Viva Mystery Scene!

One of the nice things about blogging is the ability to share thoughts on great books, organizations, and talented folks within our industry. I generally am not open to writers using Mysterious Matters as a publicity device; there are plenty of other places to engage in self-promotion. When I recommend something here on MM, it's because I have personally read or experienced it, and I feel that I can testify to its quality.

This week I have to put in a plug for one of my favorite magazines, Mystery Scene. (This month's issue is pictured at left.) I've mentioned my enjoyment of the magazine before, but - in an era in which the magazine industry is experiencing many of the same challenges that book publishers are facing - I thought a really good magazine deserves mention.

One of the really lovely things about MS is the fact that it is written (mostly) by mystery lovers, readers, and writers for other devotees of the genre. So, while the magazine itself is quite fun and packed with many features, at its core it shows great respect for our genre and its practitioners. It's fun when it needs to be, and serious when appropriate. It's one of those magazines, like The New Yorker, that makes me feel that I am missing something good if I skim it too quickly.

Also, as an editor at an independent press, I feel grateful to the editors at MS for reviewing small-press books in each and every issue. We face prejudice from a lot of media; it's nice to feel as welcome in the pages of Mystery Scene as the big, corporate publishers.

Here's a sampling of what you'll find in the issue pictured above:

• "The Docket": a listing of upcoming mystery/crime fiction conferences, with dates and locales
• "Mystery Scene Miscellany": interesting tidbits
• "Our Readers Recommend": Books suggested by subscribers - one of my favorite features of the magazine
• Author profiles: in this issue, Stephen Hunter, Livia J. Washburn, Marcia Muller
• "The 2011 Mystery Scene Gift Guide" - selected books, goodies, DVDs, games, and book-related gifts for everyone on your holiday list
• "The Hook": Intriguing first lines from various novels 
• "Building Your Book Collection": Tips for those who are serious about collecting and preserving their books
• Reviews: A thorough, inclusive list of recently published books, from small-press books to paperback originals,to audiobooks and reference books, to, well, "regular books"

Another interesting point: The magazine, long black-and-white, is now published in glorious color.

You can check out Mystery Scene on the Web at www.mysteryscenemag.com.  Subscription rates for the magazine are $32 per year, $60 for a 2-year subscription. Add the mag to your must-read list, and/or give a subscription to a mystery lover for the holidays. 

Comments

[Jess]

Great magazine. I gave a subscription to my husband for his birthday last September.