Writing Through Hard Times

IInnSSiinnCC The Sisters in Crime Newsletter Volume XXII • Number 2 June 2009

Writing Tsaleshwerre sloightlyudowgn buht not dHrasticaally sro; d TThe piubmlic is seimpls y buying fewer books. ByWEhlaizt acabnewthritLeyrsoenxps ect in these uncertain four indicated they were very down. Bookstore sales are down by 20 percent or more; times? Where should we put our energies? The Prescriptive nonfiction, which includes practi - many stores are hanging by a thread. Even Bor - economic downturn is affecting us all. Yet, be - cal self-help as well as inspirational self-help, and ders is reportedly in serious financial straits, and cause publishers must publish to stay in business, information-based nonfiction have always been even Amazon has taken a hit. they must acquire the bread and butter of agencies and publishers. So what should you do during these hard books. The new titles A “good, solid platform may not be enough,” said times? If you are published already, or if you get for 2009 were pur - one agent (“platform” meaning developed ways an offer, don’t worry about less pay for shorter chased in ’07 and ’08 of selling your book). Established authors have a works or a lower advance for a book. The point is and will hit the far better chance of making sales than new au - to stay in the game. An advance is merely borrow - shelves throughout thors trying to break in, they all reported. The ing money against future sales — and you know the year, but to stay in caveat is that if you are unpublished and have a how we’re not supposed to be borrowing any - business, they must terrific idea and slant and a convincing presenta - more! And remember the first law of writing: acquire books for tion about how you can sell a zillion copies of Don’t quit your day job! 2010 and beyond. your book, the agents definitely want you to For not-yet-published or minimally published The crystal ball is query them. In a way, both agents and publishers writers, you can and should continue writing, re - cloudy. Publishers have always gambled on future are looking harder than ever for the great idea. vising, polishing, and marketing; yes, even mar - profits. What books will the public buy 12 to 24 For representation and sale, memoirs have al - keting. Sales skills are different than writing skills. months down the road? The industry’s track ways had to show outstanding writing. Now au - And another rule of writing is apt: If you don’t record for accurate predictions has been less than thors must convince agents and editors of their market, you won’t sell. stellar. When I began my writing career in 1980, I platform, a developed promotional plan with na - From where I sit, seize on this time to build heard a conference speech by John Baker, the edi - tional outreach. One agent described a quirky your “stockpile” of works; write more, not less. tor in chief of Publishers Weekly . He offered this memoir that a year or two ago would have Take time to revise, with care and artistry, really statistic: 75 percent of all advances are never brought a possible auction and a quarter-million learning what polishing a work means. Market earned back. Twenty years later, I sat next to a dollar advance; now, if sold, will likely bring a your articles, nonfiction books, poetry, short sto - white-haired gentleman in a poolside lounge $25,000 advance — even though the author will ries, and novels; developing your marketing skills chair at yet another conference. John Baker, now star in a TV series that will debut in fall. In other and a thick skin — and perhaps scoring a few editorial director. I asked him about this statistic; words, the author (not previously published) has sales. he confirmed that it is still accurate. This would a guaranteed huge platform, and yet publishers Writing for publication is an entrepreneurial be a dismal and unacceptable record for any other are hesitant to buy. venture. Entrepreneurs succeed because they re - business. However, in the Alice in Wonderland We are a nonfiction culture where about 85 main on their toes — flexible, creative, taking world of publishing, profitable books, including percent of all published titles are nonfiction. Yet, risks, and not by being afraid of failure or bad mega-sellers, underwrite the losing 75 percent. by numbers of books sold, fiction wins. In gener - news. What else can you do to keep your writing Statistics never tell the whole story, however. al, the agents reported that genre, i.e., category, skills active if the marketplace isn’t ready for your Publishers are also banking on new writers devel - fiction like mysteries or romances, is selling as preferred writing? Believe it or not, writing of oping a name, not only earning back their ad - usual. Yet, they agreed that it’s tough to sell liter - any kind cross-pollinates every other kind of vances but increasing sales with each subsequent ary novels. In fact, one author, a colleague of writing. And you can still earn money. book. mine with two acclaimed literary novels to her To enhance skills and artistry in nonfiction I polled six agents, asking what they were expe - credit, was advised by her agent to hold her fin - and fiction, write resumes, business materials or riencing at this time in their critical interface ished third novel until better times. I did not ask manuals, how-to or information pieces. I’ve al - with publishing. I guaranteed anonymity to gain any of the agents specifically about mainstream ways thought that writing family histories, com - candid responses. Four of the agents work in or fiction, the type of writing that straddles genre pany histories, and ghostwriting autobiographies near New York, and two agents have offices in and literary. Because mainstream sells by author was a solid — and growing — market. Go to re - California. Five out of the six have three decades recognition or a specific title, my guess is that ac - tirement communities; advertise in Senior- of experience in publishing — as agents and/or as quisitions by not-yet-published authors are Boomer News. Some churches, associations, or former in-house editors. presently few. One hopeful category is young other institutions may want to hire someone to While their answers differed on some adult fiction, possibly given a boost by bestsellers write their histories for their members. Gigs like specifics, they agreed across the board that ad - such as the Twilight and Harry Potter series be - this exist everywhere. vances are far lower now, for both nonfiction and fore it. One agent told me that she recently decid - fiction. Regarding nonfiction, two reported that ed to represent young adult novels. (Continued on page 7) Get aClue Sisters in Crime Newsletter The mission of Sisters in Crime is to promote the pro - fessional development and advancement of women Writing Through Hard Times ...... 1 crime writers to achieve equality in the industry.

Judy Clemens , President Jim Huang , Bookstore Liaison President’s Message ...... 3 Marcia Talley ,Vice President/President Elect Mary Boone , Library Liaison Mar y Saums , Secretary Charlaine Harris, At Large Kathryn Wall, Treasurer/Authors Coalition Liaison Nancy Martin , At Large SinC Into Great Writing ...... 3 Robin Burcell ,Chapter Liaison Julianne Balmain , Monitoring Project Cathy Pickens, Publicity Roberta Isleib, Past President Breakfast at Bouchercon ...... ……..3 Bonnie J. Cardone , InSinC Editor/ Graphic Designer Peggy Moody , Web Maven Donald Maass at SinC Workshop ...... 4 Beth Wasson , Executive Secretary, P.O. Box 442124, Lawrence, KS 66044-8933; Phone: 785/842-1325; Fax 785/856-6314; e-mail: [email protected] The Truth About Psychopaths ...... 4 Presidents of Sisters in Crime 1987-88 Sara Paretsky ; 1988-89 Nancy Pickard ; 1989-90 Margaret Maron ; 1990-91 Susan Dunlap ; 1991- Q&A with Mary-Ann 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 ; 1997-98 Sue Henry ; 1998-99 Medora Sale ; 1999-00 Bar - bara Burnett Smith ; 2000-01 Claire Carmichael McNab ; 2001-02 Eve K. Sandstrom ; 2002-03 Kate Flora ; Tirone Smith ...... 5 2003-04 Kate Grilley ; 2004-05 Patricia Sprinkle ; 2005-06 Libby Hellmann ; 2006-07 Rochelle Krich ; 2007-08 Roberta Isleib; 2008-09 Judy Clemens Charlaine Harris ...... …..6 Interview with an Agent ...... 7 DEADLINES AND SUBMISSION GUIDELINES The next Sisters in Crime Newsletter will be Send columns, articles, ideas and praise via e- Law and Fiction ...... 8 out in September. The deadline for all submis - mail. sions is July 20 . Please send mailing address, phone number, Members’ publications since the last edition of and e-mail with submissions. If you have an idea Chapter News ...... 8 the newsletter will be listed in The Docket. Please for a story, please query the editor: include publication dates when submitting. Bonnie J. Cardone SinC at SIBA ...... …..9 Docket material will be due July 15 and should be 805/938-1156 sent to: E-mail: b jcardon e@ hotmail. com Patricia Gulley SinC at Southern Festival of Books .. …9 1743 N. Jantzen Avnue Portland, OR 97217-7849 Chapter Spotlight ...... 9 E-mail: [email protected] Moving? Change of address notifications Conferences ...... 10 Other honors, awards and events of great “pith should be sent to both Beth Wasson, and moment” should be written up as short, sepa - SinC executive secretary, P.O. Box rate notices. These can be as short as a paragraph. 442124, Lawrence, KS 66044-8933 Review Monitoring Project ...... 11 No publicity/promotion of individual members, please. and to Rowan Mountain, Inc., P.O. Box The Docket ...... 12 We particularly welcome reprints from SinC 10111, Blacksburg, VA 24062-0111. chapter newsletters. In Memoriam ...... …12

Should You Reinvent Visit Sisters in Crime online at: Your Career? ...... ……13 www.sistersincrime.org

Malice Domestic ...... ……14 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. is available via direct ad - Deadlines ...... 16 dressing through Rowan Mountain, Inc., P.O. Box 10111, Blacksburg, VA 24062-0111. For more information, write Gavin Faulkner. E-mail: [email protected]. Web: www.rowanmountain.com. 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 correspondence (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: [email protected]. • 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: Judy Clemens, 5859 Road L, Ottawa, OH 45875; E-mail: [email protected]. •No material may be reprinted without written permission from Sisters in Crime. Sisters in Crime©2009

