Private Eye Writers of America 2015 Shamus Awards Submission Guidelines

Forwarded to the SMFS by Gay Toltl Kinman, following are the categories for the Private Eye Writers of America 2015 Shamus Awards for private eye novels and short stories first published in the United States in 2014. The awards will be presented during Bouchercon 2015 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

DEADLINE: For publishers submissions must be postmarked by March 31, 2015. No extensions can be given.

Shamus Committees will forward their final list to the Shamus Awards Chair by May 31, 2015.

ELIGIBILITY: Eligible works must feature as a main character a person PAID for investigative work but NOT employed for that work by a unit of government. These include traditionally licensed private investigators; lawyers and reporters who do their own investigations; and others who function as hired private agents. These do NOT include law enforcement officers, other government employees or amateur, uncompensated sleuths.

SUBMISSIONS: Please send one copy of each eligible work to ALL members of the appropriate committee, and send a copy to the Shamus Awards Chair, Gay Toltl Kinman. Do NOT submit a book to more than one committee.

There is no application fee and no submission form, as a simple cover letter will suffice. Email Gay Toltl Kinman (GAYKINMAN at GAYKINMAN dot COM) for the Chair and committee members' mailing addresses or if you have any questions.

BEST HARDCOVER PI NOVEL: A book-length work of fiction published in hardcover in 2014 that is NOT the author’s first published P.I. novel.

BEST FIRST PI NOVEL: A book-length work of fiction, in hardcover or paperback, first published in 2014 that is the author’s first published novel featuring a private investigator as a main character.

BEST ORIGINAL PAPERBACK PI NOVEL: A book-length work of fiction first published as a paperback original in 2014 that is NOT the author’s first P.I. novel; and paperback reprints of previously published novels are NOT eligible.

BEST PI SHORT STORY: A work of fiction of 20,000 words or fewer. Stories first published in an earlier year and reprinted in a magazine, anthology or collection in 2014, are NOT eligible.

BEST INDIE PI NOVEL: A book-length work of fiction, in hardcover, paperback or e-book, first published in 2014 featuring a private investigator as a main character and published independently by the author.

Members' Publication News

The following members sent in publication news this month:

• Peter DiChellis, "The Owl Clock Murder", Over My Dead Body! (December 20, 2014)
• Michael Haynes, "Lakeside Memories", Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine (February 2015)
• Robert Lopresti started a new blog, Today in Mystery History
• Edith Maxwell, "A Questionable Death", History and Mystery, Oh My! (January 2015, Mystery and Horror, LLC)
• Melissa Yuan-Innes, "Om", Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine (January 2015)

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

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).

Stephen D. Rogers accepts his 2014 Derringer for "Luck is What You Make"

Full list of 2014 Derringer finalists and winners

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.

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

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.