# CrimeCalls: all current listings (generated 2026-11-01)

> CrimeCalls™ (crimecalls.com) is a hand-checked deadline board of writing contests, awards, anthology calls, magazines and publishers for mystery, crime and thriller writers. It currently lists 64 open opportunities (19 contests, 8 awards, 11 anthologies, 8 magazines, 18 novel publishers), each with deadline, entry fee, pay, eligibility, a link to the official guidelines and the date it was last checked.

Last updated: 2026-11-01 (listings last checked 2026-10-30).

## Who it's for
Writers of mystery, crime, noir, cozy, suspense and thriller fiction, from first short story to finished novel, looking for where to submit and when it closes; plus editors and organizers who run these calls.

## How listings are checked
Each listing is checked by hand against the organizer's official guidelines page, links straight to it, and shows the date it was last checked. Past deadlines drop off automatically. Pay-to-publish and vanity schemes, and calls with no traceable source page, are left out. Paid placements are always labelled and never decide whether a call is listed. Standard listings are listed as a courtesy; organizers don't pay to appear. Editorial standards: https://crimecalls.com/about.html#editorial-standards

## Products and prices
- 2026-27 Crime Writer Submission Calendar (https://crimecalls.com/calendar.html): $9 one-time digital download. A printable month-by-month PDF of every current listing (38 dated deadlines plus 26 open-anytime markets), with entry fee, pay or prize, word count, eligibility, official link and last-checked date for each, plus a CSV spreadsheet and an ICS calendar file with a reminder a week before each deadline.
- Featured listing (https://crimecalls.com/advertise.html#featured): for contests, awards, anthologies, magazines and publishers. Pinned at the top of the board and on its detail page with a "Featured" label until the deadline. $39 founding rate for the first 10 sponsors, then $99. A featured call must pass the same check as every other listing.
- Featured resource (https://crimecalls.com/advertise.html#resource): 60-day labelled spot for editors, book coaches, cover designers, promo services and writing tools in Resources and on relevant listing pages. Same pricing: $39 founding rate (first 10 sponsors across both options), then $99.

## Publisher and contact
CrimeCalls™ is published by Continuing Education And Training, LLC, 500 Westover Drive, Suite 17707, Sanford, NC 27330. Contact: hello@crimecalls.com (corrections, new calls, featured spots).

## Mystery & crime writing contests

### MWA Barbara Neely Awards 2026
- Organizer: Mystery Writers of America
- Type: Contest
- Deadline: deadline Nov 1, 2026
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: $2,000 + one-year MWA membership (two awards: unpublished and published)
- Length: 300–500-word essay + 5-page mystery writing sample
- Eligibility: Black writers who are US citizens, 18+. MWA membership not required. Separate awards for unpublished and published (traditional or self-published) mystery/crime writers; past winners ineligible. Apply by email with form, essay, sample, bio and CV.
- Official guidelines: https://mysterywriters.org/about-mwa/barbara-neely-scholarship/
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/mwa-barbara-neely-awards-2026/
- Last checked: 2026-10-27

### William F. Deeck–Malice Domestic Grant for Unpublished Writers
- Organizer: Malice Domestic Ltd
- Type: Contest
- Deadline: deadline Nov 1, 2026 (Submission period is normally May 1 – Nov 1)
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: $2,500 + full Malice Domestic registration + 2 hotel nights
- Length: First three chapters + synopsis up to 200 words
- Eligibility: Novel works-in-progress in the traditional (Christie-style) mystery mode. Author must never have published in the mystery genre. Email submission.
- Official guidelines: https://www.malicedomestic.net/grant
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/william-f-deeck-malice-domestic-grant-for-unpublished-writers/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### Minotaur Books / Malice Domestic Best First Traditional Mystery Novel
- Organizer: Minotaur Books & Malice Domestic
- Type: Contest
- Deadline: deadline Nov 30, 2026
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: $10,000 advance + Minotaur publishing contract
- Length: ~65,000+, complete
- Eligibility: Traditional mystery in the Malice tradition. Any nationality, 18+. Never published a mystery novel, self-published included. One entry.
- Official guidelines: https://us.macmillan.com/minotaurbooks/submitmalicedomesticmanuscript/
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/minotaur-books-malice-domestic-best-first-traditional-mystery-novel/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### Writory Thriller Writing Competition (round closing Nov 30, 2026)
- Organizer: Writory
- Type: Contest
- Deadline: deadline Nov 30, 2026 (Closes 11:59 PM IST; results Dec 5, 2026. Rounds repeat quarterly.)
- Entry fee: $8 (two stories $14; five $25)
- Pay/prize: 1st $100 + free entry to next round; 2nd $50; 3rd $20
- Length: 100–6,000
- Eligibility: Original stories in any language and any genre; thrillers judged against a published 100-point rubric, blind. Writers 13+. Writers keep all rights. Every entrant gets a score and certificate.
- Official guidelines: https://writoryofficial.com/thriller-writing-competition
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/writory-thriller-writing-competition-nov-2026/
- Last checked: 2026-10-30

### Edgar Awards 2027 (works published in 2026)
- Organizer: Mystery Writers of America
- Type: Award (published work)
- Deadline: deadline Dec 7, 2026 (Hard final date for Oct–Dec 2026 releases; earlier months had earlier suggested dates)
- Entry fee: See MWA
- Pay/prize: Edgar Award (no cash)
- Length: Short story category: 1,000–22,000
- Eligibility: First US publication in 2026 by an MWA-approved publisher; publishers usually submit. Includes the Robert L. Fish Award for a debut short story.
- Official guidelines: https://mysterywriters.org/edgars/edgar-submission-information/
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/edgar-awards-2027-works-published-in-2026/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### Uncharted Magazine Novel Excerpt Prize 2026
- Organizer: Uncharted Magazine
- Type: Contest
- Deadline: deadline Dec 13, 2026
- Entry fee: $20 reading fee
- Pay/prize: Three co-winners each get $1,000 + publication + agent consult (Fuse Literary)
- Length: Up to 5,000
- Eligibility: Any section of a novel-in-progress, all genres including thriller/mystery.
- Official guidelines: https://www.unchartedmag.com/2026-uncharted-magazine-novel-excerpt-prize-judged-by-liz-shipton/
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/uncharted-magazine-novel-excerpt-prize-2026/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### Minotaur Books / MWA First Crime Novel Competition
- Organizer: Minotaur Books & Mystery Writers of America
- Type: Contest
- Deadline: deadline Dec 14, 2026
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: $10,000 advance + Minotaur publishing contract
- Length: 60,000+ (220+ pages), complete
- Eligibility: Unpublished first crime novel; murder or serious crime at the heart of the story. Writers with a previously published novel aren't eligible (self-published works don't count). One entry per writer.
- Official guidelines: https://mysterywriters.org/about-mwa/st-martins/
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/minotaur-books-mwa-first-crime-novel-competition/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### CWC Awards of Excellence 2027 (published works)
- Organizer: Crime Writers of Canada
- Type: Award (published work)
- Deadline: deadline Dec 15, 2026
- Entry fee: CA$30–55 (novel $55, novella $40, short story $30; 20% member discount)
- Pay/prize: CA$200–1,000 per category ($4,950 total)
- Length: Varies by category
- Eligibility: Canadian citizens/PRs. Work published Jan 1–Dec 31, 2026. Categories include novel, first novel, traditional mystery, short story, novella.
- Official guidelines: https://crimewriterscanada.com/index.php/en/page/page-content/submission-rules
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/cwc-awards-of-excellence-2027-published-works/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### Foreword INDIES 2026 – Mystery and related categories
- Organizer: Foreword Reviews
- Type: Award (published work)
- Deadline: deadline Jan 15, 2027 (Registration closes Jan 15, 2027)
- Entry fee: $119 first category, $99 each additional
- Pay/prize: Medals/recognition; two $1,500 Editor's Choice prizes overall
- Length: Published book
- Eligibility: Indie, university-press and self-published books published in 2026. PDF due by Jan 22, 2027. No AI-generated content.
- Official guidelines: https://publishers.forewordreviews.com/awards/
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/foreword-indies-2026-mystery-and-related-categories/
- Last checked: 2026-10-27

