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iinSinC the Sisters in Crime Quarterly Vol. 25, No. 2

Solving Mysteries Day by Kathie Felix

n Saturday, April 21, Sisters in crime Thanks extended Volunteers and their jobs author members turned out in book - Members embraced the day’s sentiment even The participating authors enjoyed their time Ostores and libraries from Livermore if not volunteering. Many Sisters supported on the front lines of the publishing business. Falls, Maine, to Honolulu, Hawaii, to celebrate “Solving Mysteries day” by going into “It was really nice, fun, and—tiring,” Susan the librarians and booksellers who make their libraries and bookstores on April 21 to give Froetschel said after her day at the Takoma living by solving mysteries every day—by personal thanks to the booksellers and librar - Park Neighborhood Library in Washington, matching the right readers to the right books. ians they found working behind the counters dc “The librarians were just wonderful—and or in the stacks. “In honor of the 25th anniversary of the found - they want to get information on getting a Sisters ing of Sisters in crime, we were very pleased Sinc member Julie Tollefson stopped by the panel to come visit.” to be able to thank some of the people who Raven Bookstore in Lawrence, Kansas, and For Sinc board member (and librarian) Bar - work the hardest on the front lines of publishing let the world know via Twitter, “Just stopped bara Fister, her time in ’ award- by rolling up our sleeves and working beside in to give a big #sinc thanks to @ravenbook - winning bookstore, “Once Upon a crime,” was them,” Sisters in crime President Frankie Y. store.” Bailey said. all about sleuthing. “When it came to solving Member cynthia Kuhn reported from mysteries like ‘is my favorite author’s latest book For her part, Bailey took a spot at The Book on Twitter, “@sincnational Happy 25th! Just out in paperback yet?’ and ‘What can you rec - House of Stuyvesant Plaza, in Albany NY where dropped off #sinc thank you notes to @Tat - ommend that’s like ___?’, I was Watson; Gary she spent her volunteer time in the “living tered cover South and local library.” [store co-owner Gary Shulze] was Holmes.” room” of the bookstore chatting with readers about mysteries and reading. She served as the Why we did it designated readers’ advisory person for mys - “This was a great opportunity to thank librar - teries—and even did some homework in ians and booksellers in a tangible way,” said Jim advance to prepare customer recommendation Staff members at McIntyre’s Books in Fearrington Huang, Solving Mysteries day event founder cards with brief comments for display with Village, Pittsboro nc got down to the bare bones of and coordinator. books on the store’s shelves. bookselling! He pointed out that the project gave Sinc “[I] ended my shift at the bookstore deeply member authors a chance to meet potential impressed by the combination of people skills new readers and work with the support of a and book knowledge that the bookstore staff coordinated communications program. The displayed as they answered the many questions communications effort provided free t-shirts they received about books in a variety of gen - for booksellers and librarians featuring the slo - res,” Bailey said. gan “Booksellers Solve Mysteries Every day” “Several of the members of the local Sinc chap - or “Librarians Solve Mysteries Every day” and ter, the Mavens of Mayhem, dropped by to the Sinc logo. keep me company and to buy books,” she To help Sinc member authors with publicity, added. Sinc provided a news hook to use in contacting As she looked back on the experience, Bailey local media and a press release template that said that she ended up writing a few more rec - could be used as a guide for promoting the ommendation cards at home after the day event (and for other purposes in the future). ended because she had discovered some of her favorite classic mysteries on the shelves. See “Solving,” p. 7 Get a Clue inSinC Solving Mysteries Day the Sisters in Crime Quarterly Kathie Felix ...... 1 The mission of Sisters in Crime is to promote the professional development and Frankie Speaks advancement of women crime writers to achieve equality in the industry. Frankie Bailey ...... 3 Editor’s Note Molly Weston ...... 3 Frankie Bailey, President Sally Brewster, Bookstore Liaison Chapter Highlights ...... 4 , Vice President/Pres.-Elect Mary Boone, Library Liaison Beth’s Bits Laura DiSilverio, Secretary Nancy Martin, At-Large Beth Wasson ...... 5 Kathryn Wall , Treasurer/Authors coalition Liaison Val McDermid, At-Large Malice Domestic Chapter Meet & Greet Martha Reed, chapter Liaison Barbara Fister , Monitoring Project Report Martha Reed ...... 5 Stephanie Pintoff, Publicity Cathy Pickens, Past President SinC into Great Writing Kathie Felix, Public Relations Peggy Moody, Web Maven Cathy Pickens ...... 6 Laurel Anderson, inSinC Proofreader Kaye Barley, inSinC Proofreader Sisters& Misters Rock at Malice Domestic . .8 Kathie Felix, inSinC Proofreader Molly Weston, inSinC Editor /Layout SinC Loves Libraries Beth Wasson , Executive Secretary , PO Box 442124, Lawrence KS 66044-8933 Debra H. Goldstein ...... 9 Phone : 785.842.1325; Fax 785.856.6314; email sistersincrime @juno .com Law & Fiction Leslie Budewitz ...... 11 SinC Past Presidents Reveal ...... 11 The Deific Decree 1987-88 1995-96 Elaine Raco Chase 2003-04 Kate Grilley Katherine Ramsland, PhD ...... 12 1988-89 1996-97 Annette Meyers 2004-05 Patricia Sprinkle Conferences & Happenings ...... 13 1989-90 1997-98 Sue Henry 2005-06 Libby Hellmann The Docket 1990-91 Susan Dunlap 1998-99 Medora Sale 2006-07 Rochelle Krich Molly Weston ...... 14 1991-92 Carolyn G. Hart 1999-00 Barbara Burnett Smith 2007-08 Roberta Isleib Lifetime Members and Volunteers ...... 15 1992-93 P. M. Carlson 2000-01 Claire Carmichael McNab 2008-09 Judy Clemens Writing Contests ...... 16 1993-94 Linda Grant 2001-02 Eve K. Sandstrom 2009-10 1994-95 Barbara D’Amato 2002-03 Kate Flora 2010 –11 Cathy Pickens

Deadlines & Submissions • deadline for articles for the September issue Legend of inSinC is July 15. • Include name, email and mailing address, and In 2008, the board of directors of Sisters in Crime implemented a new strategic phone number with submissions. plan. Three goals emerged from this plan: inSinC articles will be marked with • Send columns , articles , high-res photos, ideas , praise , and story ideas via email to icons to represent the appropriate goal. Molly Weston [email protected] 919.362.1436 Advocacy, monitoring, and reporting The Docket • To list your publications and award nomina - tions, login to Sistersincrime.org and look for Professional education and career development “The docket” under “Members Only.” Fill in the information—one entry per publication. • Information on the Sinc website will be updated regularly and will be available to Membership growth, networking, and forums for members anyone under “Resources.” • THE dOcKET will continue as an item in inSinC .

