InSinC The Sisters in Crime Newsletter Volume XX • Number 2 June 2007 SinC Events: Good for Us and Good for You flock to the table to get the next signed book Jekyll Island, in a big rented house, and had a By Roberta Isleib from one of our authors. The booth this past big party on Saturday night, so we built a lot of SinC Vice President year absolutely rocked. The decorations were camaraderie among the members who partici­ In the fall of 2005, SinC executive secretary great, but the authors were better — fabulous pated. And when the event was in Atlanta and Beth Wasson suggested that I organize a break­ and upbeat all day. I love the sisterhood of this the Atlanta SinC chapter helped with the party, fast for librarians that would coincide with organization, and I think every SinC member our local members got to meet national author the Public Library Association convention in should experience a trade show like SIBA at members they would not have met otherwise.” Boston and help celebrate our 20th Anniversary. some point in her career.” Sandy Tooley, who worked on both Book­ Frankly, I thought she was out of her mind. Patti Sprinkle, who has also organized the Expo 2004 and the ALA conference in 2005, Sure, I was happy to support SinC activities SIBA booth, agrees: “The Sisters in Crime booth described big benefits to both the organization by sending bookmarks to trade show booths and built an enormous amount of goodwill for SinC and to herself as an author. “Many of the librar­ taking a turn signing books at the New England ians who knew of SinC were eager to see our Independent Booksellers Association (NEIBA). booth and specifically sought us out. We had But I certainly didn’t an excellent location for each show, handed out have the experience to Nuts and Bolts a lot of information on joining SinC to those plan a meal for 100 li­ who were unfamiliar with our organization. brarians, long distance. 1. Grants are available for many kinds of Literature from authors was also available to Beth assured me that events and at varying levels of support. those attending. We had drawings at the ALA dozens of SinC volun­ (See page 13.) An application for funds and show and collected more than 600 names for teers had taken on jobs new guidelines for SinC events are listed at our mailing list. like this. So with her . “For the ALA, I had a new release so I was able gentle nudging and firm to hand out advanced reading copies (ARCs) to support, I found a res­ 2. SinC pays for various kinds of expenses librarians interested in mysteries. I was also able taurant, chose a menu, such as booth rental fees, badges, and to set up library appearances with local librar­ and planned a program. advertising. Funds must be applied for ies. For BookExpo, the traditional signing area And with the help of annually. allowed me to sign and give away 100 copies of our library liaison, Do­ my titles, which brought a lot of new readers ris Ann Norris, and our (then) PR maven, 3. Events must be open to all SinC members, to my series.” Kathy Wall, we spread the word. The event was without exception. SinC treasurer Kathy Wall summarized the a sell-out — a huge hit that included a panel on advantage of participating in an event this way: the New England crime scene (to go with the 4. The national office supports regional events “I think it’s the best thing an author can do to Boston setting) and 25 additional SinC authors by providing money, materials, advice, promote her own work — interact directly with schmoozing with tables of librarians. Not only SinC banners, and patient guidance from the folks who sell her books.” Willetta Heising, did individual authors make connections with Beth Wasson. who has organized the SinC booth at the Great librarians, our organization was highlighted as Lakes Booksellers Association, agrees. “The an­ a friendly, supportive, smart group of women 5. SinC members arrange for booth space, nual trade shows held by regional booksellers (and a few men, too) who happen to write great organize authors and members to people associations during September and October of­ books. After breakfast, we trooped over to our the booth, collect promotional materials fer great promotional opportunities for authors convention booth and saw more Sisters in ac­ from authors for giveaways, arrange for with new fall or winter books. Authors should tion. Our tiny booth was positively humming badges, set up and tear down displays. know which bookseller region they live in . If they’re smart, eye of Doris Ann Norris. 6. Current Sisters in Crime-sponsored events they’ll learn which booksellers are the most in­ Across the country, many SinC members have can be found in the newsletter and on fluential in their region and get to know them. gotten involved with similar projects to publi­ our website: . in a Sisters in Crime event?” projects are great for Sisters in Crime, and good In 2006, Sisters in Crime provided funds to for our authors, too. 11 events and sent materials to many more. If Pamela Cable, a member of the High Point, there is a book fair, bookseller or library trade NC chapter, organized the SinC booth at the in the region. We always had lines of booksell­ show, or other book event near you that doesn’t Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance ers waiting to get signed copies of our authors’ have a Sisters in Crime presence, let us help you (SIBA) convention in 2006. Said Pam: “Events books and seldom had many copies of BIP or get one rolling! Contact Beth Wasson at the na­ like this one are a HUGE deal for SinC. Sisters other promo items left over. We also made it a tional office by phone (785/842-1325) or e-mail in Crime steals the show every year. Booksellers point to try and stay in the same hotel or, on to talk it over. Get a Clue Sisters in Crime Newsletter Purpose: The purpose of Sisters in Crime shall be to: combat dis- crimination against women in the mystery field, educate publishers SinC Events ...... 1 and the general public as to the inequities in the treatment of female authors, raise the level of awareness of their contributions to the field, and promote the professional advancement of women who President’s Message . . . . . 3 write mysteries. Rochelle Krich, President S.J. Rozan, At Large Book Club Database . . . . . 3 Roberta Isleib, Vice President Donna Andrews, Chapter Liaison Marcia Talley, Secretary Judy Clemens, Review Monitoring Project Kathryn R. Wall, Treasurer Victoria K. Huston, Publicity Breakfast at Bouchercon ...... 3 Doris Ann Norris, Library Liaison Jim Huang, Bookstore Liaison Vicki Cameron, Books in Print Editor Bonnie J. Cardone, InSinC Editor Get Your Newsletter via E-mail . . 3 Peggy Moody, Web Maven Gavin Faulkner, Newsletter Graphic Designer Beth Wasson, Executive Secretary; P.O. Box 442124; Lawrence KS 66044-8933; Crossword Puzzle ...... 4 Phone: (785) 842-1325; Fax: (785) 856-6314; E-mail: Presidents of Sisters in Crime 1987–88 Sara Paretsky; 1988 –89 Nancy Pickard; 1989–90 Margaret Maron; 1990–91 Libraries Celebrate Our 20th . . 5 Susan Dunlap; 1991–92 Carolyn G. Hart; 1992–93 P.M. Carlson; 1993–94 Linda Grant; 1994–95 Barbara D’Amato; 1995–96 Elaine Raco Chase; 1996–97 Annette Meyers; Authors of Color ...... 6 1997–98 Sue Henry; 1998–99 Medora Sale; 1999–2000 Barbara Burnett Smith; 2000–2001 Claire Carmichael McNab; 2001–2002 Eve K. Sandstrom; 2002–2003 Kate Flora; 2003–2004 Kate Grilley; 2004–2005 Patricia Sprinkle; 2005–2006 Libby Hellmann; Chapter News ...... 6 2006–2007 Rochelle Krich.

BIP ...... 7 DEADLINES AND GUIDELINES The next InSinC Newsletter will be out in Sep­ mail. Review Monitoring Project . . . . . 8 tember. The deadline for all submissions is July Please send mailing address, phone number, and 15. e-mail with submissions. If you have an idea for a Members’ publications since the last edition of story, please query the editor: Agatha Nominees/Winners . . . 8 the newsletter will be listed in The Docket. Please include publication dates when submitting. Docket Bonnie J. Cardone 3116 S. Trisha Court Boost Your Writing Chops . . . 9 material will be due July 10 and should be sent to: Santa Maria, CA 93455-7137 Tel. (805) 938-1156 SinC Receives Dove Award . . . . . 9 Patricia Gulley E-mail: 1743 N. Jantzen Avenue Portland, OR 97217-7849 Conferences ...... 10 E-mail: Moving? Consent/Search Warrants . . . 11 Other honors, awards, and events of great “pith Change of address (postal & e-mail) and moment” should be written up as short, sepa­ notifications should be sent toboth Beth rate notices. These can be as short as a paragraph. Wasson, SinC Executive Secretary, P.O. Forensic U ...... 11 No publicity/promotion of individual members, Box 442124, Lawrence, KS 66044-8933, please. We particularly welcome reprints from SinC and to Rowan Mountain, Inc., P.O. Box The Docket ...... 12 chapter newsletters. 10111, Blacksburg, VA 24062-0111. Send columns, articles, ideas and praise via e- Manuscript Critiques . . . . 13

Letter to the Editor . . . . . 13 Don’t be left out of the loop. Join Sinc’s new Listserv: Chapter Event Grants ...... 13

Crossword Solution . . . . . 13 Promotional materials available to SinC members — Have your bookmarks or postcards designed in color or black-and-white. SinC’s publicity mailing list of 5,000 bookstores, libraries, reviewers, etc. Malice XIX ...... 14 is available via direct addressing through Rowan Mountain, Inc., P.O. Box 10111, Blacksburg, VA 24062-0111. For more information, write Gavin Faulkner. E-mail: . Web: . Phone: 540-449-6178.

