Click here for the latest short story from Brendan DuBois

Since I was twelve years old, I've always written short fiction, most of it -- until I finally got published -- fairly awful. All through grammar school, high school and college, most of the short stories I wrote were science fiction or fantasy, my first love when it came to popular fiction. And the scores of stories I wrote were all rejected by various magazines.

In 1985 I wrote a short story called "The Stalker." Pretty original title, eh? I thought it was science fiction, and the four or five science fiction magazines being published at the time all rejected it. But I still thought it was a good story, and since it had a mysterious aspect to it, I submitted it to "Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine." In a couple of weeks, instead of getting the standard 9x12 brown manila self-addressed stamped envelope in the mail containing yet another rejected short story, I got a pleasant letter from the magazine's editor, Eleanor Sullivan. She asked if I would make one slight change to the story -- which I did -- and a couple of weeks later, I got my first contract for my first piece of fiction. A glorious event, it was.

The story appeared in the February 1986 issue of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, with a changed title -- "Dark Corridor." Since then, I've sold nearly 100 short stories. I've had eleven novels published, have finished another novel and am busy outlining a new one, and yet, I still find the time and energy to return to the scene of my first successful foray into fiction publishing.

What follows is a comprehensive list of my published short fiction. For those works which have appeared in recent anthologies, I've provided a link to Amazon.com for those interested in purchasing them (of course, I urge you to support your local bookstore wherever possible, but for those without such stores in their area, this might work).

Published Short Stories:

"A Souvenir to Remember"
Future Americas
Daw Books
Edited by John Helfers and Marty Greenberg

"A Favorable Favor"
The Strand Magazine Spring 2008

"Not Enough Stars in the Night"
Cosmos Science Fiction

"The Treasure Hunter"
Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, July/August 2008

"Blue Plate Special"
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, March 2008

"The Final Catch"
Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, March 2008

"The Best Revenge"
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, November 2007

"Country Manners"
Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, July/August 2007

"The Looking Glass War"
Future Weapons of War
Baen Books
Edited by Joe Haldeman and Marty Greenberg

"The Last Flight"
Death Do Us Part: New Stories about Love, Lust and Murder
Little, Brown and Company
Edited by Harlan Coben

"The Right Call"
Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, September/October 2006

"No Truer Fan"
108 Magazine
Summer 2006

"Redemption Cove"
Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, July/August 2006

"The Lights At Crawford Hills;
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, March/April 2006

"The Devil's Girlfriend"
Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, January/February 2006

"The Forever Reunion"
Windchill
Level Best Books
Edited by Kate Flora, Susan Oleksiw, and Skye Alexander
Winner, 2005 Al Blanchard Crime Fiction Award

"The Temptation of King David"
Thou Shalt Not Kill: Biblical Mystery Stories
Carroll & Graf
Edited by Anne Perry

"Cold Waters"
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, March/April 2005

"To Kill A Ranger"
Texas Rangers
Berkley
Edited by Ed Gorman and Martin Greenberg

"Death of a Gemini"
Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, September 2004

"Fagin's Revenge"
Death by Dickens
Prime Crime
Edited by Anne Perry

"Falling Star"
Space Stations
Daw Books
Edited by John Helfers and Martin Greenberg
Reprinted in "Galileo's Children: Tales of Science vs. Superstition" (Pyr Books, 2005) edited by Gardner Dozois
Reprinted in "The Year's Best Science Fiction 22nd Annual Collection" (St. Martin's Griffin, 2005) edited by Gardner Dozois

"One Shot Difference"
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, September/October 2003
Reprinted in "The World's Finest Mystery and Crime Stories" (Forge Books, 2004) edited by Ed Gorman and Martin Greenberg

"The Taste of Silver"
Murder at the Foul Line
Mysterious Press
Edited by Otto Penzler

"Her Last Gift"
Blood on Their Hands
Prime Crime
Edited by Lawrence Block

"Always Another War"
Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, July/August 2003

"The Smile of a Cat"
Kittens, Cats, and Crime
Five Star
Edited by Ed Gorman

"Mission Failure"
Crash Dive (First to Fight)
Jove Books
Edited by Martin Greenberg

"Richard's Children"
Much Ado About Murder
Carroll & Graf
Edited by Anne Perry
Reprinted in "The Best American Mystery Stories" (Houghton Mifflin, 2003) edited by Michael Connelly and Otto Penzler

