2018 Shamus Awards: Submissions Now Open

Private Eye Writers of America
2018 Shamus Awards

For Works First Published in the U.S. in 2017

  

Following are the categories for the Private Eye Writers of America 2018 Shamus Awards for private eye novels and short stories first published in the United States in 2017. The awards will be presented in the fall of 2018.

DEADLINE: Submissions must be postmarked by March 31, 2018. No extensions can be given.

Shamus Committees will forward their final list to the Shamus Awards Chair by May 31, 2018.

ELIGIBILITY: Eligible works must feature as a main character a person paid for investigative work but not employed for that work by a unit of government.  Eligible works include traditionally licensed private investigators; lawyers and reporters who do their own investigations; and others who function as hired private agents. These do not include law enforcement officers; other government employees; or amateur, uncompensated sleuths (such as in cozy mysteries).

Independently published books (Indies, print format) may be submitted to the Best Original Paperback PI Novel category.

SUBMISSIONS; Please send one copy of each eligible work to all members of the appropriate committee. Do not submit a book to more than one committee.

There is no application fee and no submission form, as a simple cover letter will suffice. For committee names and addresses, or other questions, please e-mail Gay Toltl Kinman at gaykinman@gaykinman.com before submitting.

BEST HARDCOVER PI NOVEL: A book-length work of fiction published in hardcover in 2017 that is NOT the author’s first published P.I. novel.

BEST FIRST PI NOVEL: A book-length work of fiction, in hardcover or paperback, first published in 2017 that is the author’s first published novel featuring a private investigator as a main character.

BEST ORIGINAL PAPERBACK PI NOVEL: A book-length work of fiction first published as a paperback original in 2017 that is NOT the author’s first P.I. novel. Paperback reprints of previously published novels are NOT eligible.

BEST PI SHORT STORY: A work of fiction of 20,000 words or fewer.  Stories first published in an earlier year and reprinted in a magazine, anthology or collection in 2017 are NOT eligible.

 

 

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