JUST THE FACTS: • InSinC Newsletter is the official publication of Sisters in Crime International and is published four times a year. • Dues and other Sisters in Crime cor­ respondence (membership, orders for booklets, changes of address, etc.) may be sent to: M. Beth Wasson, SinC Executive Secretary; P.O. Box 442124, Lawrence, KS 66044- 8933; Phone: 785-842-1325; FAX: 785-856-6314; E-mail: • Information in the Newsletter is submitted and reprinted from sources listed in each article. Where required, permission to reprint has been granted and noted. SinC does not investigate each submission independently, and articles in no way constitute an endorsement of products or services offered. • Other information on Sisters in Crime is available from the President, who is the only person who may speak for the organization officially. Send queries and requests to: Rochelle Krich, 459 N. La Jolla Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90048-2232; E-mail: • No material may be reprinted without written permission from Sisters in Crime. Sisters in Crime © 2007 June 2007 –  The Object of My Objections By Rochelle Krich First, the good news: Breakfast at Sisters in Crime is doing well. Our membership is growing. Our finances are sound. Our 20th Anniversary outreach to al­ most 2,000 libraries was a huge success (see page 5). We’re working on several projects that will Bouchercon benefit our entire membership, including Forensic University in November. Thanks to Lorraine Join your Sisters for Breakfast at Bouch­ Bartlett, who keeps coming up with fabulous ideas — and implementing ercon on Sunday, September 30, at 7:30 them — we now have our space on MySpace. And the bad news? am. The breakfast venue will be posted at There isn’t any, really. But that doesn’t mean Sisters in Crime no longer the convention. To reserve your spot, send serves a purpose. your check for $20, made out to SinC, to Recently, former SinC president Libby Hellmann brought to my attention Beth Wasson, Executive Secretary, P.O. Box Erica Jong’s essay in Publishers Weekly: “Ghetto (Not) Fabulous. Would the 442124, Lawrence, KS 66044-8933. The talented new breed of American women writers please stand up?” check must arrive by September 14. Include “Required SinC Reading,” Libby noted. your e-mail address and Beth will let you Libby is right. (So right. In reviewing the entries for this newsletter, I noted that Judy Clemens’ report on the monitoring project was inspired by the same PW piece.) know when your check is received. In her essay, Jong laments the lack of recognition and validity that women writers continue to face. Says Jong: “The chair for the Serious Novelist is rarely held for new women novelists — unless they are from India, Iran, Iraq, China or other newsworthy countries. American women novelists are more often bracketed as genre writers — in chick lit, romance, mystery or historical fiction — and quickly dismissed.” Sound familiar? The “dismissed” part, I mean. I have no problem being labeled a mystery Get Your Newsletter writer. I’m proud of it. I do have a problem with the perception that women crime fiction writ­ ers are inferior to their male counterparts — and with those who perpetuate that perception. Via E-mail I have a problem with those who trivialize women crime fiction writers and their works, who Tired of waiting for this newsletter to be de­ claim that women don’t offer a realistic and serious view of murder and of the world. I have livered by the Post Office? Many of your Sisters a problem when women are “bracketed” and “dismissed” if they choose to write a traditional get the news when it’s fresh. They receive their mystery — or “dare” to write a thriller. newsletter via e-mail, on the day it’s mailed. You may be thinking that these perceptions no longer exist in the field of crime fiction, that Another big plus is that the e-mail version comes gender makes no difference. Certainly, women writers have made tremendous strides in the in wonderful, glorious color. past 20 years, and I believe SinC has played a significant role in changing those perceptions and The e-mail version is a PDF (Portable Docu­ championing women writers. But a few months ago on a listserv discussion, Malice Domestic ment File), which you’ll need Acrobat Reader to was branded, again, as a convention for readers and writers of cozies, a term that is inaccurate and view. Most comput­ often used in a patronizing way. And around the same time someone criticized Sisters in Crime’s ers come with this monitoring project year-end report and suggested that we’re trying to control reviewers. InSinC software already The Sisters in Crime Newsletter We’re not. We couldn’t if we wanted to. Yes, we’re hoping to level the playing field. Our careers Volume XX • Number 2 June 2007 installed, but free SinC Events: Good for Us and Good for You By Roberta Isleib fl ock to the table to get the next signed book Jekyll Island, in a big rented house, and had a versions are avail­ SinC Vice President from one of our authors. The booth this past big party on Saturday night, so we built a lot of depend on it. Our goal is to make reviewers — and by extension, readers — aware of the rich year absolutely rocked. The decorations were camaraderie among the members who partici- In the fall of 2005, SinC executive secretary Beth Wasson suggested that I organize a break- great, but the authors were better — fabulous pated. And when the event was in Atlanta and fast for librarians that would coincide with and upbeat all day. I love the sisterhood of this the Atlanta SinC chapter helped with the party, the Public Library Association convention in organization, and I think every SinC member our local members got to meet national author Boston and help celebrate our 20th Anniversary. should experience a trade show like SIBA at members they would not have met otherwise.” able for nearly every and varied stories women crime fiction writers offer. Frankly, I thought she was out of her mind. some point in her career.” Sandy Tooley, who worked on both Book- Sure, I was happy to support SinC activities Patti Sprinkle, who has also organized the Expo 2004 and the ALA conference in 2005, by sending bookmarks to trade show booths and SIBA booth, agrees: “The Sisters in Crime booth described big benefi ts to both the organization taking a turn signing books at the New England built an enormous amount of goodwill for SinC and to herself as an author. “Many of the librar- Independent Booksellers Association (NEIBA). ians who knew of SinC were eager to see our operating system — But I certainly didn’t booth and specifi cally sought us out. We had Stories that deal with the human condition, with domestic tragedies and global ones. Stories have the experience to an excellent location for each show, handed out plan a meal for 100 li- Nuts and Bolts a lot of information on joining SinC to those who were unfamiliar with our organization. brarians, long distance. 1. Grants are available for many kinds of Beth assured me that Literature from authors was also available to events and at varying levels of support. An those attending. We had drawings at the ALA dozens of SinC volun- application for funds and new guidelines no matter how old teers had taken on jobs show and collected more than 600 names for that deal with good and evil and explore families and relationships. for SinC events are listed at . gentle nudging and fi rm “For the ALA, I had a new release so I was able support, I found a res- to hand out advanced reading copies (ARCs) to 2. SinC pays for various kinds of expenses librarians interested in mysteries. I was also able taurant, chose a menu, such as booth rental fees, badges, and and planned a program. to set up library appearances with local librar- — at . If they’re smart, eye of Doris Ann Norris. 6. Current Sisters in Crime-sponsored events html>. Download­ Across the country, many SinC members have they’ll learn which booksellers are the most in- on family and relationship. Rather, we wonder at their empathy because of their gender.” can be found in the newsletter and on fl uential in their region and get to know them. gotten involved with similar projects to publi- our website: . projects are great for Sisters in Crime, and good in a Sisters in Crime event?” for our authors, too. In 2006, Sisters in Crime provided funds to Pamela Cable, a member of the High Point, 11 events and sent materials to many more. If ing Acrobat Reader Jong closes by urging us to “celebrate our femaleness rather than fear it,” to “mock the old- NC chapter, organized the SinC booth at the there is a book fair, bookseller or library trade Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance in the region. We always had lines of booksell- show, or other book event near you that doesn’t (SIBA) convention in 2006. Said Pam: “Events ers waiting to get signed copies of our authors’ have a Sisters in Crime presence, let us help you like this one are a HUGE deal for SinC. Sisters books and seldom had many copies of BIP or get one rolling! Contact Beth Wasson at the na- in Crime steals the show every year. Booksellers other promo items left over. We also made it a tional offi ce by phone (785-842-1325) or e-mail fashioned critics who dismiss us for thinking love matters. It does.” point to try and stay in the same hotel or, on to talk it over. is easy. Just follow Let’s drink to that. the directions at the And to our monitoring project, which has not lost its vitality or significance. link. Since Acrobat Reader is necessary for view­ And to the varied ways in which we will continue to make our voices heard. ing other documents you’ll come across on the internet, it’s a useful addition to your software. Rochelle Krich may be contacted at . When you get the PDF, you’ll have several choices: save it on your computer to read or print at your leisure, or read it on the screen. A Promote Your Book Using SinC’s huge benefit of the latter is that you can zoom in and make the text bigger — and thus easier to read. Once read, store the PDF in a folder on Book Club Database your computer or burn it onto a CD or DVD By Lorraine Barlett for future reference. Anybody out there doing promo for her/his current book? Did you know SinC has a Book Club Saving the PDF to your computer usually Database that currently lists 75 book clubs across the U.S. (and one in Canada) that want to know takes only seconds. The time it takes to print about your book(s)? depends on the speed of your printer. What does it cost? Nothing. Well, you do have to be a member of SinC, which you already are Of course, there are two big advantages to if you are receiving this newsletter. Sisters in Crime in sending your newsletter via The Database information comes as either an Excel spreadsheet or a PDF. If you’d like a copy, e-mail — neither postage nor paper is needed. just let me know and please specify which format you need/prefer. That saves a lot of money for other projects. Here’s my e-mail: . To sign up for electronic newsletter deliv­ The list is constantly being updated, so if you won’t need it until later this year, keep it in ery, e-mail and mind! . June 2007 –  S Is For Series © Verna Suit 2007

Across 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

1. Roman wrap 14 15 16 5. Prefix meaning "eight" 17 18 19 9. "A Is For __" 20 21 22 23 14. Tucked in 15. Fan sound 24 25 26 27 16. Plains grazer 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 17. Move like a buffalo 36 37 38 39 18. Author of series that is this puzzle's theme 40 41 42 43 44 45

