(The Strand, May 2023)

 

I DON’T LIKE MONDAYS by Josh Pachter

(Mystery Magazine, July 2023)

 

JUDGE NOT by Twist Phelan

(Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, May/June 2023)

 

A TAIL OF JUSTICE by Shannon Taft

(Black Cat Weekly #114)

LONG STORY

 

HARD RAIN ON BEACH STREET by C. W. Blackwell

(Killin’ Time in San Diego, Down & Out Books)

 

REVERSION by Marcelle Dubé

(Mystery Magazine, April 2023)

 

BACK TO HELL HOUSE by Nick Kolakowski

(Vautrin, Fall 2023)

 

TROUBLED WATER by donalee Moulton

(Black Cat Weekly #75)

 

IT’S NOT EVEN PAST by Anna Scotti

(Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, Sept/Oct 2023)

 

GOOD DEED FOR THE DAY by Bonnar Spring

(Wolfsbane: Best New England Crime Stories, Crime Spell Books)

 

IGNATIUS RUM-AND-COLA by Andrew Welsh-Huggins

(Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Jan/Feb 2023)

 

 

NOVELETTE

 

VENGEANCE WEAPON by James R. Benn

(The Refusal Camp: Stories by James R. Benn, Soho Press)

 

MRS. HYDE by David Dean

(Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, March/April 2023)

 

THE CASE OF THE BOGUS CINDERELLAS by Jacqueline Freimor

(Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, July/Aug 2023)

 

MADAM TOMAHAWK by Nick Kolakowski

(A Grifter’s Song, Down & Out Books, 2023)

 

CATHERINE THE GREAT by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

(WMG 2023 Holiday Spectacular Calendar of Stories)

The list of winning stories can be found here.

SMFS Official Announcement: 2023 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 Short Mystery Fiction Society is proud to announce the winners of the 2023 Derringer Awards for works published in 2022.

 

FLASH FICTION

Karen Harrington for “Acknowledgments.” (Guilty Crime Story Magazine online flash fiction, April 2022)

 

SHORT STORY

Melissa Yi for “My Two-Legs.” (Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine: September/October 2022)

 

LONG STORY

Bobby Mathews for “Negative Tilt.” (Rock and a Hard Place issue 7)

 

NOVELETTE

Adam Meyer for Two Shrimp Tacos and a .22 Ruger by Adam Meyer (Guns & Tacos, Down & Out Books)

A complete list of finalists can be found here. 

EDWARD D. HOCH MEMORIAL GOLDEN DERRINGER FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

Martin Edwards

 

HALL OF FAME

No Award

SMFS Official Announcement: 2023 Derringer Award Finalists

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 2022. Results of membership voting are scheduled to be posted on May 1, 2023.

The full listing of our nominees and the markets that published the finalist stories has been compiled and supplied by Assistant Derringer Coordinator Joseph S. Walker.

Flash

“Catch and Release” by April Kelly (Mystery Magazine, May 2022)

“Acknowledgments” by Karen Harrington (Guilty Crime Story Magazine online flash fiction, April 2022)

“Easter Spam” by John Weagly (Shotgun Honey online flash fiction)

“The Final Chapter” by James Blakey (Yellow Mama, October 2022)

“Where Palms Sway and the Surf Pounds” by Curtis Ippolito (Shotgun Honey online flash fiction)

Short

“Double Trouble” by M.E. Proctor (Bristol Noir online, March 2022)

“Hiding Out in Cedar Key” by Sharon Marchisello (White Cat Publications online, April 2022)

“The Shape of Australia” by Christine Poulson (Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, July/August 2022)

“My Two-Legs” by Melissa Yi  (Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, September/October 2022)

“Digging In” by Andrew Welsh-Huggins (Black Cat Weekly #40)

Long

“The Vigil” by Toni Goodyear (Carolina Crimes: Rock, Roll and Ruin anthology)

“Tethered” by Marcelle Dubé (Crime Wave: Women of a Certain Age anthology)

“The White Calf and the Wind” by Mike Adamson (Black Cat Mystery Magazine #11)

“The Donovan Gang” by John M. Floyd (Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Sept/Oct 2022)

“Negative Tilt” by Bobby Mathews (Rock and a Hard Place issue 7)

“Something Blue” by G.M. Malliet (Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, November/December 2022)

Novelette

“The Wraith of Bunker Hill” by Paul D. Marks (Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, Sept/Oct 2022)

“Two Shrimp Tacos and a .22 Ruger” by Adam Meyer (Guns & Tacos, Down & Out Books)

“Dead Men Tell No Tales” by Liz Filleul (The People’s Friend Special, issue 225)

“The Refusal Camp” by James Benn (Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Sept/Oct 2022)

“Ripen” by Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier (Black Cat Weekly #48)

2022 Derringer Award Winners

The Short Mystery Fiction Society is proud to announce the winners of the Derringer Awards for 2022.

FLASH FICTION

John M. Floyd. "Tourist Trap." Pulp Modern Flash.

