Editorial Guidelines

In addition to a sophisticated appreciation of the crime and mystery genre, Mystery Scene has a particular interest in the literary life and the media industry. Writers have always had a strong presence in Mystery Scene, but fans love our "insider" information and, in fact, make up the majority of our devoted readership.

Every issue contains commentary, critical overviews, interviews of authors and other media professionals, developments in television and film, appreciations, diatribes, letters and a wide variety of reviews. Throw in jokes, quotes and anecdotes and we think you'll find Mystery Scene a lively read!

Book Review Submissions

Click here to see our policy on the submission of books for review in Mystery Scene.

Our Contributors

Mystery Scene publishes a broad range of experienced writers -- many of them mystery authors. We also receive contributions from editors, publishers, agents, TV & film folks, and booksellers. We are, however, very open and appreciative of new writers and new viewpoints. Please do be familiar with Mystery Scene before you contact us -- we do not publish fiction, for example.

Articles

We are interested in articles on a variety of topics within the crime & mystery genre. These include: essays on various writers, articles on book collecting, appreciations of particular books or subgenres of mystery fiction, biographical sketches of interesting people in the mystery world, historical pieces, articles on film/television/radio, etc., opinion pieces, and the occasional rant. Payment is negotiated with the editor in advance; payment is upon publication. Length: 800 to 2,000 words.

Interviews

Mystery Scene offers a wide variety of interviews. In addition to novelists, people we would particularly like to chat with: film/tv writers; film/tv directors and producers; book collectors; biographers; playwrights; librarians and museum curators of mystery-oriented collections.

Interviews may range from 800 to 1,000 words; shorter lengths are preferred. The subject should be introduced in a biographical preface. For interviews with writers, please include a booklist with publication years noted. The format may be in "Q&A" style or in article style with quotes. Query the editor in advance for approval, payment details and possible help with contacting interview subjects. [PLEASE NOTE that we receive more interview queries than any other type of correspondence. If you're trying to break into Mystery Scene, then an article would have a better chance.]

Book Reviews

The length of the reviews should range from 100-250 words. By publishing short, but sharp, reviews we hope to cover as many as possible of the 800+ mystery titles published annually. We supply the books and a small payment. When making inquiries, please include two sample reviews (with publication details) and mention what types of mysteries you prefer.

New Book Pieces

Authors of upcoming books are encouraged to send in short essays about their new titles. These essays are meant to entertain and intrigue potential readers, so be creative. Some examples: real-life inspirations for plot and characters; unusual research; issues raised in the book and why they were of interest to you; the story's locale or time period.

Humor is good, detailed plot summaries are not. Please include publication details (publisher, price, month of publication). These essays should be submitted via e-mail. Please provide author photo, book jacket, and any other photo that could accompany the essay by email. Any photo taken with a digital camera should be fine. If you are scanning a photo, use 300 dpi resolution.
There is no payment for these pieces. The length should range from 500 to 800 words. Please query:
brianskupinnotthispart@mysteryscenemag.com
Remove notthispart before emailing.

Letters To The Editor and Miscellaneous Items

If you'd like to send correspondence for our Letters section, please clearly mark your submission as intended for that section. We'd love to hear from you! Miscellaneous trivia, poems, jokes, quotes & anecdotes are always welcome and will be credited if you remember to identify yourself. (Full names, please.) We also appreciate receiving news items and pertinent press releases.

As a service to our readers we will print information on Book Club Guides in our Letters section. Authors should e-mail information to the editor -- including the contact information you want printed.

How to Query and Submit Material

First, read this page in detail. Then, read a copy of Mystery Scene. Then contact Kate Stine, Mystery Scene's editor-in-chief, at katestine@mysteryscenemag.com, with your article ideas. Please be patient, this is a very busy office and a response may take a while.

Once an article is commissioned, e-mail submissions are preferred. Please paste the article text into the body of the e-mail, AND include it as an attachment. Include a one-sentence bio of yourself at the end of the article along with a postal mailing address and contact details. Artwork and photographs are very much welcome, please let Kate know if these are available.

When to Submit

Mystery Scene Magazine is published five times a year and is approximately 70 - 80 pages long. We like to work ahead, so please contact us as far in advance as feasible for time-sensitive articles. These dates are subject to the editor's discretion:

Issue # 104, Spring. Deadline February 1, 2008, Publication April 15, 2008

Issue # 105, Summer. Deadline April 1, 2008, Publication June 15, 2008

Issue # 106, Fall. Deadline July 1, 2008, Publication September 15, 2008

Issue # 107, Holiday. Deadline September 1, 2008, Publication November 15, 2008

Issue # 108, Winter. Deadline November 1, 2008, Publication February 15, 2009

Issue # 109, Spring. Deadline February 1, 2009, Publication April 15, 2008

Sample Issues

Sample copies may be obtained by sending a check or money order payable to Mystery Scene; or pay by credit card at our website. The $10 (US) cost includes postage.