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S IInnSSiinnCC The Sisters in Crime Newsletter Volume XXI • Number 4 December 2008 and says it in a powerful voice that compels us to keep reading. “Good plotting and fast action can cover a How to Find and Develop multitude of sins,” Margaret says. “But a book that lacks an individual voice doesn't entice me to pick it up again once I've put it down the first time.” Your Unique Wsonralityt,” NeaormiʼHsirahaVra suoggeistcs. “Be y the By John Morgan Wilson As with style, I don’t think you can force a Not long ago, when UCLA Extension asked narrator, I don't mean the writer or even your particular voice on your work. If you write me to teach a weekly class called “Developing lead protagonist (even if you are writing in first enough, it will eventually reveal itself to you. Voice and Craft: The Keys to Successful Fic - person). Voice is your fictional prose persona, It’s like a muscle: The more you write, the tion Writing,” I immediately said yes. I’ve al - and it may differ with each non-series book stronger it gets. The less you write, the weaker ways felt that “voice” plays a crucial role in ef - you write.” it is. fective writing and To Denise Hamilton, voice is comprised of Naomi agrees: “The only way to develop I’ve heard countless “the personality quirks that shine through the your voice is to write. And write and write. writers and editors writing. It’s a fresh, original worldview. A voice Through this process, hopefully a compelling say the same. to me is also the tone and mood you set, what fictional narrator will emerge. We all know sto - Only later, as I you choose to zero in on and what you leave rytellers who can make even the most mun - put together my out. dane tales interesting. We need to identify that ten-week program, “Unless you write a series,” she adds, “you storyteller within our self. did I realize how will have to develop different voices. Some “Most importantly, don't try to imitate difficult it would be spring full-blown to me, others I have to tinker someone else's voice or disparage your own to identify and de - with and rewrite a lot. I try to see the world style because you feel that it is sub par. Devel - fine, let alone teach. through [the narrators’] eyes, channel how oping our voice is like raising children – we “You know it they would speak.” need to accept natural predilections.” when you see it,” says , via e- “I personally have been impacted by Chester Denise suggests experimentation: “I would mail, “but to describe and explain it is like try - Himes and Walter Mosley, two men who are do exercises, writing from different points of ing to pick up quicksilver. Voice is what differ - masters of voice,” Naomi says. “Their prose view. A snarky teenager, a cop, a kid, a gar - entiates in the very first paragraph a Marcia style, their physical descriptions, dialogue, and dener.” Muller from a , a Donald Westlake metaphors are informed by the type of stories Ultimately, it will be your voice — the dis - from a Craig McDonald.” they want to tell.” tinctive way your express yourself on the page Whether you write in first or third person, In my classes, I often cite a passage from — that will set your work apart from the rest. the narration still needs an intangible quality Mosley’s Black Betty , the fourth in his Easy “I recently read a manuscript by a beginning — voice — that is confident and convincing. Rawlins series, as an example of an authorita - author,” Margaret says. “It will never be pub - Just as each of us has a unique way of speaking tive and compelling voice: lished. The plot is a mess, the motivation is and conversing aloud — developed from You could tell by some people’s houses that they flawed, he has a less than firm grasp of punctu - childhood – as writers we all have a way of came to L.A. to live out their dreams. Home is ation. But that voice! If he can get the other “talking” to our readers, reflecting who we are not a place to dream. At home you had to do like parts working, he will definitely find a publish - and how we feel. Finding and strengthening your father did and your mother. Home meant er and a readership.” that voice will be easier for some, more chal - that everybody already knew what you could do lenging for others. and if you did the slightest little thing different “How does one discover and develop his or they’d laugh you right down into a hole. You her writing voice?” Margaret asks. “I believe lived in that hole. Festered in it. After a while John Morgan Wilson won an Edgar for his this is the hardest — if not impossible — thing you either accepted your hole or you got out of it. first novel, Simple Justice , recently reissued by to teach. You can teach plotting, you can teach There were all kinds of ways out. You could get Bold Strokes Books along with three other early characterization, you can teach pacing, but married, get drunk, get next to somebody’s wife. Benjamin Justice mysteries. Spider Season , the voice is too individual a quality. It arises out of You could take a shotgun and eat it for a mid - eighth novel in the series, has just been published the writer's unique personality.” night snack. by St. Martin’s Minotaur. For details, visit Put another way, writer and narrator are in - Or you could move to California. www:johnmorganwilson.com. separable, fused through voice. To me, that’s a narrator — and a writer — This article supports SinC’s Professional Edu - “Voice is a reflection of the narrator's per - who knows who he is and what he wants to say, cation goal. Get aClue Sisters in Crime Newsletter The mission of Sisters in Crime is to promote the pro - fessional development and advancement of women Finding Your Writer’s Voice ...... 1 crime writers to achieve equality in the industry.

President’s Message ...... 3 Judy Clemens , President Jim Huang , Bookstore Liaison ,Vice President/President Elect Mary Boone , Library Liaison Renew Your Memebership ...... 3 Mar y Saums , Secretary , At Large Kathryn Wall, Treasurer/Authors Coalition Liaison Nancy Martin , At Large Robin Burcell ,Chapter Liaison Nadia Gordon (Julianne Balmain) , Monitoring Sisters Helping Sisters ...... 3 Cathy Pickens, Publicity Project Roberta Isleib, Past President Bookstore Database ...... 3 Bonnie J. Cardone , InSinC Editor Vicki Cameron , Books in Print Editor Sisters in Crime: Planning Ahead ...... 4 Gavin Faulkner , Newsletter Graphic Designer Peggy Moody , Web Maven Beth Wasson , Executive Secretary, P.O. Box 442124, Lawrence, KS 66044-8933; How I Write ...... 5 Phone: 785/842-1325; Fax 785/856-6314; e-mail: [email protected] Presidents of Sisters in Crime Guppy Tales ...... 5 1987-88 ; 1988-89 ; 1989-90 Margaret Maron ; 1990-91 Susan Dunlap ; 1991- 92 Carolyn G. Hart ; 1992-93 P.M. Carlson ; 1993-94 Linda Grant ; 1994-95 Barbara D’Amato ; 1995-96 How to Get Publicity ...... 6 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 ; 2003-04 Kate Grilley ; 2004-05 Patricia Sprinkle ; 2005-06 Libby Hellmann ; 2006-07 Rochelle Krich ; Interview with an Agent ...... 7 2007-08 Roberta Isleib; 2008-09 Judy Clemens BIP ...... 7 Minutes of the B’con Board Meeting .. .8 DTEheAneDxt SListIeNrs inECS rimAe NNewsD lettGer wUill bIDe ESLenIdNcoElumS ns, articles, ideas and praise via e- Search Warrants ...... 8 out in March. The deadline for all submissions is mail. January 20 . Please send mailing address, phone number, Chapter News ...... 9 Members’ publications since the last edition of and e-mail with submissions. If you have an idea the newsletter will be listed in The Docket. Please for a story, please query the editor: Chapter Spotlight ...... 9 include publication dates when submitting. Bonnie J. Cardone Docket material will be due January 15 and 805/938-1156 Conferences ...... 10 should be sent to: E-mail: b jcardon e@ hotmail. com Patricia Gulley Mystery Writers Competition ...... 10 1743 N. Jantzen Avnue Portland, OR 97217-7849 SIBA’s New Program ...... 11 E-mail: [email protected] Moving? Change of address notifications Other honors, awards and events of great “pith In Memoriam ...... 11 should be sent to both Beth Wasson, and moment” should be written up as short, sepa - SinC executive secretary, P.O. Box Review Monitoring Project ...... 11 rate notices. These can be as short as a paragraph. No publicity/promotion of individual members, 442124, Lawrence, KS 66044-8933 and to Rowan Mountain, Inc., P.O. SinC Archives ...... 11 please. We particularly welcome reprints from SinC Box 10111, Blacksburg, VA 24062- The Docket ...... 12 chapter newsletters. 0111. Your Newsletter via E-mail ...... 12 SinC Luncheon/Business Meeting ....13 Visit Sisters in Crime online at: SinC Hospitality Suite ...... 13 www.sistersincrime.org 39 ...... 14 Promotional materials available to SinC members — Have your bookmarks or postcards designed in color or Deadlines ...... 16 black and white. SinC’s publicity mailing list of 5,000 bookstores, libraries, reviewers, etc. is available via direct ad - 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©2008

