Derringer Award

The Derringer Award was launched in 1998 and is the Short Mystery Fiction Society’s annual award honoring excellence in short mystery fiction of varying lengths. The awards were created in 1997 and named Derringer after the palm-sized pocket handgun, chosen as a metaphor for a short Mystery or Crime story. It honours outstanding published mystery and crime stories up to 20,000 words, as well as those people who have greatly advanced or supported the short story form.

Awards

Awards are given in the following categories:

• Best Story 1000 words or fewer
• Best Story 1001 to 4000 words
• Best Story 4001 to 8000 words
• Best Story 8001 to 20,000 words

In addition to the above awards, SFMS give a Lifetime Achievement award called the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement, named for legendary short crime fiction writer Edward D. Hoch, which honors short mystery fiction writers who have had significant careers.

The Derringer Award is awarded by members of the Short Mystery Fiction Society (SMFS) and from Publishers and Editors of mystery and crime fiction. The author does not have to be a member of the SMFS, however, submissions for award consideration will be accepted only from SMFS members and from Editors and Publishers who publish mystery and crime fiction. To be considered, submissions must be a mystery or crime story. The publication must have been one with an editor and an established procedure for submission, acceptance and rejection. The publication may be a print magazine, an electronic magazine (Ezine) or an anthology of mystery and/or crime stories in book form. The publication does not have to pay cash.

The author does not have to be a member of SMFS to be considered. The publication does not have to be one published in the USA. It must, however, have been published in the English language. Works previously published in any language other than English are eligible based on the date of their first publication in English.

Awards issued

2015 awards

Awards were given in four categories on March 31, 2015.^[1] Medals will be presented at Bouchercon 2015 to those recipients in attendance.

Best Flash Story:

• Joseph D'Agnese, "How Lil' Jimmie Beat the Big C" (published in Shotgun Honey, May 12, 2014)

Best Short Story:

• Cathi Stoler, "The Kaluki Kings of Queens" (published in Murder New York Style: Family Matters, August 2014)

Best Long Story:

• Hilary Davidson, "A Hopeless Case" (published in All Due Respect #4, September 2014)

Best Novelette:

• Doug Allyn, "The Snow Angel" (published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, January 2014)

Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement:

• James Powell

2014 awards

Awards were given in four categories on April 1, 2014.^[2]

Best Flash Story:

• Stephen D. Rogers, "Luck is What You Make" (published in Crime Factory, May 2013)

Best Short Story:

• Robert Lopresti, "The Present" (published in The Strand Magazine, February-May 2013)

Best Long Story:

• Ray Daniel, "Give Me a Dollar" (published in Best New England Crime Stories 2014: Stone Cold, September 2013)

Best Novelette:

• Melodie Campbell, "The Goddaughter's Revenge" (published in Orca Rapid Reads, October 2013)

Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement:

• Ed Gorman

2013 awards

Awards were given in four categories on March 31, 2013:^[3]

Best Flash Story:

• Randy DeWitt, "The Cable Job" (published in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, September 2012)

Best Short Story:

• Michael Bracken, "Getting Out of the Box" (published in Crime Square, 2012)

Best Long Story (TIE):

• Art Taylor, "When Duty Calls" (published in Chesapeake Crimes: This Job Is Murder, 2012)

Best Novelette:

• Doug Allyn, "Wood-Smoke Boys" (published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, March/April 2012)

Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement:

• Loren D. Estleman

2012 awards

Awards were given in four categories on April 1, 2012:^[4]

Best Flash Story:

• Allan Leverone, "Lessons Learned" (published in Shotgun Honey, July 29, 2011)

Best Short Story:

• B.V. Lawson, "Touch of Death" (published in Absent Willow Review, April 2011)

Best Long Story (TIE):

• Art Taylor, "A Drowning at Snow's Cut" (published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, November 2011)
• Karen Pullen, "Brea's Tale" (published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, May 2011)

Best Novelette:

• Earl Staggs, "Where Billy Died" (published in Untreed Reads, August 2011)

Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement:

• Bill Pronzini

2011 awards

Awards were given in four categories on March 31, 2011:^[5]

Best Flash Story (TIE):

• Kathy Chencharik, "The Book Signing" (published in Thin Ice: Crime Stories by New England Writers)
• Jane Hammons, "The Unknown Substance" (published in A Twist of Noir

Best Short Story:

• Michael J. Solender, "Pewter Badge" (published in Yellow Mama)

Best Long Story (TIE):

• Sean Doolittle, "Care of the Circumcised Penis" (published in Thuglit Presents: Blood, Guts & Whiskey)
• B.K. Stevens, "Interpretation of Murder" (published in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine)

Best Novelette:

• Art Taylor, "Rearview Mirror" (published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine)

Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement:

• Ruth Rendell

2010 awards

Awards were given in four categories on May 1, 2010:^[6]

Best Flash Story:

• Hamilton Waymire, "And Here's To You, Mrs. Edwardson" (published in Big Pulp)

Best Short Story:

• Anita Page, "Twas the Night" (published in The Gift of Murder)

Best Long Story:

• Doug Allyn, "Famous Last Words" (published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine)

Best Novelette:

• Dave Zeltserman, "Julius Katz" (published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine)

Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement:

• Lawrence Block

2009 awards

Awards were given in four categories on May 1, 2009.^[7]

Best Flash Story:

• Ruth McCarty, "No Flowers for Stacey" (published in Deadfall: Crime Stories by New England Writers)

Best Short Story:

• Mike Penncavage, "The Cost of Doing Business" (published in Thuglit)

Best Long Story:

• Robert S. Levinson, "The Quick Brown Fox" (published in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine)

Best Novelette:

• O'Neil De Noux, "Too Wise" (published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, November 2008)

Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer Award for Lifetime Achievement:

• Clark Howard

External links

• Official website

References