Flash Fiction Contest - I'm a Winner! The New England Crimebake Conference invited all 294 registered participants to enter the conference Flash Fiction Contest. And I was one of 46 people that submitted a piece. The key rules were: a crime story of no more than 150 words, using at least ten of the titles of Sue Grafton's book series (Alibi, Burglar, Corpse, Deadbeat, Evidence, Fugitive, etc). I was really surprised when I received notice the day before the conference that I was one of the three winners! I've never had any story published, flash fiction or otherwise, though I have tried my hand at writing a short story or two. I consider myself "just a fan." My winning entry was "Grave Feedback" - and it is reprinted below with one of my wife's great photos. - - Richard

Above photo - by Ruth Goutal, 2009, All rights reserved. "Deadbeat writer? Is that what you called me?" I had asked Jim as the group sat in silence. I had written a killer short story and all they had done was ridicule my gumshoe and my fugitives -- hell, all my characters. "Unrealistic and unbelievable," they had called them. Jim had been the most blunt, but none of them were innocent. Writers' circle? More like a damned writers' noose! Was it later, or right then that homicide entered my mind? Had I given them enough evidence to realize then that they were all in peril? Obviously not; they were all easy quarries. I doubt the five corpses will be found; the undertow had been perfect. In any case, my alibi was ironclad. I won't miss them at Crimebake this year. And finally, I have a novel, okay- five novels, that I can pitch.