### Next Generation Short Story Awards 2027 – Crime
- Organizer: ShortStoryAwards.com (Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group)
- Type: Contest
- Deadline: deadline Jan 28, 2027
- Entry fee: $25 ($20 each extra category)
- Pay/prize: 1st $500, 2nd $300, 3rd $200 + medals; finalists $75
- Length: Up to 5,000
- Eligibility: Unpublished English-language short stories; open internationally, including first-time authors. Separate from the Mystery category already listed.
- Official guidelines: https://www.shortstoryawards.com/category.php?id=43
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/next-generation-short-story-awards-2027-crime/
- Last checked: 2026-10-27

### Next Generation Short Story Awards 2027 – Mystery
- Organizer: Next Generation Short Story Awards
- Type: Contest
- Deadline: deadline Jan 28, 2027
- Entry fee: $25 first category; $20 each extra category
- Pay/prize: Grand prizes $500 / $300 / $200; category winners $75 + medal
- Length: Up to 5,000
- Eligibility: Original, unpublished English short story; open internationally including first-time authors. Late entries roll into the 2028 program.
- Official guidelines: https://www.shortstoryawards.com/category.php?id=13
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/next-generation-short-story-awards-2027-mystery/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### CWA Emerging Author Dagger 2027
- Organizer: Crime Writers' Association (sponsor: Fiction Feedback)
- Type: Contest
- Deadline: deadline Jan 29, 2027
- Entry fee: £42
- Pay/prize: £500; shortlist sent to agents and publishers
- Length: Opening up to 3,000 + synopsis up to 1,500
- Eligibility: Unpublished novelists worldwide with no prose-fiction contract and no agent. Novel needn't be finished. Closes 6pm GMT.
- Official guidelines: https://thecwa.co.uk/awards-and-competitions/the-daggers/emerging-author-dagger/
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/cwa-emerging-author-dagger-2027/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### CWA Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition 2027
- Organizer: Crime Writers' Association & Margery Allingham Society
- Type: Contest
- Deadline: deadline Jan 29, 2027
- Entry fee: £25
- Pay/prize: £500 + one year CWA membership
- Length: Up to 3,500
- Eligibility: Open worldwide, published or unpublished writers. Story must be unpublished and not have won elsewhere. Closes 6pm GMT.
- Official guidelines: https://thecwa.co.uk/awards-and-competitions/margery-allingham-short-mystery-competition/
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/cwa-margery-allingham-short-mystery-competition-2027/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### Derringer Awards 2027 (Short Mystery Fiction Society)
- Organizer: Short Mystery Fiction Society
- Type: Award (published work)
- Deadline: deadline Jan 30, 2027 (Submissions Jan 1–30, 2027; midnight Eastern)
- Entry fee: Free (SMFS membership is free)
- Pay/prize: Derringer award (no cash stated)
- Length: Up to 20,000
- Eligibility: Mystery/crime short stories first published in English in 2026. SMFS members who joined by Dec 31, 2026 may submit two stories (anyone's); editors may submit from their venues. Categories: flash, short, long, novelette, anthology.
- Official guidelines: https://shortmystery.blogspot.com/p/derringer-awards-policies.html
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/derringer-awards-2027-short-mystery-fiction-society/
- Last checked: 2026-10-27

### Agatha Christie Award (17th, Hayakawa Publishing – Japanese-language)
- Organizer: Hayakawa Publishing & Hayakawa Kiyoshi Literary Foundation
- Type: Contest
- Deadline: deadline Feb 28, 2027 (Postal entries must be postmarked by Feb 28, 2027)
- Entry fee: No entry fee stated on the official page
- Pay/prize: ¥1,000,000 + Christie-themed plaque; winner published in book form by Hayakawa
- Length: 300–800 manuscript pages of 400 Japanese characters, plus ~5-page synopsis
- Eligibility: Unpublished mystery novels in the broad sense (including suspense, spy and adventure) written in Japanese. Open to anyone. One entry per person; no simultaneous entry to other prizes. Generative-AI use must be disclosed.
- Official guidelines: https://www.hayakawa-online.co.jp/literary_prize/christie
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/hayakawa-agatha-christie-award-17/
- Last checked: 2026-10-30

### IPPY Awards 2027 – Mystery / Suspense-Thriller
- Organizer: Jenkins Group (Independent Publisher Book Awards)
- Type: Award (published work)
- Deadline: deadline Mar 4, 2027
- Entry fee: $89 per category by Dec 16, 2026; $99 final
- Pay/prize: Gold/silver/bronze medals (no cash stated)
- Length: Published book
- Eligibility: Independent and self-published books with 2025–2027 copyrights; authors may enter themselves. Categories include Mystery (24), Suspense/Thriller (25) and Mystery/Thriller eBook.
- Official guidelines: https://ippyawards.com/guidelines
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/ippy-awards-2027-mystery-suspense-thriller/
- Last checked: 2026-10-27

### ITW Best First Sentence Contest 2027
- Organizer: International Thriller Writers (ThrillerFest)
- Type: Contest
- Deadline: deadline Mar 15, 2027 (Opened July 7, 2026. The page gives 11:59 p.m. Pacific in one place and 23:59:59 Eastern in another, so submit by the Eastern time to be safe.)
- Entry fee: No entry fee listed (ITW membership or ThrillerFest XXII registration required)
- Pay/prize: 10-page critique from a 2027 Master Class instructor (the judges); winners read at the CraftFest Luncheon, April 28, 2027
- Length: One sentence (your opening line)
- Eligibility: ITW members (associate or full) in good standing and/or ThrillerFest XXII (2027) registrants. One entry. Your own original, non-AI first sentence from published or unpublished work you'd submit for the critique.
- Official guidelines: https://thrillerfest.com/master-class/master-class-1/best-first-sentence-contest/
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/itw-best-first-sentence-contest-2027/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### Shincho Mystery Grand Prize (14th, Shinchosha – Japanese-language)
- Organizer: Shinchosha (supported by Toei)
- Type: Contest
- Deadline: deadline Mar 31, 2027 (Submission window Jan 1 – Mar 31, 2027 (postmark))
- Entry fee: No entry fee stated on the official page
- Pay/prize: ¥3,000,000 for the grand prize
- Length: 350+ manuscript pages of 400 Japanese characters, plus ~2,000-character synopsis
- Eligibility: Unpublished, story-driven mystery novels in Japanese; amateurs and professionals welcome. Mailed entries. No simultaneous entry to other prizes. Generative-AI use must be disclosed.
- Official guidelines: https://www.shinchosha.co.jp/prizes/mystery/
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/shincho-mystery-grand-prize-14/
- Last checked: 2026-10-30

### SinC Eleanor Taylor Bland Crime Fiction Writers of Color Award 2027
- Organizer: Sisters in Crime
- Type: Contest
- Deadline: deadline Mar 31, 2027 (Annual window Feb 1 – Mar 31 (per SinC's award page))
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: $2,000 grant
- Length: 2,500–5,000 (story or opening chapters)
- Eligibility: Emerging crime writers of color with no more than two published novels or ten short pieces. SinC membership not required (free guest login). Unpublished work; no AI.
- Official guidelines: https://www.sistersincrime.org/page/EleanorTaylorBland
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/sinc-eleanor-taylor-bland-crime-fiction-writers-of-color-award-2027/
- Last checked: 2026-10-27

### Killer Nashville Claymore Award 2027
- Organizer: Killer Nashville
- Type: Contest
- Deadline: deadline Apr 1, 2027
- Entry fee: $77
- Pay/prize: Recognition, agent/editor exposure (no cash amount stated)
- Length: First 50 pages
- Eligibility: Unpublished manuscript, play or screenplay in crime/mystery/suspense genres. Many categories (cozy, thriller, etc.). Deadline midnight Pacific.
- Official guidelines: https://www.killernashville.com/the-claymore-award
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/killer-nashville-claymore-award-2027/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award 2027
- Organizer: Killer Nashville
- Type: Award (published work)
- Deadline: deadline Apr 1, 2027
- Entry fee: $112 (free with a 4-day conference registration)
- Pay/prize: Award recognition
- Length: Published book
- Eligibility: Best books of 2026 in crime, mystery, suspense and related genres.
- Official guidelines: https://register.killernashville.com/products/2027-silver-falchion-award-submission-entry
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/killer-nashville-silver-falchion-award-2027/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### The Crime List 2027
- Organizer: Rebel Seed Studio
- Type: Contest
- Deadline: deadline Apr 18, 2027 (Tiered deadlines; final closing Apr 18, 2027 (Pacific))
- Entry fee: $35 by Nov 22, 2026, rising to $85 at the closing deadline
- Pay/prize: $3,500 to one winner
- Length: Any length
- Eligibility: Crime stories in any form: books, manuscripts, short stories, scripts, stage plays; published or unpublished; 18+. Entry via FilmFreeway. No fee waivers or feedback.
- Official guidelines: https://www.rebelseedstudio.com/products/the-crime-list
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/the-crime-list-2027/
- Last checked: 2026-10-27