20. "P Is For __" 46 47 48 49 50 22. A pre-Columbian 51 52 53 54 23. Search, as a room 55 56 24. Something police sometimes get 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 26. Category including mystery novels: abbr. 68 69 70 71 28. Series heroine 72 73 74 36. Jackie's second 75 76 77 37. Gullet 38. Indian lutes 75. "N Is For __" 19. Train tracks 47. Sometimes all that's left 40. Scottoline and others of a body 76. Murder motive 21. What the guilty often 43. 28A and others sometimes do 49. Medoc Mrs. 45. Plot 77. Summers on the Seine 25. English novelist 52. Enthusiastic Barbara 46. "Aha!" Down 53. Snuff 27. 48. Not that 54. __ Spade 1. Canvas cover "C Is For __" 28. 50. Goddess of destruction 57. Some mystery writers 2. Woodwind Read quickly 29. 51. Kind of coffee 58. 8th book in series 3. Gun, flashlight, lock Angel adjunct 30. Japanese-American 55. Refrain start picks, etc. 59. Miscellany 31. Route reference 56. "Foucault's Pendulum" 4. Confesses to 60. Nervous twitches author 32. "If only!" 5. Ouch cousins 62. Machu Picchu culture 57. Like some murder 33. Baseball's Mel 6. Buddy 63. Henry __, 28A's victims 34. 7. "__ yellow ribbon..." Mama Judd landlord and friend 61. Send, as a body 35. 65. 8. Sock pattern Arrested the wrong Heaps 64. Snuff person, say 66. 9. A rhyme scheme Absolutely! 68. 39. Where 28A lives Auld lang ___ 67. 10. English elevator Some crime scene figs. 71. 41. Evanovich heroine DDE competition 69. 11. Ratio words 28A's client charge 72. Wonderland girl 42. __ through, as ashes or 70. Latin greeting 12. Words for a villain evidence 73. When Macbeth is killed 13. Rural hotels 44. __ Paulo 74. Categorize The solution is on page 13

June 2007 –  Libraries Celebrate SinC’s 20th Nearly 2,000 librarians requested Sisters in Crime materials to create 20th Anniversary displays in March 2007. The following photos show some of the ways they used crime scene tape, SinC bumper stickers, a poster and a list of their local SinC authors. (More photos can be found on the SinC website at: ). Thanks to all the libraries that participated and the SinC members who took photos and sent them to us!

Clinton, NY

Charleston, SC Hickory, NC

Toledo, OH

Lawrence, KS

Winthrope, ME

Lewes, DE

Lexington Park, MD

Hillsdale, MI West Sacramento, CA

June 2007 –  Chapter News Authors of Color Bring a Submit news of your chapter’s activities (photos, too) to . The deadline Diversity of Cultures to for the next issue (September), is July 15.

Mysteries Florida Chapter During our February meeting in Jacksonville, they both come from modest backgrounds By Pamela Samuels-Young the Florida Chapter Sisters in Crime celebrated President, Authors of Color and have high-powered educations. And both are half Puerto Rican. Chapter Do these authors of color have a particular The diversity reflected throughout our message they want to communicate to read­ society is finally being reflected on bookstore ers? Definitely. But their goal is to educate and shelves. This change is particularly noticeable entertain, not preach and proselytize. in the mystery genre. The typical protagonist Hirahara seeks to communicate that, “we is no longer white and male. He, and more are not monolithic. Many Americans mix up often she, may range from a Puerto Rican Japanese nationals with Japanese-Americans. prosecutor to a Japanese gardener to an Afri­ And within the Japanese-American com­ can-American schoolteacher. munity, there’s so much diversity — gen­ Those who are at the forefront of this erationally, ethnically, immigration patterns literary cultural shift aim to do more than and histories, et cetera. I also try to depict SinC’s 20th Anniversary. We recognized the write an entertaining mystery. Through their Japanese-Americans as honestly as possible many milestones SinC has accomplished and ethnically diverse protagonists, they seek to — our strengths but also our weaknesses.” saluted it with a poem written and read by educate readers about a culture they may This attempt at cultural honesty isn’t Margie Ann Sauls, chapter president. know little about. always well received by the Japanese com­ Asian author Naomi Hirahara, who has munity. “When I write about gambling been writing stories since she was eight, addictions and other secrets, some older Mary Roberts Rinehart Chapter (PA) says her early characters “were always white Japanese-Americans feel that I’m airing our Last February, members of the Mary Roberts — usually blonde and blue-eyed.” When dirty laundry,” Hirahara says. “But I feel Rinehart Chapter of Sisters in Crime toured a fourth grade teacher encouraged her to we should represent ourselves as whole hu­ the Shaler Police Department in Shaler Town­ write about characters more like herself, she man beings, not cardboard model minority initially resisted that advice. Later, in college, stereotypes.” after reading about the reparations movement Walks-As-Bear, too, seeks to shatter the for Japanese-Americans held in detention stereotypical image of Native Americans. centers during World War II, her perspective “The profound changes that have happened changed. within the American Indian culture since “Learning about that historic experience say, the movie Dances with Wolves, have been and also reading many Japanese and Japa­ monumental, considering that nothing basi­ nese-American authors opened a door for me. cally had changed prior to this time, since I’ve been writing mostly Japanese-American the white take-over of the Americas a half or Japanese characters ever since. Mas Arai, century earlier. So, in addition to the thrills, the main character of my mystery series, was mystery and storyline, I try to show how a inspired by my father, who, as a gardener, got traditional Indian maintains in a modern So this is what lockup feels like! little respect from strangers. I wanted to rec­ world. It’s often tough to do when so much tify that in my series. Mas is now the hero.” of a traditional Indian’s make-up is of things ship, PA. The members visited the station’s David Walks-As-Bear saw few Indian pro­ no longer existing.” squad room, holding cells and evidence rooms tagonists in the mysteries he read, so he set out Neither Martinez nor Henry set out to and learned information about crime scene to fill the void. A Kispoko Shawnee Indian, create protagonists who are superwomen, and police procedure from Detective David Walks-As-Bear felt he could “add a different but simply to show how these strong women F. Benko, who performed a live fingerprint flavor to the quasi-Native American character deal with life’s challenges. “I’m trying to show demonstration. and perhaps show the nuances of the culture a Latina professional going about her day-to- in a different light.” day life,” Martinez says. “Being Latina is part Mavens of Mayhem (Albany, NY) It was a desire to see a totally different of who Melanie Vargas is, but it doesn’t define What do you get when you cross two Sisters in kind of sleuth that prompted Angela Henry her any more than being a lawyer or being a Crime members and an idea? A new chapter! to pen her first novel. “I wanted to create a mother does. Her culture is woven into the In August 2006, Ellen Higgins and I set into character that I’d yet to see in mystery fic­ story in a seamless way intended to acquaint motion the idea of starting a chapter. With the tion,” says Henry, “a single, educated, young a wide readership with a smart, tough Latina guidance of Beth Wasson, we contacted local black woman who isn’t a member of law professional.” SinC members and in October we held an enforcement, or a private eye, and doesn’t Henry echoes that sentiment. “Though exploratory meeting at a library. We were pleas­ live in a big city.” my main character is a black woman, and antly surprised to have 14 mystery writers and Former federal prosecutor Michele Mar­ sometimes deals with race-related issues, readers attend. Within two hours we all agreed to tinez turned to writing as an outlet after she also deals with all the same everyday issues make the chapter official and elected officers. leaving the U.S. Attorney’s Office, where she that any other woman deals with. Job issues, After just six months, Mavens of Mayhem spent eight years prosecuting big-time drug relationship issues and family issues.” were 20 members strong and, in April, hosted dealers and notorious gang bangers. “I was its first Sisters in Crime event, “An Afternoon of looking to re-experience a career I loved in a Murder,” featuring the chapter’s eight published different format and my protagonist was my Pamela Samuels-Young is the president of the authors with guest speaker Julia Spencer-Flem­ alter ego,” says Martinez. The author and Authors of Color Chapter of Sisters in Crime and ing. her protagonist, Melanie Vargas, have a lot in the author of the legal thrillers, In Firm Pursuit Mother Nature decided to give us her own common. They are both mothers and lawyers, and Every Reasonable Doubt. version of mayhem by drenching the spring day June 2007 –  in the Capital District with snow, rain and hail, coating the streets with a goopy mess. The mys­ tery of whether people would brave the slushy, End the Mailbox Vigil: slippery roads to attend our event was answered as numbers of them – more than 50! — strolled into the program room, excited about hearing ISBN 13 or Die our authors speak. The Mavens’ first event was a big success and By Vicki Cameron up your own password for your own entry, we’re already planning other chapter activities. Stop the presses. Don’t anybody move. to keep the riffraff out. Let the mayhem continue! — Audrey Friend, Hold it right there, buster. There will be outrage when we start this vice president. Listen up. This means you. We have an new system. Some of you will have left your important announcement. newsletter in the rain, or the dog may have Photo/Beth Anderson This year you will NOT get a letter re­ eaten my BIP column. Some of you will be minding you to send in your Books in Print daunted by the challenge of fixing your own entry. Instead, we are relying on you to read entry, and prefer us to do it while wanting this column and remember that every sum­ instant service, which just isn’t going to hap­ mer is BIP summer. Go to your computer pen. Some of you will fall down crying at the right now. Log on to our website: . Find and fill in the form. We expect some ripples in our service as Or e-mail me and go through the usual drill. this new format takes shape. It will all work My e-mail address is at the bottom of this out in the end if nobody panics. article. You can also write or fax me with a Moving on. list of your books in print, with their titles, This year, the Bookland Powers That Be From left to right. Front row: publishers, prices, ISBN 13s, and 20 pithy have decreed all countries will now use the words describing the plot. Stop standing by ISBN 13, which begins with 978. If you pick Hollis Seamon, Frankie Bailey, the mailbox waiting for our letter. You are on up your book and flip it over, you’ll see both M.E. Kemp, Angie Hogencamp your own recognizance. your old ISBN above and this new number (treasurer), Julia Spencer-Fleming We are in the middle of collecting BIP for below the bar code. They are almost the same 2008. Many of you have already responded. number, except for the front and back ends. If (guest). Center row: Audrey Friend, Our website entry form has become the re­ you can’t read the tiny blurry numbers under Susanne Alleyn, Luanne Whitbeck, sponse method of choice. the bar code, take your regular ISBN to a Jeanne Whitbeck, Catherine Our web maven Peggy has created new translator website, such as www.isbn.org. and better service with a self-serve entry The Editor Without Mercy will not ac­ Crohan, Julia Pomeroy. Back row: form. With it, you can go into your entry on cept any ISBN 10s this year. She is going to Beth Anderson (secretary), Ellen the website and hammer on your door until you give her the Higgins (president), Jean Brower. change it on ISBN 13. Be warned. No book will get into the spot. Thus BIP 2008 without the new number. you get instant I know, this same threat was made last year, New York/TriState Chapter service, with and most of you ignored it. This year, we re­ Our chapter had an eventful year, with your new book ally mean it, no kidding, no goofing around, monthly meetings that included networking, a additions and no siree. This means you. speaker, and an optional after-meeting dinner old book altera­ To recap, we are going to save our organiza­ at a nearby restaurant. At the January meeting, tions being up­ tion a pile of money this year by not sending members had the opportunity to read from dated while you out the reminder letter and BIP form. We their works in progress. The program was such type — and all usually send out 1,000 envelopes with two a success that we hope to repeat it yearly. In the errors are sheets of paper each. That’s 2,000 sheets of February, author and teacher G. Miki Hayden yours. paper. Of these, only 40 are returned. You presented a hands-on writing workshop, and in We got our­ can see why we feel this is an expense that March, Dr. Peter Pizzola, director of the NYPD selves some protection here, if you know what can be trimmed. Lab, provided a behind-the-scenes glimpse of I’m saying. First, we have to make sure that You know we collect BIP every year. You forensics in investigations. you are a current member of SinC, not an know it happens in the summer. You must We’re working on Murder New York Style, an interloper or an opportunist. Next, we have send in your entry on your own. Put down anthology of short stories by members (we’re to make sure you are fixing your own entry, this newsletter and your cup of coffee. Go currently seeking a publisher). Our chapter year not messing with anyone else’s. directly to your computer. Log on to the ends with a bang in June, when we will be deco­ You’re gonna need a password. website and send in your information. Or rating and staffing the Sisters in Crime booth at The password is available in this newslet­ boot up your e-mail and contact me with your BookExpo America (BEA) at the Javits Center. ter. Because only members get the newsletter, information. You know the drill. Just do it. Finally, we celebrated the achievements of only members will see the password. No mail reminder. No short ISBNs. individual members, including several first book You will be stopped at the BIP data gate. I hope I have been clear on these points. contracts, one of which is the winner of the St. The user name is goddess. The password is Martin’s/Malice Domestic contest for Best First goddess. All lowercase. (Goddess is our official Vicki Cameron’s e-door is always open for Mystery (see pages 14–15). term for SinC’s Past Presidents.) your BIP entry . So Once you get through the gate, you make is SinC’s website .