December 2008 - 2 Presidentʼs Message: Itʼs Time to Renew Your SinC Advancing Our Mission Membership By Judy Clemens The deadline for renewing your Sisters in Crime membership is January 31, 2009. We’d “The mission of Sisters in Crime is to promote the professional development and advancement like to request that you do this online at of women crime writers to achieve equality in the industry.” www.sistersincrime.org. SinC understands that some of you cannot What an important mission we have. We join together as Sisters renew online and a paper renewal form will be and Brothers in Crime to advance this mission and see our sent you. All other members will be sent an e- beloved mystery genre blossom. We’re all here because we love mail reminder to renew online. reading mysteries, we love to celebrate them, and we want to do SinC dues are still $40 for U.S. and Canadian our part to make sure the crime writing community continues to members. All other countries need to add $5. grow and welcome women authors as equal partners in the field. SinC would also like to let you know that our We are fortunate to have a dedicated and passionate board of website will be changing in the next three directors, a fantastic executive secretary, enthusiastic members, months. Links will guide you to the new web - and active and hard-working chapters all across the country. Our site when the time comes. The changes will en - base is strong and continues to get stronger. hance and add benefits for members. My first official act as President of SinC was to thank Roberta Isleib for her leadership Please e-mail Beth Wasson at sistersin - during the past year. I meant every word wholeheartedly — Roberta was a source of strength [email protected] with membership questions. and vision and led the organization well during a year of many decisions and activities. We This article supports SinC’s Membership goals. also said a warm good-bye and thank you to , who served on the board for five years as Chapter Liaison and to Margaret Coel, who served as a Member At Large during the past year. We welcome new board members Julianne Balmain (aka Nadia Gordon) as our Monitor - ing Project Coordinator, Cathy Pickens as the head of Public Relations, Robin Burcell as the Sisters Helping Chapter Liaison and Charlaine Harris as a Member At Large. All four dived right into our meetings this fall with enthusiasm and a willingness to go above and beyond their roles. SFiosr mteanry ys ears Sisters in Crime has had a I go into this year as president with much energy and excitement. As you will read in the program for members who were unable to pay article on page 4, the board had a successful strategic planning session to guide us through the their yearly dues. In order to help Sisters stay in next three years. As we looked at our organization, we were able to refocus our energies and our organization during tough times, need look ahead to many interesting projects – some a continuation and restructuring of projects based waivers were made available for those we’ve been doing for years and some brand new. We have much to work on, much to continue who needed them. and much to look forward to! The program operates on a year-to-year basis. During the next year we have many exciting things in store — a revamping of our web - If you would like to participate in it, please e- site, a day of workshops before the 2009 Indianapolis Bouchercon, a revitalized newsletter, mail executive secretary, Beth Wasson, at sis - an enlarged mission for our Monitoring Project, and many other things that will become [email protected]. There are no forms to clear as the year goes on. fill out, only the desire to keep your SinC mem - If you would like to become more involved with SinC’s mission, we welcome volunteers in bership current during tough times. We value so many areas of our organization! If you have a passion for something, please let us know. your membership. We’d love to have any time you could offer to help us further this business we love. This article supports SinC’s Membership goals. So let’s do what our tagline suggests: “SinC into a good mystery!” And while we’re at it, let’s go ahead and SinC into a fantastic mystery organization, as well!

Judy Clemens may be reached at [email protected]. Bookstore Database

URphyds Baowtene, w ho has volunteered to update Looking for an agent? the SinC Bookstore Database, reports that the response so far has been distinctly under - whelming. She has received only four reports from the whole of the SinC membership. Help with your manuscript? There is still time to contribute and make the Bookstore Database a valuable tool for authors. Please send Rhys ([email protected]) Check out the Guppies: the names of any bookstores in your area that members should know about: mystery, indies, author friendly, etc. Also include the names of any stores that have closed recently. www.sinc-guppies.org This project supports SinC’s Career Develop - ment goals.

December 2008 - 3 do we serve? What do we offer?” The vision state - Sisters in CriMmission eState:m enPt: lanning Ahead ByIn R 2o0b07e,r Stais tIesrlse inib C, rPimase ts pPernet sa ildoet onft time ment should be a long-term, compelling state - looking back — and celebrating. There was a lot "The mission of Sisters in Crime is to ment about the intended outcome if the organiza - to celebrate promote the professional development tion is entirely successful . The tagline supplements over 20 years! and advancement of women crime writers the image as a short, memorable statement. Through the to achieve equality in the industry." We began to examine SinC’s longtime mission enthusiastic statement: governance of Vision Statement: "To combat discrimination against women in the its founding "Raising professionalism and achieving mystery field, educate publishers and the general mothers and equity among crime writers." public as to inequities in the treatment of female au - successive lead - thors, raise the level of awareness of their contribu - ers, SinC has Tagline: tions to the field, and promote the professional ad - grown to repre - "SinC into a Good Mystery!" vancement of women who write mysteries." sent nearly Roberta Isleib and 3,500 members. Goals But over the I) Advocacy, Monitoring and Reporting Bob Harris past year, the A) Crime Writers' Monitoring Program board began to realize that it was time to take B) Awareness Campaigns stock of our mission and vision. Were we still on C) Annual Publishers’ Summit the same path our founders envisioned? Should D) Author Representation we be? In order to help focus our future efforts, E) Trade Press and Media Relations we voted to hire association management spe - cialist Bob Harris to conduct a strategic planning II) Professional Education and Career workshop for the day prior to our annual board Development meeting in October. A) Authors’ Seminars Board members approached the idea of strate - B) Provide SinC Authors with Manuals Taking a break: Nancy Martin and gic planning (eight straight hours cooped up in a and Booklets meeting room with a business consultant!) with C) InSinC Newsletter Charlaine Harris. some trepidation. Some of us imagined agonizing D) Technology Applications for Career team-building exercises involving trust falls or Information After several hours of discussion, we developed rope climbs. Others pictured coma-inducing lec - E) Chapter Programs this new statement to guide our strategic plan, tures. Our fears were soon allayed by Bob Harris’ which the board believes captures the intent of the personable and interesting approach (and his in - III) Membership Growth and Services, original mission but with renewed clarity. sistence on bowls of M&M’s.) Before the meeting, Recruitment and Retention "The mission of Sisters in Crime is topromote the Bob studied the organization’s bylaws, financial A) Membership Recruitment professional development and advancement of wom - reports, website, newsletters, incorporation docu - B) Dues Categories of Membership en crime writers to achieve equality in the industry." ments and more. And each of our board members Benefits, Activities and Services From the mission statement, came our vision: had been asked to provide her or his answers to the C) Books in Print "Raising professionalism and achieving equity following prompts: D) Publishers’ Summit among crime writers." 