Awards / Nominations / Recognition:
Ms. Cedeño’s science fiction mystery A Reasonable Expectation of Privacy was published by Analog Science Fiction and Fact Magazine in 2012 and nominated for best short story in the 2013 Analog Readers Poll. The story tied for third place in the poll. Her second novel, a near-future mystery entitled For the Children’s Sake, was published in 2015 and selected for a book award by the East Texas Writers Guild in 2016. Her story “Predators and Prey” was selected for the “Other Distinguished Stories of 2024” list in Best American Mystery and Suspense 2025.
Crimeucopia: The Not So Frail Detective Agency published in 2025 by Murderous Ink Press and edited by John Connor was recognized as First Runner up for the Silver Falchion Award for Best Anthology at Killer Nashville 2026. The anthology contains N.M. Cedeño’s story “Disappearance of an Easy Lover,” featuring PI Maya Laster, a genetic genealogy private investigator.
Short Biography:
N.M. Cedeño is a Plan II graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. A native Texan, she lives in Round Rock and writes crime and mystery short stories and novels. Her paranormal mystery series Bad Vibes Removal Services currently includes two novels and fifteen short stories. Her short fiction has appeared in anthologies and magazines including Analog: Science Fiction and Fact, After Dinner Conversation, Black Cat Weekly, and Black Cat Mystery Magazine. Her short story entitled “A Reasonable Expectation of Privacy” tied for third place for Best Short Story in the 2013 Analog Readers Poll. Her story “Predators and Prey” is listed among the Other Distinguished Mystery and Suspense Stories of 2024 in The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2025 anthology. Ms. Cedeño is a member of Sisters in Crime and its Heart of Texas Chapter, where she has served as a chapter vice president and president. She is a member of the Short Mystery Fiction Society. Ms. Cedeño blogs with several other Heart of Texas mystery writers at Austin Mystery Writers. For more information, please visit nmcedeno.com.
Trivia for the Curious:
The N stands for Noreen, an uncommon name in Texas, but not in Ireland, (and apparently also common in Pakistan, according to information received from my neighbor). The M stands for Marie, a very common name in multiple languages and countries.
Although she lives near Austin, the author has also lived in Houston, Dallas, Plano, and Amarillo. She is a native Texan.
N. M. Cedeño attended the University of Texas at Austin as a Plan II student. Plan II students were, at that time, known as “the Undecided” or “the double majors who never sleep” depending on how well they were able to direct their curiosity.
The author is married and has three children and a German shepherd mix-breed dog, who are all native Texans. The husband, however, is not a native Texan. He got here as fast as he could, so we forgive him for being born elsewhere and for speaking something other than Texan as his first language.