In a message dated 11/30/03 4:01:37 AM Eastern Standard Time,
owner-rara-avis@icomm.ca writes:
<<
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 14:32:14 -0800 (PST)
From: Mario Taboada <
matrxtech@yahoo.com>
Subject: RARA-AVIS: Richard Moore's first,
unearthed.
While browing the July 1978 issue of EQMM, I ran
into
Richard A. Moore's first story (so described in
the
magazine). The author declares that "his primary hobby
is
collecting books" .
The story is "Hard Luck Story", a hardboiled
short-short
with punch and personality.
Best,
Mario >>
Thank you, Mario. That is indeed my first story. Gosh, a
quarter of a century ago! I still remember the thrill of that
first acceptance. The title came compliments of Fred Dannay,
famous for substituting new titles for stories he purchased.
I can't claim the original (Business Trip) was any
better.
The story was adapted for radio by South African
Broadcasting, which I learned was not all that uncommon for
stories from EQ. I asked for and received a tape of the
broadcast. Back then I lived in Atlanta and we had a "den" of
the Wolfe Pack, which was a dinner club as much as it was a
homage to Rex Stout. The den had been organized by Jud Sapp,
Stout collector and bibliographer who died far too young. On
our evening for hosting, the feature attraction was the
playing of this tape, which I had not previewed for the
evening. My surprise ending was given away in the first
minutes of the broadcast, so I was in as much suspense as
anyone as we listened to the rest of the show.
The story was later reprinted in KINGPINS Edited by Cynthia
Manson and Charles Ardai (Carroll & Graf 1992). My story
makes up a small part of this anthology but buyers also get
stories by Stephen King, Raymond Chandler. Brian Garfield,
Andrew Vachss, Jack Ritchie, Avram Davidson, and Phyllis
Diller.
And, as my own post of yesterday demonstrates, my primary
hobby continues to be collecting books. And, hey, I've got a
lot more to show for it than most hobbiests!
Thanks again, Mario, for the compliment.
Richard Moore
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