JUST THE FAcTS • inSinC is the official publication of Sisters in crime International and is published four times a year. • One-year dues are $40 for professional US and canada writers and $35 for non-professionals (add $5 for other countries). Two-year dues are $80 and $70; lifetime, $400 and $350. • Address and all other changes can be made by members on www.sistersincrime.org . If you do not use a computer or need a username please contact Beth Wasson at 785.842.1325 or [email protected] • Information in inSinC 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. No material may be reprinted without written permission from Sisters in crime. Sisters in crime© 2012. inSinC June 2012 2 Frankie Speaks

pring in most places across the country the importance of volunteer power in helping has been kind of crazy. Here in the us to achieve our goals as an organization. Last SNortheast, we’ve had summer weather year, even though he was nearing the end of in March, jacket weather in May. But, whatever his term as a member of the Sinc board, Jim the weather, what spring always brings is the Huang proposed a “Volunteer day” when MWA and Malice domestic. I authors would say “thank you” to booksellers want to congratulate those Sisters and Brothers and librarians by volunteering in bookstores who were nominated and/or received awards. and libraries in their local area. That idea mor - I want to offer a special shout-out to Molly phed into our April 21 “Sisters Solve Mysteries” Weston, editor of the inSinC Quarterly and event. Jim coordinated the event, right down recipient of an MWA Raven Award. Well to mailing out those wonderful T-shirts saying, deserved, Molly. You do us proud. “Booksellers Solve Mysteries Every day” or “Librarians Solve Mysteries Every day.” He was This spring, we continue our year-long cele - ably assisted by Kathie Felix, our PR /media staff bration of Sisters in crime’s 25th anniversary. person, and Barbara Fister, board member and As I explained at the Malice domestic break - social media maven. Martha Reed, Mary fast, we get to continue our celebration into This fall, Sinc will again offer members an Boone, and Beth Wasson also provided much this year because, although Sara Paretsky organ - opportunity to attend the Writers’ Police Acad - appreciated support. ized that impromptu breakfast at emy at a reduced rate. As you may have heard in in October 1986, our name did That’s what happened this spring. This fall we from last year’s attendees, Lee Lofland and the not become official until May 1987. A steering will be in for Bouchercon. cathy faculty of the Academy provide a terrific expe - committee also was formed in May 1987. Five Pickens, our immediate past president, has rience for mystery writers who want to learn years later, in May 1992, the position of Exec - recruited best-selling and critically-acclaimed more about policing. utive Secretary was created, and Beth Wasson writer, Nancy Pickard, to present our “Sinc We plan to offer another member benefit to was appointed to that position. Please join with into Great Writing” workshop. Nancy will be support you in your career development this me in wishing Beth a very happy 20th anniver - sharing the system she has developed for man - fall. You’ll be hearing more about that shortly. sary. If you’ve had occasion to contact our uscript revision. Nancy’s workshop and the office, you know how essential Beth is to the breakout activities that will follow are worth In the meantime, Happy Spring! functioning of our organization. arriving in cleveland a day early. So if you —Frankie Bailey haven’t signed up already, do it now. You don’t This year at our Malice breakfast, we saluted want to miss this. our volunteers. In April, we had an example of Editor’s Note by Molly Weston

hen smart, educated friends tell me When I go to conferences, I’m always glad to reader you know about the advantages of Sinc they “just don’t have time to read” I hear and meet the authors who create these membership? Have you told someone in every Wlook at them in astonishment. I characters, and it delights me to add many of library you visited about the We Love Libraries can’t imagine my life without reading—every these wonderful writers to my circle. initiative? day, several times a day. I’ve always got a book Working with Sinc has allowed me the oppor - Are you taking full advantage of your Sinc handy, whether hardcover, paperback, or elec - tunity to meet so many more creative siblings. membership? Have you visited our new website tronic. I read the newspaper at breakfast, but Seeing so many of you break into publication, lately? Have you read (and commented on) our aer that it’s all the way. be nominated for and receive awards is reward - blog? If you didn’t visit and thank your local characters in my favorite series are old ing for me. I brag about Sinc members often! bookstore or library on April 21, why not do friends—and I can’t wait to catch up with them. that this week. A thank you is never too late. Recognizing that our organization is unique Offerings by new authors bring more friends in its scope, warm in friendships, and excellent Let’s keep reading—and Sisters in crime—alive to my circle; I look forward to sharing them in support, are you doing your part in sharing in our communities! with my three-dimensional friends—in Sinc with your colleagues? do you actively reviews, library talks, chats, or simply by stop - seek new members? Have you talked with every —Molly ping strangers in the mystery aisles of book - crime writer, bookstore owner, librarian, and stores and libraries and asking who they read. inSinC June 2012 3 Chapter Highlights

