Sometimes You Hit a Bull's-Eye

Catherine target shooting with her hunting rifle

I received the good news that my short story Real Cowgirls Don't Cry sold to Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine. Writers know how slow news of acceptance or rejection for this market can be, but the magazine is one of a rare few premier paying markets for mystery short fiction. It is worth the wait. This will be my 7th story in AHMM. I am beyond thrilled!

For the record, I waited over eleven months for this acceptance, from date of submission to the email offering to buy the story. The last two stories I submitted to AHMM were rejected. It may be several months before the story makes its appearance in the magazine. I will repeat: it's worth the wait.

Real Cowgirls Don't Cry involves characters from my story The Last Real Cowboy, published by AHMM in September 2014.

The photo: I did not hit a bull's-eye during target practice last month. My husband did - 4 times. He's had lots more practice than me. That's what it takes, in target shooting or writing - lots and lots of practice, resulting in those moments of success. My sale of Real Cowgirls Don't Cry was a writerly bull's-eye!

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