The Black Orchid Novella Award

The Black Orchid Novella Award is an international contest for novellas that conform to the tradition of Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe mystery series. Which is to say, a mystery which focuses on the deductive skills of a sleuth. However, submissions must not use the actual character of Nero Wolfe, or any elements of the Wolfe ‘universe’, but should be original unpublished works of fiction.

Stories need to be ‘traditional’ in style and involve a murder in which the killer is known to the victim. No explicit sex or violence. There should be engaging relationships between the characters and some element of wit. The setting can be anywhere in the world, past or present, though should capture something of the big city feel of the Wolfe novels (which are set in New York).

The prize is $1,000 US and publication in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine. The contest is organised by The Wolfe Pack, the Official Nero Wolfe Literary Society, and the winner will be announced at the society’s Annual Black Orchid Banquet in December.

Submissions must be between 15,000-20,000 words and postmarked by the deadline of 31 May. The contest is judged ‘blind’, and to be considered your manuscript must exactly match the very specific guidelines set out at https://www.nerowolfe.org/htm/ literary_awards/black_orchid_award/Black_Orchid_award_proc. htm#qualifications

The contest is open worldwide, but accepts postal submissions only. Send your entry to Jane K. Cleland, Chair, BONA, P.O. 3233, New York, NY 10163-3233, USA