Upcoming SMFS Elections

Hello, all.

It was an honor to represent the SMFS personally sending the 2010 Derringer certificates to the winners. My public congratulations and thanks to all who were part of the process.

Presentations made, my two-year term as SMFS president is drawing to a close. As part of the transition to the new officers, I have outlined the duties of president, vice president, and Derringer Coordinator below, and call for nominations from the group.

May 15-30, nominations will be accepted for SMFS President and Vice President 2010-12 and for Derringer Coordinator 2011.

May 31-June 4, each nominee will be allowed to post a single message announcing him/herself to the group and supporting his/her candidacy.

June 5-15, SMFS members will vote to select the new officers.

June 16-30, Jim Doherty, Suzanne Rorhus, and I will coordinate with the Officers-Elect to ensure a smooth transition.

July 1, the new SMFS officers take office.


SMFS Officers' Duties

PRESIDENT (2-year term) - SMFS President moderates the group's discussion forum and membership roll at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/shortmystery. They must ensure the free flow of ideas while maintaining a cordial atmosphere and quelling any flame wars that threaten to erupt.

The president must confer with the vice president regularly, so that, should the president be unavailable, the vice president can continue day-to-day operations.

As the SMFS's main representative with the public, the president must also maintain the SMFS blog at http://shortmystery.blogspot.com, where the public goes for information about the SMFS.

The president organizes the selection committee deciding who should receive the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement.

As for the regular Derringer process, the president and the Derringer Awards Coordinator may confer about the spirit of the rules, but the president may neither collect Derringer submissions, nor judge the regular Derringer Awards, nor win a Derringer Award while in office.


VICE PRESIDENT (2-year term) - SMFS Vice President is co-moderator of the discussion forum and consultant on any group business. The vice president assumes all of the president's duties, including representing the SMFS in person, when the president is unavailable (sickness, vacation, etc.).

The vice president serves with the president on the Edward D. Hoch Golden Derringer selection committee, and is subject to the same restrictions as the president regarding the regular Derringer process.


DERRINGER AWARDS COORDINATOR (1-year term) - The Coordinator runs the annual Derringer Award process, including collecting Derringer submissions, coordinating the judging, and announcing the winners.

The coordinator has the authority to resolve issues that arise throughout the submission, judging, and voting periods, conferring with the president to clarify the spirit of Derringer procedure.

The coordinator moderates the Derringers Voting Group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Derringers), posting the Derringer finalist stories for the voters to read, and verifying members' voting eligibility as they join the group.

The coordinator serves with the president and vice president on the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer selection committee, and like them, may neither judge the regular Derringers nor win a Derringer Award while in office.

Archival Post: 2008 SMFS Derringer Awards

(For Stories Published in 2007. Winners bolded.)

Some titles are linked to stories in online magazine archives. The SMFS encourages you to read these free stories.

BEST FLASH (UP TO 1,000 WORDS)

"My Hero" by Patricia Abbott (2007, D.Z. Allen’s Muzzle Flash)
"Saved" by Keri Clark (Fall 2007,Mysterical-E)
"Dreaming of a Spite Christmas" by B.V. Lawson (Winter 2007, Mouth Full of Bullets, )
"A Woman Scorned" by Jillian Berg (Autumn 2007, Mouth Full of Bullets)
"Your New Fan" by Keri Clark (Winter 2007, Mouth Full of Bullets)

BEST SHORT STORY (1,001-4,000 WORDS)

"In the Shadows of Wrigley Field" by John Weagly (November 2007, The Back Alley)
"Brimstone P.I." by Beverle Graves Myers (May 2007, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine)
"We All Come from Splattertown" by Hugh Lessig (July 2007, ThugLit #17)
"Joyride" by Rick Noetzel (December 2007, Shred of Evidence)
"Handful of Stars" by Jack Hardway (Autumn 2007, Mouth Full of Bullets)
"The Promise" by Camille LaGuire (March-April 2007, Futures Mystery Anthology Magazine)