June 2009 - 2 awards, Nancy is the author of 17 novels and dozens of short stories as well as a founding member and former president of SinC Raising Professionalism and (www.NancyPickardmysteries.com). 7:15 to 9:00 pm (choose one workshop) Hallie Ephron: Twisting a Mystery Plot: Achieving Equity The Secret's in the Secrets. By Judy Clemens, SinC President Plot is probably “the” critical element in a SinC Vision Statement: “Raising professionalism and achieving equity among crime writers." mystery novel. It has to be surprising, believable and compelling. In this workshop we will talk To use a well-worn cliché, times are tough. In our cover story Elizabeth Lyons spells out about how to shape your novel so it delivers — many things we can do to become better writers during this economic crisis, even if that grabbing the reader at the start and ending with means simply being patient, and knowing that better-selling times will come. satisfying wallop as puzzle pieces fall into place, Another thing SinC encourages to help our cause is the whole revealing secrets along the way to keep the read - idea of professionalism. Sure, many of our lives are filled with er turning those pages. rejection, smaller than desirable paychecks, or a sense that our Chris Roerden: Don’t Sabotage Your Sub - books will never be read by the world or promoted enough by mission publishers. These are all compounded by the fact that the mystery Find out how manuscripts are really evaluat - genre as a whole is downsizing. It’s frustrating. It’s demoralizing. ed, why 95 percent are rejected almost immedi - It’s almost enough to send you into another career path, where ately, and ways you can beat the odds and make your hopes and dreams aren’t dashed against the rocks of the big it through the approval process toward becom - machine. But through it all, as during all hard times, it’s important ing published. — no, necessary — to have other people as a support, and to do The cost of the workshop is $50 for SinC our part to support others. members, $150 for nonmembers, dinner and During last year’s Publishers’ Summit our team learned many things, but one thing that was coffee break included. The deadline for regis - hammered home to us was the perception of Sisters in Crime as outdated, irrelevant, and, in a tration at: www.sistersincrime.org is September lot of cases, unprofessional. Talk about a kick in the pants. 22, 2009. NO REFUNDS. Registration will be To counteract and change this view of our valuable organization, the board has been taking capped at 200. For questions contact Beth Was - steps toward raising our image professionally. Some of these are practical — we designed our son at: [email protected]. new strategic plan; we are working hard on a new website, which should soon be up and Discounted conference hotel rates are of - running; and we are creating a new PR list, with which we can reach more people in the indus - fered through the Bouchercon website at: www. try. Some of our actions have been controversial, such as the professional guidelines for the sistersincrime.org. printed SinC on the Shelf . As an organization we are working to show the industry that we are serious about women being able to make a living through their writing. This workshop supports SinC’s Professional As individual writers, professionalism couldn’t be more important. Whether it be research - Education and Career Development goal. ing agents and publishers thoroughly, writing a strong query letter, studying the work of other authors, or networking through conferences and organizations, there are numerous ways to show that we are determined to be the best writers we can be, and that our craft is more than “women writing little books.” We are strong women. We are professional. And we want to encourage all of our members to show the world that side of their work. Breakfast at We are always looking for ways to help SinC “promote the professional development and advancement of women crime writers,” and if you see ways we can do this, the board is always Bouchercon ready to hear ideas and suggestions. Please contact us at [email protected]. Sisters in Crime will hold its annual breakfast at Bouchercon Judy Clemens may be reached at [email protected]. on Friday, October 16, 2009, at the Hyatt Regency. It will start at 7:30. The cost for members is $20, nonmembers pay $30. Bouchercon Writing Workshop: To reserve your spot, send a check to: Sisters in Crime, P.O. Box 442124, Lawrence,KS SSisntersC in C rIimne wtioll be Gsponrsoerinag a wtr iWting rMiataiss n(wgww.! maassagency.com). (Note: See the 66044. It must arrive on or be - workshop on October 14, 2009, at the Hyatt interview of Donald Maass on page 4 in this is - fore October 5, 2009. Regency in Indianapolis, IN, the day before the sue.) Tickets will not be issued, your Bouchercon World Mystery Convention be - This intensive, hands-on writing workshop name will be on the reservation gins. The SinC into Great Writing! program introduces powerful techniques for taking your list at the door. Please include features seminars by Donald Maass, Hallie fiction to the next level. (For advanced fiction your e-mail address if you wish - Ephron and Chris Roerden, along with dinner writers.) Participants must bring the to receive confirmation that your with keynote speaker Nancy Pickard. The pro - manuscript of a completed novel or novel-in- check has arrived. gram will run from 1:30 to 9:00 pm. progress. 5:45 to 7:00 pm: Dinner with Nancy This project supports SinC’s Member - The Program Pickard ship Growth, Networking, and Forums 1:30 to 5:30 pm: Writing the Breakout Four-time Edgar nominee and winner of for Members goal. Novel with New York literary agent Donald Agatha, Anthony, Shamus and Macavity June 2009 - 3 are those who have something special and original. Building bigger stories is something you can work on, but an original story sense usually shows right Donald Maass is the Featured away. Plus, those who are doing something origi - nal tend to prosper. Those following trends may Speaker at SinC Wao shorrkt vesrsiohn oof thp is workshop can produce get contracts but rarely grow. By Roberta Isleib dozens of ways to heighten your story. RI: As you can imagine, our published writers SiRnoCb ePrtaas Ist lPeibre: Ssiisdteersn itn Crime is very excited RI: You've also published a number of novels. and aspiring writers are anxious about the changes to have landed Donald Maass as our featured Did the idea of the breakout novel come from in the publishing industry and the uncertainty of speaker at SinC into Great Writing! on October your own experience writing? Did you manage to what lies ahead. Where do you see our business 14, 2009, at the Indianapolis Hilton. Don is the write one yourself? headed? Any advice or encouragement for authors president of the Donald Maass Literary Agency in DM: I wrote short genre fiction in the 1980s to already in the pipeline and those just beginning? New York City (www.maassagency.com) and the support myself, everything from romance to YA. DM: It’s been a wrenching couple of months, author of 14 novels That was not breakout hasn’t it? Still, long term I am optimistic. Midlist along with The Career fiction. The techniques fiction will continue to get squeezed, but power - Novelist , Writing the SinC Into of breakout writing are ful stories will always sell — and probably sell big - Breakout Novel , Writ - something I studied ger than ever. ing the Breakout Novel Great Writing! throughout the 1990s. RI: Before you go, please tell us something Workbook , and just re - My book, Writing the about your new book, The Fire in Fiction . leased in May, The Fire Preview Breakout Novel , was DM: The Fire in Fiction explains the tech - in Fiction . He also trav - published in 2001. I’ve niques of mastery. You know how some novelists els the country offering received many testimo - always write a great novel, while others let you seminars on the breakout novel and increasing nials from published authors whose writing, and down? What are those master novelists doing on suspense. sales, have taken leaps after applying its lessons. the page that others are not? Well, many things. Welcome Don! Would you begin by giving our RI: "Donning" your agent hat for a moment, do Those things are what The Fire in Fiction is about. readers a short summary of what to expect when you take on books that don't appear to have break - In November I’ll be offering a new workshop that they attend your class? out or blockbuster potential? If so, what goes into teaches those techniques. Donald Maass: We’ll do character and story your selection process? I suppose I'm also asking RI: Thanks for stopping in and we look for - development work designed to lift your current how good you are at predicting future success. ward to meeting you in October! novel to breakout level. Bring the manuscript of DM: I think we’re pretty good at finding career your novel-in-progress. This is a hands-on work - novelists. We do take on writers of genre fiction, This article supports SinC’s Professional Educa - shop. Be prepared for an intense experience. Even such as fantasy and mysteries. What we look for tion and Career Development goal.

politicians, bankers and even housewives. Robert Hare suggests that one out of every 100 people is a The Truth About lPey. Tso dyistincguhish toruep psycahotpahths,s he listed a psychopath. By“H Kea’s tah pesyrcinheo! ”R Tahmis wsloardn dhas become a facile collection of 16 traits, such as manipulative, irre - Restoring psychopaths as a distinct category part of our vocabulary, describing anyone from a sponsible, self-centered, shallow, deceptive and helps us to sharpen the notion of a “sociopath” and lunatic to a quirky kook to a psychopath. An un - uncaring. While on the surface, psychopaths distinguish it from “psychopath.” Within a cer - fortunate result for seemed ordinary, Cleckley demonstrated that in tain context, sociopaths are capable of feelings writers is that the the right context with the right victim, they could that psychopaths either lack or experience only su - notion of a psy - be quite dangerous. perficially — guilt, concern, bonding. That is, so - chopath has become In psychiatric nomenclatures during the 1950s, ciopaths can have loyalties to a specific group — both confused and “sociopath” replaced “psychopath” and the terms family, ethnicity, gang — while ignoring broader diluted. In fact, “psy - were often used interchangeably. Then, “socio - social norms. So, on the surface, they resemble chopathy” is a seri - pathic personality” yielded to antisocial personali - psychopaths in that they might freely lie, con and ous character disor - ty disorder (APD). That’s how most American kill if it suits their purpose. But because they ob - der, diagnosed mental health experts today label a psychopath. serve a moral code that matters to them, they can through a detailed But the terms (and offenders) are not entirely feel genuine remorse over harming someone with - examination by a equivalent. A diagnosis of APD includes people in their group. clinical expert. It’s who would not qualify on the PCL-R as psy - Does all this really matter? In a practical sense, not about being psy - chopaths. It’s like losing a pear’s distinct taste by yes. For risk assessment, the PCL-R is our best pre - chotic or eccentric. To use the character construct tossing it into a fruit salad. dictor of future criminal diversity, brutality and well in fiction requires a grasp of its actual parame - Canadian researcher Robert Hare dismissed recidivism. But there’s a value for writers as well. ters. the American approach and used Cleckley’s list to An accurate motivational structure can make psy - Just a little history, because over the years the devise a standardized diagnostic instrument — chopathic characters both believable and internal - definition has evolved. While psychopathy was The Psychopathy Checklist (later revised as the ly consistent. Psychopaths are not “psychos” who the first recognized personality disorder in the PCL-R), with 20 distinct items against which to experience a disconnect with reality or fail to budding field of psychiatry, it wasn't initially a pre - compare a suspected psychopath’s traits or behav - grasp the nature of their actions; they are in fact cise concept. First used in Germany in the late iors. Researchers who use the PCL-R view psy - quite clear-headed about their choices and actions 19th century, “psychopath” might refer to any - chopathy as a disorder characterized by such — and they just don’t care. Missing in psy - thing from a mood disorder to a misanthrope, so things as shallow emotions, manipulativeness, ly - chopaths are the qualities on which we depend for by the early 20th century, “constitutional psycho - ing, egocentricity, glibness, sensation-seeking, living in social harmony. Diluting or confusing the pathic inferiority” had become a vacuous catch-all episodic relationships, parasitic lifestyle and the concept allows these predators to move more easi - term. persistent violation of social norms. The hallmark ly among us, and it blunts the impact of fiction Our current concept derives from a 1941 publi - trait is a complete lack of guilt or remorse. They’re that aims to be gritty. cation, The Mask of Sanity , by Dr. Hervey Cleck - not all killers, or even criminals. Many are CEOs, (Continued on page 7) June 2009 - 4 Letʼs Talk Mystery:

Q & A withter eMst in a aplotr whyere- thAe villnain knills b eTcausie rhe’os nsequeentl y,S pagem-turninigt fehrment in a literary novel ByT Nhisa nnewcy se Mrieas irst iinn tended to kickstart discussion born evil, or a scenario where the victim is in the is open to suspicion. The implication is that the about our genre. We encourage members to pick up wrong place at the right time. Unfortunately, mys - mystery genre (page-turner implied) is inferior. the discussion on our Listserv, sistersin - teries revolving around the determination of mo - Hogwash. [email protected]. tivation and careful investigation have been Note: Loading a book with researched facts Mary-Ann Tirone Smith has published nine lumped together via the god-awful moniker does not make schlock literary. Writers need to books, including a true crime memoir, Girls of “cosy” (British spelling for obvious reasons). trust themselves to make stuff up. The facts of a Tender Age ; a thriller, An American Killing ; three There’s nothing cozy about a dozen people lining good story must be believable, not realistic, and Poppy Rice mysteries; and most recently, a collab - up in a train to have a turn at plunging a knife into with that, the reader will follow you anywhere. oration with her son Jere Smith, Dirty Water: A their crime victim. Where the “cosy” comes in is However, in these days of reality shows, people Red Sox Mystery . She is presently at work on a Civ - that the setting is cozy. Murder on the Orient Ex - have this need to know that everything is real. So il War novel, a fourth Poppy Rice, and a second press is revoltingly entertaining, and the author when you’re on a panel and a member of the audi - collaboration with Jere. Several of her books have comes up with magnificent motivations for each ence asks (though it’s not a question), “You must been included in the yearly New York Times No - of the participants in the killing. Quel achieve - have done sooooo much research!” just say, table Books list, and her memoir is under option ment! “Yeah,” instead of, “Nah, I made it all up.” (John for a film. She has lived all her life in Connecticut Corrigan says that sober mysteries are taken Updike: “Elementary author ethics dictate that except for the two years she served as a Peace more seriously than light-hearted ones, and since you at least attempt to imagine technical details as Corps volunteer in Buea, a town 5,000 feet up the women supposedly tend to write the latter group well as you imagine emotions and dialogue.”) side of the stunning Mt. Cameroon. (don’t tell Joe E. Hill), nominations tend to go to NM: You're one of the few mystery writers to NM: Mary-Ann, you wrote a letter to the New men. Personal note: When people at a dinner par - write a memoir with a personal brush with crime York Times Book Review protesting the pitiful ty learn I’m a writer (always a conversation-stop - at its core. ( Girls of Tender Age , now in paper - number of women Edgar nominees. Some in our per) I’ll often get the question, “Oh. What age do back.) The book is absorbing, layered and industry would hail this move as a brave act, but I you gear your books thought provoking. (My own book club talked

p to?” The first time I about it for months.) Can you describe your expe - bet you've heard criticism, too. If you had it to do h o t again, would you? o heard that, I was to - rience writing this book? And do you see other

MS: I’d like to set the record straight. I protest - y tally nonplussed un - writers stretching the boundaries of the crime

M ed something specific: the near-absence of women a til I realized that the novel? r i o nominated in the three most prestigious Edgar n questioner assumed MS: When I wrote the Poppy Rice mysteries, I

t that since I was a deliberately experimented. In the first, Love Her categories last year. I wrote the letter because I t l i n consider my SinC membership to be more than an g woman I must write Madly , my killer’s motivation for violence was her e opportunity to promote my work and make new r children’s books. An - belief that she had the right to snuff out anyone friends though I gratefully make use of that op - other personal note: who pissed her off. In the second, She’s Not There , portunity. Our organization’s mission statement The Hartford Li - the killer was a psychopath traumatized in child - at the time was one of activism. So here is the let - brary system chose hood, who came to kill when an event triggered ter: NYTBR, 2/24/08, “Criminal Neglect” (their The Maltese Falcon memory of that trauma. In the third, She Smiled title). Mary-Ann for a community Sweetly , the killer’s sense of order is threatened and “As a member of Sisters in Crime, whose mis - read last year. I am feels that God and society bestowed on her the sion statement includes the words ‘to educate the Tirone Smith not a fan as I can’t task of protecting that order. Killing became the general public as to the inequities in the treatment give a book’s era an excuse for being anti-women, right and moral thing to do. of female authors’ I am compelled to respond to anti-Semitic, homophobic and frankly, boring. About the memoir: I found myself thinking of the list of Edgar Award nominees mentioned in Dashiel Hammet knew the series was bad schlock writing memoir because recovered memories of a ‘Inside the List’ (Feb. 3). All five nominees for best so he quit after a handful of them. So I’m on the childhood friend’s murder kept popping into my novel are men; all five nominees for best fact crime panel, and the one fellow among us is raving about brain. As the memories continued to emerge, I (true crime) are men; and of the five nominees for the book, saying things like, “Hammet set the bar told myself, “This’ll make a helluva mystery.” But best first novel, four are men. Inequitable treat - with such elements as the creation of the femme in the end, converting the tragedy of this child’s ment. Egregious, too.” fatale.” Excuse me, but Salomé was the first femme death into fiction felt immoral. Memoir would al - Edited out was my praise of the nominees’ fatale. Lady Macbeth was second. But never mind. low me to find out what happened, who did it, work. Later, I asked the librarian why they chose The and why he killed her. (When I mentioned I was I wrote an earlier letter of protest to the presi - Maltese Falcon . “To entice more men to take part.” writing memoir to my agent, she said, “You’d bet - dent of MWA informing him of my resignation, Good Christ! (It’s still a man’s world and I’m get - ter have a dysfunctional family.” Mine functioned hoping for a dialogue. The response I received re - ting really, really sick of enabling them.) but we were definitely outré.) flected the strong possibility that he never saw the NM: After interviewing Maureen Corrigan, When I told my editor I was taking a break letter; someone else who is not a writer responded I’m still looking for someone to define the differ - from Poppy, and described the crime that was to me, and in such a way that I would have to char - ence between a literary mystery and a genre mys - nudging me toward memoir, she pointed out that acterize as "Go f*** yourself." Considering the gen - tery novel. Can you do it? the plot of She’s Not There hinged on children in der stats on this year’s nominees, I believe my let - MS: There are novels that are literary and there jeopardy and climaxed with Poppy saving a child ter may have been influential. are novels that are schlock. There are mysteries just before she’s about to die. The child was the You (Nancy) interviewed Maureen Corrigan, that are literary and there are mysteries that are same age as my friend. “So maybe you’re trying to who I will be grateful to forever for her generous schlock. Schlock, to me, means brain candy. Read - keep the murder from happening through fic - on-air review of my true crime memoir. In reason - ers of brain candy are not interested in ideas; in tion.” Lucky me to have an editor and agent always ing with you as to why she preferred mysteries learning how people tick; in getting a peek into willing to try and make sense of what the hell it is written by men, at least in terms of the creation of the complications of human nature. Fine. Gorge I’m talking about. her best-of-the-year list, she stressed her interest in away. But when we think of brain candy, we think So finally, I would suggest to my sisters that evil and random violence. Personally, I have no in - of the term “page-turner.” Unfortunately and con - (Continued on page 12) June 2009 - 5 Hard Work and a Little Bit of Luck Mean