Sisters in Crime/ LA Orange County, CA www.sistersincrimela.com www.ocsistersincrime.org April was very busy with the 17th annual Los Blood spatters, fingerprints, fibers, skin cells, Angeles Times Festival of Books at the Univer - dNA , and many other clues left behind at a sity of Southern california campus. Last year crime scene were described and discussed by drew about 150,000 book lovers. The major experts at our Second Annual Forensics Fest trade show grant from Sinc helped our booth in March. The panelists included caroline Kim, provide 50 signing slots for published Sinc Croak & Dagger (Albuquerque) california department of Justice Bureau of authors. www.croak-and-dagger.com Forensic Services, Riverside Lab. With more than 15 years’ experience collecting and ana - The speaker for our April meeting was a retired chapter members turned out enthusiastically lyzing evidence in the often gruesome task of LAPd homicide detective who investigated 200- for the Bookstores and Libraries Solve Mystery determining the manner of death, she held us plus murders. More than 70 members and fans Every day event, doing everything from shelv - enthralled. Among the tests she oversees at the attended, proving their eagerness to learn the ing books, to helping with author events, to lab are firearms, tool marks, blood stain pat - ins and outs of homicide investigations and interviewing staff for a Sinc meeting presen - terns, footwear and tire marks, hair, textiles, crime scene show myths. Our featured reader tation. Members and the store or library where and other trace evidence. and former chapter president, Ashley Ream, they volunteered follow: thanked her fellow members for her successful Jan Bray at the cherry Hills Branch of the Panelist Steve Scarborough, FBI and Interpol journey to publication before reading from her Albuquerque Library System, cherry criminologist and a specialist in forensic digital debut novel, Losing Clementine. We sold almost Hills NM imaging, has 30 years of experience in law $170 in merchandise at our last meeting thanks Rob Kresge at Alamosa Books and enforcement consulting, including on the set to fun new items like crime scene band-aids Treasure House Books & Gifts in of the original cSI television show. He has tes - and gun mugs. Albuquerque tified in more than 300 court cases and is a Joan Spicci Saberhagen at the Page One regular lecturer at conferences. He is the author Authors from our active speakers bureau par - Bookstore in Albuquerque of the crime novel Scrafitto. ticipated on a mystery panel at the 2nd Annual Margaret Tessler at the Albuquerque Ojai WordFest, an eight-day literary festival The third panelist was don Lasseter, best-sell - South Valley branch library drawing people from all over Southern cali - ing author of true crime books including Linda Triegel at the San Pedro branch Die fornia. We’re already planning our 2013 cali - , the horrific story of california serial library for Me fornia crime Writers conference; we’re killer charles Ng. due to the many years of Gerry Weinberg at the corrales absolutely thrilled to announce research he has conducted for his 20 true crime community Library near Albuquerque and Joseph Wambaugh as our special guests books, Lasseter is often a criminology guest of honor. lecturer at Uc -Fullerton. Tucson Sisters in Crime Thanks to a publicity blitz that made the wires, New York/Tri-State-State www.tucsonsistersincrime.org the event was standing-room-only with two www.NySinC.org dozen guests (some of whom braved the Halfway through the probationary period, our clogged freeways to hear our On April 14, the chapter hosted “Tooling Up meetings are getting better and better! We are crime experts) and refugee members of the to write a crime Novel,” an all-day workshop averaging more than 30 attendees at each meet - Sinc chapter, whom we welcomed by Hallie Ephron. The morning was devoted ing and now have approximately 25 members. with open arms. to creating characters; the afternoon to writing April’s meeting featured retired official dan suspense. Hallie combined lecture with writing chapter Liaison Martha Reed’s Wirth, speaking on the National Park Services' excercises that gave participants an opportunity report is on page 5. law enforcement investigations. dan's talk was to have their writing critiqued and to walk away both informative and entertaining. Elizabeth with ideas for improving their work. Gunn, longtime Sinc member, talked about The chapter had a surprise visitor from down why we are so fascinated with evil characters. under. Megg Vann, who organized the Sinc Unfortunately we were unable to participate in chapter in Brisbane, Australia in May last year, Booksellers and Librarians Solve Mysteries dropped in on the February meeting. Vann every day. We are all proud and impressed to joined the group at dinner after the meeting be part of a group that created such a worth - and apparently enjoyed the interaction as much while event. Hopefully we will be able to par - as we did. “Visiting the NY /Tri-State chapter ticipate next year. of Sinc was a dream come true for me!” Vann said. “I can’t wait to visit my NY Sisters again, We appreciate the support and suggestions on and, if any of you would like to come visit our how to make this chapter successful, particu - chapter, we would welcome you with open larly from the desert Sleuths, a group we con - arms! Meanwhile, I hope to see you all online.” sider our big Sisters. inSinC June 2012 4 Beth’s Bits by Beth Wasson

ats off to over 50 Sisters in crime vol - SinC into Good Writing IV… unteers who contribute every day to is in cleveland, the day before Bouchercon. Hthe organization. You might want to Spots are filling up for the workshop with be a part of this elite group.

Nancy Pickard on October 3, 2012. We are e n i z

working on dinner plans after the workshop so a SinC Volunteer opportunities g a

we can continue the discussions. You do not M

Sisters in crime has a couple of volunteer spots e c

need to be registered for Bouchercon to attend. n e for members. r w

The cost is $50 for Sinc members. Visit our a L

y The Monitoring Project needs monitors for website at www.sistersincrime.org and sign up s e t r

Booklist, Deadly Pleasures, and . u today. o Barbara Fister is the coordinator and you may c reach her at bfi[email protected] . SinC Chapters Is your Board of directors planning a fall book Ebook Sinc Links needs one or two more vol - event? don't forget to apply for a Sisters in unteers to contribute to Ebook Sinc Links. crime grant on www.sistersincrime.org, click Did you know? Please contact Ellen Hart at ellenhart@earth - on chapters . Please allow 90 days for Sisters in crime membership brochures, book - link.net . approval and for us to promote your event marks, lapel pins and banners are always avail - Molly Weston, award-winning editor, is inter - on the web site and in the inSinc able from me at [email protected]. viewing for a docket editor. The docket runs Quarterly. Individuals are welcome to order, too. drop four times a year in the inSinC Quarterly. Molly them off at your local library or take them to can be reached at [email protected] . the local bookstore.

Malice Domestic Chapter Meet and Greet Report by Martha Reed

n Malice Friday, representatives from – “Keys to Successful Meetings” by cheri Plant • A chapter Bylaws Template. The Bylaws tem - more than a dozen chapters gathered – “Get the Word Out: PR for chapters” by plate is currently being reviewed by the Board. Ofor a Meet and Greet Sinc-sponsored Kathie Felix Once approved, it will be posted on the chap - luncheon to put online names to real-time – “Planning a Writers’ Workshop” by Annette ter webpage as an additional resource. chap - faces, to renew friendships, and to share chap - dashofy ters will be notified when it is available. I ter news. – “Recipe for a Great Anthology” by Barb encourage each chapter to review the template Goffman. and make revisions to their existing Bylaws Attendees included Frankie Bailey, Hank • Event Grants. Even though they must be as they see fit. Phillippi Ryan, and Beth Wasson, and repre - applied for three months in advance, grants • chapter Best Practices. I plan to start polling sented an array of geographic locales: Becky can generate $250 for a local event; $500 for the chapters over the summer to ask for Hutchison, c. Ellett Logan, and Kathie Felix a regional event, and up to $1,000 for a insights into running a successful chapter. from the chesapeake chapter; Sheila connolly national trade show. The information will be collated into a from Sinc- NE ; Roberta Rogow and debbie chapter Best Practices document for Board Buchanan from Sinc central NJ ; Jessie chan - Guidelines for chapter anthologies and details review in October. Once the document has dler from Sinc Twin cities MN ; cathi Stoler about grants are posted on the Sinc chapter been approved, it will be put on the chapter from NY /Tri-State; Mary Lee Woods and Anita web page. web page as well. Foreseeable topics include: carter AKA Sparkle Abbey from Sinc- IA ; Susan – communication Tools: Using Social Belsky from Sinc- WI ; Janice Hamrick of Heart • The We Love Libraries program. A sugges - Media to increase membership of Texas; and diane Vallere from Sinc- LA , tion was made that each chapter should form – Membership Benefits: Hosting a Special among others. a committee to ensure that their local public Event I asked the representatives to take the following libraries are entered in the lottery with a – continuing Education: developing an ideas back to their chapters for discussion: chance to win $1,000. One lucky public Out-reach Program library wins each month. • Using the Chapter Handbook. This handy We enjoyed a very productive meeting. It was PdF reference is easy to download from the chapter officer information has been updated great to meet so many enthusiastic Sibs. We chapter webpage, and is filled with terrific on the website. I plan to use those email have a lot of good work ahead of us. As always, information including: addresses for direct communication and for email me with any ideas or suggestions! – “10 Tips for a Vital & Vigorous chapter” by posting chapter news on both the national and Martha Reed, 2012 chapter Liaison JoAnne Lucas presidents’ list serv. Future projects include: [email protected] inSinC June 2012 5 SinC into Great Writing IV by Cathy Pickens