1. This meeting will be a success for this year E) Bookstore List And our tagline will remain the motto we used and beyond if we… F) Bookclub Database for our 20th Anniversary: 2. What do you believe should be the top three G) Membership Directory "SinC into a good mystery!" goals or priorities for the organization in the next H) Lists and Labels The remainder of the day was dedicated to ar - three to five years? I) Online Curricula ticulating our most important goals and then de - Bob explained that an association’s image is veloping strategies and action plans to carry them made up of the mission, the vision and a tagline. IV) Networking and Forums for out. You will be hearing a lot more about these five The mission statement is often a sentence or two Members goals: that answers these questions: “Who are we? Who A) Agents, Editors and Publishers • Expanded advocacy, monitoring and B) Collegiality and Leadership reporting C) Chapters. • Professional education and career D) Reader Members development E) Newsletter - Encourage member input • Membership growth and services and readership. • Networking and forums for members F) Listserv and Blogs • Development of association structure G) Signature Event — Plan a signature and resources event coordinated by chapters and nation - Outgoing, incoming and ongoing board mem - al for 25th anniversary year recognition. bers left the meeting exhausted but filled with en - thusiasm for the tasks ahead of us. We will be V) Association Structure and Resources looking for volunteers to help us on committees. A) Improve SinC-Chapter Relations From the beginning, our strength has been our B) Desk Audit members. We look forward to continuing to work Serious stuff: Nancy Martin, Char - C) Professional Staffing for and with you for another 20 years — at least. laine Harris, Marcia Talley, Nadia D) Technology This project supports SinC’s Association Structure E) Board Structure goal. Gordon and Mary Saums. December 2008 - 4 The outline remains necessary. I come to writing from theater, which may be why I’m comfortable with what remains an im - Guppy Tales: provisational process, involving “theater games” A Short History of HBy Loindaw Barn eIs Write like eavesdropping in restaurants and scrawling How do I write? With difficulty. With devo - character sketches of fellow travelers on the MB - tion. With love. If you want to know the nitty- Small Fish TA. I take the train for the sole purpose of finding By Peg Wyse, Leslie Budewitz and gritty, the how-to, the what-is-it-like to sit every characters; I follow people to observe their gait, morning in the same squeaky chair in the same hear their voices, learn where they live. I’m sur - HeInle 1n99 S5,t anv irnotrpepoidu glorosu Sp baengadno svwaiml ming to - book lined den con - prised I have not yet been arrested for this. I am a gether inside the greater Sisters in Crime organiza - fronting the same firm believer in acting out scenes, speaking dia - tion: The Great Unpublished (aka Guppies). We 17 inch screen, typ - logue aloud and in the crappy, quickly written first began as a very small school of very small fish, ing badly, revising draft. linked only with round-robin epistles sent often, cursing and Once the dreadful first draft exists on the page, through the mail — U.S., Canadian and wherever sighing with plea - I celebrate for 20 seconds, then begin again. Do we found like-minded, um, fish. In 2006, our sure and dismay, events occur in their logical order? Is the pacing newsletter, First Draft, became totally electronic, read on. slow? Do I tell too much, show too little? In play - with several e-mail lists (including Agent Quest, How I long for a wrighting, vast globs of exposition are rendered Mystery Analysis, Piranhas — for writers with set of rules engraved palatable by the actions of the servants who deliver teeth — and Cozy Gups), archives, critique on a stone tablet. It the news. I try to recognize these “feather-duster groups and manuscript swaps. The Guppies have makes me jittery to scenes” and ensure that sufficient activity is going offered several online classes dealing with plot - admit the truth: the on — driving, eating, fighting — to disguise bare ting, writing cozies, taking an idea to a full-fledged few rules I have, I often don’t follow. Just when I bones exposition. story, writing submission letters and synopses. We decide that I know exactly what I’m doing, I real - I do three drafts. I tell myself that the first is for have our own version of NaNoWrite, the Choco - ize that what worked for the previous book plot, the second for character, the third for lan - late Challenge in February and our very own the doesn’t click for the present effort, that each work Winter of Rejection. teaches me what I need to know as I go along. If The Winter of Rejection Contest (begun in I’m lucky. 2004 by Leslie Budewitz), urges members to sub - I know writers who seem to stuff their writing “...when one of my mit their work to agents and editors, risking both time into the edges of busy lives but I’ve never characters refuses to rejection and acceptance. The member who re - been able to do that. I need long stretches of time, ceives the most rejections wins organic dark choco - swaths of unscheduled solitude. I am a natural cooperate ....I...go for late – the traditional Guppy method of both conso - night writer, but for the past dozen years, I’ve a walk around the lation and celebration (along with cyber boas, kick - started work as soon as the kid leaves for school. lines and champagne). Many of the past winners I’m not yet fully awake, but when my fingers hit reservoir. I circle it have gone on to publication. We have made a close the keys, the pressure wakes them up and the need once, twice, three community out of the lonely art of writing. to compose orderly sentences seems to compose The Guppies had more than 75 members in my mind as well. I’m a firm believer in forcing times. I admire the February 2002. Now we have 300 members and yourself to sit, making yourself strike the key - ducks, count the our group continues to grow. board. I write five days a week. I try to write six Canada geese....” In 2002 Lorraine Bartlett set up the Guppy hours a day. I count staring out the window as website: www.sinc-guppies.org/. Public pages in - writing time. I know writers who work until they clude FAQs about the Guppies, news and Guppy complete a page quota. My writing is more like a guage but all the components are invariably inter - publications; a calendar of mystery conferences prison term; I do the time. twined. I never learned to type, so in typewriter and conventions; writer resources; and a sampling Yes, I outline; no, I don’t follow the outline. days, my revisions were limited; it took me 15 of articles. The private pages include a member di - And of course I have tried not outlining, because minutes to type an error free page, and I wasn’t rectory, procedures and bylaws, articles from past truly, I’m not that dumb, but it doesn’t work for about to redo an entire page to alter a single verb. newsletters on querying agents, forensics, motiva - me. I need what I think of as an “act structure” for Now, thanks to the computer, I can play with my tion, craft and other topics. In 2004, newsletters a three to five act play. Each act requires a curtain verbs till the cows come home — no, till the cows became available to members in PDF form for line, a major plot point that will keep the audience depart, till they low, till they stampede. There’s downloading. By request, they are also available in buzzing during intermission. I outline each act; I never enough time to get every detail right, so at Microsoft Word as well. know the number of chapter/scenes between the some point I abandon the book rather than finish In March 2005 the Guppy Brochure debuted, major divisions. But in each book, I reach a mo - it. produced by Darlene Ryan and Kat Cormie. The ment when one of my characters refuses to coop - Deadlines help. Opening night is opening brochure lists all books published by Guppies. erate. At this point, I shut down my machinery night. Members are asked to distribute three copies to lo - and go for a walk around the reservoir. I circle it cal bookstores and libraries. In the SinC spirit, we once, twice, three times. I admire the ducks, count call it Blatant Guppy Promotion. the Canada geese. Linda Barnes, author of the critically acclaimed Many members published their first fiction as When my characters start refusing to obey, Carlotta Carlyle series, is a winner of the Anthony Guppies, while others have published non-mys - they are becoming real. They have reasons for and American Mystery awards and has also been a tery works. Thirty-four Guppies are published to their actions, so I forgive them their obstinacy. I finalist for the Edgar and the Shamus. Her latest date. Go to the Guppy website to learn about try to listen to them. It wreaks havoc with my out - novel, Lie Down With the Devil , was published by them. Our expertise in various fields is amazing. line, but I’ve come to see the outline as a lifeline St. Martin's Press in August 2008. Read more at Since our founding, the Guppies have proven running parallel to a rickety rope bridge, strung www.lindabarnes.com/. This article was originally that the Great Unpublished have much to share: across a high chasm. If I secure the lifeline before I published in Scarlet Letters (New England chapter's support, information, critiques, writing partner - begin writing, make sure it’s fastened to a strong newsletter) in spring 2008. ships, satisfaction, success and friendship. tree on the opposite bank, then even if the bridge This article supports SinC’s Professional Educa - This article supports SinC’s Career Development breaks, I can seize the rope and haul myself across. tion goal. goal.

