The Bill Crider Prize for Short Fiction
by Paula Gail Benson
Portions of this post
appeared in the November 19, 2019, post for Writers
Who Kill. However, this great news deserves to be shared more than once!
I was delighted to be asked by Carol Puckett and Kendel Lynn to be the contest
coordinator for the Bill Crider Prize for Short Fiction, debuting this year at
the Dallas Bouchercon. The contest honored the memory of revered Texas writer
and reviewer Bill Crider. Open to any writer in the world, stories had to be
between 3,500 and 5,000 words and deal with the theme “Deep in the Heart.”
appeared in the November 19, 2019, post for Writers
Who Kill. However, this great news deserves to be shared more than once!
I was delighted to be asked by Carol Puckett and Kendel Lynn to be the contest
coordinator for the Bill Crider Prize for Short Fiction, debuting this year at
the Dallas Bouchercon. The contest honored the memory of revered Texas writer
and reviewer Bill Crider. Open to any writer in the world, stories had to be
between 3,500 and 5,000 words and deal with the theme “Deep in the Heart.”
Jim Jackson, who was experienced working on anthologies, agreed to
be the submissions coordinator, without knowing what that task might entail.
Sixty-three stories were blindly submitted. Thirty-seven advanced to the second
round and eleven were selected as finalists for the following prizes:
be the submissions coordinator, without knowing what that task might entail.
Sixty-three stories were blindly submitted. Thirty-seven advanced to the second
round and eleven were selected as finalists for the following prizes:
· First Place: $1000
· Second Place: $750
· Third Place: $500
· Bill Crider Memorial
Scholarship: Registration to Bouchercon 2020
Scholarship: Registration to Bouchercon 2020
We were so fortunate to have excellent short story writers and
editors to agree to judge the preliminary rounds. They were: Carla Coupe, Kaye
George, Barb Goffman, Debra H. Goldstein, Tara Laskowski, Robert Mangeot, Karen
McCullough, Warren Moore, Terrie Moran, and Beth Terrell. I cannot thank these folks
enough for taking on the difficult task of determining which stories would go
forward.
editors to agree to judge the preliminary rounds. They were: Carla Coupe, Kaye
George, Barb Goffman, Debra H. Goldstein, Tara Laskowski, Robert Mangeot, Karen
McCullough, Warren Moore, Terrie Moran, and Beth Terrell. I cannot thank these folks
enough for taking on the difficult task of determining which stories would go
forward.
Janet Hutchings, editor of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine,
and Linda Landrigan, editor of Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine,
graciously agreed to serve as judges for the final round.
and Linda Landrigan, editor of Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine,
graciously agreed to serve as judges for the final round.
The eleven finalists were:
“Long Overdue” by Jaap Boekestein
“Trust Me” by Douglas Dorow
“Mi Corazón, Sin Cartero, Sin Timbre de las Puerta (My
Heart, Sans Postman, Sans Doorbell)” by Dixon Hill
Heart, Sans Postman, Sans Doorbell)” by Dixon Hill
“Resuscitation” by Ann Kellett
“Cahoots” by C.C. Guthrie
“The Texas Justice Project” by James L’Etoile
“Lambs and Wolves” by Robert Lopresti
“Death and Texas” by Lissa Marie Redmond
“Dead Armadillos Don’t Dance” by Kari Wainwright
“The Last Man in Lafarge” by Joseph S. Walker
“Armadillo by Morning” by Stacy Woodson
And, the top four prizes were awarded to:
· First Place:
Joseph S. Walker
Joseph S. Walker
· Second Place: Jaap Boekestein
· Third Place: Douglas
Dorow
Dorow
· Bill Crider Memorial
Scholarship: Dixon Hill
Scholarship: Dixon Hill
We were delighted to have three of the four prize winners (Joseph
S. Walker, Douglas Dorow, and Dixon Hill) at the ceremony hosted by Hank
Phillippi Ryan. In addition, a number of the participants and judges attended
and we took a “class” photo.
S. Walker, Douglas Dorow, and Dixon Hill) at the ceremony hosted by Hank
Phillippi Ryan. In addition, a number of the participants and judges attended
and we took a “class” photo.
Although publication was not part of the prize for this contest, I
firmly believe you’ll be seeing these stories and their authors’ names in
print. So, be watching for them.
firmly believe you’ll be seeing these stories and their authors’ names in
print. So, be watching for them.
Following Bouchercon, Joseph S. Walker attended New England Crime
Bake, where he was honored with the Al Blanchard award. Way to go, Joe!
Bake, where he was honored with the Al Blanchard award. Way to go, Joe!
Many thanks to all who
participated as entrants, judges, and planners of this contest. I hope it might
be a tradition that continues to other Bouchercons.
