Top 10 Mystery Markets

by Brenda Ramsbacher

Writer Online would like to wish Karri Watson, our previous Top 10 columnist, a fond farewell as she moves on to other writing projects. Best of luck, Karri!

Can you give clues without giving away the culprit? Or perhaps you have a flair for action that keeps the reader guessing until you type THE END. The markets featured here will give you outlets for your creativity and focus your passion to flaunt clues without giving the answer. But be aware: never give out too many clues until the climax is near or your reader will become bored because they will know who done it. And you sure don't want to lose the reader before you are ready to anounce who did it.

The Mystery Review
The Mystery Review is a quarterly print magazine published on a regular basis since Fall 1992. Content covers American, British and Canadian mystery books and authors.
Guidelines: http://www.themysteryreview.com/contribute.html
Editorial Calendar: no
Editorial Contact: Barbara Davey
Sample Copy: $7.50, includes shipping and handling
Nonfiction Needs: Interviews with authors and related personnal to the mystery genre. Prefers length to be 2,000 - 5,000 words with photos. Real life mysteries (historical or contemporary). Prefers length to be 2,000 - 5,000 words with photos. Book Reviews:
Currently have full slate of reviewers. Articles on mystery book shops. Obtain questionaire from editor prior to interview. Prefers length to be 500 words with photos. Queries for mystery related articles and full manuscripts for filler pieces including trivia, puzzles, and word games.
Pay: Honorarium
Paid on Acceptance: No. Paid on publication
Does Not Want: Fiction
Response Time: Approx. one month
Open to Freelancers: yes
Photos: yes
Submission Method: Query by e-mail before sending a manuscript.
Contact Information:
The Mystery Review
P.O. Box 488
Wellesley Island, NY 13640-0488
or
P.O. Box 233
Colborne, Ontario K0K 1S0
Canada
Phone: (613) 475-4440
Fax: (613) 475-3400
E-mail: mystrev@reach.net
Website: http://www.themysteryreview.com

Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine
Since 1941, this magazine has been publishing the world's leading mystery and crime writers. Online edition features excerpts from the short stories, The Jury Box (book review column), and The Mystery Crossword.
Guidelines: http://www.themysteryplace.com/eqmm/guidelines/
Sample Copy: $5.00 or $2.95 and SAS 6 x 9 Envelope with sufficient postage.
Fiction Needs: Publishes all types of mystery stories including hard- boiled and cozies. Stories must be at least 2,500 words. Rarely publishes stories over 8,000 words. Features up to two short novels per year. Reserved for established authors.
Paid on Acceptance: no
Does Not Want: sex or violence
Response Time: Minimum three months
Open to Freelancers: yes
Photos: Cartoons and art only. Send to postal address in care of
Associate Art Director.
Submission Method: Postal mail. Send full manuscript. Include
envelope with postage for return of materials or SASE for reply.
Contact Information:
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine
475 Park Avenue South, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Fax: 1-212-686-7188
Email: elleryqueen@dellmagazines.com
http://www.themysteryplace.com/eqmm/

HandHeldCrime
Publishes stories every three weeks that will fit nicely on a
handheld.
Guidelines: http://www.handheldcrime.com/authors/submission-guidelines.html
Editorial Contact: Victoria Esposito-Shea
Sample Copy: online
Fiction Needs: Short fiction for HandHeldCrime. 1200 words
minimum. No maximum word count.
Pay: $15 for short fiction.
Paid on Acceptance: no
Open to Freelancers: yes
Photos: no
Submission Method: Email. Send full manuscript.
Contact Information:
HandHeldCrime
Email: victoria@handheldcrime.com
http://www.handheldcrime.com

Orchard Press Mysteries
Online publisher focused narrowly on the mystery genre. Features a crime beat column along with numerous stories from new and established authors.
Guidelines: http://www.orchardpressmysteries.com/submission_policy.html
Editorial Contact: Richard Heagy
Sample Copy: on website
Fiction Needs: Queries for all mystery, detective and crime stories.
Prefers length for short-shorts to be under 2,000 words and
between 2,000 and 6,000 words for short stories.
Pay: $25 for short stories; $10 for short-shorts
Paid on Acceptance: yes
Does Not Want: Previously published stories. "No pornography or explicit sex; no excessive violence, gore or obscenity; no subject matter which we consider to be offensive; and no horror stories."
Response Time: Ten days on queries. Submitted stories may take up to four weeks.
Open to Freelancers: yes
Photos: no
Submission Method: Query by online form
Contact Information:
Orchard Press Mysteries LLC
Email: editor@orchardpressmysteries.net
http://www.orchardpressmysteries.com/

Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine
Packed with stories varying from short-shorts to novellas in each issue.
Guidelines: http://www.themysteryplace.com/ahmm/guidelines/
Sample Copy: $5.00
Fiction Needs: All stories should include some kind of crime. Length no longer than 14,000 words.
Pay: not specified
Paid on Acceptance: no
Does Not Want: nothing based on actual events
Open to Freelancers: yes
Photos: Black and white samples should be sent to: Associate Art Director, Dell Magazines, 475 Park Avenue South, 11th floor, New York, NY 10016. Send color samples to the Senior Art Director at the same address.
Submission Method: Postal mail. Send full manuscript. Include
envelope with postage for return of materials or SASE for reply.
Contact Information:
Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine
475 Park Avenue South, 11th floor
New York, NY 10016
Fax: 1-212-686-7414
Email: alfredhitchcock@dellmagazines.com
http://www.themysteryplace.com/ahmm/

