And the Short Story Award Goes To . . .

by Paula Gail Benson

It’s awards season again. Here are short story and anthology categories for Macavity, Anthony, and Silver Falchion awards. I’ll also note that the Short Mystery Fiction Society is currently polling its membership concerning a new anthology category to be added to the Derringers.

Many events on the horizon!

Mystery Readers Internation Macavity Awards Finalists

Best Mystery Short Story:

• Barb Goffman:“Real Courage” (Black Cat Mystery Magazine #14, Oct. 2023)
• Curtis Ippolito:“Green and California Bound” (Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, Sept/Oct 2023)
• Dru Ann Love & Kristopher Zgorski:“Ticket to Ride” (Happiness is a Warm Gun: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of The Beatles, ed. Josh Pachter, Down & Out Books)
• Lisa Scottoline:“Pigeon Tony’s Last Stand” (Amazon Original Stories)
• Stacy Woodson:“One Night in 1965” (More Groovy Gumshoes: Private Eyes in the Psychedelic Sixties, ed. Michael Bracken, Down & Out Books)

Anthony Award Finalists (to be given at Bouchercon)

BEST ANTHOLOGY/COLLECTION

• School of Hard Knox, edited by Donna Andrews, Greg Herren, and Art Taylor
• Here in the Dark: Stories by Meagan Luca
• Happiness Is a Warm Gun: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of The Beatles, edited by Josh Pachter
• The Adventure of the Castle Thief and Other Expeditions and Indiscretions by Art Taylor
• Killin’ Time in San Diego: Bouchercon Anthology 2023, edited by Holly West

BEST SHORT STORY

• “Real Courage” by Barb Goffman
• “Knock” by James D.F. Hannah
• “Green and California Bound” by Curtis Ippolito
• “Ticket to Ride” by Dru Ann Love and Kristopher Zgorski
• “Tell Me No Lies” by Holly West

Silver Falchion Award Finalists (to be given at Killer Nashville)

BEST ANTHOLOGY (AWARDED TO INDIVIDUAL AUTHOR OR COLLECTION EDITOR)

• The Black Hole of Pastrami by Jeffrey Feingold
• There Is No death in Finding Nemo by Jeffrey Feingold
• Paper Walls/Glass Houses by Richard Helms
• Blues City Clues edited by Carolyn McSparren, Angelyn Sherrod, and James Paavola
• Obsession by Multiple Authors
• Hook, Line, and Sinker: The Seventh Guppy Anthology edited by Emily Murphy