f rewriting is your personal bete noir, you Hotel. Bring a story or a chapter of your won’t want to miss “Sensory Self- novel, a stack of 3" x 5"note cards, colored IEditing.” Sinc past president and multi - pencils or pens, and two paperback novels ple award winner Nancy Pickard will lead you’re willing to mark. “Sinc into Great Writing IV ” on Wednesday, Additionally, Nancy and other experienced October 3. e session will begin at 1:00 PM writing teachers (including Hallie Ephron, and continue until 5:30 PM . Frankie Bailey, Hank Phillippi Ryan, and In an early Sinc into Great Writing work - cathy Pickens) will facilitate individual cri - shop, agent donald Maass pointed to tique round-tables to build on these editing Nancy’s latest books as examples of break- skills in a group setting. out writing. Nancy will show us how to The event will end in time for everyone to accomplish that—scene by scene. Nancy explore dining options in cleveland. You developed her system of rewriting after might consider planning to dine with oth - extensive research and experience in both ers from the group to continue your learn - story crafting and editing. ing and sharing experience. You’ll need to be prepared to work when It is not necessary to register for Boucher - you arrive at the Renaissance cleveland con to attend this event. nancy Pickard

SinC into Great Writing IV

Renaissance Cleveland Hallie Ephron Hotel

cathy Pickens Wednesday • October 3 1:00 –5:30 PM Registration & Check-In 12 noon

$50 SinC members $250 nonmembers

Coffee • Tea • Soda Fruit • Munchies Hank Phillippi Ryan Registration is online only at tinyurl.com/7syswpj Frankie Bailey inSinC June 2012 6 Solving - cont’d. from p. 1 Rob Kresge gets down and dirty cleaning windows at Treasure House Books & Gifts. Sisters in crime also supported the event with real-time social media coverage on Facebook and Twitter. You can check out the event-specific Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sisters - My assignment was to gather quotes from solvemysteries and on Twitter via the hashtag library visitors on how they use the library and #sisterssolve. Another great overview of the day what the library means to them. These will be is Barbara Fister’s online storyboard on Pinterest sent to the state library to be used when they at pinterest.com/bfister/sisters-solve-myster - fight for funding at the state legislature. I think ies . all the libraries in Virginia are supposed to have a “Library Snapshot day,” but in a classic catch- From the volunteers Sisters on the Job Included* 22 situation, the director couldn't spare anyone The Lisle Library, my hometown library, was to work on this—and who comes along but kind enough to let me share their day. I started Gail M. Baugniet, at the Maikiki Sinc offering a writer for the day! out in Youth Services working with Mary. It was Community Library in Honolulu HI —Lane Stone Science Saturday—what a treat! I helped Mary Charlotte Cohen, at the Santa Ana Public set up the experiments and the six kids carried Library in Santa Ana CA croak & dagger chapter member and author them out. We used a lot of white vinegar, water , at the Treat Margaret Tessler (Tangled Webs and others) and baking soda ! The finale was exploding the Memorial Library in Livermore Falls ME worked tirelessly for Albuquerque’s South Val - dirt volcano! Mary kept explaining the scientific Barbara Fister, SinC board member, at ley branch library, where her writing group principle behind each experiment, but the kids Once Upon a Crime in Minneapolis MN used to meet. She re-shelved returned books, and I, well, we were there to have fun! Susan Froetschel, at the Takoma Park re-alphabetized the children’s section as needed, Neighborhood Library in Washington Librarian pals, Rhonda and cathy, took me to reorganized a mass of dVd s, and listened in DC lunch at our local Tex-Mex restaurant and then on a children’s story hour. Margaret says W.S. Gager at the Jackson District Library it was off to Adult Services to finish the day. “Thanks to Sisters in crime for coming up in Jackson MI Patti and Nancy let me join them behind the with the idea, and to our chapter coordinator Kathleen Heady at the Haverford for implementing it here in town.” desk. I learned how they order books and Township Free Library in Havertown PA watched as Patti compiled and created infor - Lee Kelly at Barnes & Noble in Marietta I divided my time between two local indie mation for their newsletter on the Edgar and GA bookstores, alphabetizing and re-shelving as Agatha nominees. HTML doesn't stand a chance Molly MacRae at the Jane Addams Book needed nearly 40 feet of children’s picture books under Patti's hands. To me, it looked Greek but Shop in Champaign IL for Alamosa Books …. Later I worked at Treas - she whipped that code into shape. Robin Murphy at the Sharpsburg Library ure House Books & Gifts on Old Town Plaza in Sharpsburg MD I sat in utter admiration when I listened as during Albuquerque’s 306th anniversary events, Chelle Martin, at the Sadie Pope Dowdell Nancy guided a patron, over the phone, on which included Native American and Hispanic Public Library in South Amboy NJ how to maneuver the screens of the library music and dancers, gunfights by local re-enac - Denise Osborne, at the Mid-Continent website and Amazon in order to download a tors, and a parade featuring 12-foot wheeled Public Library, Raytown branch IN puppets portraying the city’s many ethnicities. book she wanted. There were many stops and Raytown MO starts and I marveled at Nancy's articulation I also washed windows, dusted shelves, re- Bernadette Pajer, at the Uppercase alphabetized one section, and helped with and patience. I loved working at the library Bookshop in Snohomish WA another author’s book signing. and gave them a heartfelt Sinc thank you and Karen Pullen, at McIntyre’s Books in hug for all they do. Pittsboro NC —Former Chapter President Rob Kresge —Luisa Buehler C. L. (Cheryl) Shore, at Bookmamas in IN Mary Stanton/Claudia Bishop, at Murder Kathy Lynn Emerson shelves children’s books at the on the Beach in Delray Beach FL Treat Memorial Library. Bernadette Paver (r) takes a break with owner Leah Lane Stone, at the Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Mcnutt at the Uppercase Bookshop. Central Library in Alexandria VA Susan Van Kirk, at the Warren County Public Library in Monmouth IL Kathryn R. Wall, SinC Treasurer, at the Beaufort County Library, Hilton Head branch in Hilton Head Island SC Tina Whittle, at The Golden Bough in Macon GA *Other Sisters participated who were not registered through the SinC web - site. All volunteers were greatly appre - ciated. inSinC June 2012 7 Sisters & Misters Rock…