"An Empire's Reach"
Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, November 2002
Reprinted in "The World's Finest Mystery and Crime Stories" (Forge Books, 2003) edited by Ed Gorman and Martin Greenberg

"The Cross of God"
Knights Fantastic
Daw Books
Edited by John Helfers and Martin Greenberg

"Dancing the Night Away"
Death Dance
Cumberland House Books
Edited by Trevanian

"The Tourist Who Wasn't There"
Lighthouse Hauntings
Down East Books
Edited by Charles G. Waugh and Martin Greenberg

"The Greatest Sacrifice"
White House Pet Detectives
Cumberland House Books
Edited by Carole Nelson Douglas

"A Lion Set Loose Upon the World"
Pharaoh Fantastic
Daw Books
Edited by Brittiany A. Koren and Martin Greenberg

"A Sunday In January"
The Mighty Johns by David Baldacci
New Millennium Press
A Football Mystery Anthology Edited by Otto Penzler

"The Invisible Spy"
The Blue and Gray Undercover
Forge Books
Edited by Ed Gorman

"The High Water Mark"
Alternative Gettysburgs
Berkley Books
Edited by Brian Thomsen and Martin Greenberg

"Victory at Pearl Harbor"
A Date Which Will Live In Infamy
Cumberland Books
Edited by Brian M. Thomsen and Martin H. Greenberg

"A Winning Combination"
Murder on the Ropes
New Millenium Press
Edited by Otto Penzler

"Final Fall"
Boston Globe Sunday Magazine, August 12, 2001

"The Aquarius Mission"
Death by Horoscope
Carroll & Graf
Edited by Anne Perry

"In The Dark Valley"
The Mutant Files
DAW Books
Edited by John Helfers

"The Men On The Wall"
First To Fight II
Berkley Books
Edited by Martin H. Greenberg

"A Family Game"
Murderer's Row
New Millenium Entertainment
Edited by Otto Penzler
Reprinted in "The Best American Mystery Stories" (Houghton Mifflin, 2002) edited by James Ellroy and Otto Penzler

"Wearing of the Green"
Murder Most Celtic
Cumberland House Books, March 2001
Edited by Martin H. Greenberg

"The Star Thief"
Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, March 2001
Reprinted in "The World's Finest Mystery and Crime Stories" (Forge Books, 2002) edited by Ed Gorman and Martin Greenberg

"The Summer People"
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, November 2000
Reprinted in "The World's Finest Mystery and Crime Stories" (Forge Books, 2001) edited by Ed Gorman

"Last Hours In Richmond"
Murder Most Confederate
Cumberland House Books, 2000
Edited by Martin H. Greenberg

"The Wizard of Lindsay Woods"
Murder Most Medieval
Cumberland House Books, 2000
Edited by Martin H. Greenberg and John Helfers

"Customer's Choice"
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, September/October 2000

"Gettysburg Dreams"
Civil War Fantastic
DAW Books, 2000
Edited by Martin H. Greenberg

"His Last Shot"
Mary Higgins Clark Mystery Magazine, Summer 2000

"The Road's End"
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, April 2000

"Old Soldiers"
Playboy Magazine, May 2000
Reprinted in "The World's Finest Mystery and Crime Stories" (Forge Books, 2001) edited by Ed Gorman

"Sibling Rivalry"
The Night Awakens
Pocket Books, 2000
Edited by Mary Higgins Clark

"Rising Waters"
Mary Higgins Clark Mystery Magazine, Summer 1999

"Broken Doors"
Diagnosis Dead
Pocket Books, 1999
Edited by Jonathan Kellerman

"The Shadow Trees"
Playboy Magazine, May 1999

"Eric, The Family Savior"
Canine Crimes
Ballantine, 1998
Edited by Jeffrey Marks

"Rapunzel's Revenge"
Once Upon A Crime
Berkley Books, 1998
Edited by Ed Gorman and Martin H. Greenberg

"Netmail"
Playboy Magazine, May 1998
Reprinted in "The Best American Mystery Stories" (Houghton Mifflin, 1999) edited by Ed McBain and Otto Penzler

"Trade Wars"
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, February 1997
Reprinted in "Creme de la Crime" (Carroll & Graf, 2000) edited by Janet Hutchings

