Pay Attention, Short-Story Authors!

My e-mail has brought two bits of information, from Down & Out: The Magazine editor Rick Ollerman, that should be of interest to authors.

First off, he passes along word that the deadline for entries to this year’s inaugural Bill Crider Prize for Short Fiction has been extended. According to this page on the Bouchercon 2019 Web site, the time limit was supposed to have ended this coming Friday, March 1. Ollerman says he’s been told by Bouchercon organizers that the cut-off for submissions will now be later than that, “but they did not give me the date. They may not actually have a hard date.” It’s possible that the folks responsible for this prize are simply hoping to receive additional entries, and will leave the deadline loose for now—but that’s only conjecture. I’ll let you know if I hear more.

Secondly, it seems Ollerman will be editing this year’s Bouchercon anthology, and he’s still looking for short stories to include in its pages. Submissions can be made only by registered conference attendees. Ollerman provides these further details:

• One of Bouchercon 50’s goals is to make the largest charitable contribution in the history of the conference. All proceeds from the sale of the books will go toward that effort! LIFT, Literary Instruction For Texas, works to enhance and strengthen communities by teaching adults to read. And Bouchercon gets to help in that mission this year!

• For a theme, think no further than the conference slogan: “Denim, Diamonds, and Death!”

• Original stories are vastly preferred. Absolutely no
reprints, please.

• Stories should be less than five thousand words. Approximately. Sort of. But you know writers.

• The book itself will once again be published by the fine folks at Down & Out Books.

• The deadline for all stories will be June 1st.

If you think you’ve got the story for the anthology, not just a story, please send it to rick@downandoutmagazine.com. We’ll have the book for sale in the book room with some signings and hopefully we’ll be able to make a meaningful contribution to LIFT as well as showcase some of the amazing talent in the Bouchercon writing community.