First Draft Written by and for the Guppies, a Chapter of Sisters in Crime
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November 1, 2017 Vol. 21, No. 6 First Draft Written by and for the Guppies, a chapter of Sisters in Crime www.sinc-guppies.org Inside this issue: The President’s Message by Debra H. Goldstein he President’s column usually stresses live in an Ozzie and Harriett or Leave it to Editor’s Note 2 Welcome New Guppies T the good things and good people that Beaver world. Then again, I never did. I grew make the Guppies what it is. This month, I up with protests, Vietnam, and the history of Upcoming Classes 3 intended to congratulate us, as the largest Kent State, but I also grew up feeling safe Sisters in Crime chapter, for exceeding the wandering the streets of London at sunrise to Boas and Kick Lines 7 700-member mark. I thought I might remind see if char ladies really exist, running down a you no matter whether you are street in Boston, hearing a con- Guppy Anthology 8 starting out or already an estab- cert in Las Vegas, dancing at a lished writer, volunteering for club in Florida, flying in and out Agent Insight 9 tasks (we need two new Agent of Paris, and kissing my chil- Social Media 11 Quest monitors), taking classes, dren good-bye as they went off or participating in critique groups to spend school years abroad. Dorothy Cannell Guppy 12 or on the Listserv is an excellent History teaches us the sins of Scholarship means to learn and network. hatred and violence accomplish Diverse Voices 13 Networking, even though an nothing except decimating hu- The Editor’s POV 14 internet connection, brings us manity, so why are they repeat- closer together as a community. ed? I don’t have an answer, but NaNoWriMo 16 In some ways, it is a faceless I rail against those who act with- community, but it is a meaning- out thought for others. We talk Fantasy Agent Insights 17 ful one. We’re there for each other for the ups of communication, but there is none of value and downs of writing and the same with our in these acts. A point is made, but it is lost in Ipso Facto 19 life cycle events. During the five years I have the tragedy of the moment. been seriously writing and been a Guppy, I’ve Author Interview: Heloise 22 I reach out my hand to all of you, for only if Jones come to know and care about so many of we communicate will there be a world and a you—and it is mutual. SinC Celebrates 30 23 life for us, our children, grandchildren, and Meeting and putting faces on names at a the generations to come. The Flip Side 24 conference is icing on the cake, but it isn’t the As writers, we have the power to communi- beginning of friendships. When you send a cate. Our writings inform or amuse. They The Routine of Writing 25 message, ask a question, or participate in touch people we never know exist. As I share anything Guppies offers, you’ve already tak- my sorrow and horror at the loss of lives, I A History of Forensics 26 en the first step to building lasting supportive rejoice that we, as Guppies, come together networks. Bouchercon 2017: A 28 and create a community for good. Glimpse These connections were what I was going to write to, but this morning I woke up to news Colorado Gold Conference 29 of the Las Vegas shooting. It saddened me to think whether by the actions of terrorists or Calendar 31 lone wolf demented individuals, we no longer First Draft Page 2 Editor’s Note New Members f all the welcomes a new Guppy gets, Our final Diverse Voices column is by Vinnie Welcome new and return- O mine may be the most desperate: Please Hansen, on the topic of cultural appropriation ing members: consider writing for First Draft. Please, please, and writing outside one’s ethnicity. please. We also have Cori Lynn Arnold, a regular con- Dianne Ascroft Fortunately, new Guppies often tributor, providing some great tips Patricia Bowen take me up on the offer. You’ll on making time in your busy Kelly Burch see a couple of new names in this schedule for NaNoWriMo. Mary Cooper issue. Dr. Bradley Harper is a You can learn about all the clas- Kathy Curnow retired army pathologist who now ses we have coming for 2018 (it Tamara Dolson writes mysteries—and a brand looks like a great schedule, put new Guppy. He will be writing a Colleen Driscoll together by Elaine Douts), as well couple of columns for us; the first Marianne Fox as the upcoming Guppy antholo- one is a brief history of forensics, Marie Hannan-Mandel gy, which soon will open for sub- with some interesting tidbits that Bradley Harper missions. There’s also infor- were new to me. Patricia Bowen, Kate Jesse mation about