### Al Blanchard Award 2027
- Organizer: New England Crime Bake
- Type: Contest
- Deadline: deadline Apr 30, 2027 (Annual window Jan 1 – Apr 30 (per the award page))
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: $100 + publication in Best New England Crime Stories + Crime Bake admission
- Length: Up to 5,000
- Eligibility: Unpublished crime story by a New England author, or set in New England. Mystery, thriller, suspense, caper or horror; no torture/killing of children or animals. Two entries max; email contest@crimebake.org.
- Official guidelines: https://www.crimebake.org/event/2026CrimeBake/al-blanchard-short-story-award
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/al-blanchard-award-2027/
- Last checked: 2026-10-27

### American Fiction Awards 2027 – Mystery/Suspense
- Organizer: American Book Fest
- Type: Award (published work)
- Deadline: deadline May 31, 2027
- Entry fee: $77 per title/category through Oct 31, 2026, then $89
- Pay/prize: Winner/finalist recognition (no cash stated)
- Length: Published book
- Eligibility: English books/e-books with an ISBN or ASIN published 2022–2027; pre-pub copies welcome. Mystery/Suspense subcategories: general, cozy, hard-boiled/crime, historical, multicultural, procedurals, romantic suspense.
- Official guidelines: https://www.americanbookfest.com/americanfictionawards.html
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/american-fiction-awards-2027-mystery-suspense/
- Last checked: 2026-10-27

### Readers' Favorite International Book Award Contest 2027
- Organizer: Readers' Favorite
- Type: Award (published work)
- Deadline: deadline Jun 1, 2027
- Entry fee: $99 by Apr 1, $109 by May 1, $119 by Jun 1; $65 per extra genre
- Pay/prize: Medals/recognition (genre awards; no cash stated)
- Length: Any length
- Eligibility: Manuscripts, published and unpublished books, e-books and audiobooks in English; no publication-date requirement; 150+ genres incl. mystery and thriller subgenres.
- Official guidelines: https://readersfavorite.com/annual-book-award-contest.htm
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/readers-favorite-international-book-award-contest-2027/
- Last checked: 2026-10-27

### SinC Pride Award for Emerging LGBTQIA+ Crime Writers 2027
- Organizer: Sisters in Crime
- Type: Contest
- Deadline: deadline Jul 31, 2027 (2027 submissions open Jun 1, 2027)
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: Award (amount not stated on the award page)
- Length: 2,500–5,000 (story or opening chapters)
- Eligibility: Emerging LGBTQIA+ crime writers with no more than two novels or ten short pieces published. SinC membership not required. Unpublished work; no generative AI at any stage.
- Official guidelines: https://www.sistersincrime.org/page/Pride
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/sinc-pride-award-for-emerging-lgbtqia-crime-writers-2027/
- Last checked: 2026-10-27

### AHMM Mysterious Photograph Contest
- Organizer: Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine
- Type: Contest
- Deadline: open anytime
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: $25 prize + publication
- Length: 250 or fewer
- Eligibility: Flash mystery inspired by the photo in each issue; runs every issue.
- Official guidelines: https://alfredhitchcockmysterymagazine.com/current-issue/mysterious-photograph/
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/ahmm-mysterious-photograph-contest/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

## Crime fiction anthology calls for submissions

### Stitching Up Death (cozy anthology)
- Organizer: Camden Park Press
- Type: Anthology
- Deadline: deadline Nov 15, 2026 (Extended from Oct 31, 2026)
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: Royalty share via PayPal
- Length: 6,000–8,000
- Eligibility: Contemporary cozy with an amateur sleuth in a fiber-arts/crafting setting. Reprints published before Jan 1, 2022 accepted. Release late Jan 2027.
- Official guidelines: https://www.camdenparkpress.com/stitchingdeath/
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/stitching-up-death-cozy-anthology/
- Last checked: 2026-10-27

### Black Beacon Books – Lighthouses 2
- Organizer: Black Beacon Books
- Type: Anthology
- Deadline: deadline Nov 30, 2026
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: $30 + one print copy
- Length: 3,000–9,000 preferred
- Eligibility: Dark tales of mystery, suspense or horror set in a lighthouse. One story per anthology; simultaneous subs OK; no reprints; no AI. Email submission; no rejection notices.
- Official guidelines: https://blackbeaconbooks.blogspot.com/p/submissions.html
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/black-beacon-books-lighthouses-2/
- Last checked: 2026-10-27

### Ominous Thrill – Valentine's 2027 spicy horror/thriller
- Organizer: Ominous Thrill (audio fiction anthology)
- Type: Anthology
- Deadline: deadline Dec 15, 2026
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: 5¢/word originals; 2¢/word reprints
- Length: 2,000–6,000 (up to 8,000)
- Eligibility: Adult, sexy dark-feminist horror/thrillers for audio drama; first person preferred. No rejections sent.
- Official guidelines: https://ominousthrill.com/submit
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/ominous-thrill-valentine-s-2027-spicy-horror-thriller/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### Secrets Worth Killing For (espionage crime anthology)
- Organizer: Crimson Gate Books (eds. Joe Goldberg & A.C. Frieden)
- Type: Anthology
- Deadline: deadline Dec 15, 2026
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: Compensation set in the contributor agreement (amount not published)
- Length: 5,500–7,500
- Eligibility: Original espionage crime fiction (intelligence, covert ops, false identities, betrayal). Not cozy or paranormal; no AI. Reviewed on a rolling basis; 15–20 authors. Guidelines PDF linked from the submissions page.
- Official guidelines: https://crimsongatebooks.com/submissions
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/secrets-worth-killing-for-espionage-crime-anthology/
- Last checked: 2026-10-27

### Behind the Tape: Urban Crime Thriller Stories
- Organizer: Twisted Dreams Press
- Type: Anthology
- Deadline: deadline Dec 31, 2026
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: One digital contributor copy (author-copy discount)
- Length: 2,000–10,000
- Eligibility: Hard-boiled detectives, corrupt cops, gangsters. Publishes 2027. Email submission.
- Official guidelines: https://twisteddreamspress.com/call-for-submissions-for-three-new-anthologies/
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/behind-the-tape-urban-crime-thriller-stories/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### Crime Without Corpses
- Organizer: Level Best Books (ed. Gabriel Valjan)
- Type: Anthology
- Deadline: deadline Dec 31, 2026
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: $25–50 (depends on number of stories chosen)
- Length: 2,000–5,000
- Eligibility: Original, unpublished crime fiction with high stakes but NO homicide. Any subgenre. Projected publication fall 2027.
- Official guidelines: https://www.levelbestbooks.us/anthologysubmissions
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/crime-without-corpses/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### Dirty Martini: Fem Horror Noir Anthology
- Organizer: Grimalkin Press
- Type: Anthology
- Deadline: deadline Dec 31, 2026
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: 8¢/word + 1 print copy (US) or ebook (outside US)
- Length: 1,000–5,000
- Eligibility: Feminist noir with horror elements. No stock femme fatales or damsels in distress. No reprints; simultaneous subs OK. Email submissions@grimalkinpress.com.
- Official guidelines: https://www.grimalkinpress.com/submissions
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/dirty-martini-fem-horror-noir-anthology/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### SinC Desert Sleuths 2027 Anthology – SOWEST: Extreme Elements
- Organizer: Sisters in Crime Desert Sleuths Chapter
- Type: Anthology
- Deadline: deadline Jan 8, 2027 (Closes 5 p.m. MST)
- Entry fee: Free (chapter membership required)
- Pay/prize: $25 or two print copies
- Length: Up to 5,000
- Eligibility: Members only: Desert Sleuths + SinC memberships must have been active before Oct 1, 2026. Arizona-set crime/mystery with an 'extreme elements' theme. Up to two unpublished stories; blind judging; no generative AI.
- Official guidelines: https://desertsleuths.com/anthologies/2027-anthology-guidelines/
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/sinc-desert-sleuths-2027-anthology-sowest-extreme-elements/
- Last checked: 2026-10-27