BEST LONG STORY (4,001-8,000 WORDS)

"The Gospel According to Gordon Black" by Richard Helms (Fall 2007, The Thrilling Detective Web Site)
"A Trader’s Lot" by Twist Phelan (from Wall Street Noir)
"Devil’s Lake" by John Schroeder (January/February 2007, Futures Mystery Anthology Magazine)
"A Private Hanging" by Herschel Cozine (Summer 2007, Mysterical-E)
"Mr. McGregor’s Garden" by Kate Flora (Still Waters)
"Growing Up Is for Losers" by Rosemary Harris (Still Waters)

BEST NOVELETTE (8,001-17,500 WORDS)

"Paper Walls/Glass Houses," by Richard Helms (writing as Eric Shane). (June 2007, The Back Alley.
"The Bookworm’s Demise" by Beverle Graves Myers (December 2007, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine)
"The Enlightenment of Magnus McKay" by John Burdett (Wall Street Noir)
"Wasting Assets" by Mike Wiecek (September 2007, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine)
"Forget Me Not" by Clifford Royal Johns (Fall 2007, Mysterical-E)

Archival Post: 2007 SMFS Derringer Awards

2007 DERRINGER AWARDS
(For Stories Published in 2006. Winners bolded.)

Some titles are linked to stories in online magazine archives. The SMFS encourages you to read these free stories.

BEST FLASH STORY

"Vigilante" by Barry Ergang (Summer 2006, Mysterical-E)
"Matched Set" by Jan Christensen (Winter 2006, Long Story Short)
"Snowflake Therapy" by Michelle Mach (June 2006, Thereby Hangs a Tale)
"Flight School" by Jill Maser (August 28, 2006, Flashshots)
"Home Entertainment" by Sandra Seamans (July/August 2006, A Cruel World)

BEST SHORT-SHORT STORY (tie)

"Elena Speaks of the City, Under Siege" by Steven Torres (September/October 2006, Crimespree Magazine)
"Four For Dinner" by John M. Floyd (Seven by Seven)
"Even Steven" by Gail Farrelly (Winter 2006,Mouth Full of Bullets)
"Interview" by Justin Gustainis (October 2006, Cape Fear Crime Festival)
"The Worst Door" by Frank Zafiro (January 2006, Dispatch)

BEST MID-LENGTH SHORT STORY

"Cranked" by Bill Crider (Damn Near Dead: An Anthology of Geezer Noir)
"Eden's Bodyguard" by David Bareford (September 2006, Thuglit)
"Shadow People" by Rex Burns (June 2006,Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine)
"Uncle Blinky's Corner of the World" by Robert S. Levinson (March/April 2006, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine)
"Shanks on the Prowl" by Robert Lopresti (May 2006, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine)

BEST LONGER SHORT STORY

"Strictly Business" by Julie Hyzy (These Guns for Hire)
"A Signature in Blood" by Annette Dashofy (Winter 2006, Mysterical-E)
"Daphne MacAndrews and the Smack-Head Junkies" by Stuart MacBride (Damn Near Dead: An Anthology of Geezer Noir)
"See Also Murder" by Larry Sweazy (December 11, 2006, Amazon Shorts)
"The Valley of Angustias" by Steven Torres (October 2006, Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine)

Lawrence Block accepts the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement

By Gerald So

On behalf of the SMFS, I contacted Lawrence Block to inform him he had received the Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer, recognizing his lasting contribution to short mystery fiction.

He replied:

Gerald, what a treat! Thanks so much. Ed Hoch was a good friend and beloved colleague, and that makes the award doubly sweet.

I don't know if I'll be able to attend B'con this year; if I do, it'll be a pleasure to receive the plaque, but it's the honor itself that means the most, and I accept that now with abiding gratitude.