Agatha Nominees SinC Members are in bold. Winners are listed first. n o t

Best Novel e l p

Three-Day Town, Margaret Maron m e T

n The Real Macaw, i b n o o R

The Diva Haunts the House, Krista Davis t y e l b

p o t Wicked Autumn, G.M. Malliet m o e T h

P n

A Trick of the Light, i b o R

William F. Deeck-Malice Domestic Grant winners y b

cynthia Sabelhaus and Sarah Bewley display their o Best Non-Fiction t o

awards. committee members Hariette Wasserman h Books, Crooks and Counselors: How to Write P Sackler and Arleen Trudy were excited about their Malice chair Verena Rose and Accurately About Criminal Law and selections. Courtroom Procedure, Leslie Budewitz Guest of Honor : Murder in the Making: More Stories and Secrets from Her Notebooks, John Curran On Conan Doyle: Or, The Whole Art of Storytelling, Michael Dirda Wilkie Collins, Vera Caspary and the Evolution of the Casebook Novel, A. B. Emrys The Sookie Stackhouse Companion, Liz Zelvin makes a point. Best Children’s/ YA Edith Mcclintock and G. M. Malliet The Black Heart Crypt, listen intently. n o Icefall, Matthew J. Kirby t e l p

The Wizard of Dark Street , Shawn Thomas m e T

n

Odyssey i b o R The Code Busters Club, Case #1: The Secret of y b

o

the Skeleton Key, t o h P Best First Novel Toastmaster

n received the Best o t e Learning to Swim, Sara J. Henry l Short Story Agatha from p m

Dire Threads, Janet Bolin e . T

n i

Choke, Kaye George b o R

Who Do, Voodoo?, Rochelle Staab y b

o Tempest in the Tea Leaves, Kari Lee t o h Townsend P Dana cameron presents Margaret Maron with the Best Short Story for Best novel. ”Disarming,” Dana Cameron “Dead Eye Gravy,” Krista Davis “Palace by the Lake,” Daryl Wood Gerber “Truth and Consequences” Barb Goffman “The Itinerary,” Roberta Isleib

Best Historical Novel Agatha nominees Naughty in Nice, Rhys Bowen Krista Davis and Janet Bolin Murder Your Darlings, J. J. Murphy Mercury’s Rise, Ann Parker Troubled Bones, Jeri Westerson Michelle Johnson and Sasser Hill enjoyed More of Robin Templeton’s Malice A Lesson in Secrets, the Sunday Sinc breakfast. Domestic photos can be seen at www.facebook.com/robin.templeton3 inSinC June 2012 8 at Malice Domestic n o t e l p m e T

n i b o R

y b

o t o h P n i v

l The always hilarious e Z

nAL z Lee Goldbrg received

Kate carlisle (r) shares a moment with i L

y the Poirot Award

Executive Editor Ellen Edwards. b

o t o h P Leslie Budewitz proudly displays her Agatha Award for Best non- Fiction .

Doreen Wheaton was delighted to be at carole nelson Douglas’ table at the Malice banquet. Beth Wasson celebrates 20 years as Sinc’s executive secretary.

catriona McPherson enjoyed the Malice banquet. Luminaries Guest of Honor, Jan Burke Toastmaster, Dana Cameron Lifetime Achievement, Malice Remembers, Poirot Award, Fan Guest of Honor, Ruth Sickafus SMP /Malice Domestic Best First Novel, Kathryn O’Sullivan William F. Deeck-Malice Domestic Grant for Unpublished Writers, cynthia Sabelhaus and Sarah Bewley Amelia Award, Elizabeth Peters, could Dean James be Inaugural Winner pondering his next exploit as Kate Gallison and Robin Hathaway enjoy a Miranda James? laugh at the cocktail hour. inSinC June 2012 9 SinC Loves Libraries! by Debra H. Goldstein

iverse is the only way to characterize novel writer. Sheila connolly past president, Sinc’s November and december presented the “We Love Libraries” check to D2011 “We Love Libraries” winners. librarian Ryan. Jones Library is located in the strongly college In addition to Jones Library publications influenced town of Amherst, . about the “We Love Libraries” award and In addition to its varied collection of books, it event, the Daily Hampshire Gazette published is known for being an outstanding reference detailed articles about the “Writing New Eng - source for Emily dickinson-related material. land Mysteries, Long and Short” panel on e Haakon county Public Library in Rapid January 31 and February 8, 2012. city, South dakota, according to Executive director Annie Brunskill, has “560 square feet Gazette staff writer Scott Merzbach’s Febru - of space” and serves patrons from a wide - ary 8 article not only summarized the pan - spread area. elists and their discussion well, but caught the essence of the afternoon in an exit inter - Monthly Sinc “We Love Libraries” $1000 view with Kathy Parella.“I thoroughly Grants make a difference grant winners are randomly selected from enjoyed it,” Parella said, balancing six mys - Every library that has won a “We Love applications that include a picture of one or tery novels she purchased after the talk. “I Libraries” award has thanked Sinc for more library staff members holding books have two Kindles, but I love the feel of a making it possible to enhance its collections from their libraries that were written by Sinc book in my hands and I like being able to and programs. As Annie Brunskill noted, authors. The winning libraries may use the loan a book to a friend.” She was glad the “This is a great service you are providing, award money for anything except operating Sinc award will underwrite additional pro - especially for small libraries like ours with expenses. Jones Library reference librarian, grams and books for Jones Library. limited budgets. Go Sinc!” Sinc authors Janet Ryan, was quoted in the January 31, who participate in presentation-related pro - 2012 Daily Hampshire Gazette explaining Haakon County Public Library grams also report enjoying the positive that Jones Library plans to use its Sinc There are only three at-large members of receptions they receive. As a group, Sinc money for developing library programs. Sinc in South dakota. Sinc member Karen members sometimes don’t think about the Because of space limitations, Haakon’s “plan Hall drove from Rapid city to Philip to far-reaching impact of our individual proj - is to make it a long-lasting gift,” according present the check and a program. She spoke ects, but a recent letter to Molly Weston to Ms. Brunskill. She is “going to set up stand - about how in her new book, Through Dark from Vinnie Hansen, a member of the ing orders for teens, early chapter books, Spaces, protagonist Hannah Morrison, an Northern california Sinc chapter, who large print, and best sellers,” because the environmental consultant at a South authors the carol Sabala mystery series, Haakon Library thinks “that’s the most eco - dakota mine, discovers someone is poison - underscores the importance of “We Love nomical use of the award—the gift that keeps ing the water of the beautiful Black Hills. To Libraries.” Hansen wrote: on giving.” Both libraries sponsored events, find the person responsible, she must face Dear Molly, showcasing Sinc members, at which the her darkest fears while trapped under - grant checks were presented. ground with a murderer. Hall also discussed I was delighted to see on the front page of Jones Library the process of writing memoirs and family The Pioneer Review, a photo of a Sister in stories and gave pointers on developing Crime presenting a $1,000 check to the On Super Bowl Sunday, 30 Jones Library reading/writing groups. library in Philip, South Dakota! I lived in patrons filled its large meeting room to attend Philip from the time I was born until I grad - Articles about Sinc and the program a panel on “Writing New England Mysteries, uated from high school. All my first Nancy appeared in The Pioneer Review, Rapid City Long and Short” featuring Sinc members Drews and Agatha Christies came from this Journal, and th e Fridge Door. Brunskill sum - Sheila connolly, Kate Flora, and Barbara library. I am so happy my hometown won marized the community’s reaction to the pro - Ross. The three spoke of their writing careers, the Sisters in Crime lottery as it is such a gram by writing, “We loved having Karen involvement with Sisters in crime, and the struggle for small town libraries to stay afloat. come. She’s a great speaker and the time just tie-ins between their characters and New I am proud to be part of the organization flew by…we all got a lot out of her talk. One England. that made this meaningful contribution. of the results might be a writers’ critique Kate Flora, the author of 12 books, many fea - group. The editor of the paper came and he’s turing the Thea Kozak character, is a former really excited about taking that project on.” Debra H. Goldstein is a judge, author, litigator, Sinc national president and former editor of wife, step-mom, mother of twins, and civic Level Best Books. Barbara Ross, president of volunteer. Maze in Blue, her debut mystery, is Sinc NE , addressed the topic from the per - the first in the Denney Silber series. Her web - spective of being a short story and full-length site is www.DebraHGoldstein.com . inSinC June 2012 10 Law & Fiction : Getting Facts Straight by Leslie Budewitz

