I was toiling at the end of my emergency room shift when I got an unusual message. I turned to my colleague and said, “Hey. I’m a finalist for the Derringer Award!”
“Congratulations.”
“Do you know what that is?”
“I assume it’s a writing award.”
“It is. For the best short mystery stories published in the English language.” I revelled in it for a second, and then I said, “Do you know what a Derringer is? It’s a pocket-sized knife–”
“It’s a gun, actually. A small one, easily concealed and favoured by prostitutes.”
I Googled it, and a bunch of gun pictures came up. “Well, still. Because it’s small, it’s a metaphor for the deadly power of short fiction.”

A Derringer. Not a knife. Who’d have thunk it? Plus, this one looks like it’s wearing lipstick.Photo by DuBoix on MorgueFile
“Favoured by prostitutes.”
“Why do you keep saying that?”
Anyway, the important part is that I’ve been shortlisted for the Derringer. So to celebrate, I’ve turned “Because” into an e-book with an essay detailing the genesis of the story at Kris Rusch and Dean Smith’s Oregon mystery workshop, plus observations on the writing life, and what it feels like to hit the Derringer short list, for $2.99.
However, since I love you, my people, I’m giving the story away for free right here for the next seven days.
You can also download Code Blues, the first Hope Sze medical mystery, for free exclusively through the Vuze book bundle. Only until March 16th. Then it will disappear like a sociopath’s conscience. So grab it now! http://blog.vuze.com/2015/02/24/new-medical-thriller-book-bundle-melissa-yi/
While the Short Mystery Fiction Society votes on the Derringers, I do have one weapon in my back pocket. I’m the newest recruit for SleuthSayers, the world’s slickest crew of crime writers and crime fighters. Two of their members, Melodie Campbell and Rob Lopresti, have already won the Derringer (Rob won it twice)! So maybe they’ll help larn me.
In the meantime,
By Melissa Yi
Because you were so fat that I could count the rolls through your T-shirt, and know that they’d build across my belly and back in the exact same way.
Because you spent the check every month, and you never gave me a penny, not even if I needed a new eraser for school. “You just ask your fancy teacher for one. Go on, ask.”
Because I had to ask, and their eyes would burn me with their pity.
Because you’d spend hours painting your nails, but never let me touch any of the bottles, just because I broke one when I was two.
Because I hated the sound of your crinkling chip bags.
Because when Daddy said he was leaving, you said, “Go, then,” and let him walk out the door, even though I screamed and cried.
Read the rest in the format of your choice here (http://melissayuaninnes.com/books/because). Thanks for stopping by. Since people do seem to like freebies, I’ll give away more stories in the future. I may try and coordinate them with my biweekly SleuthSayer posts. The next one is March 23rd. Cheers!
Congratulations!!!! And, great story!
Thanks, babe!
Congratulations and good luck!
Well done! Powerful story. Amazing you!
Congratulations!!
Fantastic! Congratulations!
Your writing is really witty and I’m honored to be mentioned in your posts!! Best of luck and your nomination is very impressive!!
big grats!
Thanks for making my day. Witty and powerful. I like it. 😉
Well done!!
Bravo Melissa!
Hey good for you!
Thanks, Michelle, Suzanne, and John!
Terrific story, lyrically dark. Love it, Melissa. Congrats!
By the way – the derringer wasn’t only for prostitutes – it just fits really well in a small purse. I think I watched too many westerns
Thanks, Rob. That means a lot coming from you. I was thinking of reading it at Noir at the Bar.
Nothing wrong with Westerns, Lorne! Maybe I should start watching ’em too.
That’s exactly what I told Tanis a few hours ago. It’s perfect.
Well done, Melissa! When and where is the after party?
Ha ha! Maybe I should save the party for if I win, but I’ll be at the Williamstown Public Library on April 1st at 10:30 and would love to turn it into a fiesta!
Wow! Sweet Melissa Yuan-Innes! How do I get a copy?
Hey, Nupur, you can buy it as an e-book in any format here: http://melissayuaninnes.com/books/because. It’s also available in paperback through Fiction River http://www.fictionriver.com/volumes/special-edition-crime/, although if anyone’s interested, I could create a paperback copy. Thanks for asking!
After party, win or otherwise!
Wowsers!! Big major congratulations, Mel. And all fingers crossed that you win it.
Drummond, I’m game. I think it’s a better attitude, because if you only celebrate the wins, you only get 0.00001% of the fun. 🙂
Thanks, Douglas! Since you’re a pro at winning, I’ll be in touch for tips.
Closer to batting 1000, me thinks…
Okay, I had to look up the baseball metaphor. What a compliment! I thought you were saying one hit per 1000, which feels like the case most days. Thanks, Drummond.
You are most welcome.
Congratulations
Thanks, Pierre!
[…] seriously since 2003, a dozen years ago. My writing has progressed to the point where, yes, I’m shortlisted for the Derringer award this year, and also, perfect strangers on Amazon comment that my books get better and […]
[…] their Gone Girl campaign; I got my first short story publication in EQQM (“Om”); I was shortlisted for the Derringer Award for the best short mystery stories in the English language; I flew to LA as a finalist for the […]
Wow! congratulations and I love Because!!!
Sarah, that is my favourite comment, possibly ever. Thank so much!