(it has 1,670 students today) only 20 minutes Dracula at an early age, and though it contains a By Bonnie J. MCardeonega-Succnoreth osf Tusnica ifn oMemrph iCs. Sheh majaoredr inl Ean - ilnot oef inc oHnsisteancires,r it’si ths e basic vampire tem - InSCihnaCrla Eindei Htoar rris is a shining example of the glish and Communication Arts. plate – the movies with Bela Lugosi added anoth - adage that if you work hard, success will come to Except for the years she took off to start a fami - er layer of mythology to the tale. I think Ameri - you. Mega-success has certainly come to her. And ly, Charlaine has been exceptionally productive, cans, particularly, are interested in eternal life if it’s she did work hard to achieve it. sometimes writing two or three books a year. All anchored in YOUTH. When you add great But there was a little bit of luck involved, too. of her books, including two standalones and 25 strength and seductive qualities to that, it’s a pow - Charlaine’s career started auspiciously — she books in four series, are in print. The series com - erful thing.” sold the first book she wrote. It was published in prise: Charlaine also saw the Southern Vampire series 1981, the year she turned 30. Twenty-six years and Eight Aurora (Roe) Teagarden mysteries, pub - as a way to reinvent her career and take it to a high - 25 books later (not to mention a novella and nu - lished from 1992 to 2003. Their protagonist is a er level (for more on that see The InSinC Inquirer merous short stories), one of her four series was former librarian/amateur sleuth who inherited a on page 13). optioned by HBO. True Blood , based on the lot of money and lives in Lawrenceton, GA. It worked — but not right away. It took her Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampire series, pre - Five Lily Bard mysteries, published between agent two years to sell Dead Until Dark. It won an miered in September 2008. By November it had 1996 and 2001. Their protagonist is a Anthony for Best Paperback Original and the 6.8 million viewers. In January 2009, Anna Paquin weightlifter/karate expert who cleans houses for a books that followed have also been extraordinarily received a Golden Globe for her portrayal of living and solves crimes while she works. Lily re - popular. I asked Charlaine when she realized they Sookie. sides in Shakespeare, AR, and became a self-de - had found a large audience. The success of True Blood fueled the sale of the fense expert after being raped (something that “I suspected they were doing well when Ace books it was based upon. The first Sookie Stack - Charlaine also experienced) and stabbed. wanted to sign me to another contract a month af - house book, Dead Until Dark , was released in Nine Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampire ter the first one came out,” she said. 2001. Yet there it was, seven years later, on the books, published from 2001 to 2009 (Charlaine is The work ethic responsible for Charlaine’s suc - New York Times Bestseller list. It and other books working on the cess has continued. “I write every day,” she said. “I from the Southern Vampire series would spend 17 tenth). Their protag - go over to my office around 8:00 am, check e-mail weeks there. They also spent 19 weeks on Publish - onist is a telepathic and my website. Then I work until 11:30 or so. Af - ers Weekly ’s Mass Market Paperback Bestseller cocktail waitress who ter lunch, I either work more on the book or on List. According to Publishers Weekly , 502,456 lives in northern some other task, like editing short stories or writ - copies of Dead Until Dark were sold in 2008. Louisiana and likes ing my piece for the Femmes Fatales newsletter.” From Dead to Worse , the eighth book in the se - to hang out with Charlaine joined SinC about 20 years ago and ries, sold 145,000 copies in 2008. vampires. The books currently serves as a member at large on the board Twelve episodes of True Blood have aired and are available in 25 of directors. She was also a board member from the series has been renewed for 12 more, purport - languages. 2001 to 2004. edly to begin airing this month. Three Harper For relaxation she reads and watches her daugh - The Stackhouse series had been around for a Connelly mysteries, ter play softball. “Right now,” she admits, “that’s while when Hollywood discovered them. I asked published between about all I have time for.” Charlaine how that happened. And this is where Charlaine Harris 2006 and 2009 (look Charlaine’s advice to new writers? “Read a the little bit of luck comes in. for the fourth in LOT. Then sit down and write. The book will “Alan Ball [producer of the award-winning November). Their protagonist can find dead peo - never be written unless you put your rear in the HBO series Six Feet Under and an Academy ple and diagnose their cause of death. Harper’s chair and type ‘Page One, Chapter One.’ There Award winner for the script of American Beauty ] special abilities are the result of being struck by are many ways to write a book; no way is right or was early for a dentist's appointment, so he went lightning. wrong.” into a Barnes & Noble to pass the time. He picked You’ve probably noticed the series overlap. For more on Charlaine and a listing of her up Dead Until Dark because he thought it looked Charlaine has worked on three at the same time. books, see her website: www.charlaineharris.com/ interesting, then stayed up all night reading it. You’ve probably also noticed the protagonists or www.femmesfatalesauthors.com/. Then he found out there were more books in the have unusual, unforgettable names. I asked Char - series. He got his agent to call my agent,” Char - laine how she came up with them. She said: laine said. “A protagonist’s name is very important. I Bonnie J. Cardone is well known in the scuba might pick the names of other characters by flip - world, where she has worked as a magazine editor How It All Began ping through the phone book, but not my protag - and freelance photojournalist. She hopes to become a Charlaine was born and grew up in Tunica, MS. onists’ names. For Aurora, I wanted a silly name published mystery novelist sometime in this century. It didn’t have nine casinos then, it was an agricul - that would be an insult to her; her life has never This article supports SinC’s Professional Educa - tural area. Her father was a farmer for many years met her expectations. Lily, who is grim, practical, tion and Career Development goal. before becoming a teacher and then a principal. and strong, needed a tender name. Harper was the Her mother was a librarian. Charlaine had one kind of gender-neutral name an upscale lawyer sibling, an older brother who died about 15 years like her mother would pick, and Sookie needed an ago. old-fashioned name since she’s an old-fashioned Don’t miss As a child, Charlaine read a lot of Edgar Allen girl.” Poe and wrote ghost stories. She says she also “read None of Charlaine’s heroines are the slightest the SinC breakfast Jane Eyre about 50 times, and a lot of other moody bit conventional — but a telepathic cocktail wait - books. But I read Nancy Drew , too, and my first ress with a fascination for the undead? I asked: at Bouchercon published book [ Sweet and Deadly ] was a conven - “What sparked your interest in vampires?” tional mystery.” “I’ve always been interested in vampires, or at See page 3 for details. Charlaine graduated from tiny Rhodes College least as long as I can remember,” she said. “I read June 2009 - 6 (WCornittininuegd fTrohmr poague 1g) h Hard Times Memoirists can build their portfolios, to prove Interview with an Agent: and improve their professional writing, by submit - ting short personal essays to publications any - where. All writers who hope to sell a nonfiction Rich Henshaw you set the book aside and subsequently place book can use these leaner times to learn how to ByR Sich.W H.e nHshuabwb’sa argdency — Richard Henshaw your second effort with a major publisher and write proposals. From nonfiction writing you can Group — represents commercial fiction and non - it succeeds commercially, then your career is in learn conciseness and “bling.” fiction with a specialty in crime fiction. His clients a better place and there may be renewed inter - What about fiction? Now is the time to take include mystery au - est in that book on the shelf. your polished short fiction (or to create excerpts thors Dana Stabe- Incidentally, many authors think that there is that stand alone from a novel) and enter every now, James D. Doss, a whole universe of small publishers out there contest in creation. Submit to e-zines. Accumu - Margaret Coel, and for their work. However, these publishers’ lists late credits and when you return to querying for Lea Wait. For more are small and they often target a very specific an agent and sale to a publisher, you’ll stand out as information visit sub-genre. a professional writer ready to sell. Join organiza - www.richh.addr.com. SH: The publishing world is littered with tions and hone your networking skills. Build a SH: Publishers authors who got contracts to write one or two website and develop internet savvy that will im - seem committed to books, then can’t make another sale. What’s press publishers that your platform is so high and an "all-blockbuster- your advice to authors in this position? broad that you can sell fiction, nonfiction, or all-the-time" philoso - RH: If a writer’s sales were dismal enough IOUs for Countrywide toxic mortgages (okay, I phy. Is there any hope that their track record would likely cause fewer couldn’t resist). Enter NaNoWriMo, National for moderately successful books and the au - orders of a new book, then a name change Novel Writing Month, accepting the challenge be - might be a good idea. On the other hand, if the tween yourself and yourself to write a novel in the thors who write them? month of November. Follow Ray Bradbury’s ad - RH: Although many major publishers now books were critically acclaimed and the new vice to write one short story a week for a year: to expect higher profit margins than they once one is different enough and the sales were okay paraphrase him, he said, “Out of 52, they can’t all did, the true culprit seems to me to be that sales but not special, then sticking with your own be bad.” are down across the board in the paperback name might be okay. That decision does not Be ready. Write so much that you wear out a market, which is what often sustained midlist have to be made at the time of submission. couple of keyboards. Be ready when the doors of mystery publishing. Cozies, whodunits, P.I. Should you change agents if you find you are publishing open wide again. Which they will. and police procedural novels all seem to have in a slump? If you are taking your career in a dif - been particularly hard hit. There are fewer ferent direction and your agent has no under - bookstores and fewer distributors who stock standing of that market, or if your agent has lost Elizabeth Lyon has been an independent book fewer titles and they tend to favor the most confidence in your work, then it is worth con - editor since 1988. She is the author of six books on popular titles, so fewer midlist books are get - sidering. But if in spite of everyone’s best efforts writing and marketing novels and nonfiction books. ting out there. When a client’s sales went flat I there are not any quantifiable results, then it Her most recent is Manuscript Makeover: Revision used to be worried about their future but I’ve may seem that the only way to change course is Techniques No Fiction Writer Can Afford to Ig - had several editors tell me that flat paperback to fire the agent. Writers can’t fire themselves, nore . sales are a positive thing in this market. There is so if someone’s got to go there’s really only one This article supports SinC’s Professional Educa - certainly hope for the “moderately successful” choice. But before considering that option, tion and Career Development goal. author, but what exactly constitutes moderate have a heart to heart talk with your agent. success may be changing and it is getting SH: Can midlist authors reasonably expect tougher to stay in that category. If you slip into to make a sale on a proposal, or do they need to the marginal category, look out. write the entire manuscript? (PCsonyticnuheod fproamt phasge 4) SH: How much time is it reasonable for an RH: If the author is not really doing some - Katherine Ramsland is a writer, professor of author to expect her agent will spend preparing thing different and they are hoping to change forensic psychology and former therapist. Among her and selling her manuscript? Is it worth it to you publishers after a history of modest or declin - 34 books are True Stories of CSI , The Criminal to pursue deals with low advances? ing sales, it is tough. If they are one of those Mind and The Devil’s Dozen . She has also written RH: It takes much more time than I think “moderately successful” writers and expecta - more than 900 articles, mostly about forensics or most authors imagine to read, critique, pitch tions are in line with their sales history, then it criminal psychology. and compose pitch letters and process submis - is certainly a possibility. If they are writing a This article supports SinC’s Professional Educa - sions. Time is money, but if I dwell too much "breakout" book, then a really great proposal tion and Career Development goal. on the risk/reward ratio of a debut novel I might do the job, but it is usually a better idea would never take one on. I do not expect to see to do the whole book on speculation since the a reasonable return on my initial investment in agent ends up with a whole lot more leverage in placing a mystery until the author has a few the deal when he/she has the completed Looking books under his or her belt. If I fail to place a manuscript to show. Obviously how to proceed book with a major publisher then it may be the depends somewhat upon a particular author's for an agent or help best option to seek a smaller publisher, but if financial needs as well as other considerations. you take the long view, sometimes it is a better with your manuscript? strategy to set the work aside with the hope that S.W. Hubbard has written a police procedural Check out the Guppies you will make a splash with your next. If your series and ghostwritten a thriller to be published goal is not simply to see the book in print but to this year. Her short stories have appeared in A l- www.sinc-guppies.org make a career out of this, then pursuing a deal fred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine . with a small publisher can be limiting, or at This article supports SinC’s Professional Edu - worst, a dead end. On the other hand, if instead cation and Career Development goal. June 2009 - 7 Chapter News Tell us what you’ve been doing! Submit news of Law and Fiction: your chapter’s activities (300 dpi photos are wel - comed, too) to [email protected]. The dead - Getting the Facts Right line for the next issue (September) is July 20. ByA Ls wersitleiers ,B wue dweanwt ittoz get the facts right – while telling a good story. This new column will help Mavens of Mayhem (Upstate New York) Sisters in Crime members do both. Mavens of Mayhem is now meeting at the Or - What is voir dire? chard Tavern in Albany, NY. In addition to having Said “vwahr deer” or “vwahr dyer,” the phrase means “to speak the truth.” I think of it as a private room, we get to feast on excellent pizza show and tell. The first phase of jury selection, voir dire is the process of questioning potential and assorted yummies before our meetings. And we can easily feed our guest speakers! How’s that jurors. Lawyers meld the responses with other information and for convenience? Marie Corcoran (Faye their own gut reactions to decide whether to challenge or accept a Rownell), Mavens’ PR chair and speakers’ bureau potential juror. coordinator, is lining up all sorts of appearances Voir dire is also the jurors’ first glimpse of the facts of a case. The for us in the upcoming months. Mavens’ secretary, judge (or lawyers) introduces the case with a brief summary. The Julie Lomoe, posts our upcoming meetings on lawyers’ questions reveal some of the anticipated evidence and is - Facebook, which has increased our guest atten - sues. A skillful lawyer selects the facts given to subtly influence the dance. Brother in Crime and chapter president, jury, using the doctrine of primacy — we tend to remember and be - Bob Knightly, is working on creating a Mavens’ lieve what we hear first. mentor program for local writers. Voir dire has two core purposes: • To root out prejudgment that prevents a juror from giving a case a fair hearing; and Northern California • To detect beliefs and perspectives that may affect how a juror views the evidence. Twenty-five SinC NorCal members turned out Naturally, each side wants jurors likely to sympathize with their position and tailors ques - for a "Poison" Tea at the Secret Garden Teahouse tions accordingly. In a vehicular homicide case fueled by alcohol both the prosecutor and de - fense counsel will ask if potential jurors have been convicted of alcohol-related driving offens - es or have lost friends or relatives to drunk drivers — but phrase their questions differently. Prosecutors look for a sense of indignation and anger. Defense lawyers often remind jurors of reasonable doubt and the presumption of innocence. Either side may engage jurors in a con - versation about beliefs and attitudes. Potential jurors may be sent questionnaires with their summons for jury duty, asking gener - al information or questions customized for a specific case. This is more likely for complex or lengthy trials, such as the trial in the U.S. District Court for Montana of five former W.R. Grace executives charged with environmental crimes stemming from asbestos contamination from a vermiculate mine in Libby, MT. Trial started in March and is expected to last three months. Other examples include a products liability suit, where questionnaires asked about potential jurors’ experience with plumbing failures and insurance claims, and a class action in San Francisco on April 4, 2009, to hear member suit involving an employee stock ownership plan for an aluminum plant, where jurors were Tim Maleeny read his poison-filled short story questioned in advance about their knowledge of the dispute. "Death Do Us Part" and to discuss research on In recent years, some judges — especially federal judges — have taken more control of voir poisons. dire. Judges often ask general questions themselves, leaving the lawyers to follow up on indi - vidual responses. The move is both an attempt to control the length of trial and to prevent in - SinC NY/Tristate Area vasive or wandering questions. Last December, chapter member Kathy Ryan In many cases, voir dire is complete the first morning of trial. In complex cases, jury selec - put together a gift basket that was raffled off at the tion takes longer. Pretrial publicity affects length — the more attention a case receives, the holiday party at Salmon River. In it was something more jurors have to be called and the more closely they have to be questioned about their related to each sto - knowledge of the case. The goal is not to find jurors who know nothing about the case, but to ry in the chapter’s find jurors who can keep an open mind until they’ve heard all the evidence and seen all the anthology, Murder witnesses. And if a trial is expected to be lengthy — as with the W.R. Grace case — alternate New York Style — jurors must be chosen in addition to the regular jury panel. for example, a to- The term voir dire is also used to refer to a short Q&A conducted by the judge or counsel to do list from Cyn - determine a witness’ competence to testify. For example, before a witness testifies about some - thia Baxter's "Pick thing she saw, opposing counsel may be allowed to ask foundation questions about where the Up Dry Cleaning, witness was standing, the lighting and her sight. Before a young child testifies, the judge may Commit the Per - ask questions to determine his ability to understand and tell the truth. fect Murder;" Voir dire can be daunting to conduct, but fun to watch, and fascinating for a writer who chocolate, almonds wants to get the details right. and a Starbucks cup from Randy Kankel's "Name Tagging;" a shoebox and a black plastic garbage Leslie Budewitz is a practicing lawyer and a fiction writer. For more columns and help on get - bag from "Death Will Clean Your Closet" by Eliz - ting the law right in your stories, visit her website, www.LawandFiction.com. abeth Zelvin; plaintain chips, chocolate cupcakes This article supports SinC’s Professional Education and Career Development goal. and a can of soda from R.M. Peluso's "La Bruya del Barrio;" pretzels from Terrie Farley Morgan's

