Sisters in Crime’s Scarlet Stiletto Awards for Australian women’s best short crime and mystery stories turn 31 this year. This round offers a record $13,400 in prizes.

The first prize winner takes home $2000, donated by Swinburne University of Technology, plus the coveted trophy, a scarlet stiletto shoe with a steel stiletto heel plunging into a mount. The shortlist will be announced in October, with the awards being presented at a gala ceremony in Melbourne in late November.

A brand-new award – the Cate Kennedy Award for Best Story Inspired by a Forensic Clue ($500) – is being offered this year.

The competition is open to all women, whether cisgender, transgender or intersex, who are citizens/residents of Australia.

Closing date for the awards is 31 August 2024.
The entry fee is $25, or $20 for Sisters in Crime members.
Maximum length is 5000 words.

To download information and a list of FAQs, visit the Sisters in Crime website.

To pay the entry fee go to scarletstiletto2024.eventbrite.com