I blogged recently about an issue pending before the uS Supreme Court: whether juveniles and the mentally disabled may be sentenced to life without parole for murder. So, in this issue and next, I’ll revisit some related questions.

Can juvenile defendants exists that a minor’s character deficiencies will be reformed.” The majority also concluded that be executed? juvenile executions do not serve the goals of o. In Roper v. Simmons (2005), a retribution or deterrence. Missouri case, the Supreme court A similar question naturally arises. Nstruck down the death penalty for State processes for determining mental retar - persons who committed their crimes before Can the mentally disabled dation vary. So does the definition, but it gen - turning 18. be executed? erally means a disability, originating before age The court upheld the execution of juveniles No. In 2002, in Atkins v. Virginia, the Supreme 18, that includes significantly below average in 1989, but reconsidered because of growing court reversed a 1989 decision and held that intelligence (e.g., an IQ of 70 or less) and sig - national consensus against the practice. execution of “mentally retarded” defendants nificant limitations in adaptive behavior, pri - Between 1976 and 2005, 22 defendants were violates the Eighth Amendment ban on cruel marily in reasoning and impulse control. executed for crimes committed as juveniles. By and unusual punishment. Eighteen states had Other variations include whether mental capac - 2005, 30 states had passed laws barring the exe - already banned such executions. At least 35 ity is decided by the judge or jury, whether cutions, although some set a limit of age 16 or mentally disabled defendants were executed determined before trial or during sentencing, 17. The evolution of public opinion played a from 1976 to 2001. (Most statutes and court and whether the state should pay for the defense major role in the change of heart and law. decisions use the term mentally retarded, not expert. mentally disabled.) The court held that the death penalty for juve - (Excerpted from Books, Crooks & Counselors, niles violates the Eighth Amendment ban on Why the ban? Mentally disabled persons may by Leslie Budewitz.) cruel and unusual punishment and is “dispro - not fully understand their actions and the con - portionate” in light of the general immaturity sequences, and may be less able to control their Leslie Budewitz is a practicing lawyer and a of youth. The court acknowledged that some behavior than persons of normal intelligence. fiction writer. Her book for writers, Books, juveniles commit brutal crimes but wrote that They are often more suggestible and likely to Crooks & Counselors: A Fiction Writer’s their “susceptibility ... to immature and irre - falsely confess. The ban implements the phi - Guide to Getting the Law Right (Quill sponsible behavior means their irresponsible losophy that execution of the mentally dis - Driver Books, 2011) received the Agatha conduct is not as morally reprehensible as that abled—regardless of guilt or innocence—is Award for Best nonfiction. For help getting of an adult. ... From a moral standpoint it would unacceptable in a civilized society. the law right in your stories, visit her web - be misguided to equate the failings of a minor site, www.LawandFiction.com and blog, with those of an adult, for a greater possibility www.LawandFiction.com/blog .

SinC Past Presidents Reveal…

You can fix it later. • If you care passionately, someday some - Unless you’re writing flat-out thrillers that where sometime an editor will care. move so fast your reader has no time to Write it now! • I know the book is out there and I will think about logic or consistency, charac - You can fix it later. find it if I keep on writing. ters will trump plots every time. —Barbara D’Amato — —Margaret Maron