December 2008 - 5 Will They Know Your Bookʼs Name?

How to Get Publiccalleidt Pay per, Scissors, Death . It’s about a scrap - and works backwards. Instead of looking for a ByIf Jyoua hnanvea t oCnas mof pmboneelly Stol abun rn on market - booker and, as you may know, one in every three newsworthy angle after her book is completed, ing or you’ve hired your own public relations homes in the U.S. has a scrapbooker in it. I was she incorporates newsworthy elements in her firm, you can stop reading right now. But if you’re wondering if I could interest you in an interview book as she does her writing. For example, p.m. like the rest of us, or send you a copy of the book to review.” terrell interviews celebrity experts when she does simultaneously Pay particular attention to the second sentence research for her books. She chooses experts who needing to pro - in my pitch. I tell the reporter exactly why he or are in geographic areas she plans to visit during mote your book she should be interested. I’m pointing out that her book tours. After the book is published, p.m. and keep market - not only do I have something new to offer, but crafts media releases, sends them to the celebrity’s ing costs down, that a large number of his/her readers will find it hometown and times them to coincide with her you’ll want to gar - of interest. In other words, my pitch highlights signings. ner all the public - why my story idea is newsworthy. Another way to get media attention is to be in - ity you can get. I also focus on newsworthiness when I write a volved in a charity. (Like all of us, reporters like to Notice I didn’t release. In fact, newsworthiness is the single most do good works and offering media coverage is a say “free” publici - important evaluation a reporter will use in decid - fairly common way for them to be good citizens.) ty. Publicity by ing whether to pursue your story idea. To the ca - You might offer a portion of your sales to charity, definition is a free sual outsider, newsworthiness may seem a subjec - auction off character-naming rights or even make mention, whereas tive judgment, but to a student of the media, it a guest appearance at a charitable event. advertising is the name for paid space (print me - breaks down into clear categories. In some ways, it’s easier than ever to get public - dia) or time (broadcast). These include: ity. The Internet has equalized the playing field With all the new media springing up, thanks • Proximity: How close is your topic to the by making information more accessible and easi - to the Internet, satellite radio, cable TV channels media’s coverage area? er to distribute. Back when I was studying mar - and the like, you have more opportunities than • Number of people: How many people keting in college, you had to invest in large direc - ever to share your message. But just as the num - are/will be affected? tories to look up contact details for print and ber of channels has increased, so has the clutter. • Celebrity: Is someone famous involved? broadcast, market by market. Today, of course, These days you need to be a savvy public relations (Remember, there can be local and regional you do your research by plugging relevant terms practitioner to break through the clutter. That celebrities as well as national ones. There are also into Google. Back then, you had to type up re - means you need to put more thought and effort industry celebrities.) leases, duplicate them and stuff them in en - into your message than ever before. The key to • Uniqueness: Is this the youngest, oldest, velopes with appropriate postage. Today, the publicity is simple: you need to think like the me - newest, biggest, smallest or one of a kind in some click of a button will send your release anywhere dia thinks. You need to understand what makes way? in the world. the media tick, what turns reporters on and how • Amount of money involved: Either ex - Another factor in the favor of today’s amateur to do as much work as possible for them. tremely large or extremely small amounts. Or un - or professional publicist is the purchasing of fam - Even so, it’s well worth the effort. Years ago a usual currency such as gold. ily-owned media by large conglomerates. To turn test was done with a split run in the newspaper. • Sex: (Do I really need to explain this?) profits, their first move is usually to cut person - Half of the circulation received an issue with an • Human interest: Does this tug at the heart - nel, that is, reporters. If you can craft a well-writ - ad for a product. The other half received an issue strings or evoke curiosity? ten release with an attention-grabbing headline, with a news story about a product. The news sto - • Time of year: Is this an anniversary or the you’ve done most of the work for the few over- ry out-drew the ad 16 times over. date of a special event in history? Is this concur - burdened newspersons left on staff. So how do you position your book to get your rent with a holiday or season of the year? I haven’t even touched on the newest genera - fair share of the limelight? Here’s a great exercise I had my students do tion of media: podcasts, webcams, sites like There are several ways for authors to get pub - when I taught college. Take a newspaper or maga - YouTube, chat rooms, blogs and listserves. licity. Remember, it’s still a romantic dream of a zine. Read the articles and check off the news - Thanks to them, your message can “go viral,” large portion of the population to do what you worthy elements the articles contain. reaching audiences you’ve never dreamed of. do — write. You might take advantage of the al - Simply put, the greater the number of news - While their version of newsworthiness is a little lure of our status by offering to meet with a re - worthy elements a story idea has, the greater the different, they are always hungry for content. porter face-to-face or phoning the media or send - likelihood a reporter will show interest and the Study them and you’ll soon figure out what they ing a media release. (Not a press release. The more time/space the media will devote to the need. “press” refers solely to print media.) topic. Unless you can afford full-page ads in the New Meeting a reporter at a civic or social event is a How does this translate for you, an author try - York Times or a lavish book tour, you’ll definitely great way to get on his/her radar screen. If you ing to pitch her book? Learn to see your work ob - want to sharpen your publicity skills. After all, if make a good impression you can reap tremen - jectively. Pick out those elements of it that are people don’t know about your book, how can dous benefits. I once attended a symphony din - newsworthy. Then, design your pitch to spot - they buy it? ner with my husband and came home with two light those elements. If you pitch a story about offers of interviews, one from the local gossip your book fictionalizing the murder of a local Joanna Campbell Slan has been a teacher, a tele - columnist and the other from a TV news anchor. celebrity and the release date is the anniversary of vision talk show host, a radio reporter, a magazine Contacting a reporter by phone can be tricky. his death, that’s a good bet for getting coverage. editor and a freelance author. She was awarded a If you catch a reporter on deadline, you’ll usually But if you pitch a story about your book fiction - Silver Anvil, Public Relations Society of America’s get short shrift. The key is to have a clear idea of alizing the murder of a local celebrity who’s relat - highest honor. The first book in her new mystery se - what you want to say before you pick up the ed to half the people in the circulation or cover - ries is Paper, Scissors, Death and her website is: phone. Get right to the point. A typical script age area and the release date is the anniversary of www.joannacampbellslan.com/. I’ve used runs like this: “Hi, I’m Joanna Camp - his death, you’ll hit the jackpot. This article supports SinC’s Career Develop - bell Slan and I’m the author of a new mystery Of course, a savvy author uses this technique ment goal. December 2008 - 6 Interview with an Agent: Goodnight book I can sometimes put it aside to try again lat - BJy oS.Ws. Hhububaard Bilmes er) but might be able to try 20 markets for some All This is the first in a series of interviews with lead - ByT Vhiisc ykeai rC maamrkse treonn issues of Books in other kind of mystery. ing agents representing the mystery genre. To launch Print for me. That’s long enough for one Deals with no advances are inherently bad; it it, we hear from Joshua Bilmes, proprietor of JAB - person to manage a project for an organi - means the publishers have such bad cash flows berwocky Literary Agency. This agency represents zation. they can't even afford to lay out the interest ex - SinC members Charlaine Harris, Pari Noskin I am stepping down as Editor With - pense on money they should get back as a royalty Taichert and Jeri Westerson, as well as a broad out Mercy. It’s been a great run and I have recoupment 18 or 30 months down the line. range of other authors. Visit www.awfulagent.com enjoyed read - Deals with low advances, you have to look at the for more information. ing all your publisher and then at the contract. There are Susan Hubbard: We’ve all received some ver - book titles and plenty of houses that don't pay a lot of money but sion of this rejection: “I love the voice/ descriptions as have a good reputation and a reasonable contract writing/character, but I don’t think I can sell this they flowed and then some that think for $500 they should be manuscript.” What does that really mean? across my desk. forever entitled to a cut of all your rights. Joshua Bilmes: Editors have to sell I’ve watched SH: What makes a query “pop” for you? What manuscripts to their sales and marketing people, some careers factors do you consider before making an offer of who have to sell manuscripts to their accounts grow from representation? [distributors and retailers], who have to sell books newbie writer JB: The main factor in offering representation to readers. If somewhere along the way there is an to long-list for me is that I have to love the work, really and inability to get people to see why the author or the author. I’ve seen many “Nominated” truly love it, because there's such strong competi - topic or the writing or the timeliness makes your check marks click over to “Won” stars. tion for my time. With regard to query letters, it's book worth buying it I’ve made many friends, both real and often not making any of the mistakes that people will not be a success. fictional. keep making. They go onto a second page. Use And of course it is easi - I’d like to thank the man behind the too many adjectives. Tell me too much about the er to sell something af - scenes, Gavin Faulkner of Rowan Moun - manuscript and nothing about themselves. Just ter a model that has tain, for his technical and editorial can't write. As with the book, you need to find an gone before than to support. He explained the technical ephemeral confluence of things going right. blaze a new trail into aspects of this project in detail ten years SH: The publishing world is littered with au - the marketplace. ago, making sure my computer output thors who got contacts to write one or two books, SH : What types of would match his software. He annually then can’t make another sale. What’s your advice mystery/thriller inched his way through the manuscript to authors in this position? Change your name? manuscripts are selling and found the tiny little errors I missed. I Start over in a new genre? Find a new agent? right now? have always counted on him to make my JB: Any of these things may work; none of JB: Several major houses, including Harper, Si - work, and one of the public faces of the them is guaranteed to do so. There's also one thing mon & Schuster, Hachette USA and Random organization, look good. Thank you, noticeably lacking from the list, which is to reflect House don't have a dedicated mystery program. If Gavin. Lang may yer lum reek. on what you're writing. I've read manuscripts that you need to be in the 99th percentile to sell a So it’s off into the sunset for me. Ap - tick off all the boxes of things readers of a particu - hardboiled PI novel and the 97th percentile to sell parently there is a set of golf clubs with lar type of fiction like but have nothing to appeal a cozy, you're not going to get to [that level] by my name on them waiting for next to the larger world of people who sometimes read writing a kind of mystery you don't really want to spring. write just because that's what sells. Write what in - that kind of fiction but whose entire lives don't re - spires you and the chances you'll get up there are at volve around it. their best. SH: Can mid-list authors reasonably expect to The SinC website is always open for SH: How much time should an author reason - make a new sale on a proposal or do they need to your changes, corrections and additions at: ably expect her agent to spend trying to sell her write the entire ms? www.sistersincrime.org. manuscript? Is it worth it to you to pursue deals JB: I always tell people "I have two things to This article supports SinC’s with low advances? sell: your track record and your manuscript. The Membership goal. JB: On one level, it’s easier to sell a cozy be - more you have of one, the less I need of the other." cause they’re most in demand from the few houses that still have active mystery programs. A so- called “big book” may be harder to sell at the S.W. Hubbard has written a police procedural houses with category mystery programs but have series and ghostwritten a thriller to be published by How About Linking more of a chance selling to houses that don't do Knopf in 2009. Her short stories have appeared in Your Website to mysteries per se except for all the ones they're pub - Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine. lishing as thrillers or suspense. I may have to give This article supports SinC’s Career Development SinC’s? up on a cozy after five markets (or if I believe in a goal. Does your website have a link to SinC national’s ? Help Have you renewed your SinC membership? promo te our organization by link ing your website to You can do it online at: SinC’ s at: www.sistersincrime.org www. sistersincrime.org

