InSinC The Sisters in Crime Newsletter Volume XX • Number 1 March 2007 Paperback Original vs. Hardcover And The Even Better Hard/Soft By Jerrilyn Farmer Take a look at the following facts. the mystery section when they become a little Hardcover? Paperback? What’s the difference, The good, the bad, and the chains: Like older. Still, if a chain has ordered a large number anyway? Despite what some might imagine, the men, each book format has its good points and of PBOs they often strip (ouch!) the cover off difference between being published in hardcover its bad points. It’s all a matter of focusing on the a quantity of them and return them for credit. vs. mass market paperback is not one of sub- good. Let’s look at each of the formats in depth. It’s a little easier to keep a few on the shelves, genre or perceived quality. It’s about the pub- You gotta admit, a hardcover, with its crisp jacket though. This allows your backlist to have life and lisher. In New York, some traditional publishing and its heavier paper, looks and feels extra-cool. gives you a chance to acquire new readers and houses only publish in the hardcover format, It also has other benefits. A hardcover book fans during the months you don’t have a new while others may only publish in the mass mar- has a better chance of being reviewed by major book on the market. ket paperback size. Why one? Why the other? newspapers than a PBO, is more likely than a The question is, which format is better? In Which is best? How can paperback to have good library sales, and is at- addition to the size and price difference between you get that? tractive to the hypermodern book collectors out paperbacks and hardcovers, and the differences Despite the merging there. Sounds great, right? Well yes, but there are in marketing and sales channels, one needs to of the various major other points to consider. listen to the booksellers about their take on NY publishers over the For the author just starting out, general mys- each format. The best friends any mystery past years, the editors teries in hardcover often have rather small initial writer can have are those great people at the at each imprint acquire print runs — in the neighborhood of 2,000 to independent bookstores. They truly love books books for their own 5,000 books. Of course, if there is greater de- and by handselling, they can help an author find houses, and if the editor mand, it is no trouble for your publisher to go her audience. who falls in love with back to print. And in that case, mazel tov! How- I’ve heard booksellers say there is less re- your book works exclu- ever, hardcovers have a shortish shelf life (about sistance from a reader to try a new author sively in mass market, four to six weeks) in the large chain bookstores, in paperback — the investment is minimal it means your book will most likely come out and once they are deemed unsellable, they get — than in hardcover. But then I’ve also noticed in that format only. On the other hand, if you returned to your publisher who may just remain- that some people tend to take hardcover books get an offer from a hardcover house, there is no der the lot on some Under $5 Table in the near more seriously. Some bookstores seem happier guarantee they will also reprint your book in future. If your book also has a paperback deal, to book a signing for the author of a hardcover. mass market and many new authors are startled you’ll get a second chance to catch readers and Some stores in particular have a great hardcover to learn they won’t have paperbacks, too. find fans. With no paperback deal, there may be customer base and cater to collectors. But it also It would seem that the ideal situation is to less chance of new readers finding your backlist true that some fabulous mystery bookstores have get a hard/soft deal. This is not as x-rated as it and starting your series from book one. a great paperback customer base. You’ll discover first sounds. The idea is the publisher of your Things look a little different for a PBO. Even which store is which and target your efforts to hardcover books will share the rights with their first time PBO authors often get initial prints those that are the biggest fans of your type of (usually) in-house paperback partners. See how runs of 15,000–20,000. In addition, a good book and format. beautiful this is? It allows you to make royalties paperback house will keep the book in print The books in my own series were published twice for the same dang book (first as a hard- throughout the years, reprinting according to as PBOs, starting with the first, Sympathy for cover release and then, usually a year later, as a demand. For a mystery series, it is vital to have the Devil (Avon, 1998). And by my fifth book, paperback!) and gives you access to readers of the backlist available as many readers are com- with a growing readership, Morrow began pub- each format. Hooray. pulsive about reading a series in order and, with lishing the Madeline Bean series in hardcover, But what if you get an offer from one of the any luck, folks will continue to learn about you while Avon continues to publish them (now paperback houses to bring out your book as a and your books many years after the first one as reprints a year later) as paperbacks, and it paperback original (PBO): What does this mean is published. has worked out very well. I did not blaze this to the brilliant, thoughtful, business-savvy writer Also, the mass market sized paperback is mar- trail. Some of the great authors who started in who is just thrilled to learn her neatly typed, keted in a vast array of non-bookstore venues, paperback and moved to hard/soft deals include: lovingly worked over manuscript is wanted for such as airports, supermarkets, and lots of other Laura Lippman, Harlan Coben, Anne George, publication and is, despite the natterings of an places you rarely think about. Imagine selling Robert Crais, Carolyn Hart, Sharyn McCrumb, obviously jealous critique group, not a piece of 13,000 paperbacks vs. 1,500 hardcovers and you Gregory McDonald, Rick Riordan, Lisa Scot- dreck after all? Should you take the PBO? Should can see how much more quickly one would be toline, and Dana Stabenow, to mention only a you hold out, hoping some other brilliant editor able to build up a following by coming out in few. But to make this exciting transition, authors out there with a hard/soft kind of offer will come paperback. As far as shelf life, new paperbacks have to show their publishers there is a good along? Which format is best for you and your spend the same short time in the front of the hot, hot, hot new mystery series? chains but they are more likely to be shelved in Continued on page 13 Get a Clue Sisters in Crime Newsletter Purpose: The purpose of Sisters in Crime shall be to: combat dis- crimination against women in the mystery field, educate publishers and the general public as to the inequities in the treatment of female Paperback Original authors, raise the level of awareness of their contributions to the vs. Hardcover ...... 1 field, and promote the professional advancement of women who write mysteries.

President’s Message . . . . . 3 Rochelle Krich, President S.J. Rozan, At Large Roberta Isleib, Vice President Donna Andrews, Chapter Liaison SinC Book Club Database ...... 3 Marcia Talley, Secretary Judy Clemens, Review Monitoring Project Kathryn R. Wall, Treasurer Victoria K. Huston, Publicity Doris Ann Norris, Library Liaison Jim Huang, Bookstore Liaison Breakfast at Malice ...... 3 Vicki Cameron, Books in Print Editor Bonnie J. Cardone, InSinC Editor Peggy Moody, Web Maven Gavin Faulkner, Newsletter Graphic Designer Get Your Newsletter via E-mail . . 3 Beth Wasson, Executive Secretary; P.O. Box 442124; Lawrence KS 66044-8933; Phone: (785) 842-1325; Fax: (785) 856-6314; E-mail: Crossword Puzzle ...... 4 Presidents of Sisters in Crime 1987–88 Sara Paretsky; 1988 –89 Nancy Pickard; 1989–90 Margaret Maron; 1990–91 Kate Stine and Brian Skupin . . . . 5 Susan Dunlap; 1991–92 Carolyn G. Hart; 1992–93 P.M. Carlson; 1993–94 Linda Grant; 1994–95 Barbara D’Amato; 1995–96 Elaine Raco Chase; 1996–97 Annette Meyers; 1997–98 Sue Henry; 1998–99 Medora Sale; 1999–2000 Barbara Burnett Smith; SinC Goes to the Movies ...... 6 2000–2001 Claire Carmichael McNab; 2001–2002 Eve K. Sandstrom; 2002–2003 Kate Flora; 2003–2004 Kate Grilley; 2004–2005 Patricia Sprinkle; 2005–2006 Libby Hellmann; Authors of Color ...... 6 2006–2007 Rochelle Krich. BIP ...... 7 DEADLINES AND GUIDELINES The next InSinC Newsletter will be out in June Please send mailing address, phone number, and Chapter News ...... 7 . The deadline for all submissions is April 15. e-mail with submissions. If you have an idea for a Members’ publications since the last edition of story, please query the editor: Review Monitoring Project . . . . . 8 the newsletter will be listed in The Docket. Please include publication dates when submitting. Docket Bonnie J. Cardone material will be due April 10 and should be sent 3116 S. Trisha Court The Perils of Self-Publishing . . 9 to: Santa Maria, CA 93455-7137 Tel. (805) 938-1156 Conferences ...... 10 Patricia Gulley E-mail: 1743 N. Jantzen Avenue Portland, OR 97217-7849 In Memoriam ...... 10 E-mail: Forensic Science Con . . . . 11 Other honors, awards, and events of great “pith Moving? and moment” should be written up as short, sepa- Change of address (postal & e-mail) Texas Mystery Month . . . . 11 rate notices. These can be as short as a paragraph. notifications should be sent toboth Beth No publicity/promotion of individual members, Wasson, SinC Executive Secretary, P.O. please. Box 442124, Lawrence, KS 66044-8933, Great Lakes Book Show . . . 11 We particularly welcome reprints from SinC chapter newsletters. and to Rowan Mountain, Inc., P.O. Box Send columns, articles, ideas and praise via e- 10111, Blacksburg, VA 24062-0111. ALA Conference ...... 11 mail. Crossword Solution . . . . . 11 The Docket ...... 12 Don’t be left out of the loop. Join Sinc’s new Listserv: Minutes of SinC Board Meeting 13 Crime Bake Contest ...... 13 Promotional materials available to SinC members — Have your bookmarks or postcards designed Left Coast Crime 2007 . . . . 14 in color or black-and-white. SinC’s publicity mailing list of 5,000 bookstores, libraries, reviewers, etc. is available via direct addressing through Rowan Mountain, Inc., P.O. Box 10111, Blacksburg, VA 24062-0111. For more information, write Gavin Faulkner. E-mail: . Web: . Phone: 540-449-6178.

