Congratulations to Michael Bracken — 2026 Derringer Award Winner

The Short Mystery Fiction Society has announced the 2026 Derringer Award Winners, and we're excited to share Outliers Instructor Michael Bracken has won for the "Best Short Story (1,001 to 4,000 words)" category for Blind Pig (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, September/October 2025).

SMFS is a community of writers, readers, editors, publishers, and others dedicated to the promotion and celebration of mystery and crime short stories. Since 1998, the SMFS has awarded the annual Derringers to outstanding published stories and people who have greatly advanced or supported the form. The Best Anthology Derringer was presented for the first time in 2025.

Congratulations, Michael!

Michael Bracken is the Edgar Award-nominated, Shamus Award-nominated, Derringer Award-winning author of more than 1,200 short stories, including crime fiction published in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, The Best American Mystery Stories, The Best Mystery Stories of the Year, and many other publications. Additionally, Bracken is the editor of Black Cat Mystery Magazine and several anthologies, including the Anthony Award-nominated The Eyes of Texas: Private Eyes from the Panhandle to the Piney Woods. His stories have been translated into several languages, released in audio format, and adapted for animation. Additionally, Bracken served as vice president of the Private Eye Writers of America, has served on the board of the Mystery Writers of America and is a Consulting Editor for Level Short, an imprint of Level Best Books.