December 2008 - 7 Minutes of the Sisters in Crime Search VBotinog maemrbedrs i nM atteendaencte:i Rnobegrta Iosleinb, Ju Ody Cclemteons, bMaerciar T a9lley,, D 2on0na 0An8drews, Mary Saums, Jim Huang, Nancy Martin, Mary Boone. Warrants Non-Voting members in attendance: Kathy Wall, Bonnie Cardone, Robin Burcell, Nadia Gor - ByS eLaerceh wLoarfrlanntsd are an important tool for po - don, Charlaine Harris, Cathy Pickens, Beth Wasson. lice officers and, while they are sometimes diffi - Guest: Bob Harris. cult to obtain, there is no better feeling than us - President Roberta Isleib called the meeting to order at 8:30 am, a half hour ahead of the previ - ing one to discover a ous schedule due to the amount of work that needed to be accomplished. cornerstone piece of Bob Harris, strategic planning consultant from the Nonprofit Center, recapped the previous evidence. day’s marathon strategic planning session. His confidential report was distributed, discussed and Television leads the reviewed. SinC has established five goals: public to believe a sim - • Advocacy, Monitoring and Reporting ple phone call to a judge • Professional Education and Career Development is all it takes to obtain a • Membership Growth and Services search warrant. Not so. • Networking and Forums for Members , and I've written and served • Association Structure and Resources , scores of search war - each with a number of sub-goals. Bob will revise his report and send the final PDF to the Board for rants for which I had to review. After the Board approves the final version, the report will be presented to the membership. spend countless hours, Kathy Wall, Treasurer, presented her report. In spite of the recent downturn in the financial weeks or months of preparation. I had to collect markets, SinC is in good shape, our investment portfolio sound. Over $99,000 was added to the copious and detailed facts to support my requests treasury from Authors Coalition monies, a record. for the warrants that would allow me to search a Mary Boone reported on SinC’s presence at ALA, where the person's property. booth was always busy, and conference attendees sought it out. It A search warrant is based strictly upon facts. was moved, seconded and approved that we sponsor a booth at Police officers must swear under oath before a ALA Chicago in June of ’09. SinC will not be partnering with judge or magistrate that the information they are MWA. presenting is indeed true and without opinion. Jim Huang gave a summary of this year’s Books in Print (BIP ) It’s important to note that not every area re - process. Discussion turned to the future of BIP . It was generally quires a judge’s signature on a search warrant. agreed that SinC needs to streamline and modernize BIP , both the Some jurisdictions employ magistrates who have process and the format, perhaps rolling it into our association man - the authority to sign and issue warrants and com - agement software acquisition plans. (See Affiniscape, below.) Jim mit people to jail. In fact, in some rural areas, reported on the possibility of partnering with book wholesalers like many magistrates work on a part-time basis, re - Baker & Taylor or with Ingram for data feeds, matching titles of porting to their office only when summoned by SinC authors by ISBN. Marcia reported on a similar possibility through OCLC’s WorldCat. police or sheriff’s departments. So it’s not always Marcia and Jim will continue their research and report their findings to the Board by the end of a judge who is awakened during the night to sign November. a search warrant, sometimes it’s the local magis - The future of Mystery Matters (highlighting new releases) was briefly discussed and tabled. trate — a farmer, tow truck driver or car sales - Roberta, Judy and Marcia filled the Board in on the several online demonstrations and discus - man by day — who gets the call. (Part-time mag - sions they’d had over the past several months with Affiniscape, a comprehensive association man - istrates do receive training). agement software solution already in use by over 4,000 associations. It was moved, seconded and Once a judge or magistrate decides probable approved that SinC budget $10,000 to purchase Affiniscape and pay a contractor to convert our cause exists for the warrant, he/she signs the pa - various databases to a single Affiniscape database. Marcia will gather data about the various perwork, setting the wheels in motion for the databases from the current database managers and get specifications from Affiniscape so that bids search warrant entry team. The team must act can be solicited for the conversion. quickly, carefully and appropriately. The design and content of the SinC website, blog, SinC Links and the newsletter were dis - A search warrant entry is one of the most dan - cussed. Board members agreed to survey our current website – what is needed, what is not – and gerous situations that police officers encounter get back to incoming president, Judy Clemens. It was moved, seconded and approved that all arti - and not knowing what lies behind closed doors cles in the newsletter or on the website be linked back to one of our five new association goals. (See creates an adrenaline boost of epic proportion. All goals, above.) too often, innocent people are inside a target The Bouchercon 2009 pre-program in Indianapolis was discussed. We hope for 100 attendees property and many are small children. Entry and intend to structure the registration fee to heavily favor members. Roberta will work with Jim teams rehearse shoot-and-don't-shoot scenarios to draw up a budget and report to the Board by January or February. for hours on end to prepare for every possible situ - The proposed Washington, D.C. area Spies, Lies and Private Eyes conference has been tabled. ation. Patricia Gouthro's report on her grant-funded study of Sisters in Crime as a unique women’s Officers are normally required to execute a learning organization has been postponed to the Malice Domestic conference in 2009. search warrant during daylight hours and they Kathy Wall provided details on the SIBA Stars program, open to SE authors in eight or nine must knock on the suspect's door and verbally an - southeastern United States. Because SinC national is a member of SIBA, the Stars program is free nounce their presence. They must also wait a rea - to our members. sonable amount of time to allow the residents to It was moved, seconded and approved that a new office computer system be purchased for Beth open the door. Law enforcement personnel on the Wasson, Executive Secretary, for $2,200. scene must determine what is reasonable for each The meeting was adjourned at 12 noon promptly. situation. The law does not specify a specific Respectfully submitted, Marcia Talley, Secretary amount of time. This report supports SinC’s Association Structure goal. The only exceptions to these rules occur when there is clear and imminent danger to the officers December 2008 - 8 or to innocent citizens or when exigent circum - stances occur that could lead to the destruction of crucial evidence. A forced entry without an - Chapter Spotlight: nouncement or knocking is known as a "no knock warrant" and should be authorized by the court official who approves the warrant. The Scarlet Letters Officers must specify the evidence they are searching for in the warrant. Once the object of This is the first of brand new series featuring brochure with program topics, and often do the search has been found, officers must immedi - SinC chapters. The Scarlet Letters (aka SinC our own Books in Print to introduce librari - ately stop the search. New England) is profiled below. ans, booksellers and readers to our many A search warrant is not needed if the person in When founded? July 1994 authors. We also actively recruit authors, so control of the property to be searched grants an How many members? 160 that our chapter has between 30 and 45 officer permission to do so. I found the easiest What area does it cover? Connecticut, authors participating in our speaking events. method of searching a criminal's property was to , Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Many of our programs are in the form of do just that — ask for permission. Nine times out Rhode Island and Vermont. panels, which enables us to pair new authors of ten the suspect's answer was yes, eliminating the Website: www.sincne.org with established ones so we can train our need for the warrant altogether. What makes it special? newcomers in the fine art of public presenta - Cops are always smarter than the bad guys, Ruth McCarty (President): Even though tion. We've also found that panels make right? Well, not always. I once kicked and kicked our chapter covers all of New author appearances more of and kicked at a door, attempting to gain entry, un - England, our members have a an "event" which helps to til I finally heard the crook’s wife yell from deep strong sense of family. We draw an audience. Our topics within the house, "Try the doorknob before you hold quarterly meetings, offer include fiction, true crime hurt yourself. It's unlocked!" online workshops, have a and the crime short story. I chapter newsgroup, a Books in also have to second (or third) Lee Lofland is the author of Police Procedure Print and a well-developed what Rosemary and Ruth and Investigation, A Guide For Writers . Check out Speakers Bureau. And every have said, that we really are a his website at:www.leelofland.com. November, along with the "family" and we take great joy This article supports SinC’s Professional Educa - New England Chapter of in the successes of our mem - tion goal. Mystery Writers of America, bers. we host The New England What activities are up - Crime Bake, a mystery con - coming? ference for writers and read - December 13, 2008: ers. The last one featured Author Interview and Book Chapter News as guest of Sale Tell us what you’ve been doing! Submit news of honor. April 4 to 5, 2009: Eliza - your chapter’s activities (300 dpi photos are wel - Rosemary Harris: At the risk of getting all beth Lyons Workshops covering: MRI of comed, too) to [email protected]. The dead - mushy, I think there really is a wonderful, Your Writing, Diagnosis & Treatment; line for the next issue (March) is January 20. collegial feel to the group. The more estab - Movement, Movement, Movement; and LA Chapter lished sisters (and brothers) are so generous Revise, Revise, Revise The LA Chapter teamed up with MWA SoCal with their time and expertise. And everyone Date to be announced: Gun Seminar to throw our Second Annual Member Bash. More is genuinely excited for SinC-NE members Anything else you'd like to add? than 80 members turned out for the catered event who do well. It's possible that happens in Ruth: See our website: www.sincne.org held at UCLA's Faculty Center on September 13. every SinC chapter, but of course, I feel that Rosemary: We've got bestselling authors Members of the Orange County SinC chapter ours is special. Right after I joined, former like Tess Gerritsen and Julia Spencer-Flem - were invited as our special guests. president and vice president, Roberta Isleib, ing, and bright new stars like Jennifer McMa - The weather was gorgeous, allowing all to enjoy and Cathy Cairns decided to shoot a SinC- hon and , winner of this the patio while pianist Vinnie Armstrong enter - NE calendar. I was in December photo with year's Agatha for Best First Novel. We rock! tained us with an array of melodic tunes. We were Jessica Speart, Lori Avocato, Mary-Anne Kate: I love it that I can e-mail Tess Gerrit - honored to have with us bookseller Bobby McCue Tirone Smith and Karen Olsen. I felt like a sen to ask who made her bookmarks, consult of The Mystery Bookstore who brought a large se - star, sharing the month with all of those great with Sarah Smith about how to do a data lection of books penned by our author members. writers! base, do a library program with Hank and Diana James, LA Chapter president, is extremely Kate Flora: I was recruited into the chap - Ruth, and show off my glittery Edgar ban - appreciative of the energy and efforts of the com - ter near the beginning by some of the found - quet dress to all my sisters. And there is usual - mittee members: Susan Kosar Beery, VP ing members and have always found it to be a ly someone with expertise to answer a ques - SinC/LA, Dianne Emley, executive officer/MWA wonderful place to go for support, informa - tion, whether it is about reconstructing a SoCal, and Les Klinger, president/MWA SoCal. tion and advice. One thing that is special traffic accident or whether an underwater Special thanks to all LA Chapter board members about our chapter is our very active Speakers diving scene is credible. for their efforts. Bureau. We do periodic mailings to a long list This article supports SinC’s Association This article supports SinC’s Association of New England libraries, have a great Structure goal. Structure goal.