Have breakfast with us at bers, nominated for Edgars: Bill Crider (Best Edgar Winner/Nominees Short Story), Kate Flora (Best Fact Crime), Congratulations to SinC member, Naomi Paul Levine (Best Paper Back Original), Nancy Bouchercon! Hirahara, who won an Edgar for Best Paper Back Pickard (Best Novel), S. J. Rozan (Best Short Original. The Edgars were presented by Mystery Story) and Nancy Springer (Best Juvenile). And, See page 3 for details. Writers of America at a banquet in New York congratulations to Kathy and Tom Harig, own­ City on April 26, 2007. ers of the Mystery Loves Company bookstores, Congratulations to the following SinC mem­ for their Raven Award. June 2007 –  Where is the Outrage? Agatha Nominees/ Winners The Review Monitoring Project Update The Agatha Awards were presented at a ban­ quet during Malice Domestic XIX in Arlington, By Judy Clemens find all the holes in the Review Project: We VA, on May 5, 2007. The winners are in bold, Project Coordinator aren’t monitoring every publication. We * denotes a SinC member. aren’t monitoring online review sites. What In the April 9, 2007, issue of Publishers about people of other minority groups? Best First Novel Weekly Erica Jong despaired about the lack These critics don’t see that the monitoring Jane Cleland* Consigned to Death of respect for women authors in our country. Honora Finkelstein* and Susan Smily* The The idea that women should be treated and project is a scientific study. They even tried to make a case that male authors are fighting Chef Who Died Sauteing respected as “serious” authors still doesn’t come Hailey Lind* Feint of Art naturally (or at all!) for many in our business discrimination. We could argue with these people. We Karen MacInerney Murder on the Rocks – even in this day and age when people like to Sandra Parshall* The Heat of the Moon think women have “come a long way.” Besides could tell them that we have hard-working being a sad state of affairs for writing, it is also volunteers (not paid staff!) who give their Best Novel a sad commentary on time to this project, that 60-plus publications Earlene Fowler* The Saddlemaker’s Wife what is going on in give a darn good spread of data, that there are L.C. Hayden* Why Casey Had to Die our larger world. Why women in every minority group, so it affects Nancy Pickard* The Virgin of Small Plains is it that books about them all. But we’ll save our breath and con­ Julia Spencer-Fleming* All Mortal Flesh war and violence and centrate on things that could actually make Jacqueline Winspear* Messemger of Truth other “male” topics a difference. These complainers (who, I must add, are few and far between; we have many Best Non-fiction garner more respect Jim Huang* and Austin Lugar Mystery Muses than the themes of brothers in this industry who are supportive and respectful) aren’t worth it. Our Review Chris Roerden* Don’t Murder Your Mystery emotion and relation­ Daniel Stashower The Beautiful Cigar Girl ship? Why does war Project has made a difference for 20 years, matter while love does not? and we’re not about to stop now. Best Children’s/Young Adult The idea that women need to write books The complainers are right about one thing: Peter Abrahams Behind the Curtain that men will read is sad on so many levels: the We haven’t, so far, monitored online reviews. Andrew Clements Room One: A Mystery or Two assumption that men won’t read books about One of the reasons is that volunteers are at Tracy Mack and Michael Citrin Sherlock Hol- personal issues; the idea that women readers a premium. Another is that with so many mes and the Baker Street Irregulars – The Fall aren’t as important as men readers; the belief online review sites, how do we choose which of the Amazing Zalindas that “female” books won’t become bestsellers. ones to monitor? We hope to add them to our Nancy Means Wright* The Pea Soup Where is the truth? How do we fight these monitoring list at some point, but right now Poisonings prejudices? It’s easy to get angry about the it’s not feasible. Best Short Story unfair categorization of women’s books – in The idea that parity has been achieved Robert Barnard “The Old Couple” EQMM fact, Jong calls for outrage, asking where our would be laughable if it were actually funny. Robert Barnard “Provenance” EQMM anger has gone. Women are capitulating, But the fact of disparity is again being borne Maurissa Guibord “Yankee Swamp” EQMM becoming that brand of brash females that out this year. Last year’s numbers weren’t aw­ Roberta Isleib* “Disturbance in the Field” ful – 56 percent books by men, 44 percent will “sell” – especially young women who feel Seasmoke they have to conform if they are to reach their books by women. Our first quarter 2007 tally, Toni L.P. Kelner* “Sleeping with the Plush” goal of being published. however, shows the numbers have slipped: 60 AHMM Outrage is certainly one road we can take. percent books by men, 40 percent books by Another is hard work and determination. Lori women — a difference of 20 percent instead Lake responded to Jong’s article on the SinC of 12. listserv in this way: We’re trying something new this year. I sent Books in Print “What I find hopeful and refreshing…is letters to the publications we monitored last that despite the fact that there isn’t gender year, giving them a rundown of the media Entry Deadline: parity for reviews, that men get more media we covered and where they each stand in the attention and feature articles, and that the percentage rankings. I invited them to join in cards seem stacked against women, women a conversation about how we can remedy the August 1 are still making it happen. Sisters are doing disparity, about how their books are chosen for review, and about what reviews are pub­ Books in Print lists mystery and crime it for themselves! books, which, to the best of their authors’ “I think crime fiction is a wonderful lished. We’re not looking for confrontation. We’re looking for dialogue. We need to work knowledge, will be in print in the next realm for women writers. We’re consistently calendar year. performing well and it’s only getting better. together to bring about change. I invite you to join in the conversation. By website: . We have a bigger market share of women Click through and fill out the form. readers than men — but we also have hordes If you have ideas about how to improve this Review Project, I’d love to hear them. If The form: If you don’t have internet of men reading us now. One of the reasons access, send us Author Name, City/State, I’m so glad to be a member of SinC is that you’d like to volunteer, please get in touch. We always need more people in our fight Title, Publisher, Price, ISBN13, and a 20 the organization is a living testament to the pithy words description. fact that when women get mad, they don’t for equality. And no matter what the naysayers spout, By fax: 613/258-6119 get even — they just go after their goals and By phone: 613/258-3145 8:00 am to GET THEM.” we have not achieved parity. It is still the brass ring for which we reach. But we can be out­ 10:00 pm EST One of the trials we face is the belief by By mail: Vicki Cameron, 2117 Jochems some that disparity no longer exists. On one raged. We can get mad. And as Lori says, we can go after our goals and GET THEM. Road, RR #1 Oxford Station, ON Canada online discussion list last month there was a K0G 1T0 thread about the Review Project. A few male If you are interested in knowing more about Confirmation: All entries including an authors were outraged that SinC still seems the Review Monitoring Project, write to Judy at e-mail address will receive confirmation to “think” there is disparity. They tried to . that they arrived.