JUST THE FACTS: • InSinC Newsletter is the official publication of Sisters in Crime International and is published four times a year. • Dues and other Sisters in Crime cor- respondence (membership, orders for booklets, changes of address, etc.) may be sent to: M. Beth Wasson, SinC Executive Secretary; P.O. Box 442124, Lawrence, KS 66044- 8933; Phone: 785-842-1325; FAX: 785-856-6314; E-mail: • Information in the Newsletter is submitted and reprinted from sources listed in each article. Where required, permission to reprint has been granted and noted. SinC does not investigate each submission independently, and articles in no way constitute an endorsement of products or services offered. • Other information on Sisters in Crime is available from the President, who is the only person who may speak for the organization officially. Send queries and requests to: Rochelle Krich, 459 N. La Jolla Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90048-2232; E-mail: • No material may be reprinted without written permission from Sisters in Crime. Sisters in Crime © 2006 March 2007 –  tersincrime>. You’re missing a wonderful opportunity to get to know your fellow sisters and share your thoughts. And read about fire ants. Marching Forward I’m not kidding. By Rochelle Krich, SinC President We’re pleased to announce the formation of new chapters in Hono- March is here. It’s the month that heralds spring and rebirth (and lulu, HI; Lincoln, NE; Madison, WI; and Upper Hudson Valley, NY. okay, taxes). It’s also the month SinC has chosen to focus on libraries as Following a meeting with chapter presidents at Bouchercon, we’re en- we continue our 20th Anniversary celebration. couraging established chapters to partner with newer or smaller chapters SinC has always valued and nurtured its relationship with public in a Big Sister/Little Sister program. (The L.A. chapter has volunteered to libraries. We are proud to have among our members many librarians be the Hawaii chapter’s Big Sister.) If you have questions about starting who share our goals and introduce SinC authors to a chapter or need advice, please contact our national chapter liaison, readers not yet familiar with their work. We have Donna Andrews . been a presence at regional and national ALA con- ventions, where SinC panels are always popular and What’s ahead in 2007? generally sell out. During the past year and a half, We’re continuing to administer grants to fund SinC author appear- using Authors Coalition funds, we have awarded ances at bookstores and libraries. Former treasurer Mary Lou Wright has grants to libraries in Florida, Louisiana, and Mis- graciously allowed her arm to be twisted and will continue overseeing sissippi that suffered from natural disasters, and we these grants. are continuing to do so. Based on the terrific results from the PR firm we hired to promote our Months ago, with the efforts of vice-president 20th Anniversary, we have retained a firm to help us make our voices Roberta Isleib, library liaison Doris Ann Norris, and other board mem- heard as we march toward our 21st year. bers, information went out to libraries across the country about our an- We’ll be sharing the 2006 findings from our monitoring project, niversary display kits. The kits include a poster, bookmarks, membership chaired by Judy Clemens and her dedicated volunteers, with the publish- brochures, and a directory of SinC authors by geographical area. And, ers of the media being monitored. (See Judy’s article on page 8.) of course, crime scene tape. On May 6 we’ll look forward to greeting you at our annual Malice Our “instant gratifier” web mistress, Peggy Moody, posted informa- Domestic breakfast (please see the article below for the details). tion about the display kits on our site. To be honest, we didn’t know June 1-3 our New York chapter will host a booth at Book EXPO. how many libraries would be interested. Five hundred? Eight hundred? We will have a booth at the ALA convention, June 21-27, in Wash- A thousand? By mid January we had received 1,950 requests — and ington, D.C. had to go back to print. November is the scheduled publication date of an anthology of short Those 1,950 libraries have formed the basis of a library database we’re stories written by SinC past (and present) presidents, and edited by SinC developing so that we can more easily connect readers with SinC authors. founder Sara Paretsky. If you can help with this project, please let us know. Finally, we’re excited to announce that, also in November, SinC will Speaking of databases, we reported in our last newsletter that Lorraine be offering all members an opportunity to attend a forensics seminar Bartlett had volunteered to manage SinC’s new Book Club Database. chaired by Michelle Becker and Joanna Slan of the St. Louis chapter. (Read Lorraine’s report on this page.) If you know of a book club in your You can read the details in this newsletter and find the registration form area, please contact Lorraine < [email protected]>, or direct the on our website. book club facilitator to the database form on our website. And if you We’re proud of the many projects we have recently implemented, have ideas about how to find book clubs, many of which operate under and of the volunteers who helped transform wishes into reality. We are the radar, we’d love to hear from you. constantly seeking new ways to serve our membership, so if you have an In this newsletter you can also read Susan Beery’s take on our hugely idea that would benefit your sisters and brothers, please let us know. successful November 2006 Hollywood conference, co-chaired by SinC I’d like to end with a note our wonderful Beth Wasson forwarded to industry insiders Lisa Seidman and Mae Woods. (The unabridged ver- me from SinC member Kim Hoyo: sion is on our website, along with Susan’s report on events related to “I’d do without a cell phone before I’d be without my Sisters,” Kim the Hollywood conference.) told Beth. That made my day. In other news: I hope we make yours. SinC’s ListServ, managed by Sandra Parshall, has taken off. If you haven’t signed up yet, do it today .

SinC Book Club Proposed ByLaws Database Breakfast at On Website By Lorraine Bartlett Proposed changes to the SinC Bylaws will The Book Club Database will soon be avail- be voted on at the Malice Domestic break- Malice Domestic fast/membership meeting. Please take a minute able on our website’s Members Only page. (User Please join us at our annual Malice name and password is “goddess.”) We’ve already to look them over: . got a handy form to fill out at www.sistersin- friends, a full breakfast and plenty of cof- crime.org/bookclubform.shtml. fee. We are collecting the following information: When: 7:30 am, Sunday, May 6, 2007. Group Name, Contact Name, E-mail Address, Where: Crystal Gateway Marriott in Get your newsletter via e-mail. Phone Number, Fax Number, Location (Street, Alexandria, VA. The room name will be City, State, Zip/Postal Code), Meeting Date posted at the conference. Why? Save SinC money, and Frequency, Contact Preference (e-mail or Reserve your spot now. Send your check (more to spend on you, my Sisters)! snail mail), Send Promotional Material (yes/no), for $20, made out to Sisters in Crime to: Genre Preference, Book Format Required. Sisters in Crime, P.O. Box 442124, Law- Plus, you’ll get it in glorious color. Use the website form or send this information rence, KS 66044. Checks must arrive by to me at: . This data- To make the switch, contact: Friday, April 20, 2007. You will receive an and base could be the link that puts SinC’s authors’ e-mail confirmation when your payment books in the hands of legions of new readers. is received. . Please help us fulfill that goal. March 2007 –  If Cooks Could Kill* By Verna Suit * Joanne Pence (2002) Across 1. Key __ Pie Murder, by Joanne 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Fluke 5. Storybook elephant 14 15 16 10. Too __ Crooks Spoil the Broth, 17 18 19 by 77A 14. Old TV’s “__ Three Lives” 20 21 15. Useful 16. Ingrid’s “Casablanca” role 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

17. Mystery involving a canned 32 33 34 35 36 meat product, by 77A 20. Old JFK sights 37 38 39 40 41 21. Japanese drama 42 43 44 45 22. Do something 25. Draw from again 46 47 48 49 28. Green beer month 50 51 52 53 54 55 32. The Flaming __ of Death, by Jerrilyn Farmer 56 57 58 59 60 34. Ms. Zellweger 36. Soccer legend 61 62 63 64

37. Dropped-egg sound 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 39. “Dies __” 41. Dial M __ Meatloaf, by Ellen 73 74 75 Hart 76 77 78 42. Mystery to read at breakfast (with The), by Diane Mott Davidson © 2007 Verna Suit 46. Out of the Frying __ Into the 6. Spoonful, perhaps 44. Look of lust Choir, by Sharon Kahn 7. The Body in the __ Apple, by 45. Canadian interjections 47. Neighborhood Katherine Hall Page 46. School org. 48. Mover’s rental 8. Death __ Provencale, by Janet 49. Lou Jane Temple’s chef/sleuth 50. Amtrak sales Laurence Heaven __ 52. Foul-smelling 9. Bridle strap 51. Melancholy 55. Your highness 10. Accident 53. Large lizard 56. Fabulist 11. High mountain 54. A __ to Die For, by Claudia 58. TV host Philbin 12. Listening org. Bishop The solution is on page 11. 60. Born, in bios 13. Sweet potato 57. Mom, Apple __, and Murder, 61. Russian space station 18. Leb. neighbor by Nancy Pickard 63. Golden Rule preposition 19. Alias 59. EST part 65. Culinary mystery set in New 22. Pacino and Capone 62. Spellbound Orleans, by Lou Jane Temple 23. Fudge __ Murder, by Joanne 64. No Use Dying __ Spilled 73. Canal of song Fluke Milk, by 77A 74. Variety of Danish 24. Gifts for writing or cooking, 65. __ Hot Murder by Joanne 75. Dutch cheese e.g. Pence 76. Bambi and Rudolph 26. Give life to 66. Poet’s preposition 77. Mystery author __ Myers 67. A Tasty Way to __, by Janet 27. Llama country Verna Suit, longtime head of Laurence 78. Stoolies 29. Song’s chorus SinC’s Clipping Service, is also a 68. Gun gp. 30. Sense of finality professional cruciverbalist (crossword Down puzzle constructor). This mystery-re- 31. The heroine’s 69. Dim __ Dead, by Jerrilyn 1. Cup part Farmer lated puzzle is part of a series created 33. Egypt and Syr., once 2. Not well 70. Actress Lupino specially for InSinC. 