Don’t Miss Out! Join members-only discussions: become a member of the SinC Listserv: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sistersincrime

December 2008 - 9 For more information and registration, see the website: www.bouchercon2009.com. Coming up: Conferences & Happenings LEFT COAST CRIME 2010 candlelight night owl presentation by Lee LOS ANGELES, CA LOVE IS MURDER Lofland called “Murder, Mayhem and the and will be the guests of Macabre: Hamilton's Bizarre Murders.” This pre - honor at “Booked in LA” (aka Left Coast CTHhIeC 11AthG anOnu,a IlL Love is Murder, A Writers, sentation is not for the faint of heart! Crime), at the Omni Hotel in downtown Los Publishers and Readers Conference, will be held All of the academy presenters are active or re - Angeles from March 11 to 14, 2010. Janet February 6 to 8, 2009, at the Westin Chicago tired police officers as well as published authors. Rudolph will be fan guest of honor and Bill North Shore. Special guests include Steve Berry For more information and registration please Fitzhugh will serve as toastmaster. and Raymond Benson. Jeffrey Deaver, Alex Kava visit: www.madanthonycbf.org/index.htm. The event will feature three tracks of panels and Sharan Newman will teach master classes. and presentations, including one tailored to pub - For more information, see the website: lished writers, as well as local crime-related tours, www.loveismurder.net. special events and a charity auction. For more information and to register online, MALICE DOMESTIC 21 visit www.leftcoastcrime.org and click on the link AMRaLliIcNe DGomTeOstiNc 2,1 V wA ill be held May 1 to 3, to 2010. LEFT COAST CRIME 2009 2009, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, VA. Nancy Pickard will be the guest KLOefNt CAo,a sHt CI rime will take place March 7 to of honor, , the toastmaster, and 12, 2009, at the Waikoloa Beach Resort on the Charlotte MacLeod the ghost of honor. Anne Intʼl Mystery Writers Big Island of Hawaii. The guests of honor will be Perry will receive the Lifetime Achievement Rhys Bowen and Barry Eisler; the toastmaster, Award. 2T0h1e In0te rCnatoionmal Mpysteerty iWtriitoersn Festival, ; and the fan guests of honor, For more information and to register for the Discovering New Mysteries, is now accepting Vallery Feldman and Pam Dehnke. The ghost of convention, see the website: www.malice submissions of original plays, screenplays, tele - honor will be Earl Derr Biggers. domestic.org. plays and short stories for both adult and youth Registration can be done online at: audiences. Deadline for submissions is August www.leftcoastcrime.org/2009/. 30, 2009. A panel of professional readers will blindly review the submissions and narrow the CRIMEFEST field to the final mysteries, who-dunnits, cops-n- robbers, courtroom dramas, thrillers, suspense or BOOK ʼEM EVENT BCRrIimSeTFeOst,L T,h Ue InK ternational Crime Fiction adventures. Convention, will be held May 14 to 17, 2009, at The festival will be held June 17 to 27, 2010, CAH BAooRk L’EEm SEvTenOt wNill, b Se hC eld in Charleston, the Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel in Bristol, UK. and finalists will be notified by January 2010. SC, on Saturday, March 21, 2009. This event is Guest authors include and Meg Gar - The Festival awards are named for Angela open to the general public and admission is free. diner. Lansbury. The "Angie Awards" will be presented We are currently looking for authors who are in - For more information and to register, see the in the following categories: terested in signing their books and participating website: www.crimefest.com/. Best New Work ($10,000 prize); Most in panel discussions and solo book talks. Promising New Writer ($5,000 prize); Out - Hosted by a partnership between The Book standing Screenplay or Teleplay, ($2,500 prize); ’Em Foundation and law enforcement, the mis - Best Work for Young Adults, ages 12 to 18, sion is to raise awareness of the correlation that HISTORICAL NOVEL ($1,000 prize); Best Short Mystery Play (one act exists between high illiteracy rates and high play, short screenplay, short story) ($1,000 crime rates, increase literacy and decrease crime. SOCIETY COFERENCE prize). If you are unable to attend, please consider do - SCThHe tAhirUd sMemBi-aUnnRuaGl H, iIstL orical Novel Soci - There is no entry fee for submissions. nating an autographed book for the cause. Send full script submissions with a separate For more information, visit the website: www. ety Conference will be held June 12 to 14, 2009, at the Hyatt Regency Woodfield in Schaumburg, cover page with author information to: Discover - bookemfoundation.org or e-mail Officer Kear - ing New Mysteries at RiverPark, Attn: Kimberly ney at [email protected]. IL. The conference has a strong historical mys - tery presence and features three tracks of panels Johnson, Festival Coordinator, 101 Daviess and presentations, as well as individual pitch ses - Street, Owensboro, KY 42302. sions with numerous agents and editors. Please do not list the author's name or contact Margaret George and Edward Rutherfurd are information on script pages or the title page. MAD ANTHONY WRITERS author guests of honor. For more information, CONFERENCE & WRITERS see the website: www.historicalnovelsociety.org. The announcements on this page support SinC’s Career Development goal. POThLe MICadE A AntChoAnyD WEritMersY Conference and Writers Police Academy will be held April 17 to 18, 2009, in Hamilton, OH. BOUCHERCON 2009 Attendees will experience hands-on classes in Have you renewed fingerprinting, handcuffing, arrest techniques, IN“EDleImAenNtaAry,P MOy DLeIaSr In, dIyN ,” will be the theme weapons, interview and interrogation, kinesics of Bouchercon 2009, to be held in Indianapolis, your SinC and much more. The conference will also feature IN, October 15 to 18. will be K9 demos and classes on gangs, high tech author guest of honor; S.J. Rozan will be toast - membership? weaponry, hostage negotiations, tours of the master; and Kathryn Kennison will be fan guest See page 3 for details. county morgue and local police station, and a of honor.

December 2008 - 10 SIBAʼs New New Leader, New Programs For Program Review Monitoring Project For Authors ByN Mowa trhyat Souar u20m09s ,sl aPter ofj eofcfitc eLrsia hiass oben en confirmed, I'll be handing over the reins of the Review Monitoring Project to new board member Julianne Balmain, who writes as Nadia Gordon. I had the pleasure of getting to know Julianne during our strategic planning sessions at Boucher - And Booksellers con. She's going to be a terrific asset to Sisters in Crime and I'm so happy ByT Khea Stohurtyhner nR I.n Wdepaelnl dent Booksellers Al - she will be overseeing the review project for us. liance (SIBA) has announced a new program Our steadfast volunteers continue to monitor publications across the for authors and independent bookstores called country. At this time, our third quarter results show mystery reviews of STARS: Southern Traveling Authors Registra - books written by men at 57 percent, with women at 43 percent. tion Service. Authors who are traveling in the We're going to expand the monitoring project this year to include a South can list their upcoming trips on their couple of new counts. Nominations for mystery awards are always hot STARS profile page and these entries are then topics in our field, so we'll be taking a closer look at those. Another area made available to independent booksellers in of interest is book placement in stores. We want to see how women that area. Any author with a book in print can writers are doing compared to male mystery writers in the prime real sign up for STARS and begin listing their ap - estate spots of bookstores. For this, we'll need volunteers who are willing pearances that fall within SIBA territory: AL, to go to their local Barnes & Noble or Costco once a month and then report their findings. AR, GA, FL, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, KY and To meet these goals, we need volunteers! Please consider giving a little time to help out. VA. There is no cost to authors who sign up before December 31, 2008. Thereafter, either For more information about the review project or volunteer opportunities, please contact Julianne at the author or an organization to which he or [email protected]. she belongs will need to be a member of SIBA. This project supports SinC’s Advocacy goal. Sisters in Crime National generally secures membership on behalf of our members in con - junction with our booth at the annual SIBA conference. For more details, visit the SIBA website at SIif nyouC’re e vAer inr Ncewh Bruinvsweicks, N:J, s tOop inn at lthien Arechi boald rSt eIvenns A Plexaendrer sLiborarny at 169 www.sibaweb.com. To apply for inclusion in College Avenue. That’s where you’ll find the Sisters in Crime archives, which are part of the Rut - the STARS program, contact the administra - gers University Libraries’ Women in the Arts Archives. tor, Nicki Leone, at [email protected]. The On October 29, 1998, SinC archives (and other material) dating back to 1979 were presented STARS site is brand new and has a few bugs to to the Mabel Smith Douglass Library of Douglass College by SinC president Medora Sale. The be worked out but it's a wonderful opportuni - donation was celebrated with a daylong symposium chaired by former SinC president Annette ty to get your name and your books in front of Meyers, who was instrumental in arranging for the SinC material to be archived at Douglass, her independent booksellers in the South by pro - alma mater. The symposium included an exhibition entitled “Sisters in Crime: Fact and fiction” viding them access to your travels in the area. and three panels featuring SinC members. After the evening panel, “Women with an Attitude: The Lady Investigates,” there was a book sale/signing. Founded in 1918, Douglass, the largest women’s college in the country, is a part of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Rutgers is huge. Its more than 50,000 students are dispersed among Kathy Wall is the author of the Bay Tanner three main and five smaller campuses. There are many libraries. Although the SinC collection mysteries, including The Mercy Oak . She is also belongs to Douglass, it is stored in the Special Collections of Alexander Library. Treasurer of SinC National. You won’t be able to read the individual items online, but if you’d like to know what’s in the This article supports SinC’s Membership goal. collection and read a very interesting and thorough Historical Sketch of SinC, you can access the archives via the internet. The Sketch explains how, when and why Sisters in Crime got started and who was involved. There is also a detailed description of what the archives contain: i.e. publica - tions, information on the Agatha Awards, publicity activities and programs, outreach initiatives and local chapter formation, organizational rewards, special interest groups and on-going pro - In Memoriam grams. The Scope and Content Note tells how the files are organized; the Series Descriptions explains what is where. The Container List shows what is in nine boxes (videotapes of made-for- Andrea C. Busch , vice president of TV movies based on SinC members’ books and various memorabilia). the German chapter of SinC from 1996 Finding the SinC archives online is difficult without the URL (case matters, so be sure to type it to 2000, died unexpectedly on Septem - exactly as follows): www.libraries.rutgers.edu/rul/libs/scua/sic/SinCfindingaid.shtml#history. ber 2, 2008. She was 45. Andrea was the The archives list items donated through 2004; although material from the last three years has author of numerous short stories and a been sent to Douglass, it has yet to be organized and integrated into the online finding aid. novel. It would be fascinating to look through the archives. Several presidents, vice presidents and publicity chairpersons have donated files from their terms of office (did you know Margaret Maron was editor of the newsletter from 1992 to 1994?). , author of numerous The Sisters in Crime Archives can be viewed during the Special Collections and University books, including 18 featuring Navajo Archives office hours, which are 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday and 1:00 to 5:00 pm tribal policemen Joe Leaphorn and Jim on Saturday during the academic year. For more information or assistance, contact Dr. Fernanda Chee, died October 26, 2008, of pul - Perrone, Archivist and Exhibitions Coordinator, Rutgers University Libraries. Her phone number monary failure in Albuquerque, NM. is 732/932-7006, extension 363. You can also e-mail her at [email protected]. He was 83. This article supports SinC’s Association Structure goal.