June 2007 –  Boost Your Writing Chops with Short Stories By Peggy Ehrhart time in a story and therefore doesn’t demand the which then instituted the Amazon Shorts pro­ Less is often more. A good short story can same psychological payoff. You can write stories gram. Short works, including fiction, are avail­ distill human experience into a few pages whose in which someone commits the perfect crime able for a small price online, and submissions message resonates long after the last word has and gets away with it. Everyone remembers are limited to writers with at least one book for been savored. Readers who read short fiction the classic episode in the old Alfred Hitchcock sale on Amazon. respect it for this reason. TV series which functioned like a short-story So, imagine a potential buyer of your book Writers should respect short fiction too. Even anthology: A beleaguered housewife bashed surfing the web. She drops by Crime and Sus- if your primary focus is writing mystery novels, her husband with a frozen leg of lamb — then pense and checks out the current issue. (Crime a detour into short fiction can serve you well cooked the lamb and served it to the police. and Suspense is published once a month, by the — both before and after publication of your Or you can try other forms, like a story in way; some ezines are quarterlies.) She reads your book. which a surprise ending gives a character a sud­ story and likes it. She wonders about you, so she A few years ago I was between projects, den epiphanic glimpse at the meaning — or clicks on the “Rogues’ Gallery” for your bio and querying agents about Sweet Man Is Gone, the meaninglessness — of his own life. discovers that you have a book out — or coming latest in the music-themed mystery series I had Not only are short stories a laboratory in out. She visits your website, where she can view been trying to publish. Sweet Man Is Gone is the which to experiment with ideas that enhance the cover of your book and read a thumbnail sequel to many prequels piled on the shelves in your novel-writing skills, they can also be a way sketch that makes her think she’d like your book my study, all featuring my sexy blues-singing to attract agents and — later — readers. even more than she liked your story. You have sleuth Maxx Maxwell, who is struggling to keep Whether short-fiction credits in a query letter cleverly set up your website with a link to the her disapproving mother at bay and her musical carry any weight with agents is often debated. page where your book is displayed on Amazon career moving forward while solving the occa­ Some say that if the agent likes the project, it or an independent bookstore. A few minutes sional murder. doesn’t matter whether the writer has other later, you’ve made a sale. writing credits or not. Others argue that a re­ Your excursion into the realm of short fiction sume that includes published stories can make will not only boost your writing chops. It will an agent interested enough to request a partial build a following for your longer works that will manuscript, or, if a partial is included with the keep your publisher issuing contracts for a long query, to take a serious a look at it. I’ve also heard time to come. of two cases in which an agent read a writer’s Peggy Ehrhart’s blues mystery, Sweet Man Is short fiction and tracked down the writer to Gone, will be published in 2008. Visit her website request a book proposal. at . Finally, publishing short fiction can entice I had just about decided that the market readers to read an author’s longer works. Sad wasn’t ready for Maxx (and maybe would never but true, aside from anthologies, only a hand­ be) and had begun to contemplate a more main­ ful of print publications currently publish short SinC Receives stream project. I wanted to give Maxx more mystery fiction. The big four areAlfred Hitchcock of a chance, but I didn’t want to stop writing Mystery Magazine, Ellery Queen Mystery Maga- Dove Award while I waited. And I didn’t want to add yet an­ zine, Futures Mystery Anthology Magazine, and By Roberta Isleib, other Maxx Maxwell to the piles of unpublished CrimeSpree. manuscripts in my study. But since the advent of the internet, a whole SinC Vice President Around that time I saw a notice for an anthol­ new world has opened up. Sometimes referred On April 5, 2007, the Detective and Mystery ogy that Mystery Writers of America was putting to as “the new pulps,” ezines do everything a Caucus of the Popular Culture Association and together. In the past one main thing had kept me magazine does, including — increasingly — ac­ American Culture Association presented a spe­ from writing short stories. As a former English cept advertising and pay authors for their work. cial Dove Award to Sisters in Crime to honor professor, I had encountered mostly literary short But they do it in cyberspace. our organization’s extensive activities in support stories, highly wrought and obscure, requiring Some examples of ezines are Bryon Quer­ of women crime writers. It was very exciting expert analysis to be understood. To me, their termous’ Demolition (www.demolitionmag. to be at Kate’s Mystery Books in Cambridge, lack of obvious resolution was summed up by com) and Sandra Ruttan’s Spinetingler (www. MA, to receive the award for the organization, a question one of my former colleagues usually spinetinglermag.com). The ezines’ names offer in the presence of two of our founding mothers found it necessary to pose to his students: When helpful clues to the subgenres their editors wel­ — Sara Paretsky and Kate Mattes! I promised the story ends, what has happened? Often the come. Tony Burton’s Crime and Suspense (www. them that we intend to see their vision through answer was a yawn, a blank look, and a shrug. crimeandsuspense.com) publishes a wide variety to the end! I didn’t want to write stories that weren’t of material, family-friendly at Tony’s insistence, photo/Cathy Cairns entertaining. And I wanted the answer to that and welcomes cozies. And I can’t omit the late- question to be obvious: The sleuth has brought lamented Flashing in the Gutters, edited by Tribe. the evil-doer to justice. Tribe was sometimes accused of publishing any With the MWA anthology in mind, I read and every story that came his way — but it had an issue of Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine. to be 750 words or under, no mean feat. I realized that a short story could be a miniature Three good guides to the short story market, version of a traditional, clue-studded mystery including ezines, are www.shortmystery.net/mar­ — with multiple suspects, a heroic sleuth (ama­ kets.html, www.duotrope.com and www.rulan. teur or professional), and a cathartic climax in com. The first is limited exclusively to mystery which the evil-doer is unmasked. markets. And thus my career as a short-story writer was To my mind, ezines are even more effective launched. I began writing “mini-mysteries,” and than print publications in attracting readers to I recommend doing it. It’s a great way to perfect an author’s longer work. They function in a way Roberta Isleib (far left) accepted crafting a tight plot, developing interesting like blogs — and they already have a built-in and the Dove award. Also present were characters, and experimenting with narrative often considerable reader base. In 2006 Sandra SinC founders Sara Paretsky and point of view. Ruttan’s Spinetingler tallied 500,000 hits. Kate Mattes, along with Margaret You can also deviate from the “mini-mystery” The link between web surfers and increased format. A reader doesn’t invest a huge amount of book sales was recognized early by Amazon, Kinsman (editor of Clues). June 2007 –  Coming up: Conferences For more information, contact Judy Copek at: & Happenings . NCIBA NO CRIME UNPUBLISHED program sessions and have three writing and mentoring sessions. By the end of the weekend, OAKLAND, CA LOS ANGELES, CA participants may have at least one chapter or Promote your books at the Northern Cali­ The Los Angeles chapter of Sisters in Crime short story completed. fornia Independent Booksellers Association will hold its No Crime Unpublished conference The master writers leading the program (NCIBA) Trade Show at the Oakland Conven­ for mystery writers on June 10, 2007. SinC sessions are Barbara D’Amato, Libby Fischer tion Center, Oakland, CA, on October 6 to 7, President Rochelle Krich will be the morning Hellmann and Gail Lukasik. 2007. Authors who can bring a box of books to speaker and Jacqueline Winspear will deliver Space is limited to the first 20 people who sign and give away at the booth are especially the keynote address at the luncheon. pay in full. Critiquing will be offered by advance welcome. We also need a few dependable volun­ This year the conference will be held in a arrangement only and for an additional fee. For teers to staff the SinC table. To volunteer, con­ new location: The Embassy Suites Hotel, 211 more information, please contact Silvia Foti at tact Carol Fairweather at . net> with NCIBA in the subject line. hotel is freeway close and offers free parking, If you can’t attend, you can send promotional the expanded banquet facilities needed to host handouts (50 to 100 copies) to Carol at 920 a larger number of attendees, and elegant ac­ MYSTERY TOUR OF SCOTLAND Walnut Street, Alameda, CA 94501. All hand­ commodations for out-of-towners. Join a few fellow Scottish mystery fans from outs must arrive no later than September 21. The conference will offer three breakout August 30 to September 9, 2007, for the Scot­ rooms and a choice of 12 workshops/panels. tish Highlands and Islands Mystery Caper. Meet New this year will be a vendor room. Scottish authors, including Denise Mina, Pat GREAT MANHATTAN The conference cost includes all panels, McIntosh, Ian Rankin and Ann Cleeves; follow MYSTERY CONCLAVE breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack. in the steps of Inspector Rebus; sail to the Shet­ MANHATTAN, KS After June 1 and at the door, registration will land Islands; investigate the secrets of Skye, Mull be $150. For more information, visit and click on No Crime discover the intrigue of spies, ghostly castles and Unpublished Conference tab. in Manhattan, KS. Although this conflicts with the history of ghastly murders committed. Don’t Bouchercon, it was the only weekend we could miss this 11 day/10 night tour. A special bonus snag. Diane Mott Davidson will be our keynote is an extensive reading list and exclusive author speaker. We are also featuring three specialist THOMAS B. SAWYER input. The tour cost is $3,050 per person, based WRITING WORKSHOP seminars on the Craft of Writing. Honora Fin­ on double occupancy, land only. kelstein and Susan Smily will speak on “Meta­ SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA For details, contact Barbara Ford, group lead­ physics, Magic, and Things That Go Bump in Sponsored by the Central Coast Chapter er, at Country Day Travel, Inc., 6022 Southwest Books: Getting Them Right in Your Writing.” of Sisters in Crime, the Thomas