The SleuthFest Program Short Story Contest is now a yearly event. All registrants for SleuthFest 2010 are invited to submit a short story. The winning story will be published in the SleuthFest 2010 program and, in addition, the winner will be given free registration for SleuthFest 2011.

The 2009 SleuthFest Program Short Story Contest Winner was Lesley A. Diehl, whose winning story was entitled "Gator Aid."

We have thrown in a twist. In the past we've given contestants a set-up. We said, "Here's what happened, now write the story that follows." There has been a change this year. Instead we're giving you the last paragraph and you have to fill in what happened before. You have 2500 words -- not including the last paragraph which must be used as your story's last paragraph:

There was one good thing. The commander of the SWAT Team took me aside and said that his troops hadn't had that much fun in a long time. The Broward Sheriff took a less charitable track. The Sun-Sentinel quoted him calling us, "Irresponsible idiots." Luckily most of the other things he said couldn't be printed in a family newspaper. The cable news networks had a field day and, I'll admit, most of the criticism was harsh but justified. However I didn't quite understand Vice President Cheney's comments on Fox News blaming what happened on President Obama. But the ex-Veep was on book tour and had an advance to earn back, so we had to give our fellow author a little leeway. We did briefly considered moving SleuthFest to Brazil, but it now looks like insurance will cover most of the damage, so we'll be back at the Delray Hilton next year after all.

What happens before this, in 2500 words or less?

GENERAL GUIDELINES

1. Six copies of each story should be sent to the SleuthFest 2010 Short Story Contest Chair, Bob Williamson, at 1235 NE 96th Street, Miami Shores, FL 33138.
2. Manuscripts must be submitted on paper. E-mail submissions will not be accepted. An electronic version of the selected story will be needed later, but do not send one unless asked to do so.
3. Use a legible standard font such as Courier or Times New Roman at 12 pt size; no fancy fonts or formatting, please. Double space. Underline words that are to be italicized. Indent the first line of new paragraphs by five spaces.
4. Print on one side of the paper only. Make sure the required story title and page number is at the top of each page and use at least 1" margins on all sides. Paper clips are okay, but do not bind, staple, fold, or put your story in a folder.
5. On the cover sheet only, put your real name, and on new lines each: your pen name if you use one, your address, phone number, e-mail address, and word count (2500 or less) for the story.
6. At the middle of the first page of the story, type the full story title in CAPS, go down two lines and begin the story on the next line:
   
   (Example)
   
   
   A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT
   
   
   It was a dark and stormy night….
   
   
7. At the end of your story, type END or ###.
8. The last paragraph above must be repeated at the end of your story. Also don't worry if you decide to write in first person / third person / whatever and the last paragraph is not in the same voice.
9. Mail the six copies of the manuscript in an envelope marked "SleuthFest 2010."
10. The contest is open to SleuthFest 2010 participants only.