inSinC June 2012 11 The Deific Decree by Katherine Ramsland, PhD

o one realized that something was smiled as she described the attacks. terribly wrong with deanna Because she’d obeyed God, she asserted, NLaney on Mother’s day weekend “I feel like He will reveal His power and in 2003. When she saw one of her young they will be raised up. They will become sons pick up a toy spear, she believed God alive again.” wanted her to kill them all. When this boy Only after she was medicated did she real - later handed her a rock, she “recognized” ize the enormity of what she’d done. Laney the weapon. At first, Laney resisted, but wept throughout her brief trial. The jury the pressure to kill persisted the rest of the acquitted her. day. In humble obedience, she placed large rocks in secret places for later that night. The deific decree Laney, a housewife in New chapel Hill, The principle of insanity requires defen - Texas, viewed herself as a “sister” to dants to demonstrate that their mental Andrea Yates, who had drowned her five state prevented them from appreciating children in 2001. Together, she thought, the wrongfulness of an act. But when they they would be the two witnesses of the claim that God told them to do it, they do Apocalypse in the Book of Revelation. know it’s wrong. It’s just that, in their Laney trusted that God would use her bru - minds, God’s law supersedes social rules. tal deed to do something great. According For such situations, the courts have to the Bible, He’d performed such won - devised an exception. drous deeds for others. The idea that God calls on someone to kill So, on that night, she waited until her hus - is known as the deific decree. You can know band and kids were asleep. She then that an illegal act is wrong but still be eli - entered the room where Aaron, her 14- gible for an insanity defense. said he was faking. The jury accepted the month-old baby, slept in a crib. Laney The first US case to officially categorize it placed him on the floor and used a four- in this manner was People v. Schmidt . In latter opinion, convicting him of murder. pound rock to hit him on the skull. He 1913, the dismembered body of Anna Laney got by with a deific decree. Yates, cried, so she held a pillow over his face Aumuller was found in the Hudson River. who believed that Satan was the inspiration until she heard him gurgle. (Aaron would When arrested for Anna’s murder, Hans for killing her children, did not. For the survive.) Schmidt admitted his guilt. He claimed deific decree defense, courts tend to focus Next, Laney took Luke, six, outside and that he’d experienced spells of religious on the “wrongful” aspect of an act rather told him to lie on the ground. He obeyed ecstasy in which he’d heard God requiring than the ill-defined “cognitive apprecia - and she smashed his skull. To prevent her that he kill Anna in atonement for his life tion,” and they generally restrict the issue oldest son, eight-year-old Joshua, from see - of crime. She’d been a necessary sacrifice. to “legally wrong” rather than “morally ing Luke’s body, Laney dragged it into the In this case, Judge cardozo devised the wrong.” Those jurisdictions that evaluate shadows and left the stone on top of him. “deific decree” to exempt religious claims the latter might find themselves entangled Finally, she killed Joshua. from the way sanity is generally conceived. in church vs. state issues. Laney called 911 herself to report the mur - He argued that “if ... there is an insane ders, and at her trial, psychiatrists from delusion that God has appeared to the defendant and ordained the commission Katherine Ramsland is a writer and profes - both sides agreed that she had been psy - sor of forensic psychology and criminal jus - chotic during the entire incident. Thus, of a crime...it cannot be said of the offender that he knows the act to be wrong” even if tice. Among her 40 books are The Ivy she did not appreciate that what she was League Killer and Snap! Seizing Your Aha! doing was wrong. Among the items of psy - he knows it’s illegal. Two physicians declared Schmidt insane, but two others Moments. She has published more than chological evidence was Laney’s post- 1,000 articles. crime demeanor. devoid of grief, she

inSinC September 2011 12 Conferences & Happenings

2012 SinC into Great Writing enthusiasts. craig Johnson and Laura Cleveland OH • October 3 Lippman will be guests of honor; david Thrillerfest VI Nancy Pickard offers a self-editing workshop corbett, toastmaster; Parnell Hall, “Last New York NY • July 11 –14 one day prior to Bouchercon. www.sinc.org Resort Troubadour”; Tom and Enid Schantz, Thrillermasters Jack Higgins and R. L. Stine; fan guests of honor; Stephen J. cannell, ghost spotlight guests , John Sanford, and Bouchercon of honor. www.leftcoastcrime.org/2013 catherine coulter; true thriller award recipi - Cleveland OH • October 4 –7 ent Ann Rule. Silver Bullet award recipients crime fiction rocks—and the opening cere - Malice Domestic 25 Richard North Patterson and Karen Slaughter mony takes place at the Rock & Roll Hall of Bethesda MD • May 3 –5 are featured authors. Bestselling authors will Fame. Those honored include Elizabeth The conference honoring the traditional mys - share secrets; top agents and editors will be George as American guest, Robin cook for tery will convene at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. on hand. www.thrillerfest.com distinguished contribution to the genre, Mary Guest of honor will be Laurie R. King; toast - Higgins clark for lifetime achievement, Les master, ; lifetime achievement, Public Safety Writers Association Roberts as special cleveland guest, doris ; Malice remembers, dick Las Vegas NV • July 12 –15 Ann Norris as fan guest, and Francis; international guest of honor, Peter For anyone writing crime and mystery fiction as toastmaster. www.bouchercon2012.com Robinson; fan guest of honor, cindy or non-fiction, technical writing for public Silberblatt. www.malicedomestic.org safety magazines in print or online, or anyone Magna cum Murder interested in writing, this is a great place to Muncie IN • October 26 –28, 2012 California Crime Writers network with the experts. SJ Rozan will highlight Ball State University’s Pasadena CA • June 22 –23 www.policewriter.com 18th conference as guest of honor. Eric G. LA-Sinc and Southern chapter of Mystery Wilson will deliver the banquet address. Writers of America co-sponsor this biennial Killer Nashville www.magnacummurder.com event geared to emerging and established Nashville TN • August 24 –26 mystery writers. Sue Grafton will be keynote c. J. Box and Peter Straub headline as guests Noircon 2012 speaker on Saturday; Joseph Wambaugh, on of honor at the conference for thriller, sus - PA • November 8 –11 Sunday. www.ccwconference.org pense, and mystery writers—and fans. This literary convention features david L. www.killernashville.com Goodis recipient , Jay and Bouchercon deen Kogan Award recipient for literary Albany NY • September 19 –22 Bloody Scotland excellence , keynote speaker Honorees include Sue Grafton for lifetime Stirling Scotland • September 14 –16 Robert Olen Butler, and master of ceremonies achievement, P. c. doherty as international Scotland’s first international crime writing charles Benoit. guest of honor, Tess Gerritsen as American festival highlights Scottish crime writing and www.noircon.info guest of honor, Steve Hamilton as toastmas - places it in an international context. ter, and chris Aldrich and Lynn Kaczmarek www.bloodyscotland.com and 2013 as fan guests of honor. www.bcon2013.com @bloodyscotland Love Is Murder 2014 Writers Police Academy IL • February 1 –3 Jamestown NC • September 20 –23 This forum allows writers and readers to fur - Bouchercon 2014 WPA offers the “most hands-on, interactive, ther their knowledge of writing, publishing, Long Beach CA • November 13 –16 and educational experience for writers.” and the business of book production. david J. Honorees include Jeffery deaver for lifetime Keynote speaker is Lee child. Walker will be local guest of honor; Lee achievement, Edward Marston as interna - www.writerspoliceacademy.com Goldberg and Michael Harvey, featured tional guest of honor, J. A. Jance as American authors. www.loveismurder.net guest of honor, Simon Wood as toastmaster, and Al Abramson as fan guest of honor. Book ‘Em North Carolina www.bouchercon2014.com Conferences & Workshops Lumberton NC • February 23 Please send all conference and work - The second writers conference and book fair 2015 shop information, including those at Robeson community college will host sponsored by SinC chapters, to Molly more than 75 authors and publishers for Bouchercon 2015 Weston at mysteryheel @mac. com. book signings, panel discussions, and more. Raleigh NC • October 8 –15 Include conference name, date, loca - www.bookemnc.org “Murder Under the Oaks’ will feature Tom Franklin as American guest of honor, Sean tion, brief description, contact informa - Left Coast Crime tion, and website. Please include doolittle and Lori Armstrong as toastmas - Springs CO • Mar. 21 –24 “Conference” or “Workshop” in the sub - ters, and Ron Rash as local guest of honor. “Where murder is the last resort” is for read - ject line. Deadline for the September www.bouchercon2015.org and @Bcon2015 ers, writers, librarians, and other mystery and issue is July 15. inSinC June 2012 13 The Docket by Molly Weston