35. Corn unit 3. Fax __ Bagel, by Sharon Kahn 71. The Chocolate __ Caper, by 4. Ice cream brand 38. Drink with crumpets Joanna Carl 5. The __ Did It, by Phyllis 40. College e-mail suffix 72. Murder mystery beginnings? Richman 43. Fido comment March 2007 –  Kate Stine and Brian Skupin “But I remembered and sent her a short letter in the (old-fashioned) mail. We corresponded of Mystery Scene Magazine for a time, then had our first real date at Malice Domestic the following spring.” Text and Photography by national newsletter; and senior editor of the The relationship flourished; Kate and Brian Bonnie J. Cardone Mary Higgins Clark Mystery Magazine. were married in 1999. InSinC Editor Kate and Brian met in 1996 at Magna Cum Besides acting as Mystery Scene’s co-publisher, This is one in a series of articles on SinC mem- Murder, where she was on a panel about book Brian writes articles, constructs crosswords and bers who publish mystery periodicals. reviewing. maintains the magazine’s website. In his spare Mystery Scene is an eclectic magazine with “Brian was in the audience and we chatted time, he plays golf, computer games and enjoys something for nearly every mystery lover: book in the lobby a bit,” Kate says. “He really caught puzzles of most kinds. He says the most reward- and media reviews, features, author essays, news my attention, though, with a well-written and ing aspect of publishing the magazine is, “the and even the occasional mystery crossword puz- funny letter after that.” detective work involved in tracking down the zle. It is easy on the eyes, too, liberally sprinkled Kate’s favorite part of publishing Mystery Scene interview subjects for our What’s Happening with photo- is, “putting the magazine together — acquiring With feature and doing the interviews. So far graphs, illus- the right mix of articles, finding illustrations, I’ve only reached one writer who didn’t want trations and writing short items and sidebars, etc. The mys- to be interviewed — for privacy reason — and sidebars. tery field is old enough and diverse enough that those I have spoken to have, without exception, S i n C it’s impossible to get bored. At various times I’ve been great fun to talk with.” m e m b e r s researched WW I, NASCAR racing, pre-Code The Magazine and co-pub- Hollywood, Britain’s MI5, basset hounds, and In addition to Kate and Brian, Mystery Scene’s lishers Kate Sergeant Preston of the Yukon among many staff includes book review editor, Jackie Acam- St i n e a n d other topics.” pora; assistant editor and circulation manager Brian Skul- When I asked her if she had any non-mys- Teri Duerr; art director Annika Larsson; and pin produce tery related hobbies, she replied, “I’m an avid consulting editors Ed Gorman, Tom Nolan, five maga- gardener. When I’m not out wallowing in dirt, Elizabeth Foxwell and Jeffrey Marks, who joined zines per year, one in February (Winter), April I read a lot of books on garden design and the staff last June. (Spring), June (Summer), September (Fall) natural history.” Kate’s column, entitled “At the Scene,” ap- and November (Holiday). The issues contain Brian Skupin pears on page 4, followed by “Letters” (from between 80 and 88 pages. Born in Oakville, Ontario, a suburb of To- readers), “Mystery Scene Miscellany,” “Hints & Headquartered in New York City, Mystery ronto, Brian is the middle child of three, he Allegations” (interesting news items on authors Scene has a circulation of 12,000. Subscriptions has an older sister and a younger brother. His (living and dead), awards, etc.) account for about half of that number and news- father was an accountant for Ford, his mother, a “Features” comes after that. In the Holiday stand sales, the rest. Research has determined housewife, and later, a real estate agent. issue there were articles on four well-known au- that 60 percent of the magazine’s readers are “My mother often read for pleasure, while my thors; collecting Ellery Queen; a crook’s tour of female and 74 percent are between the ages of father rarely did but they both encouraged us to New Jersey; Sisters in Crime; and a pulp fiction 40 and 65. do so,” Brian told me. “We had library cards early artist, along with a holiday gift guide. Mystery Scene was founded in 1985 by Robert on and if they could afford it at the time, they After “Features” there were “Media Reviews,” Randisi and Ed Gorman (who remains a consult- never turned down a request for the purchase of which included reviews of four audio books and ing editor), Kate and Brian bought it in 2002. a book. I recall being at my aunt’s house and my TV’s 24. Since they took over, the magazine has received sister Laura had brought some of the Dana Girls A department entitled “Writing Life” appeares an Anthony for Best Fan Publication (2004) and mysteries to read. I borrowed one and was fully next and includes an article on the trilogies of MWA’s Ellery Queen Award (2006). absorbed in it when my aunt asked me what I Dick Francis and Bernie Gunther and an article Kate Stine was doing. She said, ‘Didn’t you know they have on Joseph Gober Nazel, Jr. Kate Stine is Mystery Scene’s editor-in-chief. books for boys, too?’ and gave me one her sons’ In the “New Books” section, four authors She was born in Indianapolis and raised on a Hardy Boys books. After that I followed the tried discuss writing their latest books. farm in southern Indiana. She is the oldest of and true path through Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Twenty pages in the 2006 Holiday issue five girls. Their father was a salesman and their Christie and Ellery Queen.” are devoted to “Book Reviews,” with separate mother, a homemaker. Brian graduated from the University of sections for juvenile mysteries, books by small Kate discovered mysteries at an early age. “I Waterloo with a Bachelor of Applied Science presses, short stories, paperback originals and ref- was a precocious reader,” she told me, “and my in Systems Design Engineering and went to erence books. Twelve of the 20 pages are devoted mom decided that Reader’s Digest Books would work for Kellogg’s — the cereal company — in to hardcover book reviews. (Those interested in be safe for my tender young mind. This meant Toronto, where Bouchercon was held in 1992. having their new books reviewed should check I got an early introduction to Dick Francis, That was Brian’s first mystery convention and he the website for detailed instructions.) Robert Ludlum, Phyllis Whitney, Jack Higgins, volunteered to be the media liaison. Kate was at The last page of every magazine contains Dorothy Gilman and Barbara Michaels, among that convention but the couple wouldn’t meet Brian’s “What’s Happening With…” column. others, and I never looked back.” for four more years, after Kellogg transferred For the Holiday issue he interviewed Corinne Kate earned a BA in Psychology, with a minor Brian to their headquarters in Battle Creek, MI. Holt Sawyer, who published eight novels be- in Religious Studies, at Indiana University. A few Although he could have lived in that city, Brian tween 1988 and 1997 — and none since. Brian years later she attended New York University’s settled in Kalamazoo because it had a mystery tracked her to a retirement home in Southern Book & Magazine Publishing Program. bookstore. California. She joined the staff of Mysterious Press in In 1996, Brian saw an ad for Magna Cum In 2006, Kate and Brian created a special fund 1989. Four years later, she became editor-in- Murder in Muncie, IN. “I called the organizer to help New Orleans’ devastated libraries, donat- chief of Otto Penzler Books. From 1992 to 1997 (Kathryn Kennison) to get more details and see ing $5 for every back issue of Mystery Scene she edited The Armchair Detective. The magazine if it was worth the drive,” he says. “She assured sold. As of January 2007, $2,500 had been raised received Anthonys in 1996 and 1997, and she me that it would indeed be worth it, so I went. and the decision made to continue contributing received an Anthony for her book, The Armchair I attended the panel on reviewing that included to the fund the rest of the year. Kate and Brian Detective Book of Lists, in 1996. Kate. Afterward, she happened to ask me if I knew are also thinking of other ways to raise money Kate’s resume includes serving as the director where Kathryn was and we had a short conversa- for those libraries. of the Agatha Christie Society; editor of MWA’s tion, which she then forgot for all time. Continued on page 11 March 2007 –  SinC Goes to the Movies: Authors of Color Share Their Secrets of Success Selling Your Book to Hollywood. By Pamela Samuels-Young By Susan K. Beery by four dynamic panels with Hollywood’s mov- President, Authors of Color Chapter Photographs by Celeste Covas ers and shakers. The morning topics covered From the outside looking in, a writer’s life Last November, 80 of SinC’s traditionally adapting the novel for the big screen and writing can appear to be quite exciting. Cross-country published mystery authors attended its Holly- the TV mystery series. During lunch, Rochelle book signings, interviews with the media, chats wood Conference, a groundbreaking event that raffled off prizes, including the Hollywood with adoring fans. But those of us who are liv- included a Sony Studios tour, book signings, Creative Directory. From where I sat, the vibe ing the writer’s life know that it’s not nearly as a special screening, and a day of panels at the in the room was exhilarating. easy as it looks. Writers Guild featuring industry writers, agents, The attendees took copious notes during the For those lucky enough to obtain a book deal, producers, and development executives. For the afternoon agents’ panel, where the professionals promoting your work while trying to write the grand fina- made it clear that selling a book to the studios next one takes time, talent and a great deal of en- le, attendees and getting the movie made is difficult, but not ergy. The Authors of Color chapter is fortunate were sched- impossible. The market has changed. Packaging to have more than a few members who have not u l e d f o r is the best solution. Translation: they often tie just survived, but have thrived in this very com- five-minute a director, actress, or screenwriter to the project petitive business. Four such writers have agreed pitches with before they even approach the studios. The last to share some of the secrets of success. a producer panel, From Option to Air, featured producers Gary Phillips has six novels to his credit, or develop- and development executives who cautioned including the Martha Chainey and Ivan Monk ment exec- whatever deal you make, control your material series, as well as a boatload of short stories and Susan K. Beery and utive. Truly, best you can, adding that the only money you articles. Phillips was also honored as the toast- Anne Perry a weekend can count on is that from the option. master of the 2007 Left Coast Crime mystery to remem- The long-awaited pitch sessions concluded the conference in Seattle. What advice would he ber… afternoon. You could hear hearts thudding, see pass on to others? Friday morning, at a SinC-hosted breakfast sweat beading — okay, I exaggerate, but if you’ve “When you’ve finished a book you’ve enjoyed at Sony, president Rochelle Krich welcomed at- never sat across from a Hollywood executive with or watched a TV show or film you liked, take it tendees and introduced the conference co-chairs, the power to green-light a project, then you don’t apart structurally,” Phillips says. “What are the Lisa Seidman and Mae Woods. During the know fear. The good news: A number of authors elements that worked or didn’t work? Why do studio tour, I spoke with past president, Carolyn made contact. Libby Hellmann, Jessica Speart, these characters resonate with you as opposed to others you’ve seen in similar stories? What was it about the plot that was original or clichéd? And ask yourself how you’d write it differently. This isn’t about imitating something that’s already been done but is about analyzing the material as a way to sharpen your skills.” L.C. Hayden, host of the live talk show Murder Must Air, agrees that focusing on the writing craft is essential to longevity. “Know how to listen,” she urges. “If you write a novel that is continuously rejected, take a deep breath Hart, whose brainchild it was for Sisters to do an Jan Brogan, Lori Avocato, and Trish Terrell were and try to find its faults. You may want to put event with the Hollywood community. Thrilled several with follow-up requests. “I’ve never had it aside and work on something fresh. Later, you with the outcome, she added, “Hopefully, it will five minutes go so quickly, nor have I ever had