2018 RMMWA SIX-WORD MYSTERY CONTEST

Congratulations to this year’s Finalists and Winners!

The Overall Contest Winner is:
She took his name. For starters.  (Matthew Porter)

Category Finalists and Winners are listed below: ** designates category winners.

COZY

**Auntie’s needles were not for knitting.  (Matthew Porter)
Was picture perfect. I framed him.  (Julie Kerr)
Ukulele club. Jealousy. Death by G-string.  (C.C. Harrison)
Wedding gown cheap. Red stain discount.  (Kris Neri)
Deserted island, our last breakfast together.  (Kristin Horton)

HARD-BOILED/NOIR

**Concrete boots replaced the blonde’s stilettos.  (Margaret Mizushima)
Stole her heart—and ate it.  (Julie Kerr)
Dog ate more than her homework.  (Julie Kerr)
She confessed. It wasn’t my baby.  (Vaibhab Hassija)
One gun. One bullet. Two dead.  (Geri Hannah)

POLICE PROCEDURAL

**Autopsy couldn’t reveal his true heart.  (Matthew Porter)
Only witness to murder. Blind teacher.  (Vaibhav Hassija)
Cops unearth killer! Paperwork buries cop.  (Mo Walsh)
Always check the evidence room again.  (Cynthia Kuhn)
His sins blazed like luminol stars.  (Sue Hinkin)

ROMANCE

**Crossed her heart. Helped him die.  (Julie Kerr)
“Choose. Him or me.” I chose.  (Stina Branson)
Here lies, my love: name unknown.  (Franz Margitza)
“He’s dead. Your place or mine?”  (Margaret Mizushima)
His smoldering kisses were ruled arson.  (Sue Hinkin)

THRILLER

**She took his name. For starters.  (Matthew Porter)
The diamond glittered like freedom. Irresistible.  (M.A. Monnin)
He raised his gun. I unloaded.  (Daniel Sanchez)
The microfilm reely tasted like treason.  (Jazz Lawless)
My neighbor smiled between the shades.  (Connor McCloskey)

Renowned panel of judges announced for Second Annual Six-Word Mystery Contest

DENVER, October 25, 2018 – The Rocky Mountain Chapter of Mystery Writers of America (RMMWA) today announced an award-winning and renowned panel of judges for RMMWA’s second annual six-word mystery contest. 

Judges for this year’s contest include Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine Editor Linda Landrigan; New York Times best-selling author Anne Hillerman; award-winning author, lawyer and activist Manuel Ramos; Tattered Cover Book Store owner and author Len Vlahos; and literary agent Terrie Wolf, owner of the AKA Literary Management agency. 

Contest judges will chose the top five entries in the following six-word mystery categories: Hard Boiled or Noir; Cozy; Thriller; Police Procedural; and Romance or Lust.

The category winners and overall winner will be decided by secret ballot voting among RMMWA members attending the chapter’s annual Mystery & Mistletoe Holiday Party, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., December 13, 2018, at the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association, 290 E. Speer Blvd., Denver, CO 80203. The winners will be announced that evening.

The contest opened October 1. The deadline to enter is midnight, November 1. Six-word stories can be entered in one or all five of the above-mention categories.  Last year’s overall winner was in the Thriller category: “Eyes so lovely I kept them” by Cindy Marsh.

Cost to enter the contest is $6 per entry (just $1 per word); or $10 to enter six-word mysteries in all five categories. The grand prize winner will receive $100 in cash. Finalists in other categories will receive valuable gift cards to Tattered Cover and all winners will be featured on the RMMWA website. The Six-Word Mystery Contest is open to all adults 18 and over. No residency requirements. 

According to legend, the first six-word novel was born in the 1920s when Ernest Hemingway at New York’s Algonquin Hotel or Luchow’s restaurant (depending on whom you ask) won a $10 bet by writing a six-word story. His dark and dramatic submission was: “For sale: Baby shoes. Never worn.” Urban legend or no, memorable, heartbreaking and sublime six-word stories have been penned ever since.

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 January 26, 2019
7pm
LS Hawker
Release event for THE THROWAWAYS
Aspen Grove Tattered Cover
7301 S Santa Fe Dr, Unit 240,
Littleton, Colorado 80120

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January 2017 Dale Lovin

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