June 2009 - 8 "Strike Zone," as well as a photocopy of the Journal American from the 1950s; a lottery ticket from Meredith Cole's "Out in the Cold;" tea bags and Chapter Spotlight: bottled water from Peggy Ehrhart's "Family Mat - ters;" and a chocolate chip muffin and popcorn Chicagoland from Nan Higginson's "Casino Gamble." Sue Yellin was the lucky winner. When founded? 1988. Annie: In the first four months of this year How many members? We currently have we have had meetings on: How to Get An This article supports SinC’s Membership about 100 members. I believe we are the third Agent; Detecting Crime (with a forensic doc - Growth, Networking, and Forums for Members largest chapter. ument examiner from the Illinois State Police goal. What area does it cover? The State of Illi - Crime Lab); a bestselling romantic suspense nois. The majority of our active members live author discussing trends in crossover genre fic - in the Chicago metro area, with several down - tion; and an SRO open chapter meeting at the state and out of state members. Love is Murder conference, with special guest Website: www.sincchicago.com speaker Sharan Newman. What's special about it? For the remainder of the year programming Sisters in Crime/ Margot Justes, presi - will tentatively include: a dent: From my perspective Dorothy Sayers play theater SEMWA to Share as a mystery reader and writ - outing (a popular activity BToheo Sotuhthe ran Itn dSepIenBdeAnt Booksellers Al - er we’re unique in that we with our Chicago group!); a liance will hold its annual trade show September offer programs for both fans morgue facility tour with 25 to 27, 2009, in Greenville, SC. The Greenville and writers. We schedule the deputy coroner of Lake Chapter of Sisters in Crime, in partnership with events from plays and semi - County (IL); an author- the Southeast Chapter of Mystery Writers of nars to morgue visits — reader event with panels, America, will host a table at the event. Attendees something for everyone. mini-workshops, presenta - will include more than 500 independent book - Annie Chernow, VP/ tions, and book signings in sellers and their associates from all over the south program chair: Our mem - conjunction with the and a limited number of participating authors will bers, of course! We have a Schaumburg Public Li - have the opportunity to place books directly into wonderful mix of published brary; a presentation on their hands. In addition, those published mem - authors, aspiring writers, DNA/Human Genome, bers who are unable to attend may send up to 50 and avid mystery readers. and legal-ethical issues; a pieces of promotional material for distribution at We try hard to meet the forensic weapons expert; a the show. needs of all members and marketing expert; and our Books must be provided free to the booksellers are currently in the process annual holiday Greek Is - as there are no sales at this event. Members who of re-energizing and re- lands luncheon with a spe - are not published authors are welcome to volun - growing the group. cial program. teer to help organize and assist at the booth. One way we are doing this is by scheduling Anything else you’d like to add? Interested author members should contact more frequent events and meetings in 2009. Margot: There is an independent book - Kathy Wall at [email protected] or Patty Sprin - The level of interest has grown, as demonstrat - stores store I’d like to mention, Centuries & kle at [email protected] to request a ed by the noticeable increase in attendance at Sleuths in Forest Park, IL. Owner Augie signing time, to volunteer, or for additional infor - each of our events since January. Aleksy is a great supporter of Sisters in Crime mation. We’ve also made efforts to improve member as well as new authors. He packs in the best - communications and now send at least one e- sellers but always makes room for the newbies. mail SinCC News Brief per month that in - Annie: Starting last summer, the chapter cludes news from and about our author-mem - held bi-monthly critique day sessions at a bers, advance announcements of forthcoming north suburban library. We continue in our ef - activities to all members, etc. Four times a year forts to assist our members with networking Sisters in Crime at we produce a full-color newsletter, Corpus opportunities and by providing assistance to Delecti , with feature articles, photos from ac - those who wish to form their own local writer Southern tivities, a crime calendar of mystery-related groups. conferences, and progress reports. We’re also This article supports SinC’s Membership FTehes Mtididvlea Teln noesfse eB Choapoterk ofs Sisters in working on a redesign of our chapter website. Growth, Networking, and Forums for Members Crime will host a booth at the Southern Festival of What activities are upcoming? goal. Books in Nashville, TN, October 9 to 11, 2009. In addition to promoting SinC, the booth will be uti - lized as a signing venue for up to 20 SinC authors, Chester Campbell at [email protected] with one-hour time slots assigned on a first-come, to request a time slot assignment or for any addi - first-served basis. Travel expenses are the responsi - tional information, or check the website at Check us out online: bility of the author. All SinC authors who are un - www.sinc-midtn.org. able to appear in person are invited to send book - These events support SinC’s Membership marks, postcards or other promotional materials Growth, Networking and Forums for Members www:sistersincrime.org for distribution to festival attendees (limit 100 goal. pieces). The Southern Festival of Books is a free, three- day event that annually attracts nearly 30,000 book enthusiasts to downtown Nashville. For more information on the festival, visit www. Don’t Miss Out! Join the SinC Listserv: humanitiestennessee.org/festival/current.php. Contact SinC-MidTN chapter president http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sistersincrime June 2009 - 9 will be author guest of honor; S.J. Rozan will be toastmaster; and Kathryn Kennison will be fan guest of honor. Coming up: Conferences For more information and registration, see the website: www.bouchercon2009.com.