to can always take it out of the drawer and revise raise the producers’ awareness of women mystery make so much happen in five minutes before,” it.” Hayden has penned five mystery novels, one writers and their potential for new material.” said Trish. of which was an Oprah On-line Reading Café The afternoon featured a pitching workshop A s t h e selection. Her debut novel, Who’s Susan, hit the given by Rona Edwards and Monika Skerbelis, conference Barnes & Noble Top Ten Bestsellers List. two veteran development executives. For the ended, I was Paula Woods is the author of three crime attendees, it was a dress rehearsal for Sunday’s left with these novels that feature LAPD homicide detective individual pitches, with the advice to practice, parting words Charlotte Justice. The L.A. Times bestselling practice, and practice. Then after a busy day, f r o m p a s t author cautions: “Don’t expect you’re going to time to kick off those sensible shoes, slip into p r e s i d e n t , become rich and/or famous writing fiction. The stilettos, and head over to dinner at Maggiano’s Libby Fisher days of sprinting into the winner’s circle after Little Italy at the Farmers Market. The pre-paid Hellmann. “It Rochelle Krich and one or two books are over, and probably never event was hosted by SinC’s Los Angeles chapter. was absolutely really existed for writers of color. So instead of You could feel the undercurrent of anticipa- fabulous. The Libby Hellmann planning your writing career like you expect tion as conversations inevitably circled back to panels were to hit the lottery — which few people ever do Sunday’s upcoming pitch sessions. enlightening — resign yourself to the more likely scenario of On Saturday, authors signed books at local — like a bucket of cold water. I’m leaving cold hundreds if not thousands of early mornings and bookstores. That evening, attendees met up at and wet, but wiser.” late nights toiling over a notepad or computer, the Writers Guild Theater for a screening of And that’s a wrap. lots of failure and rejection before success, and the pilot of Showtime’s hit series, Dexter, based Note: An in-depth account of the conference carpal tunnel syndrome or at least permanently on the novel, Darkly Dreaming Dexter. An weekend is available on the SinC website under hunched shoulders to go with that first finished informative Q&A with the show’s producers “News.” manuscript.” followed, and a lively reception with wine and Few among us will ever achieve the recogni- hors d’oeuvres capped the night. Susan K. Beery serves as Public Relations Direc- tion accorded Gene Cartwright. His third novel, Sunday’s daylong event at the Writers Guild tor on SinC/LA’s Board and has a story in the new A Family Gathering, is a Pulitzer fiction award began with a bountiful breakfast buffet, followed anthology, LAndmarked For Murder. candidate for 2007 and his debut novel, I Never March 2007 –  Played Catch with My Father, earned him an appearance on Oprah. What led him to become disciplined enough to pursue the writer’s life? “My mother taught me to read before I was BIP in Your Mailbox four years old. I quickly acquired a deep love of the written word. I found myself creating my By Vicki Cameron own scenarios, stories, and tales that I visualized By now you have received Books In Print BIP 2007 because the manuscript was at the in print. At age 11, I wrote my first story — a 90 2007. It has a splashy cover I know you printer. New members, please note that if you page, handwritten work. So, I had a longstand- enjoyed. send in your entry when you join, and a week ing, burning desire to pour out my ideas in a Please take a few minutes to read your later receive BIP in your member package, form that I could share. It was a dream nurtured, entry. If you have books in more than one cat- your entry will not be in it. even through my career as an engineer.” egory, please check them all. Our categories If you have recently joined the ranks of Despite their success, is there anything these are Novels, Collections/Anthologies, Young published authors, make sure you let Beth veterans wished they had known at the outset Adult/Children’s, German, and Non-fiction. Wasson know. She will add you to the list to of their careers? “The importance of creating a There is a Table of Contents on the first page receive the BIP announcement. more effective outline,” Cartwright says. “While so that you can easily find these sections. However, you don’t really need the BIP I feel my process worked, I feel I could have Once you have found your entry, read it announcement. Just go to the website and fill produced an even better novel. Of course, I to make sure it is correct. Then read some out the form, which is available 24/7. always feel that way.” of the 20 word descriptions of other authors’ All entries that come via e-mail get a re- Woods says she didn’t realize that “writing books and see if you can improve yours for sponse from me. If you don’t get a response, was such an intense commitment. It takes a lot next year. send again. All mail and faxes with a legible e- of ‘little gray cells,’ as Agatha Christie’s Her- If all is well, you will be happy with your mail address get a response. If you don’t get a cule Poirot says, to conceive and solve fictional entry, and next year you’ll be back with a new response, either I couldn’t read your e-address crimes, which means time away from other book to add. or my fax ate your entry. You can simply send important parts of your life. But books don’t If all is not well, you can complain. You can an e-mail to inquire if I got the fax. It will be get written on bar stools, while talking about it do this by phoning me and shouting, or by easier to talk to my fax this summer, as I now at a party, or while attending fan conventions writing a nasty letter to me and/or Beth, or have high speed internet and the fax line is not or book festivals asking other authors ‘What’s going to the top and having a few words with always busy. However, the fax machine still your typical writing day like?’ It’s a lonely, slow our President. None of these options will help goes on strike in humid weather. process and you (and your loved ones) have to because BIP 2007 is printed and distributed Our website form is working splendidly, be willing to pay that price at the outset.” and we don’t do recalls. and it is actually easier to use than the e-mail Gary Phillips says, “I wish I’d known how time Instead, go directly to the website and form I send you. If you have a choice, use consuming the business of writing is as compared submit the form to correct my errors or the web form. to just being able to hone your craft. That is, how oversights. At the bottom of the form is a line As you might imagine, uploading the entire you have to hustle what you’ve written if you want called Notes. This is where you can rant. text of the new BIP to the website is a huge to get it out there, get it noticed.” It has been my experience over the last few job. Please be patient as we are all new at this. L.C. Hayden says, “I wish I had known my years that most “missing” or “wrong” entries We eventually hope to allow new entries to craft a little bit better before I attempted to be are not really missing or wrong. be posted on the website in short order, but published. I feel I’ve learned quite a bit about You know you must respond annually to that can’t be done at the moment. writing. In fact, I wish I could rewrite my first the call for submissions. You know we send Now that we’re finished discussing your book. It’s a great story, but there could be so out the call every spring and the entry must entry, wander through BIP and enjoy the much more to it.” be received by August 1. If you forgot, your works of your sisters and brothers. Make a Phillips urges writers to always be on the book was cut. Those are the rules. list. Go to the bookstore. Order books. You’ll lookout for their next story. “Always observe If your book is non-fiction, and you sent be glad you did. and listen to people — in elevators, in line at it with your fiction entry, it will be in the the grocery and so on. The advent of the cell non-fiction section. Please look there prior Vicki Cameron’s e-door is always open for phone has got to be the greatest and most an- to blowing your gasket. your BIP entry. . noying device to come along since the radar If you submitted your entry after the So is Web Maven Peggy’s website door: . overheard this cat talking to someone on a cell phone and it was hilarious and I will steal that to use somewhere.” These veterans all agree that no matter how Pittsburgh Chapter great your talent, success and longevity will Chapter News The Pittsburgh Chapter held a tea at the require perseverance and lots of it. “Believe in Submit news of your chapter’s activities (photos, Mystery Lovers Bookshop to celebrate our 20th yourself and follow your dreams,” Hayden says. too) to . The dead- Anniversary. The photo shows the display of “The world is filled with talented people who line for the next issue (June 2007) is April 15. SinC materials and members’ books the chapter gave up too soon. When one door closed, I put together. simply used the window.” The Authors of Color chapter is open to any The Final Twist (Houston, TX) SinC member who seeks to contribute to the growth In September 2006, the Houston Chapter and development of mystery writers of color. Those — The Final Twist — held discussion panels at interested may e-mail . SinC‘s 20th Anniversary display in the stores. The participating authors were: Bill Crider, Rosemary Poole-Carter, LB Cobb, Pauline B. Jones, Gayle Wigglesworth, Julie Wray Her- Have breakfast with your man, Alvin H. Franzmeier and Kay Finch. Sisters at Malice. Moderators were Cash Anthony, Pauline B. Jones and Jana Phillips. The panels discussed See page 3 for details. topics of interest as well as promoting Sisters in Crime. March 2007 –  We Have the Numbers. Now What? Results of the 2006 Review Monitoring Project By Judy Clemens List of Monitors Heidi Holzer Project Coordinator When Sisters in Crime began monitoring Jonnie Jacobs reviews in 1987, only 6 percent of the books Robin Agnew Beverly Kiesel in the New York Times Book Review were by Mary Dodge Allen Tom Leitch women. The next year, Deb Baker Cheryl Marceau thanks to encourage- Rebecca Bates Clair McNab ment from SinC, that number rocketed to Leslie Budewitz Mary Lou Merkel 23 percent. Now it’s Andrea Campbell Ann Parker 38 percent. Not parity Kathleen Chalmers Sandra Parshall – but at least we’re get- Alzina Stone Dale Caroline Young Petrequin ting closer. Mary Ellen Donahue Pamela Reynolds The Review Monitor- ing Project has grown Monette Draper Sara Rosett significantly during the Karen Duxbury Debby Schenk past 20 years. In 2006 Eden Embler Kate Sender we monitored 60 maga- Sally Fellows Liz Sharpe zines and newspapers. Women’s crime fiction Sara Hoskinson Frommer Verna Suit reviewed in these publications ran the gamut from a dismal 11 percent to a surprising 88 Anne Gallagher Barbara Fitchman Thompson percent. The overall average, 56 percent books Barbara Goffman Janice Trecker by men, 44 percent books by women, is exactly Pat Gulley Sylvia Ulan the same as in 2005. No loss, but no improve- Amy Gunby Nancy Glass West ment, either. Only 10 publications — out of Malinda Hall Evelyn Whitehill 60 — featured 50 percent or more reviews of books by women authors. Karen Harper Deborah Woodworth Now, what do we do with these numbers to strengthen the position of women in the publishing industry? List of Publications New York Times Book Review 38 percent I’ve had great communication this year with Booklist ...... 