Derringer Awards

May 2, 2021 / Sarah M. Chen / Leave a comment

I’m so excited to announce that my story “Hotelin'” won a Derringer Award for Best Long Story from the Short Mystery Fiction Society!

It’s an honor I’ve wanted since I started writing crime fiction short stories back in 2007! I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Ron Earl Phillips of Shotgun Honey for accepting my story and publishing it in Shotgun Honey, Volume 4: RECOIL.

It’s especially exciting to be a winner along with my friend and writer group buddy, Travis Richardson. Yay!

Here’s the official announcement: Short Mystery Fiction Society Announces Derringer Winners!

Derringer nominations are announced

April 4, 2021April 4, 2021 / Sarah M. Chen / Leave a comment

I’m so excited to say my short story “Hotelin'” is a Derringer nominee! The Short Mystery Fiction Society awards the Derringers every year to the best mystery short stories in 4 categories: Flash, Short, Long, and Novelette.

Since I’ve been writing short stories, I’ve submitted my story for consideration for a Derringer. And now finally, 30 short stories and 14 years later, I’m a nominee! Don’t ever give up, people.

“Hotelin'” is in the Long category which are 4001-8000 words.

“Hotelin'” was published last year in the Shotgun Honey Presents Volume 4: Recoil anthology. It’s about a single mother struggling to raise two girls as they move from motel to motel.

If you’d like to read the story, click the link below!

Hotelin’Download

Winners are announced May 1!

CLEANING UP FINN is up for an Anthony Award!

May 20, 2017 / Sarah M. Chen / 3 Comments

I’m really excited to attend Bouchercon this year in Toronto for many reasons, but now I have an even bigger reason to be excited! I especially love that this is the first year there is a Best Novella category so it’s truly an honor to be shortlisted.

Best Novella (8,000-40,000 words)

Cleaning Up Finn – Sarah M. Chen [All Due Respect Books]
No Happy Endings – Angel Luis Colón [Down & Out]
Crosswise – S.W. Lauden [Down & Out]
Beware the Shill – John Shepphird [Down & Out]
The Last Blue Glass – B.K. Stevens, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, April 2016 [Dell]

It’s tough competition and it’s even tougher because three of the nominees are my friends: Angel Luis Colón, S.W. Lauden, and John Shepphird. There’s going to be some epic throwdowns in Toronto, I have a feeling.

And I owe all this to my publishers over at ALL DUE RESPECT BOOKS, Chris Rhatigan and Mike Monson. Love these guys and hope I make them proud! Go ADR!

Here’s the link to the entire list of Anthony nominees:

http://bouchercon2017.com/anthony-awards/

Hope to see many of you in Toronto!

Cleaning Up Finn is a Lefty Nominee!

January 17, 2017 / Sarah M. Chen / 2 Comments

I woke up to the amazing and unbelievable news that my little noir novella CLEANING UP FINN is a Lefty nominee for Best Debut Mystery. I am so honored and thrilled and don’t know what to do with myself. I’m in such great company too and am so excited for all my talented writer friends who are also nominated for Best Debut, Best Humorous, Best Historical, and Best Mystery!

A HUGE thank you to the awesome guys at All Due Respect Books, Mike Monson and Chris Rhatigan for believing in FINN.

Here’s the official Press Release: lcc-2017_lefty_award_nominations

Thank you, Left Coast Crime folks….Honolulu, here I come!