### Lone Star Lawbreakers (SinC North Dallas Anthology Vol. 6)
- Organizer: Sisters in Crime North Dallas
- Type: Anthology
- Deadline: deadline Jan 31, 2027 (Closes 12 p.m. (noon) Central)
- Entry fee: None stated (SinC + SinC North Dallas membership required)
- Pay/prize: No author pay stated; any advances and royalties accrue to the chapter
- Length: 4,500–6,000
- Eligibility: Members of national Sisters in Crime and SinC North Dallas only. Mystery story set in the Dallas/Fort Worth area; entirely fictional, unpublished; one story per person. No graphic violence or explicit sex. Blind judging; .doc by email.
- Official guidelines: https://www.sistersincrimenorthdallas.com/anthology
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/sinc-north-dallas-lone-star-lawbreakers/
- Last checked: 2026-10-30

### The Fifth Black Beacon Book of Mystery
- Organizer: Black Beacon Books
- Type: Anthology
- Deadline: deadline Feb 28, 2027 (Opens Jan 1, 2027)
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: $30 + one print copy
- Length: 3,000–9,000 preferred
- Eligibility: Fair-play detective puzzles with clues, red herrings and a final reveal. No supernatural; no crime stories without a mystery to solve. One story; no AI. Publication Dec 2027.
- Official guidelines: https://blackbeaconbooks.blogspot.com/p/submissions.html
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/the-fifth-black-beacon-book-of-mystery/
- Last checked: 2026-10-27

### The Killing Spree (Dragon Soul Press anthology)
- Organizer: Dragon Soul Press
- Type: Anthology
- Deadline: deadline Mar 31, 2027 (Publication planned June 23, 2027; no extensions)
- Entry fee: None stated
- Pay/prize: 30% royalties for the first year from publication (per the publisher's guidelines checklist)
- Length: 3,000–20,000
- Eligibility: Rated R anthology: any story with murder, crime, mystery, suspense or thriller. Up to two submissions per author; reprints accepted if you hold full rights. Query/summary, third-person bio (100–150 words) and DOC/DOCX by email.
- Official guidelines: https://dragonsoulpress.com/shortstorycalls/
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/dragon-soul-press-the-killing-spree/
- Last checked: 2026-10-30

## Free mystery writing contests & no-fee submissions

## Mystery & crime magazines accepting short stories

### Stone's Throw – December 2026 prompt
- Organizer: Rock and a Hard Place Press
- Type: Magazine
- Deadline: deadline Nov 4, 2026 (Window opens Nov 1–4, 2026 only (prompt: 'Bing Crosby Was a Lying Bastard and We're Glad He's Dead'))
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: $25 for the single story chosen
- Length: 1,000–2,000
- Eligibility: Dark fiction, crime and noir matching the monthly prompt. Winners can't resubmit in the same calendar year. No AI.
- Official guidelines: https://www.rockandahardplacemag.com/stones-throw-submissions
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/stone-s-throw-december-2026-prompt/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine
- Organizer: 1 Paragraph, Inc.
- Type: Magazine
- Deadline: open anytime
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: Paid (rate not stated on guidelines page)
- Length: Up to 12,000 (most much shorter)
- Eligibility: Any story about a crime or the threat of one; no stories based on real crimes. Online submission system; simultaneous subs OK if you notify.
- Official guidelines: https://alfredhitchcockmysterymagazine.com/contact-us/writers-guidelines/
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/alfred-hitchcock-s-mystery-magazine/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### Cold Caller
- Organizer: Cold Caller Magazine (Substack)
- Type: Magazine
- Deadline: open anytime
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: $125 flat per story
- Length: 2,000–6,000 sweet spot; up to 10,000
- Eligibility: Crime and mystery broadly: bad decisions, grifters, losers. First North American serial rights. Response 3–6 months.
- Official guidelines: https://coldcallermag.substack.com/about
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/cold-caller/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine
- Organizer: Must Read Books Publishing
- Type: Magazine
- Deadline: open anytime
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: 6–8¢/word (fiction); $25–50 per poem; 7¢/word nonfiction
- Length: 2,500–8,000 preferred (700–20,000 considered)
- Eligibility: All mystery/crime subgenres; no explicit sex or violence. Must be unpublished in the US. Department of First Stories for writers never published professionally. .doc/.docx via online system.
- Official guidelines: https://elleryqueenmysterymagazine.com/contact-us/writers-guidelines/
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/ellery-queen-s-mystery-magazine/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### Guilty Crime Story Magazine – Flash Series
- Organizer: Guilty Crime Story Magazine
- Type: Magazine
- Deadline: open anytime
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: Unpaid (web flash). Print magazine pays $10 but print is currently CLOSED
- Length: 500–1,000 (firm)
- Eligibility: Crime stories told from the criminal's perspective. Complete stories only; no simultaneous or multiple subs. Email guiltycrimemag@gmail.com.
- Official guidelines: https://www.guiltycrimemag.com/submissions.html
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/guilty-crime-story-magazine-flash-series/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### Mystery Tribune
- Organizer: Mystery Tribune
- Type: Magazine
- Deadline: open anytime
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: Honorarium for print-edition fiction (amount discussed on acceptance); web/flash unpaid
- Length: No fixed limit; most 3,000–6,000; they rarely read past 10,000
- Eligibility: Crime, mystery, noir, suspense. Original, never-published material only. One story at a time.
- Official guidelines: https://mysterytribune.com/submissions/
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/mystery-tribune/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### The Strand Magazine
- Organizer: The Strand Magazine
- Type: Magazine
- Deadline: open anytime
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: $100–150 per story
- Length: 2,000–6,000 preferred (occasional 1,000-word shorts or short novellas)
- Eligibility: Mysteries, detective stories, tales of terror and the supernatural. Email submissions@strandmag.com with a short intro and credits.
- Official guidelines: https://strandmag.com/guidelines/
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/the-strand-magazine/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### Uncharted Magazine – Thriller & Mystery
- Organizer: Uncharted Magazine
- Type: Magazine
- Deadline: open anytime
- Entry fee: Free (optional paid editorial feedback)
- Pay/prize: $200 for original fiction
- Length: See guidelines (1,000–5,000 per category)
- Eligibility: Thriller/mystery category now includes horror. Open year-round via Submittable; simultaneous subs OK.
- Official guidelines: https://www.unchartedmag.com/submit/
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/uncharted-magazine-thriller-mystery/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

## Publishers accepting crime & mystery novels

### Blue Beech Press – Murder Mysteries
- Organizer: Blue Beech Press
- Type: Publisher taking novels
- Deadline: open anytime
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: Royalty share, no advance
- Length: 50,000–115,000
- Eligibility: Any type of murder mystery, original and unpublished. Shunn format; DOC/DOCX/RTF. Takes first North American print and ebook rights for 5 years.
- Official guidelines: https://www.bluebeechpress.com/novel-submissions.html
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/blue-beech-press-murder-mysteries/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### Bookouture – Crime, Thriller & Cozy
- Organizer: Bookouture (Hachette UK)
- Type: Publisher taking novels
- Deadline: open anytime
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: Digital-first royalties
- Length: Full-length
- Eligibility: Online form; genres include Crime & Thriller and Cozy Crime. Unagented OK.
- Official guidelines: https://bookouture.com/submit-your-manuscript/
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/bookouture-crime-thriller-cozy/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### Close To The Bone – Press
- Organizer: Close To The Bone
- Type: Publisher taking novels
- Deadline: open anytime
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: Case-by-case contracts
- Length: Novels, novellas, collections
- Eligibility: Crime noir only. Send synopsis, first three chapters and bio. The magazine is currently closed; the press is open.
- Official guidelines: https://www.close2thebone.co.uk/submissions/
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/close-to-the-bone-press/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### Crimson Gate Books – Crime Novel Submissions
- Organizer: Crimson Gate Books
- Type: Publisher taking novels
- Deadline: open anytime
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: Terms on offer
- Length: 50,000–100,000 (ideally 60,000–75,000), complete
- Eligibility: Crime, mystery, suspense or thriller; no cozy or paranormal; no AI-written or AI-rewritten work; author must control all rights. Submit via the site's form.
- Official guidelines: https://crimsongatebooks.com/submissions
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/crimson-gate-books-crime-novel-submissions/
- Last checked: 2026-10-27