37 percent publishers and reviewers, which I reported Overall Average 56 percent male, 44 percent female Denver Post ...... 37 percent on in earlier newsletters. We discussed how Houston Chronicle . . . . 37 percent books are chosen for review, what reviewers 50 Percent and Higher Toronto Globe and Mail . . 37 percent are looking for, and the lack of space dedicated Chicago Sun-Times ...... 36 percent to reviews. We’ve had people step forward to Valley Times ...... 88 percent Romantic Times . . . . . 87 percent Crimespree Magazine . . . 36 percent review traditional mysteries, an oft-forgotten Los Angeles Times ...... 36 percent category. And we’ve discussed why this category Omaha World Herald . . . 76 percent St. Martins “Read It First” . . . 73 percent Star Ledger ...... 35 percent is forgotten. USA Today ...... 33 percent With 2006 over, we have data for an entire Contra Costa Times ...... 63 percent Mystery Scene ...... 52 percent Orlando Sentinel . . . . . 31 percent year. What’s the next step? We’ll be sending Chicago Tribune Sundays . . 30 percent letters to the publishers of the review media, Express News ...... 50 percent Kirkus ...... 50 percent Daily Press ...... 30 percent informing them what percentage of women’s Hartford Courant . . . . . 30 percent books they reviewed and how their publication Nonpareil ...... 50 percent People ...... 50 percent Powells Book Reviews . . . 30 percent fares beside the other publications we moni- Strand Magazine . . . . . 30 percent tored, and the overall average. Some publishers 40–49 Percent will receive our thanks. Others will receive a Lower than 30 percent request to open a conversation – how can we BookPage ...... 47 percent Mystery News ...... 47 percent Mystery Readers Journal . . 29 percent improve the numbers for women in 2007? I’ll Wall Street Journal ...... 29 percent let you know what responses we receive. Sunday Oregonian ...... 47 percent Library Journal ...... 46 percent Star Tribune ...... 28 percent A huge “thank you” to all the monitors who San Francisco Chronicle . . 23 percent put in so much of their time this year. The Winston Salem Journal . . . 46 percent Publishers Weekly . . . . . 44 percent San Jose Mercury News . . . . . 23 percent project wouldn’t exist without you, and your The Washington Post . . . 22 percent work is much appreciated. Baltimore Sun ...... 43 percent Seattle Times/Post Intelligencer 43 percent St. Louis Dispatch ...... 18 percent As always, if you are interested in joining Arkansas Democrat-Gazette . . 11 percent the effort, please contact me. We do have some Dallas Morning News . . . 42 percent Ellery Queen ...... 42 percent New Yorker ...... 0 percent publications that need a monitor and we’re (only 1 review) open to adding new newspapers or magazines Indianapolis Star . . . . . 41 percent as well. The Philadelphia Inquirer . . 41 percent Here’s hoping for 50 percent in 2007! No Mystery Reviews 30–39 Percent Bazaar If you’d like to share your thoughts and com- Deadly Pleasures . . . . . 39 percent Bloomington Herald-Times ments about the state of our industry, or would Kansas City Star . . . . . 39 percent Newsweek like to join the Monitoring Project, please write Detroit Free Press . . . . . 38 percent Texas Monthly to Judy at . Missoulian ...... 38 percent Vogue

March 2007 –  Source. They’re considered a POD printer, The Perils of Self-Publishing: but if you code your books in their system as returnable any store can buy them. Not Lessons Learned the Hard Way only that, they’re linked to Ingram and Baker Taylor. All it takes is for one store, just one By TJ Perkins your own books to sell at your table. The fol- store, to place an order as a “back order” or You write a book, get it accepted by an agent, lowing are few helpful hints: “special” in their ordering system to get the and then a publisher. At least, that’s the “proper” • Buy or make a tablecloth that fits your book’s ball rolling. When your books sell, Lightning path to publication. When I was a new author, theme. Source sends you a monthly check. however, no one told me what the “proper” way • Bring flyers with information about your Finally all of my tweens mystery books were was. I wouldn’t wish my struggles on anyone else, book, how to order it, where it’s carried, your available at a lower price than the POD company so I offer insight. It’s been a long, hard path for website information, etc. had wanted, had new covers and illustrations, me, but it’s finally paying off. • Have business cards and bookmarks handy and more importantly, they were RETURN- I’ve been writing for 13 years. I spent the to give away. ABLE. first eight on short stories and books. A few of • Have a bowl of candy on your table. But wait! That’s not the only thing – there’s my short stories were published, but 50 to 80 • Raffle off a book. Raffle tickets are available even more to do! publishers turned down the books. from large party stories and Smart & Final. • Networking is awesome, always stay in touch I didn’t know there were different types of • Keep in mind that some chain bookstores with the people and stores you meet and do publishers; I thought they were all alike. How- have special local author events and educator business with. ever, since my books were mysteries for ”tweens,” appreciation nights. These are a perfect way • Send out Christmas and Thank You cards I did target publishers that wanted mystery/ to get your foot in the door. • Be very customer service oriented because children’s stories. I was still turned down. The whole idea is to make yourself known: now you’re your own publisher, marketer, Then I thought perhaps I had to go outside Here I am, here’s my book, this is what it’s and manager. the lines, be unorthodox in my approach and about, etc. • Remember – people buy from people they shake things up. When your signing schedule is full of events, like. One way to increase your chances of being it’s time to tell everyone about it. I found a wonderful company that specializes published is to create and build a publishing • Place ads in local papers listing your events. in promoting authors and their books. They’re credits list. I decided to do that by writing Star • Try to set up interviews with local media called Spotlight Publicity. Wars fan fiction and getting short stories pub- (newspapers and radio stations). With any Last but not least, I managed to get my biggest lished for free through webzines. luck, they will mention your signings. seller, Mystery of the Attic, made into an amuse- After I had what some magazines considered • Many people write checks when buying ment park ride. Plus, all of my books are now “worthy experience,” many of my short stories books. Create a mailing list using the names in the hands of a producer who was looking for sold and were published in real magazines. I and addresses on the checks. Now you can ideas for video games for little girls. started getting paid for my efforts. notify people about your future signings/ All I can say about this last venture is this: When a publisher accepted my first book, events. Mass e-mailing of a cool idea is a blast for Wound Too Tight, in 2001, I was very excited. It Now let’s dig a little deeper. There’s so much results. wasn’t until the book came out and I tried to set more to explore. What type of book have you So, what’s your book about? How far are you up book signings and appearances in places such written? I write mystery books for ages 8 to 14. willing to go to push a great story? Remember, as Barnes & Noble that I learned I had a POD I didn’t know it at first, but my books fall into if you don’t believe in yourself and your book publisher. I had no idea what that was, or why the “tweens” category. This was something I no one else will. First and foremost, I strongly it made my book undesirable to stores. had never heard of before, but if store manag- recommend you try getting your book published I’m sure many of you have heard the horror ers wanted these types of books, I was ready to the traditional way. I also strongly recommend stories concerning Vanity and POD publishing offer mine. getting an agent. Keep trying for several years and I’m here to tell you how to fix the mistake: • I called and mailed every children’s mystery before taking the hardest path — the one I took. POD – Print On Demand – means a pub- bookstore telling them about my books for But once you start down that path be prepared lisher prints only the number of books you order tweens. to persevere and hold fast to your belief in that and since they’re not returnable, if they don’t • I sent out a mailing to schools to set up ap- wonderful story you wrote. sell in a store, tough. This is why big stores like pearances, telling kids about the publishing Good Luck! B&N, Waldenbooks, Boarders, Books-A-Mil- process, reading a little from my books, an- lion, etc. won’t buy or carry POD books. swering questions, etc. Selling a lot of books TJ Perkins has published seven books. She loves The only way around this is to contact comes with school appearances. making school appearances to encourage children independent booksellers. Try popping into lo- • I also got the idea that two of my books to write, enter contests and stretch their imagina- cal stores with copies of your book, flyers and would make great plays and did a mass e- tions. possibly business cards. You can get bookmarks mailing to children’s theater companies all and business cards made at small local printing over the U.S. One theater in New Jersey made companies or office supply stores. a play out of Mystery of the Attic. I went there When you tell independent bookstore owners for opening day, sold books, and did a signing about your book, ask if they’ll be willing to host at the local B&N. Have You Renewed a signing for you. You’ll have to buy your books By this time, four years had gone by. I felt from your POD publisher at whatever discount totally trapped and held back by my POD pub- Your they offer and then offer them to the store (on lisher. I had to take matters into my own hands. consignment) at a discounted price, so the store I broke ties with the POD publisher and, once Membership? makes a profit. The more books you sell, the I gained complete control: more you and the store make. • I thought up a publisher name The deadline for payment of Set up signings months in advance. And, • Contacted Bowker and bought a block of 10 SinC dues was January 31 if you have a signing at a store in the spring, ISBNs — but you can still schedule another in the fall. My biggest sales • Found an illustrator have been from the time school starts until the • Found a cover designer renew online using PayPal at: weekend before Christmas. • Since I’m good with Word, I formatted the It’s also good to participate in as many book text of all of my books fairs as possible. Once again, you’ll have to buy • Contacted a printer, in this case, Lightning March 2007 –  Coming up: Conferences for mystery writers on June 10, 2007. SinC President Rochelle Krich will be the morning & Happenings speaker and Jacqueline Winspear will deliver the keynote address at the luncheon. COCHISE COUNTY come, first serve basis. They should also consider This year the conference will be held in