"The Dark Snow"
Playboy Magazine, November 1996
Nomineee, Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Short Story of the Year, 1997
Nominee, Anthony Award for Best Short Story of the Year, 1997
Reprinted in "The Year's 25 Finest Crime and Mystery Stories" (Carroll & Graf, 1997), edited by Joan Hess, Martin H. Greenberg and Ed Gorman
Reprinted in "The Best American Mystery Stories" (Houghton Mifflin, 1997) edited by Robert B. Parker and Otto Penzler
Reprinted in "Never Shake a Family Tree" (Rutledge Hill Press, 1998) edited by Billie Sue Mosiman and Martin H. Greenberg
Reprinted in "The Best American Mystery Stories of the Century" (Houghton Mifflin, 2000) edited by Tony Hillerman and Otto Penzler

"The Promise Squad"
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, June 1996

"Thieves"
Boston Herald Sunday Magazine, August 1995

"Heirlooms"
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, July 1995

"The Necessary Brother"
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, May 1994
Nominee, Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Short Story of the Year, 1995
Winner, Shamus Award for Best Short Story of the Year, 1995
Reprinted in "The Year's Best Mystery and Suspense Stories 1995" (Walker Books) edited by Edward Hoch
Reprinted in "The Year's 25 Finest Crime and Mystery Stories" (Carroll & Graf, 1995), edited by the staff of Mystery Scene magazine

"My Uncle's War"
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, May 1993

"Grave On A Hill"
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, October 1992

"My Brother's Night"
Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, December 1991 Reprinted in "The Year's Best Mystery and Suspense Stories 1992" (Walker Books) edited by Edward Hoch

"Fire Burning Bright"
Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, Winter 1989 Reprinted in "The Year's Best Mystery and Suspense Stories 1990" (Walker Books) edited by Edward Hoch

"Off The Interstate"
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, February 1988
Reprinted in "Murder In New England" (Castle Books, 1989) edited by Eleanor Sullivan and Chris Dorbandt

"Like Kin"
Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, Mid-December 1987

"Not Much Of A Trade"
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, December 1987

"Final Marks, Final Secrets"
Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, November 1987
Reprinted in "The Year's Best Mystery and Suspense Stories 1988" (Walker Books) edited by Edward Hoch
Reprinted in "Murder Most Sacred" (Dembner Books, 1989) edited by Edward Hoch and Martin H. Greenberg

"A Quick Learner"
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, October 1987 Reprinted in "Murder In New England" (Castle Books, 1989) edited by
Eleanor Sullivan and Chris Dorbandt

"Still Waters"
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, September 1987
Reprinted in "You" magazine (Republic of South Africa), October 19, 1995

"Money Is Something Else"
Prime Crimes 5 Anthology, Fall 1987

"A Fine Opportunity"
Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, June 1987

"Room to Hide"
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, June 1987
Reprinted in "The Best Mystery Stories of the Year" (Dercum Audio, 1988)
edited by Josh Pachter and Martin H. Greenberg

"Cellmates"
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, April 1987

"A Matter of Possession"
Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, May 1987

"What Friends Do"
Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, April 1987

"A Ticket Out"
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, January 1987
Reprinted in "Murder In New England" (Castle Books, 1989) edited by Eleanor Sullivan and Chris Dorbandt
To be reprinted in an upcoming anthology, "Speaking of Greed" (Cumberland House Books) edited by Lawrence Block

"A Bad Debt"
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, Mid-December 1986
Reprinted in "Ellery Queen's Kriminal Magazin 99" (Verlag, Germany, 1991)

"The Warning"
Prime Crimes 4 Anthlogy, Fall 1986

"Driven"
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, November 1986
Nominee, Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Short Story of the Year, 1987

"Three Different Assignments"
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, June 1986

"Dark Corridor"
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, February 1986
Nominee, Robert L. Fish Memorial Award for Best First Mystery Short Story, 1987
Reprinted in "Ellery Queen's Kriminal Magazin 96" (Verlag, Germany, 1989)

Short Stories Not Yet Published:

"To Kill An Ump"
108 Magazine

"The Cask of Castle Island"
On A Raven's Wing
Harper
Edited by Stuart Kaminsky

"Run for Justice"
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine

"Rapunzel Strikes Back"
Terribly Twisted Tales
DAW Books
Edited by Jean Rabe