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

SMFS Official Post: 2011 Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer Recipient

The members of the Short Mystery Fiction Society are pleased to announce that this year’s recipient of the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer Award for Lifetime Achievement is Ruth Rendell.

2011 Derringer Award Results

The Short Mystery Fiction Society's 2011 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) (Tie)

• "The Book Signing" by Kathy Chencharik (Thin Ice: Crime Stories By New England Writers, November 2010)
• "The Unknown Substance" by Jane Hammons (A Twist of Noir, December 27, 2010)
• "Blues in the Night" by Carol Kilgore (Dark Valentine Vol. 1, No. 1, June 2010)
• "Stick a Needle in My Eye" by Julia Madeleine (Powder Burn Flash, 2010)
• "Homeless" by Patricia Morin (Mystery Montage, October 2010)

Best Short Story (1,001–4,000 words)

• "Pewter Badge" by Michael J. Solender (Yellow Mama)
• "Broken Down on the Bonneville Flats" by Jack Bates (Beat to a Pulp)
• "My Asshole Brother" by Eric Beetner (A Twist of Noir)
• "Angel of Mercy" by David Price (Beat to a Pulp)
• "Seventy-two Hours or Less" by Michael J. Solender (A Twist of Noir)

Best Long Story (4,001–8,000 words) (Tie)

• "Care of the Circumcised Penis" by Sean Doolittle (Thuglit Presents: Blood, Guts, and Whiskey)
• "Interpretation of Murder" by B.K. Stevens (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine)
• "Silicon Kings" by Richard Helms (The Back Alley Webzine)
• "The Little Nogai Boy" by R.T. Lawton (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine)
• "A Tour of the Tower" by Christine Poulson (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine)

Best Novelette (8,001–17,500 words)

• "Rearview Mirror" by Art Taylor (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine)
• "The Scent of Lilacs" by Doug Allyn (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine)
• "The Gods for Vengeance Cry" by Richard Helms (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine)
• "Deserters" by Chris Muessig (Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine)
• "The Man With One Eye" by Stephen Ross (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine)

And determined by a committee of the SMFS Officers, Awards Coordinator, and two members-at-large, the 2011 recipient of the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement:

• Ruth Rendell

Recipients may obtain award certificates by emailing SMFS Vice President Gerald So (G_SO at YAHOO dot COM).

The 2011 Derringer Winners

The Short Mystery Fiction Society is pleased to announce the winners of the 2011 Derringer Awards for short mystery fiction:

Best Flash Fiction Story (under 1,000 words) - (TIE)

"The Book Signing," by Kathy Chencharik, Thin Ice: Crime Stories by New England Writers, Leslie Wheeler, Mark Ammons, Barbara Ross, Kat Fast, Eds., Level Best Books, November, 2010

and

"The Unknown Substance" by Jane Hammons, A Twist of Noir, December 27, 2010


Best Short Story (1,001-4,000 words) - "Pewter Badge," by Michael J. Solender, Yellow Mama, August, 2010

Best Long Story (4,001-8,000 words) - (TIE)

"Care of the Circumcised Penis" by Sean Doolittle, Thuglit Presents: Blood, Guts & Whiskey, Todd Robinson, Ed., Kensington Publishing Corp., May, 2010

and

"Interpretation of Murder" by B. K. Stevens, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, December, 2010


Best Novelette (8,001-17,500 words) - "Rearview Mirror" by Art Taylor,
Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, March, 2010

Recipient of Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer Award for Lifetime Achievement - Ruth Rendell

We offer hearty congratulations to these authors for their demonstrated excellence in short fiction, and our sincere thanks to all who submitted stories.

Presentation of the Awards will take place in conjunction with the short story panel at Bouchercon 2011, held in St. Louis, MO in September.

Larry W. Chavis
Derringer Coordinator, 2011

2011 SMFS Derringer Award Finalists

For Best Flash (Up to 1,000 words)

• "The Book Signing" by Kathy Chencharik (Thin Ice: Crime Stories By New England Writers, November 2010)
• "The Unknown Substance" by Jane Hammons (A Twist of Noir, December 27, 2010)>
• "Blues in the Night" by Carol Kilgore (Dark Valentine Vol. 1, No. 1, June 2010)
• "Stick a Needle in My Eye" by Julia Madeleine (Powder Burn Flash, 2010)
• "Homeless" by Patricia Morin (Mystery Montage, October 2010)

Best Short Story (1001 - 4000 words)

"My Asshole Brother" by Eric Beetner published in A Twist of Noir
"Seventy-two Hours or Less" by Michael J. Solender published in A Twist of Noir
"Broken Down on the Bonneville Flats" by Jack Bates published in Beat to a Pulp
"Angel of Mercy" by David Price published in Beat to a Pulp
"Pewter Badge" by Michael J. Solender published in Yellow Mama

Best Long Story (4001 - 8000 words)

"A Tour of the Tower: by Christine Poulson published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine
"Care of the Circumcised Penis" by Sean Doolittle published in Thuglit Presents: Blood, Guts, and Whiskey
"Interpretation of Murder" by B. K. Stevens published in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine
"Silicon Kings" by Richard Helms published in The Back Alley Webzine
"The Little Nogai Boy" by R. T. Lawton published in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine

Best Novelette (8001 - 17,500)

"Deserters" by Chris Muessig published in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine
"Rearview Mirror" by Art Taylor published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine
"The Gods for Vengeance Cry" by Richard Helms published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine
"The Man With One Eye" by Stephen Ross published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine
"The Scent of Lilacs" by Doug Allyn published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine

The winners will be announced on March 31. Congratulations and best wishes to each of the finalists!

2011 Derringer Awards Submission Instructions

The period to submit stories for the Derringer Awards will open Saturday, Jan.1, 2011, 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, 2010 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 2010. Submission limits for editors are detailed below, from the blog page:If the publication contains up to 25 stories first appearing in 2010, up to 3 of these may be submitted by the editor for Derringer consideration in 2011." 26 to 50 stories first appearing in 2010, up to 4 of these may be submitted by the editor for Derringer consideration in 2011." 51 to 75 stories first appearing in 2010, up to 5 of these may be submitted by the editor for Derringer consideration in 2011." more than 75 stories first appearing in 2010, up to 6 of these may be submitted by the editor for Derringer consideration in 2011.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 2010are eligible for the 2011 awards. If a story appeared, for example, in a"Winter 2009-2010" issue, or a "December 2009-January 2010" issue of a publication, it would be eligible for consideration this year. On the other hand, one appearing in such issues for 2010-2011 would be eligible for consideration in the 2012 award cycle.

4.) Submission format: Please submit each story, with its author and publication data, to me at lwchavis @ bellsouth.net 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 Saturday, Jan. 1. Please don't send anything before that time, as it will be discarded.

Larry Chavis
Derringer Coordinator 2011

The Derringer Award Presentation

Bouchercon 2010 starts tomorrow, October 14, in San Francisco. On Friday, October 15, following the short story panel discussion "In Case of Madness", Jim Doherty will be presenting the 2010 Derringer Award plaques. The panel will be from 4:30 to 5:30 pm in the Grand Ballroom of The Hyatt Regency Hotel with the presentation immediately following.

If you're a member of SMFS or just a lover of the short story form please show your support by attending the panel and the presentation.

Thank you!