a volunteering to stay in the booth before or after new location: The Embassy Suites Hotel, 211 ANNUAL BOOK FAIR their signings. E. Huntington Drive in Arcadia, CA. The ho- SIERRA VISTA, AZ Those interested in volunteering in any tel is freeway close and offers free parking, the The Cochise County chapter of Sisters in capacity should contact Cynthia Baxter, presi- expanded banquet facilities needed to host a Crime will hold its third annual Book Fair from dent of SinC’s New York/Tri-State Chapter, at larger number of attendees, and elegant accom- 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on March 24, 2007, in the . For more infor- modations for out-of-towners. Cochise College Library, Sierra Vista, AZ. For mation about the event, visit rooms and a choice of 12 workshops/panels. . New this year will be a vendor room. If you would like to participate, see the form The conference cost includes all panels, on the website or contact chapter president De- MURDER IN THE GROVE breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack. SinC nise A. Agnew at . While BOISE, ID members pay a special price of $125 until May you do not have to be a SinC member to sign Murder in the Grove, featuring guest of honor 31, 2007. After June 1 and at the door, registra- books or participate in panels, seating will be Robert Crais, will be held June 8 to 9, 2007, at tion will be $150. For more information, visit limited, so sign up early. the Boise Center on the Grove. Author panels and click on No and writing workshops, forensic and criminol- Crime Unpublished Conference tab. ogy workshops, as well as appointments with MALICE DOMESTIC XIX top agents and editors will be available. Plus, THE MYSTERY WEEKEND ARLINGTON, VA on June 8, a full day master class for writers, DES PLAINES, IL Malice Domestic will be held May 4 to 6, “Empowering Characters’ Emotions” will be 2007, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Ar- given by Margie Lawson, M.S. The Chicagoland chapter of Sisters in Crime lington, VA. Rochelle Krich, will be the guest of The conference cost of $100 includes all is hosting the First Annual Crime Writers’ Re- honor, Elaine Viets, the toastmaster, Georgette workshops and panels, a book fair, dessert party, treat—The Mystery Weekend— From June 29 Heyer, the ghost of honor and Kay McCarty, the luncheon and Saturday night reception and en- to July 1, 2007, at the Cabrini Retreat Center, fan guest of honor. Carolyn Hart will receive the tertainment. The master class, agent and editor 9430 Golf Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016. The lifetime achievement award. appointments (including manuscript reviews), cost is $225, which includes room, meals, and For more information see the website at: are additional. Special rates of $99/night for sessions. Participants will attend three program . conference participants are available at the bou- sessions and have three writing and mentoring tique Hotel 43 in downtown Boise. Also, Idaho’s sessions. By the end of the weekend, participants Popular Fiction Association, Inc., sponsors a may have at least one chapter or short story MAYHEM IN THE MIDLANDS contest for unpublished writers in connection completed. with the conference (you do not need to attend The master writers leading the program OMAHA, NE to participate). sessions are: Barbara D’Amato, Libby Fischer Margaret Maron will be guest of honor and For more information and registration, visit Hellmann, and Gail Lukasik. Nancy Pickard, toastmaster, at Mayhem in the ; call 208/343- Space is limited to the first 20 people who Midlands, to be held May 24 to 27, 2007, at 8739; or write P.O. Box 4762, Boise ID pay in full. Critiquing will be offered by advance Embassy Suites Hotel in Omaha. Registration 83713. arrangement only and for an additional fee. For is limited to 200. For more information, check more information, please contact Silvia Foti at out the website at . org/mayhem>. HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY CONFERENCE BOUCHERCON 2007 BOOKEXPO AMERICA ALBANY, NY ANCHORAGE, AK NY, NY Diana Gabaldon and Bernard Cornwell will be the guests of honor at the Historical Novel Bouchercon 2007, “Bearly Alive,” will be held New York City will be hosting BookExpo September 27 to 30 in Anchorage, AK. The America (BEA) from June 1 to 3, 2007, at the Society Conference, to be held June 8 to 10, 2007, in Albany, NY. American guest of honor will be Ann Rule, the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan. special guest of honor, Diana Gabaldon, and the Volunteers who can answer questions and The conference welcomes all genres of his- torical fiction, including mysteries. There will be fan guest of honor, Barbara Peters. James Sallis hand out literature about Sisters in Crime are will receive the Lifetime Achievement award. needed in our booth. They will be admitted to panels and speakers, agent and editor consulta- tions, and book sales and signings. The host hotel is the Anchorage Hilton, which the exhibition hall at no charge. In addition, we is offering a conference rate of $120 per night. need three volunteers willing to take on specific Conference information and registration forms are available on the website at www.his- For more information and to register, see the tasks — one to coordinator author signings, website: . one to take care of badges (they have to be toricalnovelsociety.org. To query about sending passed from one person to another), and one to promotional items, please contact Carol Anne take charge of the SinC materials, having them Germaine at . Please use mailed to her house and delivering them to the Historical Novel Society in the subject line. Javits Center. In Memoriam Barbara Seranella, of Laguna Beach and We also need authors willing to autograph NO CRIME UNPUBLISHED La Quinta, CA, died January 21, 2007, of and give away (not sell) 30 to 50 copies of their liver disease. The bestselling author of the books, which their publishers should provide. LOS ANGELES, CA Munch Mancini mysteries was 50. SinC members are invited to sign up for an The Los Angeles chapter of Sisters in Crime hour of autographing in the booth on a first will hold its No Crime Unpublished conference March 2007 – 10 place in and around the Austin area. However, 23 to 27, 2007. SinC’s Forensic panel discussions and book signings are usually ALA is the largest library gathering in the held in other Texas cities such as Houston, Dal- world. We will be promoting SinC and its 20th Science Conference las, and San Antonio. Anniversary. Our plans are not finalized, but The Sisters in Crime sponsored “Forensic Austin area programs already on the Texas we hope authors who live in the area, or want University of St. Louis: 50 Ways to Catch a Mystery Week 2007 schedule include the Future an excuse to visit it, will spend some time at the Killer,” will be held November 1 to 4, 2007, Authors Extravaganza (May 13), and A Day of booth. It is preferable if you have books to give at the St. Louis Airport Hilton, St. Louis, MO. Mystery Writing (May 19), both coordinated away, but not absolutely necessary. Topics for the two and a half days of classes in- by Marcia Spillers. In between, Austin author Many publishers are willing to provide boxes clude: an overview of forensic science and police Karen MacInerney will present a series on How of books or ARCs. If your publisher will be procedure; how to make forensic science work to Write a Mystery (May 15 to 18). represented at ALA, ask if they want you to ap- in your book; crime scene basics; overview of As in the past two years, Austin area events pear at their booth and perhaps pay your travel crime labs; death investigation basics; autopsies; will culminate in the Barbara Burnett Smith expenses. psychology of crime; poisons and their detection; Aspiring Writers Event (BBSAWE) on Sunday, For authors who can’t attend ALA: We usually understanding DNA evidence; fingerprints; May 20. This event honors the late Barbara have six to ten baskets of our members’ auto- firearms evidence; the role of photography and Burnett Smith, past president of Sisters in Crime graphed books to use in the raffles we hold two videography in forensic work; interpretation of and an inspirational and encouraging mentor to or three times each day. You may also send up to blood spatter; trace evidence; forgery; the role of many writers. For this event, aspiring writers will 100 pieces of promotional materials. Librarians jurisdiction in forensic procedures; entomology; submit a writing sample and will be matched rarely take 8 by 11 publicity sheets, preferring science and the courtroom; and using warrants with author-mentors who will give feedback via bookmarks, postcards or small pamphlets. In a and searches. e-mail and then meet with the aspiring writer at month or so we will let you know through the Key faculty will include Dr. D.P. Lyle, author the BBSAWE. A keynote speaker and possible Sisters in Crime Listserv where to send your of Murder and Mayhem: A Doctor Answers Med- other programming will be provided by the Bar- promotional materials. ical and Forensic Questions for Mystery Writers; bara Burnett Smith Mentoring Authors Foun- We are also hoping that a Sister in the D.C. Jan Burke, author of the Irene Kelly series; and dation, a new organization created by Barbara’s area who is planning to attend will allow us to Eileen Dreyer, best-selling author of more than husband, Gary Petry, and son, W.D. Smith. use her address as the official SinC ALA mailing eight medico-legal mysteries. Visit for more informa- address. We are checking with the Convention Keynote speaker Jan Burke is the founder of tion and, if you’re in the area, be sure to stop in Center to make sure we don’t have to carry items the Crime Lab Project (CLP). For $35, confer- and join the fun. in ourselves. And we are, of course, depending ence participants can attend the optional A on help from the Chesapeake Chapter. Muddy Brew-Ha-Ha Party and Auction to raise If you are interested in attending the confer- money for the CLP, a non-profit organization Great Lakes Book ence or sending material, please contact me working to increase awareness of problems facing directly at and I will public forensic science agencies. Show a Success respond to you personally. Michelle A. Becker and Joanna Campbell Thirty-six SinC members participated in Slan, president and vice-president respectively our 20th Anniversary booth at the Great Lakes of the Greater St. Louis Chapter of SinC, are Booksellers (GLBA) Fall Trade Show in Dear- Kate Stine & Brian Skupin co-chairs and founders of Forensic University born, MI, October 6 to 8, 2006. Hailing from Continued from page 5 of St. Louis. 