B. Sawyer Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76109; 817/731- Pat Carr’s topic will be “The Lure — and Ad­ Writing Workshop will be held at the Main 8551; , or see the vantages — of Setting Stories in the Past,” and Library, 995 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA, website: . Chris Roerden will discuss how to avoid the on Saturday, June 23, 2007, from 10:00 am to common pitfalls new writers encounter. All of noon. The conference is free to Sisters in Crime BOUCHERCON 2007 these authors will also appear on panels during members. Nonmembers pay $25. regular programming. The workshop is entitled “Beginnings, ANCHORAGE, AK Basic registration is $145, which covers the Middles, Endings & Arias: Using Cinematic Bouchercon 2007, “Bearly Alive,” will be held Friday reception, Saturday continental breakfast Language to Write Better Novels (and Screen­ September 27 to 30 in Anchorage, AK. The and formal luncheon, all panel sessions, tours, plays).” Sawyer will show clips from his award- American guest of honor will be Thomas Perry; the program booklet and newsletters. Each of winning TV series, “Murder She Wrote,” to the special guest of honor, Diana Gabaldon; and the specialist seminars costs $30 extra, but you illustrate the mystery and enhance an author’s the fan guest of honor, Barbara Peters. James don’t have to be registered for the conclave to own writing. Sallis will receive the Lifetime Achievement attend them. Another feature open to the public Sawyer was head writer/producer-showrun­ award. is our Saturday evening “Dining With Diane” (a ner of “Murder, She Wrote” and authored 24 The host hotel is the Anchorage Hilton, which menu drawn from recipes featured in her books), episodes of the show. A popular writing teacher, is offering a conference rate of $120 per night. which also costs $30. he has two published novels and a nonfiction For more information and to register, see the For a newsletter and registration form, which book, Fiction Writing Demystified, and is co- website: . includes contact information for the hotel, see creator of the Storybase software. the website, , For information and reservations, please call or contact Marolyn Caldwell at . Published writers who wish to PROVIDENCE, RI be on panels and have their books sold at our bookstore should register early so we can get our THE MYSTERY WEEKEND You are invited to help the New England Chapter promote SinC at the New England programming underway. DES PLAINES, IL Independent Booksellers Association (NEIBA) The Chicagoland chapter of Sisters in Crime from September 28 to 29, 2007, at the Rhode NEW ENGLAND CRIME BAKE is hosting the First Annual Crime Writers’ Re­ Island Convention Center, Providence, RI. treat — The Mystery Weekend — From June Hours are 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. DEDHAM, MA 29 to July 1, 2007, at the Cabrini Retreat Cen­ All sisters are welcome to come and sign books Co-sponsored by the New England chapters ter, 9430 Golf Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016. for giveaways and help us promote SinC. Our of Sisters in Crime and MWA, New England The cost is $225, which includes room, meals exhibit space is popular because we have choco­ Crime Bake will be held from November 9 to and sessions. Participants will attend three lates! Signing slots are first-come, first-served. 11, 2007, at the Dedham Hilton in MA. The June 2007 – 10 guest of honor will be Lee Child. Along with forensic experts and dozens of New England writers discussing the “Tools of the Trade” of Forensic U: crime and fiction, there will be master classes, panels, agent pitches, critiques and more. Pre-registration is required. For all the details 50 Ways to Catch a Killer see the website: . The Sisters in Crime sponsored conference, Keynote speaker Jan Burke is the founder “Forensic University of St. Louis: 50 Ways to of the Crime Lab Project (CLP). For $35, Catch a Killer,” will be held November 1 to conference participants can attend the 4, 2007, at the St. Louis Airport Hilton, St. optional A Muddy Brew-Ha-Ha Party Breakfast in Alaska! Louis, MO. and Auction to raise money for the CLP, a Topics for the two-and-a-half days of non-profit organization working to increase With your Sisters classes include an overview of forensic science awareness of problems facing public forensic and police procedure; how to make forensic science agencies. (and Brothers)! science work in your book; crime scene basics; Michelle A. Becker and Joanna Camp­ overview of photo/Bonnie J. Cardone bell Slan, crime labs; pr e s id e nt See page 3 death inves­ a nd vice- tigation ba­ president re­ for details. sics; autop­ spectively of sies; psychol­ the Greater ogy of crime; St. L ou is poisons and Chapter of their detec­ SinC, are Consent t i o n ; u n ­ c o - c h a i r s d e r s t a n d ­ and found­ Searches and i n g D N A ers of Fo­ e v i d e n c e ; rensic Uni­ Search Warrants fingerprints; versity of St. firearms evi­ Louis. By Lee Lofland dence; the Forensic U’s faculty includes, from left to right: U n t i l As a police detective, I served numerous search role of pho­ Dr. Doug Lyle, Eileen Dreyer, Lee Lofland and September warrants, but my preferred method of searching t o g r a p h y Jan Burke. 15, confer­ a suspect and his property was with the suspect’s and videog­ ence regis­ permission — preferably written permission. A raphy in forensic work; interpretation of tration is $250 for SinC members; $290 for consent search saves police officers tons of time blood spatter; trace evidence; forgery; the non-members. The cost includes a welcome and paperwork, and probable cause does not role of jurisdiction in forensic procedures; reception, all classes, a handbook with have to be established prior to the search. entomology; science and the courtroom; and resource material, two box lunches and a There are a few rules officers must follow using warrants and searches. continental breakfast. After September 15, when conducting a consent search. The person Key faculty will include Dr. D.P. Lyle, SinC members will pay $300 and nonmem­ authorizing the search for the specific property author of Murder and Mayhem: A Doctor bers, $340. must do so voluntarily, without threat or coer­ Answers Medical and Forensic Questions for The first 50 registrants are eligible to add cion from the officers who are requesting permis­ Mystery Writers; Jan Burke, author of the Irene a visit to the Bull’s Eye LLC Indoor Shooting sion. If that same person refuses to allow officers Kelly series; Eileen Dreyer, bestselling author Range for $35, which includes transporta­ to search, the police cannot use his refusal as of more than eight medico-legal mysteries; tion, ammunition, targets, safety gear, assis­ probable cause to obtain a search warrant. Lee Lofland, detective (retired), author of tance from a range instructor, and debriefing. Consent to search also must either be in the Police Procedure & Investigation: A Guide for The host hotel, Hilton St. Louis Airport, is form of a written statement or as a positive verbal Writers; and Ann Burgess, the first forensic offering rooms starting at $88 a night, not commitment from the suspect. A simple nod nurse, who collaborated on the seminal including local taxes or parking. of the head, or an “I guess it’s okay” from the work, Serial Homicide: Patterns and Motives, For more information or to register, go to suspect is not enough to allow a search. which led to the founding of the Behavioral . The person who grants the authority to search Sciences Unit at the FBI and the practice of Attendance is limited 200. No one under must also have authority over the property. profiling. 18 will be admitted. For example, he can be a landowner or tenant. However, a landlord cannot consent to a search of his tenant’s property, and a hotel desk clerk cannot give permission for the police to search street for collection by city sanitation workers. is often used by narcotics officers to detect a guest’s room. Underage children also cannot In many jurisdictions, it is legal for the police methamphetamine labs and marijuana-growing give permission for police to conduct a search to sift through garbage cans without a warrant operations. This information can be used to of their homes. Some courts have even ruled to look for evidence of a crime. direct ground teams to the plants and labs, or, that parents cannot authorize a search of their Private citizens can conduct searches and if the area is private property, for probable cause children’s rooms if those offspring are over the relay their discoveries to the police. The police to obtain a search warrant. age of 18. cannot, in any way, direct or encourage a private So, next time a helicopter flies over your Property that has been abandoned, such as a citizen to conduct a search, but they can use the house, think twice before removing the warning car left on the side of the road for several days, information received as probable cause to obtain tags from your pillows. can be legally searched without a warrant. Pock­ a search warrant. etbooks, wallets, trunks, luggage, boxes and bags Police officers are also permitted to conduct Retired detective Lee Lofland is the author of are all fair game for the police if they’ve been surveillance in any place that is considered Police Procedure & Investigation: A Guide for abandoned in a public area. public or in open view. They are also allowed to Writers. He is on the faculty for SinC’s upcoming Another favorite of mine is the search of conduct aerial surveillance of someone’s property Forensic University, to be held November 1 to 4, household garbage that has been placed on the without a search warrant. Aerial surveillance 2007, in St. Louis. June 2007 – 11 THE DOCKET THE DOCKET THE DOCKET THE DOCKET THE DOCKET THE DOCKET THE DOCKET THE DOCKET Rosemary Miner, ONCE UPON A TIME TO By Patricia Gulley Books June 2007 Announcements for new books (please, no re- DIE FOR, Hilliard and Harris, April 2007 Renée Gardner, COMPANY BUSINESS, Or­ Jana G. Oliver, VIRTUAL EVIL, Dragon Moon prints), short stories, articles and plays (all relating chard Press Mysteries, January 2007 to mysteries), also nominations Press, October 2007 and awards, may be sent to Debby Giusti, NOWHERE TO HIDE, Steeple Joanne Pence, THE DA VINCI COOK, Avon, Patricia Gulley via snail mail Hill, April 2007 March 2007 to: 1743 N. Jantzen Avenue, Chris Grabenstein, WHACK-A-MOLE, Carroll Hank Phillippi Ryan, PRIME TIME, June Portland, OR 97217-7849 & Graf, June 2007 2007, FACE TIME, October 2007 both or e-mail to: Weyrcottage@ Carolyn Hart, SET SAIL FOR MURDER, Harlequin/Next yahoo.com. Please be sure to put Avon, April 2007 Mary Saums, THISTLE & TWIGG, St. Sisters in Crime, The Docket Karen Harper, THE HOODED HAWKE, St. Martin’s Minotaur, April 2007 or InSinC in the subject line Martin’s Press, February 2007 — otherwise your e-mail won’t Maggie Sefton, A KILLER STITCH, Berkley L.C. Hayden, WHY CASEY HAD TO DIE, Prime Crime, May 2007 be opened. Five Star, December 2006 The deadline for the next The Docket is July Sarah R. Shaber, SHELL