Michael Shayne Mystery Magazine, Vol. 1, No. 1, September 1956

Full Cycle-New Birth

With publication of this first issue of Michael Shayne Mystery Magazine, my Miami character completes the full cycle in print. At the moment, I cannot think of any other publication medium through which Mike can reach readers in the United States, or in the ten foreign countries where his cases have been translated for many years.

I am both proud and gratified that my long-time and valued friend, Leo Margulies, is the publisher and sole owner of this magazine. It is a project that both Leo and I have held in our minds and hearts for many years. But we have waited patiently for the exact moment when the signs were right, when the many and varied elements essential to the production and distribution of a truly fine mystery magazine coincided to make the project feasible.

We are glad, now, that we waited for this moment. I sincerely believe that Michael Shayne Mystery Magazine is the finest periodical of its kind available to the American reader today. I believe, also, that the stories between its covers are a fair sample of what you, the reader, may expect in future issues. We hope to make this the sort of magazine that the millions of Mike Shayne fans throughout the world want to read. Whether you feel that we have achieved our purpose or have fallen short, it is our hope that you will help us by writing a letter to tell us what you like or dislike about this first issue.

Mike has sold more than 14,000,000 copies in the United States. We don’t expect 14,000,000 letters, or even 14,000 — but, for myself, I hope you break the mailman’s back.