17 states and two Canadian provinces, these Conference registration is $225 for SinC The website Brian created and maintains can members sent promotional material and donated members; $265 for non-members. The cost be found at . It books and T-shirts for gift baskets awarded as includes a welcome reception; all classes; a hand- contains reviews not found in the magazine, prizes at the end of the show. book with resource material; two box lunches a downloadable order form for back issues, Publishers for the five member authors who and a continental breakfast. After May 31, regis- submission guidelines (for books and articles), also signed at the booth gave away more than tration will be $250 and $290, respectively. subscription info and a variety of other helpful, 200 books to show attendees. Our grand prize The first 50 registrants are eligible to add interesting material. winner, Kazoo Books from Kalamazoo, MI, says a visit to the Bull’s Eye LLC Indoor Shooting the winning basket produced lots of customer Range for $35, which includes transportation, Bonnie J. Cardone’s first short mystery fiction smiles during Kazoo’s Christmas open house, ammunition, targets, safety gear, assistance from was recently published in the new anthology, Gone when the contents were given away in hourly a range instructor, and debriefing. The host ho- Coastal. drawings. tel, Hilton St. Louis Airport, is offering rooms SinC members who have never attended a starting at $88 a night, not including local taxes regional booksellers event should check with Crossword Puzzle Solution or parking. their local chapters about this year’s trade show For more information or to register, go to calendar. GLBA booksellers from Michigan, L I M E B A B A R M A N Y . Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois will convene their Attendance is limited 200; no one under 18 I L E D U T I L E I L S A 18th Annual Trade Show at the Renaissance will be admitted. P L A Y I T A G A I N S P A M Hotel and Convention Center in Schaumberg, S S T S N O H IL, September 28 to 30, 2007. Co-chairs of the 2006 SinC booth at GLBA A C T R E T A P M A R C H Texas Mystery Month were Doris Ann Norris and Willetta L. Heising. L U A U R E N E E P E L E S P L A T I R A E F O R Once again, the Sisters in Crime Heart of Texas Chapter (HoTXSinC) will host a Texas C E R E A L M U R D E R S Mystery event this May. What began as Texas ALA Annual P A N A R E A U H A U L Mystery Week has expanded over time and T K T S F E T I D S I R E outgrown its name. This year’s organizers, led Conference A E S O P R E G I S N E E by HoTXSinC President Sarah Ann Robertson, By Doris Ann Norris, M I R U N T O have faced reality and bestowed upon the event Library Liaison R E D B E A N S A N D V I C E the more accurate moniker, Texas Mystery Sisters in Crime will once again have a booth E R I E P R U N E E D A M Month (TMM). at the American Library Association (ALA) D E E R T A M A R R A T S The Heart of Texas Chapter is Austin based conference, to be held at the Washington Con- and the majority of TMM programs will take vention Center in Washington, D.C., from June Verna Suit ©2007 March 2007 – 11 THE DOCKET THE DOCKET THE DOCKET THE DOCKET THE DOCKET THE DOCKET THE DOCKET THE DOCKET By Patricia Gulley Margit Liesche, LIPSTICK AND LIES, Poi- Jaclyn Weldon White, MOCKINGBIRD soned Pen Press, April 2007 IN THE MOONLIGHT, Indigo Publishing, Announcements for new books (please, no re- March 2007 prints), short stories, articles and plays (all relating Jess Lourey, JUNE BUG, Midnight Ink, March 2007 Patricia Wynn, THE MOTIVE FROM THE to mysteries), also nominations DEED, Pemberley Press, February 2007 and awards, may be sent to Susan McBride, NIGHT OF THE LIVING Patricia Gulley via snail mail DEB, Avon, February 2007 Short Stories/Anthologies to: 1743 N. Jantzen Avenue, Shirley Rousseau Murphy, CAT PAY THE Jinx Beers, Susan Kosar Beery, Arthur Coburn, Portland, OR 97217-7849 DEVIL, Morrow Avon, February 2007 Gay Degani, Darrell James, Paul D. Marks, Dee or e-mail to: Weyrcottage@ Joan Opyr, FROM HELL TO BREAKFAST, Ann Palmer, G.B. Pool, Pamela Samuels-Young, yahoo.com. Please be sure to put Bywater Books, March 2007 Taylor Smith, Kate Thornton. Editors: Harley Sisters in Crime, The Docket David Ossman THE RONALD REAGAN Jane Kozak, Michael Mallory, Nathan Walpow, or InSinC in the subject line MURDER CASE, BearManor Media, Decem- LAndMARKED FOR MURDER, Top Publica- — otherwise your e-mail won’t ber 2006 tions, September 2006 be opened. Sandra Parshall, DISTURBING THE Warren Bull, LOCARD’S PRINCIPLE, The deadline for the next The Docket is April DEAD, Poisoned Pen Press, March 2007 Great Mystery and Suspense Magazine, Fall/ 10, 2007. Laurie A. Perkins, BLOOD DIAMONDS Winter 2006 A CRYPTIC CRIME SUSPENSE, Lulu, Sep- Sharon L. Cook, THE LEGEND OF Books tember 2006 JUDGEMENT ROCK, Great Mystery and Cynthia Baxter, RIGHT FROM THE Laurie Pooler Pelayo, AN OLD FASH- Suspense Magazine, Fall/Winter 2006 GECKO, Bantam Books, April 2007 IONED MURDER, Infinity Publishing, No- J.B. Dane (Beth Daniels), GETTING RID Mike Befeler, RETIREMENT HOMES ARE vember 2006 OF MURRAY, Great Mystery and Suspense MURDER, Five Star, January 2007 Rosemary Miner Pelkey, ONCE UPON Magazine, Fall/Winter 2006 Candy Calvert, AYE DO OR DIE, Midnight A TIME TO DIE FOR, Hilliard and Harris, Peggy Ehrhart, MILE-SQUARE MURDER, Ink, February 2007 April 2007 Crime Scene: New Jersey 2, Clued In Press; Nora Charles (Noreen Wald), HURRICANE CUSTOM FLOOR, Crime and Suspense, both HOMICIDE, Berkley Prime Crime, December December 2006 2006 How to Send Us Your Entry Dorothy Francis, A WIDOW’S PLIGHT, Jane K. Cleland, DEADLY APPRAISAL, St. The format is simple: Mouth Full of Bullets, December 2006 Martin’s Minotaur, April 2007 Name of author, TITLE OF BOOK, Beth Groundwater, Kris Neri, MAP OF Kate Collins, ACTS OF VIOLETS, Signet, Name of Publisher, Month to be released. MURDER ANTHOLOGY, Red Coyote Press, March 2007 Name of Author, TITLE OF STORY, February 2007 Evelyn David, MURDER OFF THE Name of magazine or anthology, Month M. E. Kemp, HYSTERICAL POLITICAL BOOKS, Echelon Press, March 2007 to be released. HISTORY, Mystery Readers Journal, March Genie Davis, FIVE O’CLOCK SHADOW, Awards and nominations should be in 2007 Kensington, February 2007 sentences. Gigi Vernon, SOLOMON’S WEDDING, Al- Jo Dereske, CATALOGUE OF DEATH, Always put The Docket in the subject fred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Jan/Feb 2007 Avon, April 2007 line of your e-mail. Anything else may be Robert Weibezahl, OBJECT D’ART, Deborah Donnelly, BRIDE AND DOOM, deleted. Crimespree Magazine, March/April 2007 Bantam Dell, December 2006 Don’t send ISBNs, character names, Leslie Wheeler, SKYSTALKER, Seasmoke: Robert Fate, (Robert Bealmear) BABY series names or places to buy the books. Crime Stories by New England Writers, Level SHARK, September 2006; BABY SHARK’S Don’t send newsletters, publicity sheets Best Books, November 2006 BEAUMONT BLUES, May 2007, Capital or website addressess. Crime Press Don’t send in colors other than black Non Fiction/Articles Dorothy Francis, COLD-CASE KILLER, and white. R. Barri Flowers, SEX CRIMES: PERPE- Five Star, April 2007 In future, editors of anthologies will TRATORS, PREDATORS, PROSTITUTES, Ashna Graves, DEATH PANS OUT, Poi- not be listed unless they have a story in AND VICTIMS, 2nd Edition, Charles C. soned Pen Press, March 2007 the anthology. Thomas, October 2006 Beth Groundwater, A REAL BASKET CASE, If you are using a pen name, we can add Sandra Tooley, MYSTERY MUSES, 100 Five Star, March 2007 your real name after it in parentheses. You Classics that Inspire Today’s Mystery Writers, Linda Hall, DARK WATER, WaterBrook/ must tell me if you don’t want this done. Crum Creek Press, November 2006 Random House, March 2007 Karen Harper, INFERNO, Mira Books, Awards/Miscellaneous January 2007 Sara Rosett, STAYING HOME IS A KILL- R. Barri Flowers received the prestigious Wall Alexa Hunt, HOMELAND SECURITY, ER, Kensington, April 2007 of Fame Award from Michigan State University’s Forge, March 2007 Lauren E. Smith, ASHLEY ENRIGHT AND renowned School of Criminal Justice in October Roberta Isleib, DEADLY ADVICE, Berkley THE MYSTERY AT MILLER’S POND, Pub- 2006. Prime Crime, March 2007 lishAmerica, January 2007 Kaye George’s LEVITTOWN LOUIE won Jonnie Jacobs, THE NEXT VICTIM, Febru- Patricia Sprinkle, DEATH ON THE FAM- honorable mention in the Bloody Groundhog ary 2007 ILY TREE, Avon, December 2006; GUESS Day contest of Mysterical-E magazine and ap- Betty Jacobson Hechtman, BLUE WHO’S COMING TO DIE? Signet, Febru- pears in the Spring 2007 issue. SCHWARTZ AND NEFERTITI’S NECK- ary 2007 Sara Rosett’s debut mystery, MOVING IS LACE, Brown Barn Books, October 2006 Margaret Tessler, BLACK WIDOW WHITE MURDER, received a Distinguished Honor Larry Karp, THE RAGTIME KID, Poisoned LIES, BookLocker, October 2006 Award from the Military Writers Society of Pen Press, November 2006 Sandra Tooley, THE SKULL, Full Moon America. M. E. Kemp, DEATH OF A DUTCH Publishing, December 2006 Susanne Severeid’s THE DEATH OF MILLY UNCLE, Hilliard and Harris, March 2007 J.D. Tynan, CHARLIE FORD MEETS MAHONEY, from iUniverse, won the second Gay Toltl Kinman, DEATH IN A SMALL SECRET AGENT MAN, A Better Be Write place Literary Award for Published Fiction from TOWN, Hilliard and Harris, October 2006 Publishing, May 2007 the Arizona Authors Association. It was one Linda Kupecek, ONE DEAD TURKEY, Lin Weber, THE WINE CELLAR, Wine of Entertainment Weekly’s POD-DY Mouth’s Altitude Publishing, November 2006 Ventures Publishing, November 2006 Picks for 2006. March 2007 – 12 about opportunities with authors. Bonnie will Minutes of the SinC put information in the next newsletter asking members to submit contacts for book clubs who Board Meeting are interested in being listed. Also, the article will ask for a volunteer to head up the project. September 27, 2006, Madison, WI Libby reminded everyone that noon on Voting members present: Libby Hellmann, ing, and crime lab project. Eleanor moved that Thursday is Sisters in Crime panel, Alphabet Rochelle Krich, Eleanor Sullivan, Donna proceeds will stay with chapter, S.J. seconded, Soup panel is Friday, business meeting is Sat- Andrews, Kathryn Wall, Roberta Isleib, Doris and motion passed. urday night at 8:30 before 20th Anniversary Ann Norris, S.J. Rozan. Carole Nelson Douglas Libby reported that the anthology will be Dessert Party. was not able to attend. Non-voting: Mary Lou out in 2007; Sara is editing it. Schindler will Motion to adjourn at 6:45. Wright, Jim Huang, Judy Clemens, Marcia Tal- promote it when it is released, which will follow Respectively submitted, ley, Bonnie Cardone and Beth Wasson. this year’s 20th Anniversary promotion. Eleanor Sullivan, Secretary Libby called the meeting to order at 4:00 Rochelle reported on the Hollywood confer- pm. Introductions were made. Minutes of the ence. Darkly Dreaming Dexter will be shown and last board conference call had been approved deconstructed. Eighty-five people are registered. Paperback Original vs. by e-mail. A workshop on how to pitch will be included, Hardcover Financial Report: Kathy reported that the and each attendee will be able to give a pitch to goal is to have all financial records computerized a producer. Continued from page 1 by the end of the year. Monitoring Project: Judy reported on the likelihood the series is going to grow and find The president, treasurer, monitoring project. Results: 56 percent men, 44 new fans. In order to do this, we are pretty much and executive secretary percent women reviewed. We have 44 monitors back to the old standby practice of dedicated will all have access. and 73 publications. Results are updated on the author promotion and then...more promotion. Beth reported 20th website. S.J. suggested that Judy write a letter to And it certainly doesn’t hurt to win a PBO award Anniversary expenses go to all publications that are being monitored or two along the way. were $28,000. Cash on with results of readers’ survey and the statistics. Zen and the career of a mystery writer. No hand $213,793. Libby commended Judy for her work as moni- matter how the publishing gods smile upon us Kathy reported that