SHORT STORY

Trey Dowell. "Yelena Tried to Kill Me." Mystery Weekly Magazine. August 2021.

LONG STORY

Michael Bracken. "The Downeaster Alexa." Only the Good Die Young.

NOVELETTE

Stacy Woodson. "Two Tamales, One Tokarev, and a Lifetime of Broken Promises." Guns + Tacos: Season Three.

EDWARD D. HOCH MEMORIAL GOLDEN DERRINGER FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

S.J. Rozan 

HALL OF FAME

G.K. Chesterton

The complete list of finalists can be found here.

2022 Derringer Awards Finalists

The Short Mystery Fiction Society has announced the finalists for the 2022 Derringer Awards.  Congratulations to all of them! 

FLASH FICTION

C.W. Blackwell.  "Smoke and Consequences." Mystery Tribune.

Wil A. Emerson. "An Unexpected Reunion." BOULD Awards 2021 Short Story Anthology Vol 1.

John M. Floyd. "Tourist Trap." Pulp Modern Flash.

Scott Von Doviak. "Millicent." Shotgun Honey.

Robert Weibezahl. "Why Are You Just Sitting There?" Yellow Mama.

SHORT STORIES

Brandon Barrows. "The Right to Hang." On the Premises. October 2021.

Tina Debellegarde. "Tokyo Stranger." A Stranger Comes to Town.

Trey Dowell. "Yelena Tried to Kill Me." Mystery Weekly Magazine. August 2021.

Kathleen Marple Kalb. "The Thanksgiving Ragamuffin." Justice For All.

Gabriel Valjan. "Burnt Ends." This Time for Sure.

LONG STORIES

K.L. Abrahamson. "Chicken Coops and Bread Pudding." Moonlight and Misadventure.

Michael Bracken. "The Downeaster Alexa." Only the Good Die Young.

Teel James Glenn. "A Study of Death." Mystery Weekly Magazine. October 2021.

Annie Reed. "Missing Carolyn." Fiction River: Dark & Deadly Passions.

Mark Troy. "Burnin Butt, Texas." Black Cat Mystery Magazine. Issue 10.

NOVELETTES

Jim Benn. "Glass." Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine. September/October 2021.

Michael Bracken. "Aloha Boys." Hallmarks of the Job / Aloha Boys.

Barb Goffman. "A Tale of Two Sisters." Murder on the Beach.

Annie Reed. "Little City Blues." Mystery, Crime, and Mayhem: Long Ago.

Stacy Woodson. "Two Tamales, One Tokarev, and a Lifetime of Broken Promises." Guns + Tacos: Season Three.

NOVELETTES

Golden Derringer Award Winners

 

Photo by Melodie Campbell

Here is a list of all the winners of the Golden Derringer Award in both of its forms.  Please notice that the award was not presented every year.  More information about the Golden Derringer is available here.

EDWARD D. HOCH MEMORIAL GOLDEN DERRINGER AWARD

• 2025 - Art Taylor
• 2024 - Barb Goffman
• 2023 - Martin Edwards
• 2022 - S.J. Rozan
  
• 2021 - Brendan DuBois
• 2020 - Josh Pachter
• 2019 - Doug Allyn
• 2018 - John M. Floyd
• 2017 - Robert J. Randisi
• 2016 - Michael Bracken
• 2015 - James Powell
• 2014 - Ed Gorman
• 2013 - Loren D. Estleman
• 2012 - Bill Pronzini
• 2011 - Ruth Rendell
• 2010 - Lawrence Block
• 2009 - Clark Howard

GOLDEN DERRINGER

• 2001 - John Lutz
• 2000 - Henry Slesar
• 1999 - Edward D. Hoch

Award News: Derringer Award Video

The Derringer Awards were supposed to be formally presented at Bouchercon.  Since that event was cancelled the organizers asked Society president Robert Lopresti to make a video announcing the awards.  It is now available here. 

SMFS Official Announcement: 2021 Derringer Award Winners

 

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

These are the official 2021 Derringer Award Winners:

FLASH (ranges up to 1,000 words)

 

TIE:

Blackwell, C.W. “Memories of Fire.” Pulp Modern Flash. August 3, 2020.

 

Richardson, Travis. “War Words.” Punk Noir Magazine. December 3, 2020.

SHORT (ranges from 1,001 to 4,000 words) 

 

TIE:  

 

Jones, Eleanor Cawood. “The Great Bedbug Incident and the Invitation of Doom." Chesapeake Crimes: Invitation to Murder.    

 

Woodson, Stacy. “River.” The Beat of Black Wings: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Joni Mitchell.

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

Chen, Sarah M. “Hotelin’.” Shotgun Honey: Volume #4: Recoil.

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

Taylor, Art. “The Boy Detective and the Summer of ’74.” Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine. January/February 2020.

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. This year's recipient:

Brendan DuBois.

 

The full list of the finalists for this year can be found here. 

 
Due to the pandemic we can't predict yet whether there will be a Derringer ceremony at Bouchercon in New Orleans in August.  If not the winners will receive their medals through the mail. Congratulations to all!