The St. Martin's Press/Private Eye Writers of America
 Best First Private Eye Novel Contest

The Private Eye Writers of America (PWA) is an organization devoted to private-eye detective fiction, and are probably best known for their annual Shamus Awards. Membership is open to fans, writers, and publishing professionals. There are three levels of membership: Active, Associate, and International.

Since the mid-1950s, publishing mystery novels has been at the heart of St. Martin's Press. In that time, they have come to be known as one of the largest, most prominent mystery publisher in the book industry. In fact, in September of 1999, St. Martin's Press recognized this successful history with a new mystery imprint called Minotaur, named after the Greek mythological figure who guarded the fabled labyrinth and devoured anyone who entered (except for Theseus, of course).

In 1986, the PWA teamed up with St. Martin's Press to sponsor The St. Martin's Press/PWA Best First Private Eye Novel Contest, and has been holding it

By the way, there's seems to be a little confusion about the categories of the PWA's Best First Private Eye Novel Shamus and The St. Martin's Press/PWA Best First Private Eye Novel Contest. Seems some publishers don't make the distinction, and that a novel can win the contest, and a few years later, when it's finally published, win the Best First Novel Award. But it's pretty simple, actually. As Bob Randisi explains, "There is nothing for publishers to distinguish. The PWA/SMP contest winner is for an unpublished novel, and is ONLY a PWA/SMP prize winner. It's not a book, eligible for book awards, until it is published."

For rules and more info on the contest, please go to The St. Martin's Private Eye Contest Page.

| 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 |
| 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 |
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2007 |

1986 SMP/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

1987 SMP/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

1988 SMP/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

1989 SMP/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

1990 SMP/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

1991 SMP/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

1992 SMP/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

1993 SMP/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

1994 SMP/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

1995 SMP/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

1996 SMP/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

1997 SMP/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

1998 SMP/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

1999 SMP/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

2000 SMP/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

2001 SMP/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

2002 SMP/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

2003 SMP/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

2004 SMP/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

2006 SMP/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

2007 SMP/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

  • Keith Gilman

Thanks to Robert Randisi, Jan Grape, Jan Long, Gerald So and especially Cathleen Jordan for their help with this one.

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