I'm a member of the Short Mystery Fiction Society, an informal association of writers, publishers, and fans that has kept mystery & crime short stories in the public eye since 1996. On April 4, the Society announced the finalists for its 2019 Derringer Awards. A vote of the membership will determine the winners, to be announced in May.
In the meantime, I'm inviting the finalists for interviews. If you'd like to participate, email me your answers to the same following questions.
Travis Richardson is a finalist for the Best Flash Story Derringer (stories ranging up to 1,000 words) with his May 27, 2018 Flash Fiction Offensive story "A Misunderstanding".
Describe your story in up to 20 words.
"A Misunderstanding" concerns an underworld enforcer trying to hold off a home invasion while the mystery of why slowly reveals itself.
What were the most difficult and most enjoyable parts of writing the story?
The story was originally titled “He Knows” and closer to 2,000 words. I worked with a writing group (Derringer finalist Stephen Buehler and Anthony nominee Sarah M. Chen) to compress the story and make into a concise thousand-word thriller with a slice of mystery.
Do you have a (juicy) story about how your story came to be published?
Nothing too juicy about this. Hector Duarte Jr. accepted the story. He asked about a reference to J-Dog, but that was it. He did a great job in his tenure at Out of the Gutter's Flash Fiction Offensive.
How does it feel to be a Derringer finalist?
Great. This is my fourth time and it still feels wonderful.
In the meantime, I'm inviting the finalists for interviews. If you'd like to participate, email me your answers to the same following questions.
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| Travis Richardson |
Describe your story in up to 20 words.
"A Misunderstanding" concerns an underworld enforcer trying to hold off a home invasion while the mystery of why slowly reveals itself.
What were the most difficult and most enjoyable parts of writing the story?
The story was originally titled “He Knows” and closer to 2,000 words. I worked with a writing group (Derringer finalist Stephen Buehler and Anthony nominee Sarah M. Chen) to compress the story and make into a concise thousand-word thriller with a slice of mystery.
Do you have a (juicy) story about how your story came to be published?
Nothing too juicy about this. Hector Duarte Jr. accepted the story. He asked about a reference to J-Dog, but that was it. He did a great job in his tenure at Out of the Gutter's Flash Fiction Offensive.
How does it feel to be a Derringer finalist?
Great. This is my fourth time and it still feels wonderful.
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