### Crooked Lane Books
- Organizer: Crooked Lane Books
- Type: Publisher taking novels
- Deadline: open anytime
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: Advance + royalties (terms not published)
- Length: 60,000–100,000
- Eligibility: Agented and unagented crime fiction, all subgenres. Query via QueryTracker. They reply within two weeks only if interested.
- Official guidelines: https://crookedlanebooks.com/submissions/
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/crooked-lane-books/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### Down & Out Books
- Organizer: Down & Out Books
- Type: Publisher taking novels
- Deadline: open anytime
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: Terms on offer
- Length: 50,000+ (send first 10,000)
- Eligibility: Dark, raw, existential noir. No cozies, YA, domestic thrillers or standard procedurals. Email downandoutsubmissions@gmail.com. Response 6–12 weeks.
- Official guidelines: https://downandoutbooks.com/
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/down-out-books/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### Dundurn Press – Mystery & Thriller
- Organizer: Dundurn Press
- Type: Publisher taking novels
- Deadline: open anytime
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: Terms on offer
- Length: Full manuscript (no partials for fiction)
- Eligibility: Prioritizes Canadian authors and those eligible for Canadian citizenship. Email submissions@dundurn.com with intro email, full manuscript, literary CV and 1-page synopsis.
- Official guidelines: https://www.dundurn.com/about/submissions
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/dundurn-press-mystery-thriller/
- Last checked: 2026-10-27

### Harlequin Intrigue
- Organizer: Harlequin (HarperCollins)
- Type: Publisher taking novels
- Deadline: open anytime
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: Advance + royalties (category romance contract)
- Length: 55,000–60,000
- Eligibility: Crime-driven romantic suspense: high-stakes thrillers and procedurals with a central romance and a resolved crime. Unagented submissions accepted via Submittable; full manuscript + 3–7 page synopsis. No cozies.
- Official guidelines: https://harlequin.submittable.com/submit
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/harlequin-intrigue/
- Last checked: 2026-10-27

### Hera Books
- Organizer: Hera Books (sister of Canelo)
- Type: Publisher taking novels
- Deadline: open anytime
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: Royalties on net receipts
- Length: 80,000+
- Eligibility: Mystery and thriller (plus romance, sagas, horror). Underrepresented authors especially encouraged.
- Official guidelines: https://www.herabooks.com/submissions/
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/hera-books/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### Inkubator Books
- Organizer: Inkubator Books
- Type: Publisher taking novels
- Deadline: open anytime
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: 45% of net receipts
- Length: Full-length
- Eligibility: Crime, mystery, thriller, suspense, especially psychological/domestic, procedurals and legal thrillers. Unagented welcome.
- Official guidelines: https://inkubatorbooks.com/submissions/
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/inkubator-books/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### Joffe Books
- Organizer: Joffe Books
- Type: Publisher taking novels
- Deadline: open anytime
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: Terms on offer
- Length: Minimum 60,000
- Eligibility: UK indie publisher of commercial crime and mystery. Email full MS, synopsis and bio.
- Official guidelines: https://joffebooks.com/submissions
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/joffe-books/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### Level Best Books – Novel Submissions
- Organizer: Level Best Books
- Type: Publisher taking novels
- Deadline: open anytime
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: Royalties (terms not published)
- Length: 70,000–90,000
- Eligibility: Agented and unagented. Traditional, procedural, cozy, noir and other crime. Response within ~6 months.
- Official guidelines: https://www.levelbestbooks.us/submissions
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/level-best-books-novel-submissions/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### Love Inspired Suspense
- Organizer: Harlequin (HarperCollins)
- Type: Publisher taking novels
- Deadline: open anytime
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: Advance + royalties (category contract)
- Length: 55,000
- Eligibility: Inspirational romantic suspense with a mandatory Christian faith element; suspense introduced in chapter one; no graphic violence. Series lines accept unagented submissions; full manuscript + synopsis.
- Official guidelines: https://harlequin.submittable.com/submit
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/love-inspired-suspense/
- Last checked: 2026-10-27

### Lyrical Press (Kensington)
- Organizer: Kensington Publishing
- Type: Publisher taking novels
- Deadline: open anytime
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: Terms on offer
- Length: Mysteries 75,000–100,000
- Eligibility: Cozy mysteries, psychological suspense and thrillers, among others. Email a query plus synopsis to ONE editor. No reply means no. Allow 3+ months.
- Official guidelines: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com/lyricalsubmissions/
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/lyrical-press-kensington/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### Severn House (Joffe Books imprint)
- Organizer: Severn House / Joffe Books
- Type: Publisher taking novels
- Deadline: open anytime
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: Terms on offer
- Length: Minimum 60,000
- Eligibility: Commercial fiction, especially crime and mystery. Email full MS, 3-paragraph synopsis and 100-word bio to submissions@joffebooks.com.
- Official guidelines: https://severnhouse.com/submissions/
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/severn-house-joffe-books-imprint/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### Storm Publishing – Crime, Thriller & Mystery
- Organizer: Storm Publishing
- Type: Publisher taking novels
- Deadline: open anytime
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: No advance; 50% of net digital receipts
- Length: Full-length
- Eligibility: Agented or unagented via online form. Crime, psychological thrillers, mystery and more. They say they reply within two weeks.
- Official guidelines: https://stormpublishing.co/what-we-are-looking-for/
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/storm-publishing-crime-thriller-mystery/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

### The Wild Rose Press – Crimson Rose (mystery & thriller)
- Organizer: The Wild Rose Press
- Type: Publisher taking novels
- Deadline: open anytime
- Entry fee: Free
- Pay/prize: Royalties (no fees to authors)
- Length: 15,000–100,000 (45,000+ for print)
- Eligibility: Crimson Rose line: murder, mystery, thriller, romantic suspense, cozy mystery, action/adventure. Email query with synopsis and first pages per the query instructions.
- Official guidelines: https://wildrosepress.com/pages/submissions
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/the-wild-rose-press-crimson-rose-mystery-thriller/
- Last checked: 2026-10-27

### Thriller Magazine Press
- Organizer: Thriller Media LLC
- Type: Publisher taking novels
- Deadline: open anytime
- Entry fee: $9.99 (includes personalized feedback)
- Pay/prize: $300 advance + 33% net royalties
- Length: Novels 50,000–90,000; novellas 25,000–50,000
- Eligibility: Unagented OK. Crime, psychological, mystery, domestic, noir thrillers. No supernatural monster stories. Response 4–6 weeks.
- Official guidelines: https://thrillermagazinepress.com/submission-guidelines/
- CrimeCalls page: https://crimecalls.com/o/thriller-magazine-press/
- Last checked: 2026-10-28

## Guides

- Guides hub: https://crimecalls.com/guides/
- No-fee mystery writing contests 2026–2027: contests, grants and awards for mystery, crime and thriller writers with no entry fee, sorted by deadline. https://crimecalls.com/guides/no-fee-mystery-writing-contests-2026-2027.html
- Crime fiction magazines that pay: mystery and crime magazines that pay for short stories, with rates and word counts. https://crimecalls.com/guides/crime-fiction-magazines-that-pay.html
- Mystery publishers accepting unagented submissions: crime, mystery and thriller publishers that read manuscripts without an agent. https://crimecalls.com/guides/mystery-publishers-accepting-unagented-submissions.html
- Mystery and crime anthologies open now: open and upcoming crime and mystery anthology calls, sorted by deadline. https://crimecalls.com/guides/mystery-anthologies-open-now.html
- How to pick a crime writing contest: a checklist covering eligibility, fees versus prizes, rights, AI rules, deadlines and organizers. https://crimecalls.com/guides/how-to-pick-a-crime-writing-contest.html

## FAQ

### Where can I find open mystery, crime and thriller submission calls, contests and deadlines?
CrimeCalls (https://crimecalls.com/) is a hand-checked deadline board for mystery, crime and thriller writers listing 64 current opportunities (19 contests, 8 awards, 11 anthology calls, 8 magazines, 18 novel publishers; 26 open anytime), each with deadline, entry fee, pay, eligibility, official link and last-checked date.