Lawrence Block

2010 Derringer Award Results

The Short Mystery Fiction Society's 2010 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)

• "And Here's To You, Mrs. Edwardson" by Hamilton Waymire (Big Pulp, November 23, 2009)
• "Unplanned" by Libby Cudmore (Thrillers, Killers 'n' Chillers, August 2009)
• "Awake" by David Dean (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, July 2009)
• "The Right Track" by R.T. Lawton (Woman's World, October 26, 2009)
• "Gutterball" by Stephen D. Rogers (Woman's World, September 7, 2009)

Best Short Story (1,001–4,000 words)

• "Twas the Night" by Anita Page (The Gift of Murder, October 2009)
• "The Right to Remain Silent" by Debbi Mack (The Back Alley, August 2009)
• "The Hard Sell" by Jay Stringer (Beat to a Pulp, May 3, 2009)
• "The Biography of Stoop the Thief" by Steven Torres (Uncage Me!, July 2009)
• "Identity Theft" by Robert Weibezahl (Beat to a Pulp, March 14, 2009)

Best Long Story (4,001–8,000 words)

• "Famous Last Words" by Doug Allyn (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, November 2009)
• "Snow on Bloedkoppie" by Berhard Jaumann, translated from the German by Mary Tannert (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, August 2009)
• "Regarding Certain Occurrences in a Cottage at the Garden of Allah" by Robert S. Levinson (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, November 2009)
• "A Stab in the Heart" by Twist Phelan (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, February 2009)
• "The Shipbreaker" by Mike Wiecek (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, March/April 2009)

Best Novelette (8,001–17,500 words)

• "Julius Katz" by Dave Zeltserman (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, September/October 2009)
• "The Pirate's Debt" by Toni L.P. Kelner (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, August 2009)
• "The Last Drop" by R.W. Kerrigan (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, February 2009)
• "Adjuncts Anonymous" by B.K. Stevens (Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, June 2009)
• "Uncle Brick and Jimmy Kills" by Allan Leverone (Mysterical-E, Summer 2009)

And determined by a committee of the SMFS Officers, Awards Coordinator, and two members-at-large, the 2010 recipient of the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement:

• Lawrence Block (Block's acceptance remarks)

Recipients may obtain award certificates by emailing Gerald So (G_SO at YAHOO dot COM). Recipients were publicly recognized at the opening ceremonies of Bouchercon, Thursday, October 14, 2010 in San Francisco, CA.

2010 SMFS Derringer Award Winners

For stories first published in 2009. The winners as voted by the Short Mystery Fiction Society membership at large are in bold.

Some titles are linked to stories available in online magazine archives. The SMFS encourages you to read or listen to these free stories.


BEST FLASH STORY (Up to 1,000 Words)

"And Here's To You, Mrs. Edwardson" by Hamilton Waymire
Published in the webzine Big Pulp, November 23, 2009

"Awake" by David Dean
Published in EQMM, July 2009

"Gutterball" by Stephen D. Rogers
Published in Woman's World Magazine, September 7, 2009

"The Right Track" by R.T. Lawton
Published in Woman's World Magazine, October 26, 2009

"Unplanned" by Libby Cudmore
Published in Thrillers, Killers 'n' Chillers, August 2009


BEST SHORT STORY (1,001 - 4,000 Words)

"Identity Theft" by Robert Weibezahl
Published in Beat to a Pulp, March 14, 2009

"The Biography of Stoop the Thief" by Steven Torres
Published in Uncage Me!, July 2009

"The Hard Sell" by Jay Stringer
Published in Beat to a Pulp, May 3, 2009

"The Right to Remain Silent" by Debbi Mack
Published in The Back Alley, August 2009

(Debbi also read this story on Seth Harwood's CrimeWAV podcast. Download her episode here, or listen with the player below.)



"Twas the Night" by Anita Page
Published in The Gift of Murder, October 2009

("'Twas the Night" was also accepted to be read by Alan Vogel on Lit103.3. Listen with the player below.)




BEST LONG STORY (4,001 - 8,000 Words)

"A Stab in the Heart" by Twist Phelan
Published in EQMM, February 2009

(Twist also read this story on Seth Harwood's CrimeWAV podcast. Download her episode here, or listen with the player below.)



