KOSHER PIGS FLY WEST INTO THE SUNRISE: Film at Eleven

by Robert Lopresti

I first tried to get a story published in 1976. Since it was a mystery I sent it to the premiere publication in the field, Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine Since it was awful, they sent it back faster than a radioactive skunk.

In the years that followed I sent them other stories. A lot of other stories. Some were as bad as that first one. Some were pretty good. A score or so of them were published in various places and some achieved nominations, an award, an honor roll mention, and so on. But none of these stories, none of them, were ever accepted by Ellery Queen.

Until now.

Yesterday I received a contract for “The Shanty Drummer.” This is the lucky 77th story I have submitted to them. Proving the old saying that seventy-seventh time’s a charm. Or success lies in being too stupid to know when to quit. Or something.

Ellery versus Alfred

On various discussion lists I have seen the question raised: What’s the difference between Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine and Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine? Various suggestions have been made but it has always been clear to me that the biggest difference is that AHMM publishes my stories and EQMM doesn’t. I guess that either I or the magazine has changed.

The funny thing is, I know writers who are published in EQMM and can’t break into AHMM. Strange but true.

And now the big question…

Yesterday I celebrated. Today I am going through my notebook of almost-ready-to-submit stories and trying to decide which one to send to EQMM next. I have to pick a winner. Because, hey, I’ve got a streak going.

Another thread from the web

The Mystery Place is the website for both magazines. Check out the Reader’s Forum.