& Happenings from September 25 to 26, 2009. The conference CALIFORNIA CRIME will take place at the St. Charles Community WRITERS CONFERENCE College, 4601 Mid Rivers Mall Drive, Cot - THE MIDWEST WRITERS tleville, MO (just outside St. Louis). Keynote CONFERENCE PARoSbAertD CEraNis Aan,d C LaA urie King will be the speakers will be Carolyn Hart and Kent Krueger. keynote speakers for the inaugural California On Friday a workshop, “Screenplay Tech - CJOoinL SUistMersB in UCrSim,e Oof HColumbus, OH, for its Crime Writers Conference, co-sponsored by Sis - niques for Your Novel,” will be conducted by Es - first ever mystery conference, Bodies and Buck - ters in Crime/LA and SoCal MWA from June 13 ther Luttrell, Hollywood screenwriter, TV pro - eyes. It will be held November 7, 2009, from 8:00 to 14, 2009, at The Hilton Pasadena. The event ducer and mystery author. An optional Friday am until 6:30 pm at the Embassy Suites Hotel, will include an agents’ reception, forensic track, evening get acquainted dinner with the authors 2700 Corporate Exchange Drive, Columbus, craft workshops, query and synopsis seminars, and speakers will follow. OH 43231. manuscript consultations, and classes for estab - On Saturday, three tracks will be offered: The The keynote speaker will be crime scene inves - lished authors on book contracts, e-publishing, Business of Writing, the Craft of Writing, and tigation and police procedures expert, Lee presentation tips, online marketing information, Forensics. Programs include: an ATF firearm ex - Lofland. Lee and other published authors, in - and film/television opportunities. pert, law enforcement officers, Sheriff Gary cluding Karen Harper, Craig McDonald, Judy For more information, see www.sisters Toelke discussing the kidnapping case of Shawn Clemens and Beverle Graves Myers, among oth - incrimela.com/ccwc.htm or e-mail sistersin - Hornbeck and Ben Ownby and latent finger - ers, will speak on craft and industry-related top - [email protected]. print expert/forensic artist Dr. Jean L. Curtit, ics. Agents Christine Witthohn and Judith Ann along with panel discussions on market - Miramontez will address Queries, Synopses and ing/promoting your book, plotting, setting the the Perfect Pitch and will offer one-on-one pitch scene, secondary characters, editing, and book sessions. Published authors will participate in a PUBLIC SAFETY WRITERS selling from the bookstore owner’s POV. You will book signing at the end of the day. Space is limit - also have an opportunity to sign up for a one-on- ed. SinC authors are invited to send bookmarks, CONFERENCE one pitch session with an agent. postcards or other promotional pieces for distri - LAPSSW AV’sE anGnuAal Sco,n fNereV nce will be held in Las A continental breakfast and buffet lunch on bution to attendees. There will be a raffle, goodie Vegas from June 18 to 21, 2009, at the Suncoast Saturday are included in the conference price: bags, give-aways, education, networking, fun and Hotel and Casino. $85 for SinC members, $75 for students 18 or friendship. Presenters include a forensic scientist with older, and $110 for walk-ins at the door on a The cost is $100 if registration is postmarked more than 30 years’ experience in law enforce - space-available only basis. on or before September 23, or $125 if registra - ment, a long-time fireman, and mystery author Sisters wishing to be on a panel will be accom - tion postmarked after September 23. The confer - Sheila Lowe, a court qualified forensic handwrit - modated on a first-come first-served basis. We re - ence is limited to 90 people and registration must ing expert. gret we do not have space for everyone wishing a be received by November 3. A continental break - The special guest is Betty Webb, who’ll be panel/speaking assignment. fast, buffet lunch and afternoon snack are includ - talking about moving from hard-boiled to darn Please e-mail [email protected] for more in - ed in the conference price. near cozy. formation. For more information, go to www.sicco For more information and to register, visit the writers.org; contact us at siccowriters@gmail. Public Safety Writers Associations website at com; or call Carolyn Melvin at 740/246-4794. www.publicsafetywriter.com. SINC INTO GREAT WRITING! NEW ENGLAND NASHVILLE MYSTERY AND INSDistIeArs Nin ACrPimOe iLs sIpSo,n IsoN ring a workshop, SinC Into Great Writing!, on October 14, 2009, CRIME BAKE THRILLER CONFERENCE at the Hyatt Regency in Indianapolis, IN, the day DSEuDe GHraAftoMn w, iMll bAe the guest of honor at New FRThAe NKiKlleLr NINas,h vTilN le Mystery and Thriller before Bouchercon begins. England Crime Bake, to be held November 13 to Conference will be held August 14 to 16, 2009, The program runs from 1:30 to 9:00 pm and 15, 2009, at the Hilton Hotel in Dedham, MA. at the Cool Springs Marriott in Franklin, TN. features seminars by Donald Maass, Hallie The conference is sponsored by the New Eng - The program will feature more than 40 panels Ephron and Chris Roerden, as well as dinner land chapters of Sisters in Crime and Mystery and discussions on mysteries, thrillers and gener - with keynote speaker Nancy Pickard. Writers of America. al writing and promotion techniques applicable The deadline for registration is September 22, For more information see the website: to any genre. Editor and agent appointments will 2009, and can be done on the website: www.sincne.org. be available. www.sistersincrime.org. The cost is $50 for These announcements support SinC’s Profes - For more information and to register for the members, $150 for nonmembers. NO RE - sional Education and Career Development goal. conference, see the website: www.killer FUNDS. Registration will be capped at 200. nashville.com. Have breakfast BOUCHERCON 2009 with your Sisters at MIDWEST MYSTERYFEST IN“EDleImAenNtaAry,P MOy DLeIaSr In, dIyN ,” will be the theme Bouchercon. SAJoiInN thTe G LreOateUr SItS. L,o MuisO Chapter of Sisters in of Bouchercon 2009, to be held in Indianapolis, See page 3 for details. Crime at the 5th Annual Midwest MysteryFest IN, October 15 to 18, 2009. Michael Connelly June 2009 - 10 Review Monitoring Project: Men Garnered 63 Percent of Mystery Reviews in 2008 By Julianne Balmain (Nadia Gordon) MEoancihto yreianr,g S iPsterrosj ienc Ct rLimiaei vsoolun nteers monitor nearly 50 newspa - Percent of Reviews of pers and magazines across the country for their coverage of the mys - tery genre by gender. As the number of book reviewers shrinks, the Books by Men and Women amount of book coverage diminishes, and Publication Male Female competition for editorial space grows fiercer Authors Authors from coast to coast, it’s important that we Arkansas Democrat-Gazette 86 14 continue to monitor who makes the cut. The Baltimore Sun 39 61 numbers for 2008 have been finalized, and Contra Costa Times 27 73 they’ve yielded some interesting statistics. Crimespree 67.5 32.5 Overall, 63 percent of reviews were of mys - Daily Press, Newport VA 69 31 teries written by men and 37 percent covered Dallas Morning News 57 43 those written by women. Based on the sub - Detroit Free Press 69 31 mission list for best novel for MWA’s 2009 Ellery Queenʼs Mystery Magazine* 72 28 Edgar Award, approximately 59 percent of the new hardcover mysteries published in 2008 were written by men. Entertainment Weekly 68 32 Of 47 publications tracked, only six reviewed more books by wom - Hartford Courant 58 42 en than by men. Two of those six, Mystery News and the Omaha Houston Chronicle 67 33 World-Herald , reviewed just slightly more women, with totals of 51 Indianapolis Star 91 9 percent. The Seattle Times & Post Intelligencer (still under their joint Kansas City Star 66 34 operating agreement in 2008) covered 53 percent women. The most Kirkus Reviews 51 49 enthusiastic contributor of reviews of mysteries by women was Ro - Knoxville Sentinel 66 34 mantic Times , which devoted 82 percent of its review coverage to Library Journal 56 44 books written by women. Next came the Contra Costa Times (San Los Angeles Times 75 25 Francisco Bay Area) with 73 percent coverage of women and the Bal - Missoulian 91 9 timore Sun with 61 percent of mystery reviews covering women’s Mystery News 49 51 books. Mystery Readers Journal 67 33 The Missoulian and the Indianapolis Star each reviewed 11 myster - Mystery Scene 50 50 ies in 2008. In both cases, 91 percent of the books were written by New Orleans Times-Picayune 55 45 men. New Yorke r 100 0 Three important publications — the Wall Street Journal , the Los New York Times Book Review 61 39 Angeles Times , and the San Francisco Chronicle — all covered 74 per - NPR Radio 65 35 cent or more books by men. In the case of the LA Times and the Omaha World-Herald 49 51 Chronicle , the data suggest part of the heavy skew toward books by Orlando Sentinel* 60 40 men may be due to end-of-the-year roundup coverage. That is, the People Magazine 50 50 number of reviews overall jumps up at the end of the year, with the Powell's Daily Reviews 75 25 majority of those reviews covering men. (This was also the case for the Contra Costa Times , whose numbers skewed toward women in the Publishers Weekly 54 46 fourth quarter.) Romantic Times 18 82 In coming weeks I will be following up with the reviews editors at San Antonio Express-News* 87 13 these publications to let them know about our monitoring project, San Francisco Chronicle 74 26 and the results for last year. Our goal is to raise awareness in order to San Jose Mercury News 69 31 encourage gender parity in the world of professional mystery writing. Seattle Times/Post Intelligencer 47 53 If you would like to suggest a news outlet you would like to moni - St. Louis Post-Dispatch 69 31 tor as part of this program, please e-mail me at nadia@nadia Star Ledger, Essex NJ 69 31 gordon.com. We urgently need a new USA Today monitor, and also Star Tribune, Minn MN 65 35 need volunteers to help with our pilot program monitoring featured Strand 59 41 titles at Barnes & Noble and Costco. E-mail me if you’d like to help. Sunday Oregonian 62.5 37.5 *I’ve included three publications for which one-quarter of data was Toronto Globe & Mail 63 37 still missing at press time, marked with asterisks. USA Today 59 41 Wall Street Journal 87 13 This project supports SinC’s Advocacy, Monitoring, and Reporting Washington Post 68 32 goal. Winston-Salem Journal 59 41