### What crime, mystery and thriller writing deadlines are coming up?
Crime and mystery writing deadlines in the next 45 days (as of 2026-11-01): MWA Barbara Neely Awards 2026 (deadline Nov 1, 2026, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/mwa-barbara-neely-awards-2026/; William F. Deeck–Malice Domestic Grant for Unpublished Writers (deadline Nov 1, 2026, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/william-f-deeck-malice-domestic-grant-for-unpublished-writers/; Stone's Throw – December 2026 prompt (deadline Nov 4, 2026, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/stone-s-throw-december-2026-prompt/; Stitching Up Death (cozy anthology) (deadline Nov 15, 2026, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/stitching-up-death-cozy-anthology/; Black Beacon Books – Lighthouses 2 (deadline Nov 30, 2026, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/black-beacon-books-lighthouses-2/; Minotaur Books / Malice Domestic Best First Traditional Mystery Novel (deadline Nov 30, 2026, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/minotaur-books-malice-domestic-best-first-traditional-mystery-novel/; Writory Thriller Writing Competition (round closing Nov 30, 2026) (deadline Nov 30, 2026, fee: $8 (two stories $14; five $25)) https://crimecalls.com/o/writory-thriller-writing-competition-nov-2026/; Edgar Awards 2027 (works published in 2026) (deadline Dec 7, 2026, fee: See MWA) https://crimecalls.com/o/edgar-awards-2027-works-published-in-2026/; Uncharted Magazine Novel Excerpt Prize 2026 (deadline Dec 13, 2026, fee: $20 reading fee) https://crimecalls.com/o/uncharted-magazine-novel-excerpt-prize-2026/; Minotaur Books / MWA First Crime Novel Competition (deadline Dec 14, 2026, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/minotaur-books-mwa-first-crime-novel-competition/; CWC Awards of Excellence 2027 (published works) (deadline Dec 15, 2026, fee: CA$30–55 (novel $55, novella $40, short story $30; 20% member discount)) https://crimecalls.com/o/cwc-awards-of-excellence-2027-published-works/; Ominous Thrill – Valentine's 2027 spicy horror/thriller (deadline Dec 15, 2026, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/ominous-thrill-valentine-s-2027-spicy-horror-thriller/; Secrets Worth Killing For (espionage crime anthology) (deadline Dec 15, 2026, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/secrets-worth-killing-for-espionage-crime-anthology/. Full board: https://crimecalls.com/

### Where can I find mystery short story contests?
Open mystery short story contests on CrimeCalls: Next Generation Short Story Awards 2027 – Crime (deadline Jan 28, 2027, fee: $25 ($20 each extra category)) https://crimecalls.com/o/next-generation-short-story-awards-2027-crime/; Next Generation Short Story Awards 2027 – Mystery (deadline Jan 28, 2027, fee: $25 first category; $20 each extra category) https://crimecalls.com/o/next-generation-short-story-awards-2027-mystery/; CWA Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition 2027 (deadline Jan 29, 2027, fee: £25) https://crimecalls.com/o/cwa-margery-allingham-short-mystery-competition-2027/; AHMM Mysterious Photograph Contest (open anytime, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/ahmm-mysterious-photograph-contest/. Full list: https://crimecalls.com/contests/

### Which crime fiction awards accept indie or self-published books?
Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence: self-published works are eligible (Canadian citizens/PRs). Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award: books published in 2026, no publisher requirement on the entry page we checked (confirm with Killer Nashville). Edgar Awards: self-published work is not eligible. CWC Awards of Excellence 2027 (published works) (deadline Dec 15, 2026, fee: CA$30–55 (novel $55, novella $40, short story $30; 20% member discount)) https://crimecalls.com/o/cwc-awards-of-excellence-2027-published-works/; Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award 2027 (deadline Apr 1, 2027, fee: $112 (free with a 4-day conference registration)) https://crimecalls.com/o/killer-nashville-silver-falchion-award-2027/; Edgar Awards 2027 (works published in 2026) (deadline Dec 7, 2026, fee: See MWA) https://crimecalls.com/o/edgar-awards-2027-works-published-in-2026/

### Which crime fiction and mystery contests have no entry fee?
No-fee crime and mystery contests on CrimeCalls: MWA Barbara Neely Awards 2026 (deadline Nov 1, 2026, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/mwa-barbara-neely-awards-2026/; William F. Deeck–Malice Domestic Grant for Unpublished Writers (deadline Nov 1, 2026, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/william-f-deeck-malice-domestic-grant-for-unpublished-writers/; Minotaur Books / Malice Domestic Best First Traditional Mystery Novel (deadline Nov 30, 2026, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/minotaur-books-malice-domestic-best-first-traditional-mystery-novel/; Minotaur Books / MWA First Crime Novel Competition (deadline Dec 14, 2026, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/minotaur-books-mwa-first-crime-novel-competition/; SinC Eleanor Taylor Bland Crime Fiction Writers of Color Award 2027 (deadline Mar 31, 2027, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/sinc-eleanor-taylor-bland-crime-fiction-writers-of-color-award-2027/; Al Blanchard Award 2027 (deadline Apr 30, 2027, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/al-blanchard-award-2027/; SinC Pride Award for Emerging LGBTQIA+ Crime Writers 2027 (deadline Jul 31, 2027, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/sinc-pride-award-for-emerging-lgbtqia-crime-writers-2027/; AHMM Mysterious Photograph Contest (open anytime, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/ahmm-mysterious-photograph-contest/. All no-fee opportunities: https://crimecalls.com/free/

### Which thriller, mystery and crime publishers accept unagented submissions?
Publishers that say they accept unagented crime/mystery submissions: Bookouture – Crime, Thriller & Cozy (open anytime, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/bookouture-crime-thriller-cozy/; Crooked Lane Books (open anytime, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/crooked-lane-books/; Harlequin Intrigue (open anytime, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/harlequin-intrigue/; Inkubator Books (open anytime, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/inkubator-books/; Level Best Books – Novel Submissions (open anytime, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/level-best-books-novel-submissions/; Love Inspired Suspense (open anytime, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/love-inspired-suspense/; Storm Publishing – Crime, Thriller & Mystery (open anytime, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/storm-publishing-crime-thriller-mystery/; Thriller Magazine Press (open anytime, fee: $9.99 (includes personalized feedback)) https://crimecalls.com/o/thriller-magazine-press/. Publishers taking direct author submissions: Blue Beech Press – Murder Mysteries (open anytime, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/blue-beech-press-murder-mysteries/; Close To The Bone – Press (open anytime, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/close-to-the-bone-press/; Crimson Gate Books – Crime Novel Submissions (open anytime, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/crimson-gate-books-crime-novel-submissions/; Down & Out Books (open anytime, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/down-out-books/; Dundurn Press – Mystery & Thriller (open anytime, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/dundurn-press-mystery-thriller/; Hera Books (open anytime, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/hera-books/; Joffe Books (open anytime, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/joffe-books/; Lyrical Press (Kensington) (open anytime, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/lyrical-press-kensington/; Severn House (Joffe Books imprint) (open anytime, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/severn-house-joffe-books-imprint/; The Wild Rose Press – Crimson Rose (mystery & thriller) (open anytime, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/the-wild-rose-press-crimson-rose-mystery-thriller/. Full list: https://crimecalls.com/publishers/

