Mystery Fest Key West Announces 2019 Whodunit Mystery Writing Competition

Do you have a finished, but unpublished, mystery genre manuscript? Mystery Fest Key West has announced a call for entries for the 2019 Whodunit Mystery Writing Competition. The winner will claim a book-publishing contract with Absolutely Amazing eBooks, free Mystery Fest Key West 2019 registration, airfare, hotel accommodations for two nights and a Whodunit Award trophy to be presented at the 6th Annual Mystery Fest Key West, set for June 28-30 in Key West, Florida.

Sponsored by Absolutely Amazing eBooks, candidates wishing to compete are invited to submit the first three pages (maximum 750 words) of a finished, but unpublished manuscript to whodunitaward@mysteryfestkeywest.com no later than April 15, 2019. There is no fee to enter, finalists will be notified by May 1, and will have until May 10 to submit full manuscripts.

"Why just the first three pages? That criterion is a nod to late author Jeremiah Healy, a terrific mystery writer and great judge of mysteries," said Fest co-founder Shirrel Rhoades. "Healy often said a book either captures a reader in the first three pages...or it doesn't. The competition judges agreed with that assessment, and decided to use it as a yardstick for the competition."

Contest judges for 2019 are Dr. Toby Armour, whose credits include the murder mystery book "Blood Tells" and play, "Is This 24 Lily Pond Lane?"; Carol Lazar, an author, columnist, photojournalist and former senior editor for South Africa's Independent Newspapers; Captain Reef Perkins, author of "Sex, Salvage and Secrets," Screwed, Blu'd and Tattooed," and the mystery novel "Deep Air"; Robin Robinson, an author, syndicated newspaper columnist, educator and horticulturist; and Rhoades, an author, film critic, media consultant and publisher of Absolutely Amazing eBooks.

The 2019 Mystery Fest Key West, featuring Keynote Speaker Jeffery Deaver by popular demand, will include multiple presentations, panel discussions and social events at landmark Key West locations where attendees mingle with acclaimed mystery, crime fiction and true crime writers.

Whodunit Writing Competition guidelines and submission details, complete schedule of Mystery Fest Key West events and a Fest registration form are all available at mysteryfestkeywest.com.