Our team is looking for inspiring and intriguing short mystery stories that embrace the 2026 Bouchercon Convention theme: Cross-Border.
A crime must be at the heart of your story, but we encourage a broad interpretation on the complexities of our Border theme. The word itself conjures a rich diversity: a frontier, an edge, a decorative strip. Something to be crossed or surmounted. An emotional or social border. Consider the crossing of borders, and the movement of people. People facing limits, or breaching them. The boundary pushing of individuals in conflict, of worlds in conflict, even planetary explorers in conflict (it’s already underway—what border-related crimes do you imagine they could get up to?) Think of hands across borders, new people in new places, new neighbours and new friends (in crime). Give us Cross-border antics of all kinds; geographic, physical, psychological, and emotional.

We are looking for innovative and timely mystery stories that align with our Cross-border theme. We are also looking for traditionally constructed mystery stories, with original ideas and fresh voices that say something new or bring nuance and perspective to our theme.

We hope to see mystery stories that invoke a visceral reaction in readers. Whether you offer up fear, surprise, joy or intrigue, make our readers think and feel.
We are open to unique new mystery-oriented settings and character types reflective of our rich cross-border intercultural, intergenerational, gender and neuro-diverse world.

Be sure it fits into the mystery genre, which we define as a story informed by a crime.

We are looking for submissions that, ahem, border on brilliance.

Stories may be any length under 5,000 words and not previously published in any format.

The anthology will feature stories by some of our convention Guests of Honour, alongside the authors selected from our list of finalists.
Bouchercon attendees and all others interested in participating are invited to submit a story.
Each submission will be read by a committee of industry professionals, as well as by our Guest Editor Jess Lourey, and Editor Olyn Fleming Ozbick.

All submissions will be read blind.

Finalists’ stories will be forwarded to the Guest Editor, who will choose the winning stories and provide each winner with brief impressions and kudos. The Editor will advise and support the final decision, and assist the authors with final polishing and other editorial support prior to publication.

Mystery master and plot expert Juanita Violini will oversee our blind judging process.

A list of finalists will be announced in early December 2025. Winners will be notified early March 2026. Winning stories will be published in the 2026 Anthology, launching October 2026. A launch event, including all available finalists, winners, and Editors will be held at the convention in Calgary in October 2026.

1 – Carefully read the rules, entry requirements and eligibility before submission.
2 – Check that you are submitting the correct version of your submission.
3 – Check spam, as your confirmation may land there.

Each Bouchercon chooses a charity to support. Calgary has chosen The Further Education Society of Alberta (FESA). Among the ways that Bouchercon raises money for their chosen charity is by producing and selling an anthology, the net proceeds of which for Calgary will be donated to The Further Education Society of Alberta. Some of our Anthology authors may choose to donate their $75 payment directly to this charity.

To prepare a fresh new story focused on our theme, read the following guidelines for inspiration.
Our team is looking for inspiring and intriguing short mystery stories that embrace the 2026 Bouchercon Convention theme: Cross-Border.
A crime must be at the heart of your story, but we encourage a broad interpretation on the complexities of our Border theme. The word itself conjures a rich diversity: a frontier, an edge, a decorative strip. Something to be crossed or surmounted. An emotional or social border. Consider the crossing of borders, the movement of people. People facing limits, or breaching them. The boundary pushing of individuals in conflict, of worlds in conflict, even planetary explorers in conflict (it’s already underway—what border-related crimes do you imagine they could get up to?) Think of hands across borders, new people in new places, new neighbours and new friends (in crime). Give us Cross-border antics of all kinds; geographic, physical, psychological, and emotional.
We are looking for innovative and timely mystery stories that align with our Cross-border theme.

We are also looking for traditionally constructed mystery stories, with original ideas and fresh voices that say something new or bring nuance and perspective to our theme.

We hope to see mystery stories that invoke a visceral reaction in readers. Whether you offer up fear, surprise, joy or intrigue, make our readers think and feel.

We are open to unique new mystery-oriented settings and character types reflective of our rich cross-border intercultural, intergenerational, gender and neuro-diverse world.

Be sure it fits into the mystery genre, which we define as a story informed by a crime.

We are looking for submissions that, ahem, border on brilliance.

Stories may be any length under 5,000 words and not previously published in any format.

The anthology will feature stories by some of our convention Guests of Honour, alongside the authors selected from our list of finalists.
Bouchercon attendees and all others interested in participating are invited to submit a story.
Each submission will be read by a committee of industry professionals, as well as by our Guest Editor, Jess Lourey, and Editor, Olyn Fleming Ozbick.

All submissions will be read blind.

Finalists’ stories will be forwarded to the Guest Editor, who will choose the winning stories and provide each winner with brief impressions and kudos. The Editor will advise and support the final decision, and assist the authors with final polishing and other editorial support prior to
publication.

Mystery master and plot expert Juanita Violini will oversee our blind judging process.

A list of finalists will be announced in early December 2025. Winners will be notified early March 2026. Winning stories will be published in the 2026 Anthology, launching October 2026. A launch event, including all available finalists and winners, and Editors will be held at the convention in Calgary in October 2026.

1 – Carefully read the rules, entry requirements and eligibility before submission.
2 – Check that you are submitting the correct version of your submission.
3 – Check spam, as your confirmation may land there.

Each Bouchercon chooses a charity to support. Calgary has chosen The Further Education Society of Alberta (FESA). Among the ways that Bouchercon raises money for their chosen charity is by producing and selling an anthology, the net proceeds of which for Calgary will be donated to The Further Education Society of Alberta. Some of our Anthology authors may choose to donate their $75 payment directly to this charity.