### Are there contests for unpublished crime or mystery novels?
Contests for unpublished crime/mystery novels and manuscripts: MWA Barbara Neely Awards 2026 (deadline Nov 1, 2026, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/mwa-barbara-neely-awards-2026/; William F. Deeck–Malice Domestic Grant for Unpublished Writers (deadline Nov 1, 2026, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/william-f-deeck-malice-domestic-grant-for-unpublished-writers/; Minotaur Books / Malice Domestic Best First Traditional Mystery Novel (deadline Nov 30, 2026, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/minotaur-books-malice-domestic-best-first-traditional-mystery-novel/; Writory Thriller Writing Competition (round closing Nov 30, 2026) (deadline Nov 30, 2026, fee: $8 (two stories $14; five $25)) https://crimecalls.com/o/writory-thriller-writing-competition-nov-2026/; Uncharted Magazine Novel Excerpt Prize 2026 (deadline Dec 13, 2026, fee: $20 reading fee) https://crimecalls.com/o/uncharted-magazine-novel-excerpt-prize-2026/; Minotaur Books / MWA First Crime Novel Competition (deadline Dec 14, 2026, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/minotaur-books-mwa-first-crime-novel-competition/; CWA Emerging Author Dagger 2027 (deadline Jan 29, 2027, fee: £42) https://crimecalls.com/o/cwa-emerging-author-dagger-2027/; Agatha Christie Award (17th, Hayakawa Publishing – Japanese-language) (deadline Feb 28, 2027, fee: No entry fee stated on the official page) https://crimecalls.com/o/hayakawa-agatha-christie-award-17/; Shincho Mystery Grand Prize (14th, Shinchosha – Japanese-language) (deadline Mar 31, 2027, fee: No entry fee stated on the official page) https://crimecalls.com/o/shincho-mystery-grand-prize-14/; SinC Eleanor Taylor Bland Crime Fiction Writers of Color Award 2027 (deadline Mar 31, 2027, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/sinc-eleanor-taylor-bland-crime-fiction-writers-of-color-award-2027/; Killer Nashville Claymore Award 2027 (deadline Apr 1, 2027, fee: $77) https://crimecalls.com/o/killer-nashville-claymore-award-2027/; The Crime List 2027 (deadline Apr 18, 2027, fee: $35 by Nov 22, 2026, rising to $85 at the closing deadline) https://crimecalls.com/o/the-crime-list-2027/; Al Blanchard Award 2027 (deadline Apr 30, 2027, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/al-blanchard-award-2027/; SinC Pride Award for Emerging LGBTQIA+ Crime Writers 2027 (deadline Jul 31, 2027, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/sinc-pride-award-for-emerging-lgbtqia-crime-writers-2027/.

### Which magazines accept mystery and crime short stories?
Mystery and crime magazines accepting short stories: Stone's Throw – December 2026 prompt (deadline Nov 4, 2026, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/stone-s-throw-december-2026-prompt/; Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine (open anytime, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/alfred-hitchcock-s-mystery-magazine/; Cold Caller (open anytime, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/cold-caller/; Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine (open anytime, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/ellery-queen-s-mystery-magazine/; Guilty Crime Story Magazine – Flash Series (open anytime, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/guilty-crime-story-magazine-flash-series/; Mystery Tribune (open anytime, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/mystery-tribune/; The Strand Magazine (open anytime, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/the-strand-magazine/; Uncharted Magazine – Thriller & Mystery (open anytime, fee: Free (optional paid editorial feedback)) https://crimecalls.com/o/uncharted-magazine-thriller-mystery/. Full list: https://crimecalls.com/magazines/

### Where can I submit to crime fiction anthologies?
Open crime fiction anthology calls: Stitching Up Death (cozy anthology) (deadline Nov 15, 2026, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/stitching-up-death-cozy-anthology/; Black Beacon Books – Lighthouses 2 (deadline Nov 30, 2026, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/black-beacon-books-lighthouses-2/; Ominous Thrill – Valentine's 2027 spicy horror/thriller (deadline Dec 15, 2026, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/ominous-thrill-valentine-s-2027-spicy-horror-thriller/; Secrets Worth Killing For (espionage crime anthology) (deadline Dec 15, 2026, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/secrets-worth-killing-for-espionage-crime-anthology/; Behind the Tape: Urban Crime Thriller Stories (deadline Dec 31, 2026, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/behind-the-tape-urban-crime-thriller-stories/; Crime Without Corpses (deadline Dec 31, 2026, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/crime-without-corpses/; Dirty Martini: Fem Horror Noir Anthology (deadline Dec 31, 2026, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/dirty-martini-fem-horror-noir-anthology/; SinC Desert Sleuths 2027 Anthology – SOWEST: Extreme Elements (deadline Jan 8, 2027, fee: Free (chapter membership required)) https://crimecalls.com/o/sinc-desert-sleuths-2027-anthology-sowest-extreme-elements/; Lone Star Lawbreakers (SinC North Dallas Anthology Vol. 6) (deadline Jan 31, 2027, fee: None stated (SinC + SinC North Dallas membership required)) https://crimecalls.com/o/sinc-north-dallas-lone-star-lawbreakers/; The Fifth Black Beacon Book of Mystery (deadline Feb 28, 2027, fee: Free) https://crimecalls.com/o/the-fifth-black-beacon-book-of-mystery/; The Killing Spree (Dragon Soul Press anthology) (deadline Mar 31, 2027, fee: None stated) https://crimecalls.com/o/dragon-soul-press-the-killing-spree/. Full list: https://crimecalls.com/anthologies/

### What does the $9 CrimeCalls Submission Calendar include?
The CrimeCalls 2026-27 Crime Writer Submission Calendar (https://crimecalls.com/calendar.html) is a $9 one-time download: a printable month-by-month PDF of all 64 current listings (38 dated deadlines, 26 open-anytime markets) with fees, prizes, word counts, eligibility, official links and last-checked dates, plus a CSV and an ICS calendar file with a reminder a week before each deadline.

### Who runs CrimeCalls?
CrimeCalls is published by Continuing Education And Training, LLC, 500 Westover Drive, Suite 17707, Sanford, NC 27330. Contact: hello@crimecalls.com. Editorial standards: https://crimecalls.com/about.html#editorial-standards

### How do I list or feature a contest or call for submissions on CrimeCalls?
Email hello@crimecalls.com with the name, official link, deadline, fee and pay; standard listings are added as a courtesy after checking. Featured listings: $39 founding rate for the first 10 sponsors, then $99, at https://crimecalls.com/advertise.html

### How are CrimeCalls listings checked, and how often is it updated?
Each listing is checked by hand against the organizer's official guidelines page, links to it and shows its last-checked date (listings last checked 2026-10-30). Past deadlines drop off automatically. Pay-to-publish/vanity schemes and calls without a traceable source page are left out; paid placements are always labelled. Editorial standards: https://crimecalls.com/about.html#editorial-standards

## Events (courtesy listings)
Upcoming crime, mystery and thriller book events, checked on each official page. Listed as a courtesy; organizers don't pay to appear. Page: https://crimecalls.com/events.html

### Agatha Christie: A World of Mystery at Nottingham City Libraries
- When: Displays touring four libraries Oct 2026 – June 2027; Crime Reading Challenge to July 31, 2027
- Where: Nottingham, UK (Central, St Ann's Valley, Hyson Green and Strelley Road libraries)
- Type: Library series
- About: Touring exhibition plus author talks, reading groups, writing workshops and an adult Crime Reading Challenge.
- Official page: https://www.nottinghamcitylibraries.co.uk/agatha-christie-a-world-of-mystery/
- Last checked: 2026-10-29

### Agatha Christie: In your local library (British Library)
- When: Various dates, October 2026 – October 2028
- Where: Libraries across the UK
- Type: Library series
- Cost: Contact your local library
- About: UK-wide library programme alongside the British Library exhibition Agatha Christie: A World of Mystery: talks with crime authors, writing workshops, murder mystery events and displays.
- Official page: https://events.bl.uk/events/agatha-christie-in-your-local-library
- Last checked: 2026-10-29

### New England Crime Bake 2026
- When: November 6–8, 2026
- Where: Dedham, Massachusetts, USA (Hilton Boston/Dedham)
- Type: Writing conference
- About: New England's conference for crime writers and readers: master classes, expert sessions, manuscript critiques, an agents and editors track and pitch practice. 25th edition; guests of honor Joseph Finder and Lisa Gardner.
- Official page: https://www.crimebake.org/event/2026CrimeBake/summary
- Last checked: 2026-10-29

### Iceland Noir 2026
- When: November 11–14, 2026
- Where: Reykjavík, Iceland (Venues across central Reykjavík)
- Type: Festival
- Cost: Festival pass covers all events
- About: Four-day literary festival rooted in Nordic noir, with Icelandic and international authors, translators, and film and TV guests.
- Official page: https://icelandnoir.com/
- Last checked: 2026-10-29