the annual Dorothy another new member, shares her Cannell Guppy scholarship Barbara Kelley thoughts about the routine of writing. (deadline is next month, so apply soon!). And Ross Kerr Ramona Gault is writing her first article for us, you can celebrate Guppy achievements at Bo- Brenda Kilianski having interviewed Heloise Jones on her new as and Kick Lines, compiled by Elaine Will Bharti Kirchner book, The Writer’s Block Myth: A Guide to Get Sparber, as well as get a glimpse of Boucher- Allison Kirk-Montgomery Past Stuck & Experience Lasting Creative con 2017 through photos. Elizabeth Louis Freedom. And Sue Hinkin reports from the Col- Have you ever wondered how exactly the Fan- Anna Loan-Wilsey orado Gold Conference and tells us all about tasy Agent Project works? Both submitters and Lisa Malice Diana Gabaldon’s underpainting technique. “agents” explain what they got from the experi- Wanda Morris We have our regular columnists and contribu- ence. Harini Nagendra tors, of course, and I appreciate them all im- Sara Newell As we close out the year, I want again to thank mensely. Writing a column is no easy task, but all who contributed to First Draft. You can see Brenda Lee Reed they come up with interesting pieces every past issues on our website. An index of articles, Julie Reiff time. Carol Newhouse talks with literary agents compiled by Elaine Will Sparber, can be found Marilyn Richards about how many clients they take on a year; on the Yahoo site, under Files. Beth Savoie Beth Green and Christina Lorenzen write about Paula Sewell pulling back from social media to save your And, remember, if you have an idea for an arti- writing—and your sanity; Keenan Powell de- cle or column, please don’t hesitate to email Joyce Simons constructs one of my favorite movies, My me at [email protected]. Please, Susan Smith Cousin Vinny; and Nancy L. Eady delves into please, please. Jane Suen the mystery of quotation marks on The Flip Cynthia Tolbert Happy holidays and hope you enjoy this issue. Side. In my own column, I write my last in a Stacey Wollschlager series on formatting issues, this one geared to Lourdes indie authors. Steering Committee First Draft Staff Editor: Lourdes Venard President Debra H. Goldstein [email protected] Columnists: Julie Ciccarelli, Nancy Eady, Treasurer Karen Duxbury [email protected] Beth Green, Christina Lorenzen, Carol Newsletter Editor Lourdes Venard [email protected] Newhouse, Keenan Powell, Elaine Will Website Liaison Cori Lynn Arnold [email protected] Sparber Member-at-Large Paula Gail Benson [email protected] Proofreaders: Sharon Owen, Rosalind Villers Member-at-Large (Classes) Elaine Douts [email protected] Member-at-Large Anna Castle [email protected] ©2017. First Draft is a bimonthly newsletter Member-at-Large (Manuscript swaps) Jane Gorman [email protected] of the Guppy chapter of Sisters in Crime. Member-at-Large Carolyn Rowland [email protected] The editor reserves the right to edit articles Member-at-large (Membership) Susan Van Kirk [email protected] for clarity and space. Immediate Past President James M. Jackson [email protected] First Draft Page 3 Upcoming Guppy Classes by Elaine Douts feel gung ho about our 2018 classes. We have some new Class policies I instructors who are “in the field” professionals I want you to meet. (Thanks, Elaine Will Sparber, for the suggestions.) Whether The Guppy Chapter subsidizes the cost to our members for you are a beginner or have been on the bestseller lists, there’s every class. Subsidies range from $5 to $20 per student per always something new to learn. I hope you like our classes and class. Even so, if you have trouble paying for the cost of a join in the swim this year. I will try to have all of the classes up on class, we have a scholarship fund available for one class per our registration site (https://sincguppies.wildapricot.org/events) by year. For more information, please contact our treasurer, Ka- New Year’s Day. If you have questions, please email me at ren Duxbury, at [email protected]. [email protected]. Please read our class policies before you register for a class For those of you awaiting Julia Hunter’s Investigative Techniques at https://sincguppies.wildapricot.org/Classes-FAQ. If you course, I am sad to announce that she has decided to stop teach- have questions, insights, or criticism, please email me at any ing. Her 2018 class has also been canceled. And now onto better time at [email protected]. news—a freebie by Kaye George! Head over to https://sincguppies.wildapricot.org/events to see During the week of January 21, Guppy Kaye George will give a more of our classes.