Posted by: Keir
Since I’m surrounded by crime fiction writers, I guess the moment is right to reveal that a piece of my own crime fiction, the short story, “Untitled,” was the second runner-up in Time Out Chicago’s “Chicago Crime Writers Competition.” The first round was judged by Random House/Vintage Books editorial staff, and Michael Harvey (The Fifth Floor, 2008) selected the finalists with help from TOC’s books editor, Jonathan Messinger.
Check out the first runner-up, “Still Life,” by Lori Rader-Day, and the winner, “The Cutting,” by Chad Sanborn.
It’s downright heartening when a general-interest magazine takes a specific interest in fiction–here’s hoping it’s the start of a broader trend!
October 11th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Congrats, Third Place Writer Dude. Actually it’s hardly surprising that a “general interest magazine” like TOC takes an interest in fiction, given that their books editor is Jonathan Messinger, literature cheerleader and tireless man-about-town.
October 12th, 2008 at 5:28 am
Thanks, Pete–although, for the record, I did say, “heartening,” not “surprising.” I’m well aware of TOC’s support for short fiction, having had a short story in their Halloween issue last year. But I do hope Messinger’s amazing ethic rubs off. I always enjoy finding fiction and poetry in the feature pages of any publication.
October 12th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Congratulations! That is quite an accomplishment.
I didn’t know that ‘Time Out Chicago’ sponsored a contest like this! And to have it judged by the Random House/Vintage Books editorial staff… that is very impressive; you should be very proud!
Congratulations again,
- The Wandering Reader
October 13th, 2008 at 8:01 am
Had I been there I’d have been screaming. I’d probably have been escorted from the room, too, after starting a chant of “Robbedrobbedrobbed.”
October 13th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
You’re too kind. However–and I am speaking purely hypothetically here–if I were to be robbed, wouldn’t that be the appropriate outcome of a crime fiction contest?
The other stories were quite deserving. I’m just happy to have mine alongside them.
October 13th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Keir, I enjoyed your story immensely.
Hilarious premise, the theft and fencing of conceptual art, and one you carried out quite nicely.
Congratulations!
October 14th, 2008 at 7:58 am
Thanks so much, Chad. It was one of those ideas that just made me slap my forehead and smile with anticipation. I could use more of them!