### Cheshire Crime Writers Festival 2027
- When: February 6–7, 2027
- Where: Frodsham, Cheshire, UK (Best Western Forest Hills Hotel)
- Type: Festival
- Cost: Early bird: £85 one day, £125 weekend
- About: Weekend of crime and cozy crime talks, panels, headline sessions and signings, run by The Curious Cat Bookshop.
- Official page: https://thecuriouscatbookshop.co.uk/cheshire-crime-writers-festival/
- Last checked: 2026-10-29

### Murder in the Magic City 2027
- When: February 6, 2027
- Where: Homewood (Birmingham), Alabama, USA (Homewood Library)
- Type: Convention
- Cost: Tickets on sale from December 1, 2026
- About: One-day mystery author event with panels and a charity basket auction; guests of honor Ellen Byron and Robert Bailey.
- Official page: http://www.mmcmysteryconference.com/
- Last checked: 2026-10-29

### Crime and Publishment 2027
- When: March 5–7, 2027
- Where: Gretna Green, Scotland, UK (The Mill Forge hotel)
- Type: Writing conference
- About: Crime writing weekend of courses for writers at every level, led by crime authors and industry pros, with a five-minute pitch to a publisher.
- Official page: https://crimeandpublish.com/
- Last checked: 2026-10-29

### Coastal Crime 2027
- When: March 6, 2027
- Where: Southampton, UK (Leonardo Royal Hotel Southampton Grand Harbour)
- Type: Festival
- About: The South of England's one-day crime fiction festival: author panels, an industry hub and one-to-one appointments.
- Official page: https://coastalcrime.org/
- Last checked: 2026-10-29

### SleuthFest 2027
- When: March 18–21, 2027
- Where: Orlando, Florida, USA (Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort)
- Type: Writing conference
- About: Conference for mystery writers and fans with craft sessions, faculty authors and forensic experts; guest of honor Lisa Scottoline.
- Official page: https://sleuthfest.com/
- Last checked: 2026-10-29

### Left Coast Crime 2027: The Big Chile Rides Again
- When: April 1–4, 2027
- Where: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA (Eldorado Hotel)
- Type: Convention
- About: Annual fan-run mystery convention for readers and authors, home of the Lefty Awards; guests of honor Lee Goldberg and Gigi Pandian, lifetime achievement Craig Johnson.
- Official page: https://www.leftcoastcrime.org/2027/
- Last checked: 2026-10-29

### Quais du Polar 2027
- When: April 2–4, 2027
- Where: Lyon, France (Hôtel de Ville, Palais de la Bourse, Chapelle de la Trinité)
- Type: Festival
- Cost: Most events free (limited places)
- About: Lyon's international crime fiction festival (23rd edition): author talks, film, a city-wide investigation game and more.
- Official page: https://www.quaisdupolar.com/
- Last checked: 2026-10-29

### Malice Domestic 39
- When: April 9–11, 2027
- Where: Bethesda, Maryland, USA (Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center)
- Type: Convention
- About: Convention celebrating the traditional mystery, home of the Agatha Awards; guest of honor Leslie Budewitz, lifetime achievement Mary Kay Andrews.
- Official page: https://www.malicedomestic.net/
- Last checked: 2026-10-29

### Midwest Mystery Conference 2027
- When: April 17, 2027
- Where: Chicago, Illinois, USA (Roosevelt University, 430 S. Michigan)
- Type: Writing conference
- About: One-day, single-track conference of panels and keynote conversations for crime fiction readers, writers and publishing pros; with Ann Cleeves.
- Official page: https://midwestmysteryconference.com/events/
- Last checked: 2026-10-29

### ThrillerFest XXII
- When: April 27 – May 1, 2027
- Where: New York, New York, USA (New York Hilton Midtown)
- Type: Writing conference
- About: International Thriller Writers' annual conference for authors, aspiring writers and fans, with craft sessions and pitch events; ThrillerMasters Michael Connelly and Karin Slaughter.
- Official page: https://thrillerfest.com/
- Last checked: 2026-10-29

### Capital Crime 2027
- When: May 28–30, 2027
- Where: London, UK (The Brewery)
- Type: Festival
- About: Three-day London crime and thriller festival with 30+ events at its new home, The Brewery; early lineup includes Ian Rankin and Ann Cleeves.
- Official page: https://www.capitalcrime.org/
- Last checked: 2026-10-29

### Cozy Mystery Festival 2027
- When: June 12, 2027
- Where: Knoxville, Tennessee, USA (Rothchild Catering & Conference Center)
- Type: Festival
- About: One-day festival for cozy mystery readers to meet authors, buy signed books and join reader activities.
- Official page: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cozy-mystery-festival-tickets-1990997570329
- Last checked: 2026-10-29

### Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival 2027
- When: July 22–25, 2027
- Where: Harrogate, UK (Old Swan Hotel)
- Type: Festival
- About: The world's longest-running crime writing festival and home of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award.
- Official page: https://harrogateinternationalfestivals.com/crime-writing-festival/
- Last checked: 2026-10-29

### Killer Nashville 2027
- When: August 19–22, 2027
- Where: Franklin, Tennessee, USA (Embassy Suites Hotel & Convention Center)
- Type: Writing conference
- About: International writers' conference for mystery, thriller and suspense: craft, business and forensics tracks, agent roundtables, manuscript critiques and the Silver Falchion Awards.
- Official page: https://killernashville.com/
- Last checked: 2026-10-29

### Bouchercon 2027: Mystery Most Monumental
- When: September 1–5, 2027
- Where: Washington, DC, USA (Omni Shoreham Hotel)
- Type: Convention
- About: The World Mystery Convention, where the Anthony Awards are presented; registration is only through the official convention site.
- Official page: https://www.bouchercon2027.com/
- Last checked: 2026-10-29

### St Hilda's Crime Fiction Weekend 2027
- When: September 3–5, 2027
- Where: Oxford, UK (St Hilda's College)
- Type: Festival
- About: 34th Crime Fiction Weekend, theme 'Dark Paths: crime fiction's deadliest destinations'; talks, interviews and panels with crime writers.
- Official page: https://cfw.st-hildas.ox.ac.uk/
- Last checked: 2026-10-29

### Bloody Scotland 2027
- When: September 17–19, 2027
- Where: Stirling, Scotland, UK
- Type: Festival
- About: Scotland's international crime writing festival, with prizes, Pitch Perfect for unpublished writers and the Crime in the Spotlight slots.
- Official page: https://www.bloodyscotland.com/
- Last checked: 2026-10-29

### Murder by the Book events
- When: Recurring (see calendar)
- Where: Houston, Texas, USA
- Type: Bookstore series
- About: Houston mystery bookstore with crime, mystery and thriller author events most weeks, listed on its upcoming-events calendar.
- Official page: https://murderbooks.com/events/list/upcoming-events
- Last checked: 2026-10-29

### Mystery Lovers Bookshop events
- When: Recurring (see calendar)
- Where: Oakmont (Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania, USA (514 Allegheny River Boulevard)
- Type: Bookstore series
- About: Pittsburgh-area mystery bookshop hosting author signings at the store and larger talks at Carnegie Library Lecture Hall.
- Official page: https://www.mysterylovers.com/events
- Last checked: 2026-10-29

### The Mysterious Bookshop events
- When: Recurring (see calendar)
- Where: New York, New York, USA (58 Warren St., Tribeca)
- Type: Bookstore series
- About: New York's mystery specialist bookshop hosts regular launches and conversations with crime and thriller authors.
- Official page: https://www.mysteriousbookshop.com/events
- Last checked: 2026-10-29

### The Poisoned Pen Bookstore author events
- When: Recurring (see calendar)
- Where: Scottsdale, Arizona, USA (many events also streamed) (4014 N Goldwater Blvd)
- Type: Bookstore series
- About: Long-running mystery bookstore with a busy calendar of crime and thriller author events; see the upcoming events on its homepage calendar.
- Official page: https://poisonedpen.com/
- Last checked: 2026-10-29

## Featured spots (paid placements)
- No featured spots are live right now.
- Featured spots are $39 at the founding rate for the first 10 sponsors, then $99: https://crimecalls.com/advertise.html