I have read The New York Times  “Modern Love” column for at least a decade. The writing is consistently beautiful, and the stories, each unique, have a magical ability to take the reader to places she or he might not normally trek. It has been one of my writing goals to have an essay published in “Modern Love.” 

A writing professor of mine called the column, “the toughest writing gig around.” 

Writer K. Nicole Whitaker stated, “It seems the holy grail of essay writing about love is the New York Times ‘Modern Love’ column.”

The rejection rate of a “Modern Love” submission is 99.5%.

The “Modern Love” editor, Daniel Jones, has said, “It is easier to get into Harvard twenty times than into the ‘Modern Love’ column.”

I’ve submitted several essays over the last ten years. All were rejected. 

UNTIL NOW!

I’m walking on air and can hardly believe I can now share with you: 

“From Russia With Mixed Feelings”