For most authors, receiving awards for something they've written is like winning one of the top prizes on a scratch off ticket from the lottery. At least the odds seem about the same. Three stories from Still Waters, the New England crime anthology that I’ve been a regular contributor to, are award finalists, winners or both (read about it in Level Best Books publisher Kate Flora’s blog). Well, the Short Mystery Fiction Society 2008 Derringer Award results are in and, while neither of the Still Waters finalists picked up the win, both deserve congratulations on a fine showing.
As for my short story from Still Waters, it may not have been picked for an award but I did receive good comments about it from readers. I might even have a fan at the New Hampshire Lottery Commission who's responsible for recently issuing a scratch ticket with the same name, Luck of the Draw. The odds of winning the big prize is 1 in 135,000.
That sounds about right to me.
©2008 S. A. Daynard