"Famous Last Words" by Doug Allyn
Published in EQMM, November 2009

"Regarding Certain Occurrences in a Cottage at the Garden of Allah" by Robert S. Levinson
Published in AHMM, November 2009

"Snow on Bloedkoppie" by Berhard Jaumann (translated from the German by Mary Tannert)
Published in EQMM, August 2009

"The Shipbreaker" by Mike Wiecek
Published in EQMM, March/April 2009


BEST NOVELETTE (8,001 - 17,500 Words)

"Adjuncts Anonymous" by B.K. Stevens
Published in AHMM, June 2009

"Julius Katz" by Dave Zeltserman
Published in EQMM, September/October 2009

"The Last Drop" by R.W. Kerrigan
Published in EQMM, February 2009

"The Pirate's Debt" by Toni L.P. Kelner
Published in EQMM, August 2009

"Uncle Brick and Jimmy Kills" by Allan Leverone
Published in Mysterical-E, Summer 2009


2010 RECIPIENT OF THE EDWARD D. HOCH MEMORIAL GOLDEN DERRINGER FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

Lawrence Block (Block's acceptance remarks)

2010 SMFS Derringer Award Finalists

As determined by volunteer judges from the SMFS membership.

Some titles are linked to stories available in online magazine archives. The SMFS encourages you to read or listen to these free stories.


BEST FLASH STORY (Up to 1,000 Words)

"And Here's To You, Mrs. Edwardson" by Hamilton Waymire
Published in the webzine Big Pulp, November 23, 2009

"Awake" by David Dean
Published in EQMM, July 2009

"Gutterball" by Stephen D. Rogers
Published in Woman's World Magazine, September 7, 2009

"The Right Track" by R.T. Lawton
Published in Woman's World Magazine, October 26, 2009

"Unplanned" by Libby Cudmore
Published in Thrillers, Killers 'n' Chillers, August 2009


BEST SHORT STORY (1,001 - 4,000 Words)

"Identity Theft" by Robert Weibezahl
Published in Beat to a Pulp, March 2009

"The Biography of Stoop the Thief" by Steven Torres
Published in Uncage Me!, July 2009

"The Hard Sell" by Jay Stringer
Published in Beat to a Pulp, May 3, 2009

"The Right to Remain Silent" by Debbi Mack
Published in The Back Alley, August 2009

(Debbi also read this story on Seth Harwood's CrimeWAV podcast. Download her episode here, or listen with the player below.)



"Twas the Night" by Anita Page
Published in The Gift of Murder, October 2009


BEST LONG STORY (4,001 - 8,000 Words)

"A Stab in the Heart" by Twist Phelan
Published in EQMM, February 2009

(Twist also read this story on Seth Harwood's CrimeWAV podcast. Download her episode here, or listen with the player below.)



"Famous Last Words" by Doug Allyn
Published in EQMM, November 2009

"Regarding Certain Occurrences in a Cottage at the Garden of Allah" by Robert S. Levinson
Published in AHMM, November 2009

"Snow on Bloedkoppie" by Berhard Jaumann (translated from the German by Mary Tannert)
Published in EQMM, August 2009

"The Shipbreaker" by Mike Wiecek
Published in EQMM, March/April 2009


BEST NOVELETTE (8,001 - 17,500 Words)

"Adjuncts Anonymous" by B.K. Stevens
Published in AHMM, June 2009

"Julius Katz" by Dave Zeltserman
Published in EQMM, September/October 2009

"The Last Drop" by R.W. Kerrigan
Published in EQMM, February 2009

"The Pirate's Debt" by Toni L.P. Kelner
Published in EQMM, August 2009

"Uncle Brick and Jimmy Kills" by Allan Leverone
Published in Mysterical-E, Summer 2009


The SMFS membership at large will read the finalist stories and vote between April 1-30, 2010. Winners announced May 1, 2010.