MGOC Contributor News: Michael Bracken Wins Derringer Award

Many Genres, One Craft contributor Michael Bracken's short story "Getting Out of the Box," published in the crime fiction anthology Crime Square (Vantage Point, 2012) received a Derringer Award from the Short Mystery Fiction Society (SMFS). This is Bracken's second Derringer Award. He received a Derringer Award in 2004 for his story "All My Yesterdays," and his story "Cuts Like a Knife" was short-listed for the award in 2002.

The annual Derringer Awards were established by the SMFS in 1997 to honor excellence in short mystery fiction. The name ³Derringer,² after the palm-sized handgun, was chosen as a metaphor for a short mystery or crime story.

Bracken is the author of several books but is better known as a highly prolific short story writer. The author of almost 1,000 short stories in various genres, he has had one or more short stories published each month for almost 10 consecutive years.

Former president of the SMFS, former vice president of the Private Eye Writers of America, and former vice president of the Mystery Writers of America¹s Southwest Chapter, Bracken is also an active member of the Horror Writers Association and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.

He received a B.A. in Professional Writing from Baylor University.

For a complete list of winners and nominees in all categories, visit
http://shortmystery.blogspot.com/2013/03/2013-smfs-derringer-award-results.html

Crime Square can be ordered from Amazon at
http://www.amazon.com/Crime-Square-Robert-J-Randisi/dp/1936467305

MGOC Contributor: Michael Bracken

MICHAEL BRACKEN

EXCERPT from "I Write Short Stories" by Michael Bracken in Many Genres, One Craft: Lessons in Writing Popular Fiction

I write short stories. A lot of them.

In a publishing environment where many writers bemoan the lack of markets for short fiction, I've placed almost 900 short stories. That's 2.7 million words, give or take, or the equivalent of 45 short novels.

When I began writing as a teenager in the 1970s, short story publication was considered the first step to becoming a genre novelist. Writers learned their craft by publishing short fiction in the popular magazines of the day before grappling with the complexity and length of novels. They established writing credentials, providing heft to their query and cover letters, and developed a readership before their first novel ever hit the wire racks at the grocery store.

That doesn't seem to happen much today, and many writers, perhaps encouraged by the ease of publication offered by low-cost vanity publishing companies, leap directly into novel writing without first establishing their writing skills and publishing credentials. Among those who succeed as novelists, some write short stories as an afterthought and some established genre novelists write short fiction only at the invitation of anthology editors.

--

Michael Bracken is the author of 11 books, including All White Girls, Deadly Campaign, and Tequila Sunrise. More than 800 of his short stories have been published worldwide. His “Dreams Unborn” was named one of The Best American Mystery Stories 2005 and “All My Yesterdays” received a Derringer Award. Bracken edited five crime fiction anthologies whose stories have been short-listed for the Anthony, Derringer, Edgar, and Shamus awards. Bracken served as V.P. of both the Private Eye Writers of America and the Mystery Writers of America’s Southwest chapter. He also belongs to the Horror Writers Association and Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. Bracken received his B.A. in Professional Writing from Baylor University.

MGOC Contributor News: Michael Bracken 's 96 Month Milestone

With publication of "Sparks Fly on Independence Day" in the July 2011 True Confessions, Many Genres, One Craft contributor Michael Bracken now has had one (or more!) short stories published each month for 96 consecutive months!

Congratulations, Michael on your incredible achievement.

posted by heidi

MGOC Contributor News: Michael Bracken's Most Recent Publications

"Seeds Of A New Relationship" (romance) in SEEDS, January 26, 2011

"Come To Jesus" (erotica) in BLACK FIRE (Bold Strokes Books)

"Stand By Your Man" (erotic private eye) in STAND BY YOUR MAN (Xcite) and in
WHEN A MAN LOVES A MAN (Xcite)

"Garden Variety" (erotica) in ALL THE BOYS (Xcite) and in in WHEN A MAN
LOVES A MAN (Xcite)

"Small Change" (erotic crime fiction) in VOLUPTUOUS (Xcite)

"Thirteen Roses" and "Full Frontal" (confessions) in TRUE LOVE, February,
2011

"Double Winner" (romance) in THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT, February 17, 2011

"Flaming Leprechaun" and "Spring Broke" (confessions) in TRUE LOVE, March,
2011

"I Finally Found Him" (confession) in TRUE STORY, March, 2011

Michael Bracken will be at Left Coast Crime in Santa Fe, NM, March 24 - 27, 2011.

posted by heidi

MGOC Contributor News: Michael Bracken's Recent Publications

"Southern Comfort" (crime fiction) in Big Pulp, Winter, 2010


"Wet Work" (crime fiction) in Out of the Gutter 7

"Reprieve" (erotic crime fiction) in I Like to Watch (Cleis Press)

"Love And A Hula Girl Lamp" (confession) in True Confessions, January, 2011

"Lipstick in the Rain" (erotic crime fiction) in Under the Desert Sky (Xcite); this anthology also includes a story by one of his pseudonyms

Michael will be at the Puerto Vallarta Writers Conference (Mexico) during February 25 - 27, 2011. Check the Events Sidebar for more of his appearances.

posted by heidi