December 2008- 11 THE DOCKET THE DOCKET THE DOCKET THE DOCKET THE DOC kET THE DOCKET THE DOCKET THE DOCKET

verse, September 2008 Awards/Miscellaneous ByA Pnnaoturincciaem Genutlsle foy r new books (please, no Shirley Rousseau Murphy, CAT DECK THE Jerol Anderson’s IS IT SAFE won second place reprints), short stories, articles and plays (all relat - HALLS, Avon, October 2008 in Southern Louisiana Chapter of Romance ing to mysteries), also nominations and awards, J. B. Stanley, STIFFS ’N SWINE, Midnight Writers of America’s 3rd Annual Dixie Kane may be sent to Patricia Gulley via snail mail to: Ink, October 2008 Memorial Contest for a Novel with Romantic El - 1743 N. Jantzen Avenue, Portland, OR 97217- ements. 7849 or e-mail to: Weyrcottage@ yahoo. Jane K. Cleland’s DEADLY APPRAISAL com. Please be sure to put Sisters in Crime, The How to Send Us Your Entry from St. Martin’s Minotaur was awarded the Docket or InSinC in the subject line — otherwise The format is simple: David for Best Mystery Novel 2007 at the Deadly your e-mail won’t be opened. Name of author, TITLE OF BOOK, Ink Conference. The deadline for the next The Docket is January Name of Publisher, Month to be released. Judith A. Gallardo's, SMOKING IS HAZ - 15 , 2009. Name of Author, TITLE OF STORY, ARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH, took Honor - Name of magazine or anthology, Month to able Mention in the NETWO 2008 short story Books be released. contest. Lou Allin, AND ON THE SURFACE DIE, Awards and nominations should be in Christa Selnick's thriller, THE DEVIL YOU RendezVous Press, October 2008 sentences. KNOW, is the winner of the 2008 Romance Deb Baker, DING DONG DEAD, Berkley Always put The Docket in the subject Writers of America’s Golden Heart for Best Nov - Prime Crime, Decem - line of your e-mail. Anything else may be el with Strong Romantic Elements. ber 2008 deleted. This article supports SinC’s Membership goal. Mignon F. Ballard, Don’t send ISBNs, character names, se - HARK! THE HER - ries names or places to buy the books. ALD ANGEL Don’t send newsletters, publicity sheets SCREAMED, St. Mar - or website addressess. tin’s Minotaur, Novem - Don’t send in colors other than black ber 2008 and white. Cynthia Baxter, Don’t send entries older than six Getting MONKEY SEE, months. MONKEY DIE, July Editors of anthologies will not be listed Your Newsletter 2008;MURDER unless they have a story in the anthology. PACKS A SUITCASE, If you are using a pen name, we can add VTiiraed oEf wa-itming foar tihil s newsletter to be deliv - October 2008, both Bantam Books your real name after it in parentheses. You ered by the post office? Many of your Sisters get Maggie Bishop, PERFECT FOR FRAM - must tell me if you do not want this done. the news when it’s fresh; they receive their ING, Ingalls Publishing Group, November 2008 newsletter via e-mail, on the day it’s mailed. An - Miranda Bliss, DYING FOR DINNER, other big plus is that the e-mail version comes in Berkley Prime Crime, December 2008 wonderful, glorious color. Margaret Coel, BLOOD MEMORY, Berkley Marcia Talley, DEAD MAN DANCING, The e-mail version is a PDF, which, unless you Publishing, September 2008 Severn House, November 2008 have a Mac, you’ll need Acrobat Reader to view. Nancy J. Cohen, KILLER KNOTS, Kensing - Most computers come with this software already ton, November 2008 Short Stories/Anthologies installed but free versions are available for nearly Casey Daniels, NIGHT OF THE LOVING Gayle Bartos-Pool, IN THE NICK OF every operating system — no matter how old — DEAD, Berkley Prime Crime, January 2009 TIME, Dying in a Winter Wonderland, Wolf - at www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/read Carola Dunn, THE BLOODY TOWER, mont Press, October 2008. step2.html. Downloading Acrobat Reader is Kensington, February 2009 Rebecca Cantrell, COFFEE, Missing antholo - quick and easy; just follow the directions at the Christy Tillery French, CHASING SE - gy, Echelon Press, November 2008 link. Since Acrobat Reader is necessary for view - CRETS, L&L Dreamspell, October 2008 Jane K. Cleland, KILLING TIME, Alfred ing other documents you’ll come across on the , GHOST AT WORK, Harper - Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, November 2008 Internet it’s a useful addition to your software. Collins, October 2008 Sybil A. Johnson, CEMETERY PLOT, Mys - When you get the PDF, you’ll have several Jo A. Hiestand, THE COFFIN WATCH - terical-e Magazine, Fall 2008 choices: save it on your computer to read or print ERS, Hilliard & Harris, September 2008 Kris Neri, THE ROSE IN THE SNOW: out at your leisure or read it on the screen. A huge Marion Moore Hill, DEATH BOOKS A RE - TALES OF MISCHIEF AND MAYHEM, benefit of the latter is that you can zoom in and TURN, Pemberley Press, September 2008 Hilliard & Harris, September 2008 make the text bigger — and thus easier to read. Sue Ann Jaffarian, BOOBY TRAP, Midnight Anita Page, SWEETHEART, Mouth Full of Once read, store the PDF in a folder on your Ink, January 2009 Bullets, Summer 2008 computer or burn it onto a CD or DVD for fu - Larry Karp, THE KING OF RAGTIME, Pat Remick, CIRCULATION, Deadfall: ture reference. Poisoned Pen Press, October 2008 Crime Stories by New England Writers, Level Saving the PDF to your computer takes only S.L. Linnea, TREASURE OF EDEN, St. Best Books, November 2008 seconds; the time it takes to print all 16 pages de - Martin's Press, October 2008 pends on the speed of your printer. Sue McGinty, MURDER IN LOS LOBOS, Non Fiction/Articles Of course, there are two big advantages to Sis - Daniel and Daniel, October 2008 Peggy Ehrhart, YOU CAN'T ALWAYS GET ters in Crime in sending your newsletter via e- Dana Mentink, FOG OVER FINNY’S WHAT YOU WANT, Mystery Scene, Summer mail — neither postage nor paper are needed, NOSE, Heartsong Presents, September 2008 2008; MUSICAL MYSTERY TOUR, Crime - saving a lot of money for other projects. Maan Meyers (Annette and Martin Meyers), spree, July/August 2008 To sign up for electronic newsletter delivery, e- THE ORGAN GRINDER, Five Star/Gale, Oc - Amnon Kabatchnik, BLOOD ON THE mail [email protected] and faulkner@ tober 2008 STAGE, June 2008; SHERLOCK HOLMES bev.net. Janet Morgan, POETIC JUSTICE, iUni - ON THE STAGE, July 2008, Scarecrow Press This article supports SinC’s Networking goal. December 2008 - 12 SinC Luncheon/Business Meeting TeNxitn aetny-dn iPneh poetoopgler aattpenhdye db tyh eB SoinnCn liuen cJh.e Cona arnddo bnuse iness meeting at the Radis - son Plaza Lord Baltimore on the first day of Bouchercon. They feasted on green and pasta salads, seasonal vegetables, silken potato puree, mushroom spinach ravioli and Dijon herb grilled chicken breasts. The dessert was strawberry shortcake. A sea of smiling faces greeted President Roberta Isleib. She introduced Bouchercon co-chair, Ruth Jordan, who read a letter to SinC from the Governor of Maryland, acknowledging SinC’s genesis at the first Baltimore Bouchercon 22 years ago. Mary Saums gave a brief report on the review monitoring project. Treasurer Kathy Wall announced, “Our investments are down but all is sound.” The outgoing and incoming board members present were introduced, then Rober - ta called for a voice vote. All board members/officers were unanimously elected and the bylaw amendment making the past president a voting member of the board was Roberta with her approved. The new board consists of President Judy Clemens, Vice President, Marcia Talley, gift from the Secretary Mary Saums and Treasurer, Kathy Wall, along with Robin Burcell, Cathy board. Pickens, Jim Huang, Mary Boone, Charlaine Harris, Nancy Martin, Julianne Balmain Roberta hands the Seal of (aka Nadia Gordon) and Roberta Isleib. Office to Judy Clemens. Roberta presented Judy with the Official Seal of Office and Judy presented Roberta with the board’s thanks for her service and a very handsome clock. This article supports SinC’s Networking goal.