GAME, St. Martin’s 10, 2007. Morgan Hunt, STICKY FINGERS, Alyson Minotaur, March 2007 Books, April 2007 Books Sharon Short, MURDER UNFOLDS, Avon, C. Hyytinen, PATTERN OF VENGEANCE, March 2007 Deb Baker, MURDER GRINS AND BEARS Echelon Press, April 2007 IT, Midnight Ink, April 2007 Clea Simon, CRIES AND WHISKERS, Poi­ Sue Ann Jaffarian, THE CURSE OF THE soned Pen Press, December 2007 Susan P. Baker, THE SWEET SCENT OF HOLY PAIL, Midnight Ink, January 2007 MURDER, Five Star, February 2007 Lee Singer (Shelley Singer), BLACKJACK, Five Liz Jasper, UNDERDEAD, Cerridwen Press, Star, June 2007 Helen Barer, FITNESS KILLS, Five Star, July May 2007 2007 Sylvia Dickey Smith, DANCE ON HIS Rita Lakin, GETTING OLD IS CRIMINAL, GRAVE, L&L Dreamspell, May 2007 Nancy Barr, PAGE ONE: VANISHED, Arbutus Bantam, May 2007 Press, May 2007 Lisa Rene Smith, COLIN’S CONQUEST, October 2006, CHAOS THE VAMPIRE Prudy Taylor Board, A GRAVE INJUSTICE, CHILD, May 2007 L&L Dreamspell Archebooks, September 2007 How to Send Us Your Entry The format is simple: J.B. Stanley, FIT TO DIE, Midnight Ink, May Laura Bradford, MARKED BY FATE, Hilliard Name of author, TITLE OF BOOK, 2007 & Harris, May 2007 Name of Publisher, Month to be released. Marta Stephens, SILENCED CRY, BeWrite Emily Brightwell, MRS. JEFFRIES AND THE Name of Author, TITLE OF STORY, Books, April 2007 BEST LAID PLANS, Berkley Prime Crime, Name of magazine or anthology, Month May 2007 to be released. Denise Swanson, MURDER OF A BOTOXED BLONDE, Penguin, April 2007 Julia Buckley, MADELINE MANN, Midnight Awards and nominations should be in Ink, August 2007 sentences. Shirley Tallman, THE CLIFF HOUSE STRAN­ GLER, St. Martin’s Minotaur, July 2007 Nora Charles (Noreen Wald) DEATH RIDES Always put The Docket in the subject THE SURF, Berkley Prime Crime, June line of your e-mail. Anything else may be William G. Tapply, GRAY GHOST, St. Martin’s 2007 deleted. Press, March 2007 Judy Clemens, THE DAY WILL COME, Poi­ Don’t send ISBNs, character names, Marilyn Victor & Michael Allan Mallory, soned Pen Press, August, 2007 series names or places to buy the books. DEATH ROLL, Five Star, May 2007 Don’t send newsletters, publicity sheets Kathleen Delaney (Koppang), AND MURDER Elaine Viets, MURDER WITH RESERVA­ or website addressess. TIONS, NAL, May 2007 FOR DESSERT, Poisoned Pen Press, July Don’t send in colors other than black 2007 and white. Heather Webber, TROUBLE IN BLOOM, Diana L. Driver, NINTH LORD OF THE In the future, editors of anthologies will Avon Books, May 2007 NIGHT, L&L Dreamspell, ebook March, not be listed unless they have a story in the Eugenia Lovett West, WITHOUT WARNING, April 2007 anthology. St Martin’s Press, November 2007 Kit Ehrman, TRIPLE CROSS, Poisoned Pen If you are using a pen name, we can add Anne White, SECRETS DARK AND DEEP, Press, December 2006 your real name after it in parentheses. You Hilliard & Harris, May 2007 Selma Eichler, MURDER CAN DEPRESS must tell me if you don’t want this done. Jaclyn Weldon White, MOCKINGBIRD IN YOUR DACHSHUND, Signet, February THE MOONLIGHT, Indigo Publishing, 2007 Vicki Lane, OLD WOUNDS, Dell, June March 2007 Kathy Lynn Emerson, NO MORTAL REA­ 2007 Stefanie Worth, WHERE SOULS COLLIDE, SON, Pemberley Press, April 2007 Joyce and Jim Lavene, SWAPPING PAINT, Dorchester, August 2007 Diane Fanning, BITE THE MOON, Five Star Midnight Ink; POISONED PETALS, Berk­ Charlotte Williamson, SAY ALOHA TO MUR­ Mysteries, July 2007 ley Prime Crime, both May 2007 DER, PublishAmerica, April 2007 Kate Fellowes, WHEN SHADOWS FALL, Norma Lehr, DARK MAIDEN, Juno Books, Short Stories/Anthologies Swimming Kangaroo Books, April 2007 June 2007 Warren Bull, MURDER AT THE GMMC, Earlene Fowler, TUMBLING BLOCKS, Berk­ N. J. Lindquist, GLITTER OF DIAMONDS, Mysterical-E, Spring 2007, RIDING SHOT­ ley Prime Crime, May 2007 MurderWillOut Mysteries, May 2007 GUN, DowngoSun, March 2007 John Foxjohn, JOURNEY OF THE SPIRIT, John E. Mann, ANGELO’S GUEST, Xlibris, Vicki Cameron, KEEP THE CHANGE and L&L Dreamspell, April 2007 February 2007 EIGHT LORDS A LEAPING, Locked Up, Sunny Frazier, FOOLS RUSH IN, Wolfmont Mary Jane Maffini, ORGANIZE YOUR Deadlock Press, April 2007 Publishing, December 2006 CORPSES, Berkley Prime Crime, May Sheri Gaia Chapin, IN THE RAVINE, Orchard Shelley Freydont, THE SUDOKU MURDER, 2007 Press Mysteries, January 2007 Carroll & Graf, May 2007 Jennifer McMahon, PROMISE NOT TO Keri Clark, FORGIVENESS, Flashshot, May Michelle Gagnon, THE TUNNELS, MIRA TELL, HarperCollins, April 2007 2007 June 2007 – 12 Peggy Ehrhart, BLOODLINES, Spinetingler, Idaho Sisters in Crime has allocated a pool of funds to be used Spring 2007; STONE COOL, Demolition, for chapter event grants on an annual basis as Winter 2007 part of the budget process. This total may vary Manuscript from year to year depending upon other budget Sunny Frazier, THE WINE SNOB, and as requirements. When this pool is exhausted in Charla Maine, PENUMBRA, Gone Coastal Critiquing Service any one calendar year, the board will be unable Anthology, Seven Sisters Press, December to fund additional requests. 2006; DITCHED, and as Charla Maine, The Boise chapter of Sisters in Crime offers a Grant request forms must be received in the LIFE IS A CABERNET, Never Safe, Seven manuscript critiquing service called “Criminal national office at least three months prior to Sisters Press February 2007 Pursuits.” This is an opportunity to get an honest the event. Without exception, the event must S. M. Harding, FAMILY TRADITION, Great assessment of the beginning of your manuscript be open to all SinC authors. An announcement Mystery and Suspense Magazine, Spring from mystery and suspense readers and fellow suitable for posting on the website, inclusion in 2007 writers. our periodic e-mail blasts, and/or publication The chapter has provided this service for more Norma Huss, PROTECTING TINA, Great in an edition of our newsletter, InSinC, must than five years as a fund-raiser. For only $25 you accompany the grant request form. This an­ Mystery and Suspense Magazine, Summer will receive four separate critiques of the first 2007 nouncement must include a contact person to 25 pages of your manuscript and the complete whom SinC members may direct any requests to K B Inglee, MURDER IN A POSH HOTEL, synopsis. All the information about this program Orchard Press Mysteries, February 2007 participate or for additional information. can be found at . year, even if this event has been funded in the BEACH, Map Of Murder, Red Coyote Press, If you include an envelope large enough to past. February 2007 hold all four copies of your manuscript, those Here are the steps to follow: Rosemary and Larry Mild, INTIMIDATION, doing the critiques will write their comments 1. Download the Grant Request Form from Free Fall, March-April 2007 directly on the manuscript pages and will the website. Beverle Graves Myers, BRIMSTONE P.I., Alfred provide more formal write-up that can often 2. Complete all areas of the form or address Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, May 2007 be especially useful. Many people, published all items on a separate sheet. and unpublished, have taken advantage of this Kris Neri, CAPITAL JUSTICE, Never Safe, 3. List or attach those items that require ex­ service and have found the four fresh reads very planation, including the list of specific expenses Seven Sisters Press, April 2007 helpful. Twist Phelan, A TRADER’S LOT, Wall Street for which you are requesting the grant. Noir, Akashic Press, June 2007 4. Attach the announcement you wish to have placed in the various venues if your grant request Young Adult is approved. Vicki Cameron, SHILLINGS, Deadlock Press, Letter to the Editor 5. Submit this request to Beth Wasson at at least three months Patricia H. Rushford, THE TROUBLE WITH Perils of Self-Publishing” was quite informative, prior to the proposed event date. She will notify MAX, DANGER AT LAKESIDE FARM, but unfortunately included a broad generaliza­ you within 30 days whether or not your request THE SECRETS OF GHOST ISLAND, tion that continues to pervade the publishing has been approved. Moody Press, June 2007 industry. 6. Within one month after the event is held, V. Gilbert Zabel, THE BASE STEALERS POD (Print-On-Demand) is a technology submit a request for reimbursement which must CLUB, 4RV Publishing, December 2006 that has crossed into the lexicon to mean pub­ include documentation of your expenditures lishers who use short-run printing to supply their and all of the following information to the best Non Fiction/Articles books. This usage implies that a publisher who of your ability: Diane Fanning, UNDER THE KNIFE, St. employs this technology will not allow returns. a. Number of SinC authors who attended Martin’s Press, April 2007 This is an incorrect assumption. b. Total number of event attendees Awards/Miscellaneous Many traditional presses use POD technology, c. Publicity garnered by the event often as a step before they go to offset. It allows d. Number of new members recruited at the Gary Braver’s (Gary Goshgarian) sixth novel, event FLASHBACK, is the 2006 recipient of the a publisher to print books in smaller quantities and readily permits changes within those books Please allow four weeks to receive your reim­ Massachusetts Honor Book Award for Fiction, bursement check. a first for a mystery/thriller. (adding new reviews, etc.). Depending on the publisher, those POD books may be stocked at Suzanna Cates Neal won an Editors Choice chain bookstores and be fully returnable. Award at the 2007 SDSU Writers’ Confer­ Before you sign any contract, an author needs Crossword Puzzle Solution ence for her mystery novel EYES OF THE to determine if the publisher has a strong dis­ NIGHT JAGUAR. tribution network and how its business model Kit Ehrman’s TRIPLE CROSS was named works. Whether the book is created by Print- T O G A O C T A A L I B I BookSense Notable Book in February 2007. On-Demand technology is not as important. A B E D W H I R B I S O N Donna Ross, writing as Fedora Amis, won the POD is a means to an end. It’s how the publisher R O A M S U E G R A F T O N 2006 Mayhaven Prize for Fiction for her handles the books after they’re printed that is P E R I L M A Y A T O S S historical whodunit, JACK THE RIPPER important. T I P L I T IN ST. LOUIS. Jana Oliver K I N S E Y M I L L H O N E Jinx Schwartz’s JUST ADD WATER, Treble­ Atlanta, GA A R I M A W S I T A R S heart Books, won the 2007 EPPIE Award for L I S A S P I S S T O R Y Best Mystery. I S E E I T S A M M E N Susanne Severeid’s THE DEATH OF MILLY Chapter Event H I S F O R H O M I C I D E MAHONEY was chosen as Book of the T R A E C O Month for February by The Literary Sleuth Grants S H O T S H I P E R A S E mystery book club. The goal of every SinC-funded event is to C A L I F O R N I A P L U M Sandra Tooley’s young adult mystery, THE promote Sisters in Crime as an organization and A L I C E A C T V S O R T SKULL, is a finalist for ForeWord Magazine’s its individual author-members to the widest pos­ N O O S E H A T E E T E S Book of the Year Award. sible audience. The Board of Directors of Sisters Verna Suit ©2007

