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 30 years to 2023, 4582 stories have been entered with 34 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, Louise Bassett and A D Penhall (aka Ann Penhallurick).
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.
Fifteen collections of winning stories have been published by Clan Destine Press, along with a hardcopy Scarlet Stiletto collection of the first-prize winning stories, The Scarlet Stiletto: 30 Years of Mystery, Murder and Malice, edited by Lindy Cameron (paperback $36.99; e-book $7.99)
Guest presenters of the awards are usually actors from Australian TV crime shows and have included Nicole Chamoun, 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 2023 awards that were presented by Fiona Eagger and Deb Cox, the creators of Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries and much more, after they discussed their lives in crime with host Senior Professor Sue Turnbull, crime fiction scholar, reviewer, and Sisters in Crime Ambassador.
In 2024, $13,400 in prizes is on offer. Maximum length: 5000 words
A brand-new award – the Cate Kennedy Award for Best Story Inspired by a Forensic Clue ($500) – is being offered this year.
Information about the 2024 competition and FAQs (essential reading) is here.
The link to paying the entry fee per story, $20 (Sisters in Crime members); $25 (non-members) is here.
The Registration Form is here (it can now be filled out online.)
Note: Entering hard copies of the stories is no longer necessary.
Further information
Carmel Shute
Secretary, Sisters in Crime
admin@sistersincrime.org.au
0412 569 356