SinC Hospitality Suite TeTxht oaunghd r Poohmos twoigthr afrepeh foyo bd yat B coonnvenniteio Jns. aCnda crodnofenre nces are often small and hidden away, the one at 2008’s Boucher - con was an exception. Offering a variety of seating options and a billiard table, it was in the spa - cious Hall of Fame Lounge, on the main floor of the conference. Bouchercon attendees, 1,400 strong, quickly discovered it. Hosted by Sisters in Crime, the suite was open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. In the morning, conference attendees came in for coffee, tea, juices, Danish, yogurt and fresh fruit; in midmorning and early afternoon they noshed on snacks, such as pretzels and chips. In late afternoon on Thursday and Saturday they enjoyed luscious Berger cookies (sugar cookies with a thick, fudgey chocolate icing made by the Choosing a drink. Berger Cookie Company); On Friday there was heavenly Smith Island Cake (Baltimore’s newly designated State Dessert). The suite was busy all day. Authors met editors, agents and publishers and networked with other authors. Friends met to catch up on activities. People knitted, read Just hanging out. and played billiards. The suite was orga - nized by newly elected SinC president, Judy Clemens, and Penny Clifton, a member of SinC’s Chesapeake Having a snack with a friend. Chapter. Penny selected the food, which was either donated or purchased with funds provided by Bouchercon. Making sure the suite was well stocked kept executive secretary Beth Wasson and an army of volunteers, including several board members, many chapter representatives and a couple of past presidents, hopping. Their efforts drew raves. One person dubbed it, “The best hospitality suite in the world.” I doubt anyone who sampled its offerings would disagree. SinC hosted the suite as a “thank you” to the Baltimore community and Bouchercon. After all, this is where the idea for the organization known as Sisters in Crime was born. This article supports SinC’s Networking goal. The line forms on the right for Danish. December 2008 - 13 Bouchercon 39:

Lawrence Block, hon - TeBxatl taimnodr eP BhoouctohBegrrcaonapsh hyoc lBd ayk s Bpeoc inatnl sioiegn Jif. i cCOanacred fuorn Se inrC ; aRt the ofirst oorteds for h iis Dnistin gBuishead ltimore one in 1986, Sara Paretsky summoned a few women writers to a meeting Contribution to the that resulted in the formation of Sisters in Crime early the next year. Genre, was interviewed by We’ve come a long way since that initial meeting and that was abundantly Charles Ardai. Block has evident during the second Baltimore Bouchercon, held in the Sheraton Bal - been extremely prolific, timore City Center from October 9 to 12, 2008. It was one of the largest in writing about 18 books a recent memory, with 1,400 attendees. SinC members Ruth Jordan and Judy year at one point. He Bobalik were conference co-chairs and the large, well-stocked Hospitality started out writing stand Suite was organized and staffed by SinC womanpower (see page 13). alones. Tanner was his Bouchercon 39 leapt into this century with blogs, videos and a streaming first series and there have of Toastmaster ’s interview to his website — been sev - eral oth - via a cell phone. Although the conference will be two months SinC members Judy Bobalik and in the past by the time you read this, its website lives on. If you ers. When weren’t able to attend, you can still find videos of some events asked if he Ruth Gordon were Bouchercon and a blog that started before it began and continued for a was think - co-chairs. few days after it was over at: www.charmedtodeath.com. ing of re - Irish writer interviewed Toastmaster Mark tiring, Block said “It’s been a lot of years and more books Billingham, a hugely popular British writer with an interest - and I’ve wondered if it might be time to hang it up. I’ve ing past. He was an actor and a standup comic before becom - written everything I wanted to write and all of my series ing a book reviewer so he could get free books for his book have reached a point of stasis…[however] after the last few collection. The next step after that, he says, was writing. He weeks, if I were ready to retire, I’m not now.” Ardai: “That knows a book is finished “when nothing rattles.” Acknowl - may be the silver lining in all this [economic upheaval]. edging literary snobbery, he said, “Crime writers are the Block: “Well whoopee.” smokers of the literary community.” American Guest of Honor ’s first book Twist Phelan interviewed the Lifetime Achievement was published in 1977 and she now has 13 in print, along award recipients, husband and wife team Robert Rosenwald with nearly two dozen short stories. Her interview by and Barbara Peters, owners of the Poisoned Pen Book - Michael Koryta took place in room packed with people. store/Poisoned Pen Press. Peters said they started the press to Lippman said the “people who hated my work built me up reprint books and when the idea of publishing new books oc - as much as those who liked it.” She majored in journalism in curred her, she thought, “How hard can it be?” When she college though she thought the courses were ridiculous and asked Rosenwald about it, he said, “It sounds like fun.” It since she didn’t do well in them they dragged down her turned out to be harder than they thought but still fun. Their Baltimore resident grade average. She did much better in creative writing. Al - business model? According to Peters they “hope to make though she worked as a journalist for many years, she always enough on each book to publish the next one.” Laura Lippman wanted to be a novelist. Lippman is married to a TV writ - International Guest of Honor John Harvey was inter - was the American er/producer, David Simon, and the saying in their house - viewed by his publisher, . Harvey is British and Guest of Honor. hold is, “Write people who are smaller than life.” this was his first trip across the Pond in a couple of decades. Lippman went home with an armful of awards: two An - He started his career in 1976 as a pulp fiction writer. He has also written for thonys, a Macavity, a Barry. TV and was a teacher, “until my biker novels sold.” Those novels were easy Bouchercon’s live and silent auctions netted about $15,000 for the to write because “they had a structure and you didn’t have to exercise your Enoch Pratt Free Library and The Viva House. The very able auctioneers brain too much.” Harvey has written 100 books, 45 of them Westerns. (At for the live auction on Friday night were Donna Andrews and Chris least some in the audience — me included — expressed surprised that a Brit Grabenstein. A Laurie King donation — a character name in her next book would be writing books set in the American West but apparently it isn’t un - — sold for $1,500. And then there was Sandra Parshall. She offered charac - common.) ter names for a dog and a cat in her next book but when she added a charac - ter name for a guinea pig, the bidding soared to $900. Bouchercon’s Opening Ceremonies were on Thursday night, during which the Macavity, Barry and Crimespree Magazine awards were present - ed. The conference ended with the Brunch on Sunday, which was filled to overflowing. There was a sumptuous buffet, a memorial toast to Soren Pedersen and Ed Hoch, and a videotaped Tribute to . The Anthonys were presented. Then it was over, leaving only memories and a lot of hard working SinC members desperately in need of R&R.

Bonnie J. Cardone has edited a dental association magazine, a nursing home magazine and a scuba diving magazine. She is a freelance photojournal - SinC past presidents Susan Dunlap, Carolyn Hart and ist who has written four as yet unpublished mystery novels. This article supports SinC’s Career Development and Networking goals. Margaret Maron with vice president, Marcia Talley. December 2008 - 14 Honored for his Kat Richardson and Twist Phelan (center) interviewed Charlaine Harris. Distinguished Contribution Lifetime Achievement Award to the Genre, Lawrence Block recipients Robert Rosenwald and (left) was interviewed by Barbara Peters. Charles Ardai.

Toastmaster Mark Billing - Publishers/editors of hamʼs interview by John Many conference attendees made a pil - Crimespree, Jon and Ruth Connolly (left) was grimage to the nearby grave of Edgar Allan Jordan received an Anthony streamed live to his web - Poe, who died in Baltimore. Above is for Special Services. site via a cell phone. his original gravesite/headstone.

Bill and Toby Gottfried received the Sandstrom A Laurie King International Guest of Award from Deadly character Pleasures and Honor John Harvey (left) Rhys Bowen name sold for Mystery News for their was interviewed by Otto picked up a short $1,500 at the continuing support Penzler. story Macavity. live auction. of the genre.

All SinC panel (left to right): Louise Ure, Susan Dunlap, , Gillian Roberts and Janet Hutchings Margaret Maron. of EQMM December 2008 - 15 D E A D L I N E S  JANUARY 15, 2009 — Deadline for submission of items for the March Docket. Send to Patricia Gulley, 1743 N. Jantzen Avenue, Portland, OR 97217-7849 or e-mail: [email protected].  JANUARY 20, 2009 — Deadline for the March InSinC newsletter. Contact Bonnie Cardone: [email protected]; phone 805/938-1156. Other newsletter deadlines are April 20, July 20 and October 20.

 JANUARY 31, 2009 — Deadline for SinC membership renewal. Please renew online at www.sistersincrime.org. If you cannot renew online, a paper renewal form will be sent you. Contact Beth Wasson at [email protected] with any questions.

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