June 2009 - 11 THE DOCKET THE DOCKET THE DOCKET THE DOCKET THE DOC kET THE DOCKET THE DOCKET THE DOCKET Hearts on Fire Books, February 2009 WRITER was chosen by Kirkus Reviews as one ByA Pnnaoturincciaem Genutlsle foy r new books (please, no Ann Parker, LEADEN SKIES, Poisoned Pen of the Best Books of 2008, has been nominated reprints), short stories, articles and plays (all relat - Press, July 2009 for an Agatha Award for best first novel and a ing to mysteries), also nominations and awards, June Shaw, KILLER COUSINS, Five Star, Left Coast Crime/Hawaii Five-O Award for best may be sent to Patricia Gulley via snail mail to: January 2009 police procedural. The second book in the St. 1743 N. Jantzen Avenue, Portland, OR 97217- Clea Simon, PROBABLE CLAWS, Poisoned Just series, DEATH AND THE LIT CHICK, 7849 or e-mail to: Weyrcottage@ yahoo. com. Pen Press, April 2009 received a starred review from Publishers Weekly. Please be sure to put Sisters in Crime, The Docket Alexandra Sokoloff, THE UNSEEN, St. Mar - Louise Ure's THE FAULT TREE is a finalist or InSinC in the subject line — otherwise your e- tin's Press, June 2009 for the Simon & Schuster Mary Higgins Clark mail won’t be opened. Denise Swanson, MURDER OF A ROYAL Award. The deadline for the next The Docket is July 15 , PAIN, Obsidian, April 2009 This article supports SinC’s Membership 2009. Louise Ure, LIARS ANONYMOUS, St. Growth, Networking, and Forums for Members Martin's Press, April 2009 goal. Books Kathryn R. Wall, COVENANT HALL, St. Joani Ascher, VENGEANCE RUNS COLD, Martin's Minotaur, April 2009 Avalon, February 2009 Sarah Atwell (Sheila Connolly), PANE OF Short Stories/Anthologies (MCoanrtiynu-Aed nfronm T paigreo 5n) e Smith DEATH, Berkley Prime Crime, November Warren Bull READER OF DREAMS, they maybe delve into their pasts. Is there a crime 2008. Strange Mysteries Anthology, Whortleberry hidden there? Is there a crime you learned about Sheila Connolly, Press, March 2009 as a child that affected you? Or like Anne Perry, ROTTEN TO THE were you intrinsic to the crime itself? Well, if you CORE, Berkley Prime have a family full of screwballs or where the Crime, July 2009 record length of a marriage is, say, six weeks, con - Cynthia Baxter, How to Send Us Your Entry The format is simple: sider taking a break, writing a memoir and let the TOO RICH AND chips fall where they may. TOO DEAD, Bantam Name of author, TITLE OF BOOK, Name of Publisher, Month to be released. The opinions expressed in this article are solely Books, March 2009 those of the individual interviewed. Linda Berry, Name of Author, TITLE OF STORY, DEATH AND THE Name of magazine or anthology, Month to be released. Nancy Martin is the author of nearly 50 books, CROSSED WIRES, including a new series coming from St. Martin’s Five Star, March 2009 Awards and nominations should be in sentences. Minotaur. She currently serves as an at-large mem - Rebecca Cantrell, A TRACE OF SMOKE, ber of the SinC board. Tor Forge, May 2009 Always put The Docket in the subject line of your e-mail. Anything else may be deleted. This article supports SinC’s Advocacy, Monitor - Judy Clemens, EMBRACE THE GRIM ing, and Reporting goal. REAPER, Poisoned Pen Press, May 2009 Don’t send ISBNs, character names, se - Hannah Dennison, SCOOP, Berkley Prime ries names or places to buy the books. Crime, March 2009 Don’t send newsletters, publicity sheets Robert Goldsborough, A PRESIDENT IN or website addressess. PERIL, Echelon Press, April 2009 Don’t send in colors other than black and Beth Groundwater, TO HELL IN A HAND - white. In Memoriam BASKET, Five Star, May 2009 Don’t send entries older than six months. Editors of anthologies will not be listed C.B. “Chick” Squires of Asheville, NC, Linda M. Faulkner, SECOND TIME died of natural causes on January 4, 2009, at AROUND, ePress-Online, January 2009 unless they have a story in the anthology. If you are using a pen name, we can add the age of 88. An editor, author and corre - Karen Harper, MISTRESS SHAKE - spondent, he was the husband of Elizabeth SPEARE, Penguin, February 2009; DEEP your real name after it in parentheses. You must tell me if you do not want this done. Squires, who died in 2001. He is survived DOWN, Mira Books, June 2009 by three sons, J. Hart Squire, Mark M. Charlotte Hughes, NUTCASE, Jove, Febru - Squire and Worth P. Squire, as well as seven ary 2009 grandchildren and four great-grandchil - Kathleen Kaska, MURDER AT THE AR - Jane K. Cleland. DESIGNED TO KILL, Al - dren. LINGTON, Salvo Press, June 2009 fred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, June 2009 Loretta P. Gainor , 59, died February 18, Laurie R. King, THE LANGUAGE OF Martin Meyers, NATE DEVLIN’S MONEY, 2009, after a heart attack. A Potomac resi - BEES, Bantam, April 2009 Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, June 2009 dent since 1985, she was a member of Harley Jane Kozak, A DATE YOU CAN’T SinC’s Chesapeake chapter. Survivors in - REFUSE, Broadway Books, March 2009 Non Fiction/Articles clude her husband of 33 years, Charles M. Julie Kramer, MISSING MARK, Doubleday, Peggy Ehrhart, SERIAL MURDERS IN Gainor, a son, Michael P. Gainor, as well as a July 2009 THE HAIGHT-ASHBURY, Mystery Readers brother, Franklin G. Polk. Judith K. Ivie, A SKELETON IN THE Journal, Winter 2008-09 Barbara Parker of Lauderdale-by-the CLOSET, Mainly Murder Press, March 2009 Beth Groundwater, THE ART OF THE RE - Sea, FL, author of the Suspicion mystery Kathy-Diane Leveille, LET THE SHAD - VEAL, The Writers Journey Journal, Wolfmont novels, died March 7, 2009, at the age of 62. OWS FALL BEHIND YOU, Kunati Books, Press, May 2009 Survivors include her daughter, Andrea April 2009 Karen Harper, MORE THAN WORDS, Lane Prather and son-in-law, Tim Prather; Gail Lukasik, DEATH'S DOOR, Five Star, Women of Strength, Harlequin, March 2009 son, James Lane; sister Laura Parker; broth - March 2009 er Ray Parker and sister-in-law Diane Park - Catherine O'Connell, WELL READ AND er; and nephew Nicholas Winder and his DEAD, Harper Trade, April 2009 Awards/Miscellaneous wife, Andrea. Susan Palmquist. DEATH LIKES ME, G.M. Malliet's DEATH OF A COZY June 2009 - 12 The InSinC Inquirer:

Reinvention is a timSe-hhonoored cuareelrd stra teYgy ou“Bu tR as foer thie nideav of terulny reitnv eYntinog youur r( DCead aandr Geon e,e ther la?test in the Southern Vam - for professional writers. We asked, “Have you writing self — if it means stretching and trying to pire series, was released in May.) reinvented your career and if so, why?” write something new and challenging — I'm all Sarah Strohmeyer made the move out of the Eve Sandstrom wrote two different mystery for that. Otherwise, the writing life could be - mystery genre when she departed from her Bub - series before she learned some bad news over a come boring.” (Greber’s latest book is All's Well bles Yablonksy books. But the creative leap into fateful drink with her editor at a convention. “He That Ends .) women’s fiction seems like a natural progression started the conversation with, ‘Eve, what was Nancy J. Cohen , author of the Bad Hair Day for Sarah. “I don’t feel as if I’ve left Bubbles. I your maiden name?’ He couldn’t bring out any Mysteries — Killer Knots is the latest — also cites think I’m exploring other types of writing while more books under my real name. My sales were so a shift in the marketplace that made her decide to she recovers from her latest, uhm, incident. For bad I’d become bookstore poison.” reinvent herself. “I wrote futuristic romance be - me, Bubbles has been a device to explore what it’s Changing her name and coming up with a new cause I was a big Star Trek fan. The paranormal like to be a working class woman in a man’s world. idea seemed like the best strategy for Eve’s career, romance market died, though, so I had to rein - It was natural for me to write about other wom - and she jumped at the chance to reinvent herself. vent myself. I had been putting a mystery into my en’s experiences, too, with the same kind of lame She decided to write an even cozier mystery than romances and enjoyed reading humorous ama - humor. The Cinderella Pact was about women ever before. “By the time I got home from that teur sleuth stories, so I decided to create a new bonding together. And The Penny Pincher’s Club convention, I had the series roughly worked out. mystery series. I wrote nine Bad Hair Day myster - (July 2009) focuses on how women can get con - Everyone loved it. My older daughter came up ies for Kensington until the cozy market deflated. trol of their lives by learning how to control their with a new name for me — combining the mid - Now I’m back on the reinvention route.” money.” dle names of her sister, her brother and herself — Creative reasons might also trigger a career Nancy Martin says that in the last couple of and JoAnna Carl was born. The ninth Choco - makeover. Nancy Martin wrote 35 romance nov - years, “I could see the sales of my Blackbird mys - holic book — The Chocolate Cupid Killings — els before deciding she needed a creative change. teries leveling off and knew the industry was will be out in October, and I have a contract for “I’d written enough sex to last a lifetime. But I changing again. Writing isn’t my hobby. It’s a way two more. So the moral is: If one thing doesn’t was afraid to leave the romance income behind. to pay the mortgage, so I can’t wait around for work—try something different.” Then I wrote a romance that sold millions of sales to greatly improve, or live in fear that my se - Victoria Thompson , author of the Gaslight copies, which allowed me to take time off and try ries might eventually be cancelled. So I am writ - Mysteries, managed to avoid changing her name. something that would re-kindle my passion for ing a new series for St. Martin’s Minotaur imprint “I had published 20 historical romances during writing. Good thing I had a steady stream of roy - with hopes that the new idea and new publisher the heyday of the genre (in the ’90s) but had alties, because it took several years to develop my will kickstart good things. The new series com - watched my income drop by half one year. The mystery idea. Once I started educating myself, I bines mystery and romantic suspense and leans in next year it dropped by half again. When my con - realized how much more complex mysteries were the thriller direction — where the marketplace tract came up for renewal, my editor said they than I first thought, and it took a lot of work to seems to be heading right now. I hope to use ev - couldn’t offer me a new one because my sales create the world and come up with a suitably erything I’ve learned in other genres to make this were too low. complex plot for mystery readers. The learning series successful.” (Nancy’s latest book is Murder “Then one day my agent called and said she curve should never stop.” Melts in Your Mouth .) just had lunch with a Berkley Prime Crime editor Charlaine Harris’ revelation came when she Nancy Cohen’s philosophy about reinvention and they were looking for an author to write a was facing her 50th birthday. “I realized I was in is this: “Now's the time to write the book of your mystery series set in turn-of-the-century New the midlist, and showing no signs of climbing up - heart. It will restore your soul for the creative pro - York City with a heroine who was a midwife. My ward. Though I was happy to be a published writ - cess. Pour your dreams into the story and don't agent immediately thought of me. I had filled my er, I wasn’t so happy to be one who definitely worry if it will sell or not until you're finished. Or historical romance plots with murder mysteries. I wasn’t upwardly mobile. Some of the books I had stretch your boundaries. Explore a genre you've had also sent her a lot of romantic suspense pro - written were the best I could write in the mystery always wanted to try. Regard this setback as an posals, so she knew I could sustain suspense and genre; and since they hadn’t gotten me anywhere, opportunity and plow forward. If that book write scary stuff. She knew I really wanted to I figured maybe it was time to look at another doesn't sell, write the type of story you like to publish again and would do the work necessary genre. I thought about it long and hard, though read. How will your version be different? Think to make that happen. Berkley liked [my propos - this was one of the few times I’ve ever had a long, in terms of a marketing hook. Don't jump on the al] and gave me a three-book contract. Although deliberate think about my career. bandwagon of a hot new genre just because it's they did buy series ideas that authors originated, “I figured if I couldn’t catch fire writing some - selling if you hate to read it.” many of the concepts were created in-house and thing I really enjoyed, I’d better think of some - Charlaine Harris offers this advice: “There’s an author recruited to write them. It’s worked out thing I enjoy even more, and hope the spark lots to be said for having a good session with well for them, and it certainly worked well for catches. I have always been attracted to the super - yourself. First, identify what you love to read, and me.” (There are now 11 Gaslight Mysteries in natural, so that seemed the way for me to go. At why you love it. Then, try writing it. Don’t limit print — Murder on Waverly Place is the latest.) the time, there wasn’t a huge paranormal field like yourself to one genre just because that’s your Judy Greber , who began writing a mystery se - there is now, but that didn’t scare me. Several of home base. Try something different, see if it flies. ries under the name Gillian Roberts when sales the writers I really admire — Tanya Huff, Bar - I have a great time doing this. Mysteries were my of her mainstream novels didn’t please industry bara Hambly, Connie Willis, Shirley Jackson — home base, but since I wrote Dead Until Dark computers, cautions, “I've never been happy had written books that crossed many genres. I fig - I’ve tried a romance novella and a science fiction about the renaming. For quite some time people ured that should be my goal, a book that had the novella, and had a super time doing something would say things like, ‘Oh, you write mysteries elements of lots of different genres in it. The different.” under that other name and use your real name for shotgun approach to writing! If I spread the field Eve Sandstrom’s advice echoes Charlaine’s: your novels.’ Aside from failing to understand wide enough, I figured I would hit something. “I've become the poster child for hanging in that a mystery is a novel (I do so wish we'd call “The fact that it was a mixed-genre book ini - there. So the moral is: If one thing doesn't work them crime novels) I really was saddened by the tially made Dead Until Dark very hard to sell — — try something different.” idea that I thought less of my mysteries than of my agent spent two years trying to place it — but This article supports SinC’s Professional Educa - the mainstreams. it was worth the time and effort, ultimately.” tion and Career Development goal. June 2009 - 13 Malice Domestic 21 May 1 to 3, 2009