toring chair. and which particular brilliant editor “gets” us, the tax debt for 2005 will Allowing Chapters to Use Sisters in Crime it is necessary to recognize and make peace with be paid in full by 2007. logo on blogs: Libby reported that chapters the fact that we will only have so much influence S.J. moved to reopen have requested to use the Sisters in Crime logo over our book’s size, shape, format, and even its Louisiana Gulf Coast on chapter blogs. Discussion about how national cover art and title. But that’s okay. The area over hurricane funds until 2007 Bouchercon; sec- doesn’t monitor newsletters or websites but those which we DO have the most influence is actu- onded by Roberta. Motion passed. have some editing while blogs wouldn’t. Also ally the most important: it’s all in the writing. I Mary Lou requested we consider a $2,000 blogs include opinions that aren’t usual in news- repeat: the writing. So let’s get back to where it donation to Douglass College for archiving Sis- letters or websites. Jim volunteered to develop all begins — our keyboards. If we concentrate on ters in Crime on the web, including newsletters, guidelines for blogs to be considered at the next writing the best book we can, and we rewrite and letters, and minutes. Kathy moved we donate board meeting. Rochelle also suggested having polish it until it shines, and then we are willing $2,000 as requested, Doris Ann seconded, mo- FAQs for chapter issues that use the Sisters in to cheerfully support it whether it is published tion passed. Crime name. as a hardcover, a PBO or (what joy) both, we 20th Anniversary Update: Kathy reported Mystery Matters: Libby reported on pro- will be doing the very best we can to nurture on progress with Schindler Communications, posal for Mystery Matters for Carole. Mystery our fledgling series. the PR firm we hired to promote the 20th An- Matters would be a publication that would go niversary of Sisters in Crime. Every few weeks to booksellers and libraries. Authors could buy Jerrilyn Farmer is the author of the Madeline a press release goes out with updated news, ads and make the publication self-supporting. Bean mystery series. This article was excerpted from including a readers’ survey that showed both Discussion about whether self-published au- the SinC publication, Breaking and Entering: A men and women have no gender preference for thors could be included ensued. Jim suggested Guide to Finding an Agent, Selling a Manuscript authors of crime fiction. Discussion included the publication include where in the series the and Other Mysteries of Publishing. Order it having Schindler send a letter with the results current book is. Also Jim suggested that the or- online at: . to editors, agents, reviewers, major chain buyers, ganization could also help self-published authors booksellers, state libraries, and airport jobbers. approach booksellers. S.J. asked what it would Schindler is working on op-ed pieces, regional cost to publish each issue. Crime Bake Contest talk shows, and general placement of anniversary S.J. moved that Marcia be asked to pursue In memory of Al Blanchard, co-chair of the events. The board commended Kathy for an Mystery Matters, including finding out what first three New England Crime Bake Confer- excellent job on promotion. Corn Creative would charge to publish each ences, the New England Crime Bake Committee Libby reported that Borders 20th Anniver- issue and what is the minimum number of au- is sponsoring its third annual short crime fiction sary promotion is a kiosk in most stores. Stores thors. Rochelle seconded. Motion carried with contest. The prize is $100 plus publication picked authors to feature using a SinC pamphlet one dissent. S.J. moved that authors who meet in Level Best Books’ fifth anthology of crime that lists authors by state. criteria established by the board in consultation fiction. Roberta reported on bookseller news on shelf- with booksellers, seconded by Eleanor, motion Entries must be by a New England author or awareness.com website. More than 400 libraries passed. Jim asked also that we find out more have a New England setting, be unpublished, have signed up to receive promotional materials. about the distribution of the publication. and no longer than 5,000 words. This is a blind Rochelle will arrange an e-mail blast to encour- Also the future of Books in Print was discussed contest with no entry free. age members to contact bookstores and libraries with a print run of 8,000–9,000. The deadline for submissions is April 30, to set up events related to 20th Anniversary. President’s Report: Sisters in Crime will have 2007. Those interested should check the guide- Beth asked if we might consider continuing an individual booth at BEA and ALA in 2007. lines on the website: . This site also contains the e-mail address 2007 board meeting. the organization’s relationship with publishers. for submissions. Roberta reported that calendar with New She also suggested we create a national database The winner of the contest will be a guest England chapter authors for 2007 is nearly of book clubs for authors to use to contact of the Crime Bake Committee at the New complete. Discussion about using proceeds to clubs. Jim suggested we set up a system where England Crime Bake, held every year in mid- make donations to literary, promotion of read- book clubs could sign up to receive information November. March 2007 – 13 Left Coast Crime 17 February 1 to 4, 2007 Seattle, WA Text and Photography by Bonnie J. Cardone, InSinC Editor “Reading in the Rain” we did. Walking in the rain, up and down incredibly steep hillsides, we did. But a little rain (and there was only a little) could not dampen the spirits of the 549 mystery readers, writers and fans who attended the 17th Annual Left Coast Crime mystery convention at the Renaissance Seattle Hotel. Friday began with a J. Kingston Pierce interview of Toastmaster (and “Mister” Sister) Gary Phillips. A master of many genres, Gary writes comic books, graphic novels, short stories and novels with both male and female protagonists. Success didn’t come to him overnight. After his first book was rejected 20 to 25 times, Gary became partners in a small press, basically self-publishing it. Violent Spring was later picked up by a major publisher, who also produced Gary’s next three books. Phillips says it’s hard to be a novelist, noting that writers “could eat nails to toughen them up.” He also says “Writing is self-therapy and saves on the shrink bills.” He never shows his books to his wife because he’s “terrified she’d make me rewrite them.” She grew up reading the classics while he grew up reading Marvel Comic Books. According to Gary, “Anything about low brow culture has always been interesting to me.” Friday’s forensic track began with an all-Sisters panel, “CSI I Don’t Think So,” moder- ated by Crime Lab Project (CLP) founder, Jan Burke, and featuring physician/author, Doug Lyle; trauma nurse/author, Eileen Dreyer; and retired detective/author, Lee Lofland. (All will be headliners at SinC’s Forensic University of St. Louis in November). CLP This quilt was raffled off for charity. is a non-profit organization working to increase awareness of problems facing public forensic science agencies. The three hours of forensics that followed the CSI panel featured Seattle area law enforcement and forensic lab personnel. My daughter, Pamela, a Seattle resident and avid fan of all things CSI, attended the Friday session. I don’t know if learning how things are really done will dim her enthusiasm for the TV shows, but it was fun educating her. Friday evening was notable for its reception (free food and drinks) and the auction to benefit The Dennis Lynds Special Collection at Davidson Library, UCSB, and The Seattle Public Library Foundation. Thanks to the efforts of auctioneers Gary Phillips and Harley Jane Kozak, $2,975 was raised. An additional $207 came from the raffle of a beautiful patchwork quilt. LCC’s Guests of Honor, Gayle and Dennis Lynds, were chosen before Dennis’ unex- pected death in 2005. Since there couldn’t be an interview, Dennis’ daughter Deirdre and wife Gayle, along with friends John M. Daniel, Gary Phillips and Ken Kuhlken, shared memories and stories of Dennis. Gayle Lynd’s interview was conducted by LCC chair, Andi Shechter. The two women wore bunny slippers while sitting side-by-side on the little stage, giving the session an Lefty winner, informal, fireside ambiance. Gayle grew up poor in a small family in Iowa, “reading ev- Donna Moore. erything,” and earned a degree in journalism from the University of Iowa. She edited the Arizona Republic before moving to CA and meeting Dennis at a Santa Barbara Writer’s Conference. She was his fourth wife and they were married 17 years when he died. Dilys winner, Gayle writes thrillers: character driven, “big books.” Her first novel, Mascarade, was Louise Penny. turned down by a woman who didn’t believe the author could be female. It eventually sold to a man who didn’t question the author’s sex. When asked if her characters have minds of their own, Gayle said they do, adding, “You have to trust your unconscious.” LCC’s Fan Guests of Honor were Diane Kovacs (aka Harriet Vane) and Kara Robinson (aka Danger Mouse), co-owners of DorothyL, a discussion list for lovers of mysteries. The list was founded 15 years ago and has from 2,000 to 4,000 members at any given time. Among the people attending their panel was SinC library liaison, Doris Ann Norris, known to DorothyL devotees as the “The 2000 Year Old Librarian.” At Saturday night’s banquet, the Lefty (for the most humorous mystery novel of 2006) went to Donna Moore’s Go to Helena Handbasket; while the Dilys (for the book Independent Mystery Booksellers Association members most enjoy selling) went to Louise Penny’s Still Life. Sunday was short and sweet. There were two panels at 10:00 am, followed by an author signing in the dealers’ room. Then everyone dispersed to the four winds — or possibly to a Super Bowl party. “CSI, I Don’t Think So” panel members: Dr. Doug Lyle, Once again, a good time was had by all. Eileen Dreyer, Lee Lofland and Jan Burke. March 2007 – 14 Rhys Bowen and Toastmaster Gary Phillips and Harley Jane Kozak auction off Meg Chittenden. one of the New England Chapter’s signed 2007 calendars.

Mary Anna Evans Alexandra Sokoloff and S.J. Rozan told the Simon Wood. Claire Matturro truth on the Liar’s Panel and won a can of maple syrup.

Deborah Donnelly

David Skibbins Kate Flora with Margery Flax of that Twist Phelan and Pamela “other” mystery writers’ Cardone. organization. Leann Sweeney

DorothyL’s Kara Robinson (left) and Diane Gayle Lynds (right) with daughters Julia Stone Kovacs (right) with Doris Ann Norris. (far left) and Deirdre Lynds. March 2007 – 15 DEADLINES

✔APRIL 10, 2007 — Deadline for submission of items for June Docket. Send to Patricia Gulley, 1743 N. Jantzen Avenue, Portland, OR 97217-7849 or e-mail . ✔APRIL 15, 2007 — Deadline for June InSinC newsletter. Contact Bonnie J. Cardone, 3116 Trisha Court, Santa Maria, CA 93455-7137; phone: (805) 938-1156; or e-mail: . Other newsletter deadlines are July 15, October 15, and January 15. ✔APRIL 20, 2007 — Deadline for receipt of checks for SinC’s Malice Domestic breakfast, to be held Sunday, May 6 at 7:30 am. Send your check for $20, made out to Sisters in Crime to: Sisters in Crime, P.O. Box 442124, Lawrence, KS 66044-8933.

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