The Strand Magazine
Provides gripping details and their stories of new and classic
mystery authors worldwide in every issue.
Guidelines: http://www.strandmag.com/guidlines.htm
Sample Copy: Send $10 or visit the website
Fiction Needs: Mysteries, detective stories, and tales of terror.
Prefers length to be between 2,000 - 6,000 words. Occasionally will publish short-shorts of 1,000 words.
Pay: $25 - 150
Paid on Acceptance: not specified
Response Time: 4 - 10 weeks
Open to Freelancers: yes
Photos: no
Submission Method: Postal Mail. Include SASE large enough for return of materials
Contact Information:
The Strand Magazine
P.O. Box 1418
Birmingham, MI 48012-1418
Phone Numbers:
United States & Canada) 1-800-300-6652
(United Kingdom) 0800-961-280
(International) 248-788-5948
Fax 248-874-1046
E mail: agulli@strandmag.com
http://www.strandmag.com/

Poisoned Pen Press
Encompasses a mission to making books available to the world's mystery lovers.
Guidelines: http://www.poisonedpenpress.com/html/guidelines.html
Sample Copy: no
Fiction Needs: Queries of well-written material of crime and
detection.
Pay: Nominal advance with standard royalty
Does Not Want: proposals for possible mystery novels. Less
interested in thrillers and serial killer novels.
Response Time: up to 10 weeks
Open to Freelancers: yes
Photos: no
Submission Method: Query via email to
editor@poisonedpenpress.com or Postal Mail care of the Editorial Review Committee. If sending postal, include a SASE for reply.
Contact Information:
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E First Ave
Suite 103
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
(800)421-3976
Email: karen@poisonedpenpress.com
http://www.poisonedpenpress.com/

Crimewave
Unique magazine focusing on the re-creation of crime.
Guidelines: http://www.ttapress.com/publCWguides.html
Editorial Calendar: no
Editorial Contact: Andy Cox or Wayne Edwards
Sample Copy: no
Fiction Needs: Modern stories of mystery and suspense no longer than 15,000 words. Not ordinary fiction but fluid fiction that is dependent on crime.
Pay: not specified
Paid on Acceptance: not specified
Does Not Want: Reprints
Response Time: Eight weeks
Open to Freelancers: yes
Photos: no
Submission Method: Send via postal mail to one of the addresses, not both. International include email address for reply. All others include SASE.
Contact Information:
The UK office is
Crimewave
Andy Cox, TTA Press
5 Martins Lane
Witcham, Ely, Cambs CB6 2LB.
United Kingdom
Email: ttapress@aol.com
or
The US office is
Crimewave
Wayne Edwards, TTA Press
360 W. 76th Ave., #H
Anchorage, AK 99518
Email: we21101@earthlink.net
http://www.ttapress.com/publCW.html

Over My Dead Body
Features author profiles, interviews, reviews, and articles all related to the mystery genre.
Guidelines: http://www.overmydeadbody.com/wguide20.htm
Editorial Calendar: no
Editorial Contact: Cherie Jung
Sample Copy: no
Nonfiction Needs: Interviews, articles and profiles. 500+ words
Pay: $10 - 25 for unsolicited and two contributor copies
Fiction Needs: Compelling fiction. 750 - 4,000 words
Pay: $0.01 per word and two contributor copies
Paid on Acceptance: 30 days from acceptance
Does Not Want: anything outside the mystery genre
Response Time: 4 - 6 weeks
Open to Freelancers: yes
Photos: rarely purchases without manuscript
Submission Method: Query via email or postal mail with SASE.
Label queries Attn: Fiction Editor or Feature Editor, as appropriate.
Contact Information:
Over My Dead Body
P.O. Box 1778
Auburn, Washington 98071-1778.
Email: OMDB@Worldnet.att.net
http://www.overmydeadbody.com/

THE COZY DETECTIVE MYSTERY MAGAZINE
Mystery fiction by new authors breaking into the genre.
Guidelines: http://www.angelfire.com/ms/COZYDETECTIVE/
Editorial Contact: Tom Youngblood
Sample Copy: no
Fiction Needs: Queries. Stories must be heavy on character and
mystery. Nothing over 6,000 words
Pay: contributor copies
Paid on Acceptance: no
Does Not Want: Stories without a mystery connection, no cardboard characters, no hard-core violence.
Response Time: 6 weeks
Open to Freelancers: yes
Photos: no
Submission Method: Queries via email welcome. Postal mail.
Prefers disk submission in ASCII format. Will accept hard copy
submissions. Include SASE for reply and return of materials.
Contact Information:
THE COZY DETECTIVE MYSTERY MAGAZINE
686 Jakes Ct.
McMinnville, Oregon 97128-2546
FAX:(503) 472-4896
Email: detectivemag@onlinemac.com
http://www.angelfire.com/ms/COZYDETECTIVE/

Please make sure you read the guidelines before submitting.

******
Brenda Ramsbacher lives in Mountain Home, Idaho with her husband, four children and two spoiled dogs. She likes to sew clothes for her children, quilt, scrapbook, and read. Over the years, she has penned hundreds of articles and book reviews. Currently, Brenda is working as a book reviewer. You may reach her at scribblers@runbox.com.