Arlington, VA well as a bestselling stand-alone. She TeSxistt earns idn CPrhimoeto wgars awpelhl rye pbryes eBnotendn atie M Ja.li cCe agradino nthe is year. Elaine Vi - is also a very prolific short story ets was Toastmaster; Anne Perry was the Lifetime Achievement Award recip - writer. Pickard has won nearly every ient; and Nancy Pickard was Guest of Honor. Kate Stine shared the Poirot award that can be bestowed upon a Award with husband Brian Skupin. When the Agathas were handed out, all mystery writer, some of them several but one went to a SinC member. times. She says she always loved mys - This Malice was smallest of the nine I’ve attended, with fewer than 400 teries but didn’t start writing fiction participants. That, however, made it easier to find old friends and meet new until she was 35. A University of ones. Missouri journalism graduate, she The SinC national board gathered on Thursday for the first of 2009’s two tried to be a journalist first, with meetings (look for the minutes in September’s InSinC). Later that day there mixed results. She cites an article she was a two-hour Chapter Flash Training session attended by 10 board mem - wrote about a council meeting, bers and 11 chapter representatives, along with executive secretary Beth Was - which was praised for its vivid depic - Lifetime Achievement son. SinC secretary Mary Saums posted her notes on the Flash tion of what occurred Award recipient Anne Per - Training session on the Chapter President’s ListServ and — but got the results ry and Donald Maass. would be happy to e-mail a copy to anyone interested in what of the key vote wrong. transpired there. Contact Mary at: [email protected]. Her editor told her she was a fiction writer, not a journalist. Friday offered numerous activities, along with the Opening Pickard is also the author of a non-fiction book, Seven Steps Ceremonies/Reception. The Live Auction that evening gar - on the Writer’s Path . She says the most important of the seven nered $6,400 and the Silent Auction added $3,975 on Satur - steps is to “let the character go. When you let go you learn the day, which allowed Malice to donate $10,375 to the John L. truth about your story.” (Those attending the SinC Into Great Gildner Regional Institute for Children and Adolescents. Writing! workshop will have dinner with Nancy.) On Saturday morning it took me several minutes to realize With a silver-suited Elaine Viets as Toastmaster, the Agatha the elevators weren’t working. I could hear a muffled an - Awards Banquet on Saturday evening moved along smoothly. nouncement and alarm bells ringing so I headed for an exit and Viets thanked the mystery community for the support they joined the stream of people winding their way down the stairs. provided after she suffered a series of strokes and said her new There had been a sprinkler malfunction and guests on some Toastmaster hairdo is the result of the titanium screws in her skull. Look for floors had been told to evacuate the building. Elaine Viets photos of the Agatha winners and other honorees on the op - I was ravenous by the time I made it to the New Authors posite page. Breakfast, sponsored by Mystery Scene magazine. Those present enjoyed The SinC breakfast took place on Sunday morning at 7:30, with 84 people muffins, juice, fruit and coffee while listening to 24 new authors describe in attendance. President Judy Clemens welcomed everyone, then introduced their books. the board members present and Dr. Patricia A. Gouthro, who has been re - Along with various panels, Saturday’s program featured an interview of searching how SinC supports women and men in the field of crime fiction. Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Anne Perry by her American literary The results of her study can be found on her website: www. agent Don Maass (he’ll be a speak - patriciagouthro.ca. Following Dr. Gouthro, Julianne Balmain discussed the er at SinC’s pre-Bouchercon review monitoring project (dubbed Big Sister is Watching) and asked for workshop), as well as an interview volunteers to help with it. of Guest of Honor Nancy Pickard Next on the program was Roberta Rogow, who related how her Central by Carolyn Hart. New Jersey Chapter used a SinC Grant to put on a small conference that at - Anne Perry has written 60 tracted new members. Chapters can apply for grants ranging from $250 to books in several different series $500 to help with the expenses of certain events — see the SinC website for and won numerous awards/ details (www.sistersincrime.org). An appeal was made for ListServ modera - honors. She has been with the tors (one or two days a week would be great, contact Sandra Parshall). The same publisher for 30 years and all last person to speak was Liz Zelvin, who extolled the virtues of The Guppies. of her books are in print. This internet-based chapter now has 300 “emerging writers” as members, Perry splits her time between sponsors an annual Queen of Rejection contest (the prize is chocolate) and is Guest of Honor Nancy the U.S. East Coast and Scotland. working on an anthology. Pickard (right) and Carolyn She outlines her books and the The interview of Toastmaster Elaine Viets by SinC member Hank Phillip - Hart. stories conform closely to them. pi Ryan took place Sunday afternoon. Author of 16 books in three series, sev - Feedback on her works in progress eral nonfiction books and a variety of Anthony, Agatha and Lefty-winning comes from her agent and her brother. The protagonists in two of her series short stories, Viets is a former newspaper columnist who won two Emmys as are men but there are always strong women characters as well. “Strong,” Perry host of a TV news show. She was scheduled to be the Malice Toastmaster two says, “but not invulnerable.” years ago but suffered a series of strokes just days before the convention. Dur - Maass asked her how she keeps her characters straight. “I’m not sure I do,” ing the Agatha Banquet that year, we reached her in the hospital via a phone she quipped, “that’s your job.” While her “evil doers do evil, they’re not evil,” call. It was wonderful to see her in person and fully recovered this year. she said, pointing out that “nobody is entirely good” and her characters’ flaws Malice ended with the Agatha Tea and closing ceremonies. Once again, a “simply magnify failings we all have.” She says that if authors write the plot good time was had by all and some of us even got some unexpected exercise. from the villain’s point of view they will learn who that villain really is. Nancy Pickard, SinC’s second president, was interviewed by Carolyn This article supports SinC’s Professional Career Development and Network - Hart, SinC’s fifth president. Pickard has written 17 books in three series as ing goal.

June 2009 - 14 And the Agatha goes to...

Fan Guest of Dana Cameron Honor, Laura Kathy Lynn Hyzy Emerson

Poirot Award recipients, Kate Stine and Brian Skupin

Dr. Patricia Gouthro has Chris Grabenstein been analyzing Sisters in Crime “as a unique learn - ing organization, dedicat - ed to fostering the devel - Louise Penny opment of of women crime fiction writers.” G.M. Malliet

SinC President Judy Clemens greeted the 84 people who at - tended the SinC breakfast on Sun - day morning. Chapter representatives at the Flash Training session. Chapter liaison Robin Burcell is in the back.

Sisters in the Signing Room

Barbara DʼAmato Jane Cleland Kathy Wall Marcia Talley Michael Dymmoch

Elizabeth Duncan and Hank Phillippi Ryan friend. Mary Burton Peggy Ehrhart Sandra Parshall and Vincent OʼNeil June 2009 - 15 Mailed by: PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE Rowan Mountain, Inc. PAID P.O. Box 10111 BLACKSBURG, VA PERMIT NO. 158 Blacksburg, VA 24062-0111 www.rowanmountain.com

Change Service Requested

D E A D L I N E S JULY 15, 2009 — Deadline for submission of items for the September Docket. Send to Patricia Gulley, 1743 N. Jantzen Avenue, Portland, OR 97217-7849 or e-mail to: [email protected]. JULY 20, 2009 — Deadline for the September InSinC newsletter. Contact Bonnie J. Cardone: [email protected]; phone 805/938-1156. Other InSinC deadlines are October 20, January 20 and April 20.

OCTOBER 5, 2009 — Deadline for reservations for Bouchercon breakfast on October 16. Send a check for $20, made out to Sisters in Crime, to Beth Wasson, P.O. Box 442124, Lawrence, KS 66044. For more details, see page 3.