Women’s crime and mystery short story competition
The idea for a national award for short stories, written by Australian women and featuring a strong female protagonist, was cooked up over a few glasses of wine in 1994 at a convenors’ meeting in St Kilda, Victoria. The purpose was to support and unearth new talent.
This has been achieved in spades.
In the 29 years to 2022, 4332 stories have been entered with 33 Scarlet Stiletto Award winners – including category winners – going on to have novels published: Cate Kennedy, Tara Moss, Annie Hauxwell, Angela Savage, Josephine Pennicott, Ellie Marney, Sarah Evans, Inga Simpson, Alex Palmer, Liz Filleul, Margaret Bevege, Patricia Bernard, Bronwen Blake, Jo McGahey, Cheryl Jorgensen, Kylie Fox, Simmone Howell, Emilie Collyer, Sandi Wallace, Aoife Clifford, Amanda Wrangles, Lois Murphy, Janis Spehr, TJ Hamilton, Dawn Farnham, Natalie Conyer, Fin J Ross, Anna Snoekstra, Suzanne Frankham, Julianne Negri, Hayley Camille, Veronica Lando, and Louise Bassett.
The winners – from all walks of life – have been librarians, editors, teachers, union officials, journalists, public servants, psychologists, investigators, hair-dressers, exercise instructors, mothers and retirees, medical autopsy specialists, pharmacists, cattery managers, and even a few full-time writers. Amazingly, five women have won the First Prize (and Scarlet Stiletto trophy) twice.
When Cate Kennedy won the inaugural Scarlet Stiletto Award in 1994 she admitted to learning an important lesson. After labouring for weeks on her entry, she then quickly knocked off a second story – just for fun; and entered both. She said: ‘I had to make sure I didn’t go away thinking, “God, that was like the dentist, never again”.’
It was that second story that won First Prize; although her first-written one was commended.
Cate took out First Prize again in 1995, and a second entry of hers won Third Prize. With such talent already showing its colours, Sisters in Crime’s convenors decided on a ‘two strikes and you’re out’ rule – to give other (new) women writers a chance to shine.
It’s now become the goal of every shoe winner to earn their ‘pair’ (though to date only Cate Kennedy has a matching pair). Two-time shoe winners are invited to become judges of the competition.
Thirteen collections of winning stories have been published by Clan Destine Press. Scarlet Stiletto: The First Cut and Scarlet Stiletto: The Second Cut are available in hard-copy form. Click here to purchase.
Guest presenters of the awards are usually actors from Australian TV crime shows and have included Essie Davis, Marta Dusseldorf, Danielle Cormack, Sigrid Thornton, Noni Hazlehurst, Debra Lee-Furness, Catherine McClements, Nadine Garner, Nicole da Silva, Kate Atkinson, Geraldine Hakewill and Danielle McCormack.
(For background information, read Angela Savage’s essay, ‘Red Shoes’, written to commemorate the Scarlet Stiletto Awards’ 20th anniversary in 2013.)
Click here for the results of the 2021 awards presented by actor Catherine McClements. Click here to view the award ceremony with Catherine McClements and Sue Turnbull and the shortlisted and winning authors.
The 2022 Scarlet Stiletto Awards are being presented at a gala ceremony on Saturday 3 December, 6 for 6.30 pm, by Nicole Chamoun, star of Troppo, at the Rising Sun, 2 Raglan Street, South Melbourne. Nicole will first discuss her life in crime with award-winning author and podcaster, Vikki Petraitis. Bookings essential. Details here.
The 29th Scarlet Stiletto Awards closed on 31 August 2022. $12,365 in prizes on offer. Maximum length: 5000 words
The 2022 entry form and FAQs (essential reading) are here Scarlet Stiletto 2022 entry_FAQs
Scarlet Stiletto 2022 entry_FAQs_printer friendly
Here was the link to paying the entry fee per story, $25/$20 (Sisters in Crime members): scarletstiletto2022.eventbrite.com
The full address for hard copies was Sisters in Crime, PO Box 1207, Waverley Gardens PO, 271 Police Road, Mulgrave VIC 3170 Here is the email address for submitting the pdf: ssawards2022@gmail.com
Further information
Carmel Shute
Secretary, Sisters in Crime
admin@sistersincrime.org.au
0412 569 356