June 2007 – 13 Malice Domestic XIX May 3 to 5, 2007 Arlington, VA

Text and Photography by Bonnie J. Cardone and humorous speech presented by our president, who was elegant in a Oh, what a presence! SinC was everywhere at Malice this year. The shimmery taupe suit. Rochelle’s elocution would turn The Queen green program book carried the smiling countenance of our president and Guest with envy! of Honor, Rochelle Krich, and the red and black Malice book bag had her Then it was time for the Agathas. When the smoke cleared, all the name and our logo printed on it. The Lifetime Achievement Recipient was recipients turned out to be SinC members, as was Meredith Cole, win­ our 5th president, Carolyn Hart. The Special Toastmaster was our 17th ner of the St. Martin’s Press/Malice Domestic Contest for the best first president, Kate Grilley, who took on the task when SinC member Elaine traditional mystery. (Three of the winners are Guppies, and one of the Viets had a stroke. (Elaine is on the road to a complete recovery.) Last but two winners of the Malice Domestic Grants for Unpublished Writers has not least, the Fan Guest of Honor was SinC member Lee Mewshaw. just joined that group.) Alas, the Ghost of Honor, Georgette Heyer, died 13 years before SinC The SinC breakfast on Sunday morning was sold out, and no amount of was founded cajoling could — otherwise, get those who we might have hadn’t paid claimed her as ahead of time a member. past executive The conven­ secretary, Beth tion began with Wasson. The a SinC board 120 attendees m e e t i n g a t included 10 noon on Friday, G o d d e s s e s , followed by a who sat for a chapter pres­ group portrait ident’s meet­ with Rochelle ing chaired by a n d B e t h . chapter liaison, (Rounding up Do n n a A n ­ Goddesses and drews. getting them At the live to sit still for charity auction five minutes Friday after­ isn’t easy, but noon, one of I’m getting the items sold better at cor­ was the shirt SinC past presidents (aka, Goddesses) from left to right, back row: Nancy Pickard, ralling them.) Barb D’Amato Kate Flora, Eve Sandstrom, Rochelle Krich (current president), Beth Wasson The highlight ( o u r e i g h t h of the break­ president) was (executive secretary), Patti Sprinkle, Sue Henry. Front row, left to right: Kate Grilley, fast was “Par­ wearing four Margaret Maron, Barbara D’Amato, Sue Dunlap, Carolyn Hart. nell & the years ago when Goddesses” she was Guest — Pa r n e l l of Honor and received a pie in the face, courtesy of SinC member Par­ Hall singing the song he wrote for our 20th Anniversary, with Rochelle nell Hall (it was Barb’s idea). That auction and the silent auction raised and vice-president Roberta Isleib leading the audience for the chorus. $12,700 for the John L. Gildner Regional Institute for Children and At the breakfast, which was also a business meeting, those present Adolescents. approved the amended bylaws, and a straw vote was taken on whether That evening, the always-entertaining Malice Theater of the Air put on members would prefer receiving the membership directory electronically a clever play filled with alliteration and starring several SinC members, or as a paper copy (they liked the idea of getting it online). S.J. Rozan dis­ including Hal Glatzer, Kate Grilley, L.C. Hayden, Carole Nelson Douglas cussed Forensic University (November 1 to 4 in St. Louis) and announced and Alexandra Sokoloff. that the Extra Early registration deadline had been extended to June 15. Saturday morning was the Meet the New Authors Breakfast, which Sue Henry took the podium, urging people to sign up for Bouchercon not only offers free food but an introduction to the bestselling authors (September 27 to 30 in Alaska), and treasurer Kathy Wall informed us of tomorrow. A Saturday highlight was the interview of Carolyn Hart by that SinC’s finances are sound. Nancy Pickard (SinC’s second president). Roberta Isleib handed the Dove award (see page 9) to Beth for safe­ The Agatha Banquet is always a Saturday night jewel. It was there that keeping, and Verna Suit talked about the Clipping Service and how to MWA’s administrative manager, Margery Flax, made a surprise phone sign up for it. call to Elaine Viets in her hospital room. When Elaine answered, all 500 Sunday afternoon, Carolyn Hart interviewed Guest of Honor Rochelle banquet attendees roared, “Hello!” Later, SinC member Nancy Martin read Krich. Then it was time for the Agatha Tea, Hat Contest (SinC members an essay Elaine wrote when she was wrestling with whether to go on tour L.C. Hayden won for Most Creative with Honora Finkelstein as runner- for a new book or stay home with her sick husband. He insisted she go up; Monica Ferris won Most Beautiful, with Susan Smily as runner-up) and allow him some control over his life. It was a funny, emotional essay, and Closing Ceremonies. and an ironic reminder of how quickly circumstances can change. It was truly a Malice to remember. Who knows when so many SinC One of the highlights of the banquet was the thoughtful, poignant members will again win so many teapots? Congratulations to you all!

June 2007 – 14 Carolyn Hart, Lifetime Achievement Kate Grilley Rochelle Krich Special Toastmaster Guest of Honor Lee Mewshaw Fan Guest of Honor Nancy Pickard Best Novel Let’s Have Tea!

Toni L.P. Kelner, Best Short Story

Nancy Means Wright, Best Sandra Parshall Children’s/YA Chris Roerden Best First Novel Best Non-fiction

Nancy Martin Monica Ferris read an essay (aka Mary Pulver) written by absent wore a different Toastmaster, Agatha-era costume Elaine Viets, at the Guppy member, each day and won the banquet. Meredith Cole, hat contest. won the St. Martin’s/ Malice Domestic contest for best Terry Hoover, traditional first Guppies president mystery.

Parnell & the Goddesses: Parnell Hall sings the song he wrote for Charlaine Harris will Sue Ann Jaffarian, LA SinC’s 20th Anniversary, with “Dancing Goddesses” Roberta Isleib be the Malice 2008 Chapter president and Rochelle Krich leading the chorus. Guest of Honor June 2007 – 15 DEADLINES

✔JUNE 15, 2007 — Deadline for EXTRA EARLY registration for Forensics University Saint Louis. Save money, register now. See the website for details and register online. ✔JULY 10, 2007 — Deadline for submission of items for September Docket. Send to Patricia Gulley, 1743 N. Jantzen Avenue, Portland, OR 97217-7849 or e-mail . ✔JULY 15, 2007 — Deadline for September InSinC newsletter. Contact Bonnie J. Cardone, 3116 Trisha Court, Santa Maria, CA 93455-7137; phone: (805) 938-1156; or e-mail: . Other newsletter deadlines are October 15, January 15, and April 15. ✔AUGUST 1, 2007 — Deadline for Books in Print entries. See page 7 for more information. ✔SEPTEMBER 14, 2007 — Deadline for receipt of checks for SinC’s Bouchercon breakfast, to be held Sunday, September 30 at 7:30 am. Send your check for $20, made out to Sisters in Crime to: Sisters in Crime, P.O. Box 442124, Lawrence, KS 66044-8933.

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