ntries for e docket are progressing more smoothly, but • Enter all publishers for a title in the “publisher” field, including the please be mindful of the following directions: site where e-publications are available, i.e., “Smashwords, Kindle, E etc.” If your title is available in most online versions, simply use • Submit entries within six months of publication, nomination, or “ebook.” award. • Indicate awards and award nominations for this title only. • Ensure that all spelling is correct. Your entry will be downloaded • Enter the name you want shown as author as you want it shown. exactly as you have entered it. For pseudonyms, to show your real name shown, enter • Do not use ALL cAPS anywhere. “Pseudonym aka Real Name” in the “Pen Name or Pseudonym” • Put quotations around short story titles. field. • The “editor” field should be for anthologies only. • Spell out all publishers, magazines, awards, etc. • Enter any non-fiction chapter or short story title you have pub - • Check your entry before hitting “submit.” If after submitting you lished. (Previously, individual short stories in chapter anthologies realize there was an error, resubmit the entry correctly. For multiple were not listed.) dates the most recent entry will be used. There is no need to con - tact me about this. Avery Aames’ Clobbered by Camembert, was Jacqueline corcoran, Backlit, Etopia Press J.M. Griffin, Murder on Spyglass Lane, nominated for an Agatha Award. ebook, January Amazon/ebook & paper, February cathy Ace, The Corpse with the Silver Hilary davidson, The Next One to Fall, Laura Ellen, Blind Spot, Houghton Mifflin Tongue , TouchWood Editions, March Forge, February. Her The Damage Done Harcourt, October Amy Beth Arkawy, Killing Time: An Eliza won the crimespree Award for Best First Jean Harrington’s Designed for Death, was a Gordon Mystery, Hen House Press, Novel finalist in the 2011 Emily contest February Vicki delany, A Winter Kill, Rapid Reads charlaine Harris, Deadlocked, Ace, May and Janet Bolin’s Dire Threads was nominated for (Orca Publishers), April and Gold “Playing Possum” in An Apple for the an Agatha Award and the Bloody Words Mountain: A Klondike Mystery, dundurn Creature, Harris & Toni L. P. Kelner, eds., Light Mystery Award. Press, April Ace & ebook, September Frances Brody, Dying in the Wool, Minotaur Lesley A. diehl, Poisoned Pairings, Mainly Libby Fischer Hellmann, A Bitter Veil, Books, February Murder Press, May Allium Press of chicago & ebook, April Warren Bull, “The Last Gift From my M J donahue, The Pearl Affair, Smashwords, Lynda Hilburn, The Vampire Shrink, Sterling Father” in Strange Mysteries 4 Anthology , Amazon Books ebook, February Publishing/Silver Oak, April February. His “company Policy,” was nom - Monette Michaels, Cold Day in Hell, A Lynda Hilburn, “Until death do Us Part, inated for a derringer Award. Security Specialists International Book, Kindle/Smashwords ebook, April Mollie cox Bryan, Scrapbook of Secrets: A Liquid Silver Books ebook, January Joan Hall Hovey’s The Abduction of Mary Cumberland Creek Mystery, Kensington, Joya Fields, Beneath the Surface, The Wild Rose was nominated for the Eppie Award February Rose Press, January Jonnie Jacobs, Paradise Falls, Five Star, Ellen Byerrum, Death on Heels, Lynda Fitzgerald, Live Ammo, crystal March Obsidian/Penguin, February dreams/MMP, April darrell James’ Nazareth Child won the Sally carpenter’s The Baffled Beatlemaniac R. Barri Flowers, Serial Killer Couples: Eureka for best first mystery at Left coast Caper was nominated for the Eureka! Bonded by Sexual Depravity, Abduction, crime. Award for best first mystery novel by Left and Murder, Kindle/Nook/iTunes ebook, Hannah Jayne, under Suspicion, Kensington coast crime January Books, May c. Hope clark, Lowcountry Bribe, Bell Bridge R. Barri Flowers, Edge of Suspense: Thrilling April Kelly & Marsha Lyons, Winged, Books, February Tales of Mystery & Murder, February; Murder in One Take, April; Mindy Starns clark and John campbell Kindle/Nook/iTunes ebook, december Murder: Take Two, April; Flight Risk Books clark, Echoes of Titanic, Harvest House Sandra Gardner’s Mother, Murder and Me diane Kelly, Death, Taxes, and a Skinny No- Publishers, March (April) won the First Annual New Author Whip Latte, S t. Martin's Press, March Jane K. cleland, Dolled up for Murder, St. contest from Swyers Publishing. Laura Alden, Plotting at the PTA, Obsidian, Martin's Minotaur, March and “Last KB Gibson, A Class on Murder, Five Star July Supper” in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Publishing, June Marian Lanouette, If I Fail, A Jake Carrington Magazine , June Patricia Gligor, Mixed Messages, Post Mystery, September and Burn in Hell, A deborah coonts, Lucky in Love (novella), Mortem Press, April Jake Carrington Mystery, January 13, Forge Books ebook, January and So Damn Sarah M. Glover, Grave Refrain, Omnific MuseItUp Publishing ebook, Lucky Forge Books, February Publishing, February inSinC June 2012 14 Lifetime members and volunteers

SinC volunteers and those who have taken advantage of the lifetime membership option were recognized at the Sunday SinC breakfast at Malice Domestic. Two new membership categories were offered this year for the first time: lifetime and two-year.

Lifetime members receive a special pin.

All volunteers were invited to the Sinc breakfast at Malice Domestic.

Lifetime members include past presidents.

The Docket - cont’d from p. 14

B.V. Lawson, Ill-Gotten Games, Untreed Sylvia A. Nash, “The Mystery Man” in Morgan St. James, The Mafia Funeral and Reads ebook, February. “Touch of death” Christian Fiction Online Magazine ebook, Other Short Stories, ebook, January and won the derringer short story Award. February Writers' Tricks of the Trade: 39 Things You Steve Liskow, Cherry Bomb, create Space, Radine Trees Nehring, A Fair to Die for, Oak Need to Know About the ABCs of Writing Kindle, Nook ebook, March and “Hot Tree Press, June Fiction , September, Marina Publishing Sugar Blues” in Vengeance , Mulholland Terry Odell, Rooted in Danger, Five Group Books, April Star/Gale, April ’s “A drowning at Snow’s cut” was G.M. Malliet’s Wicked Autumn was nomi - Helen Macie Osterman, Emma Winberry co-winner of the derringer Award for best nated for the Agatha and dilys Awards. and the Evil Eye , Weaving dreams long story. Jonathan Mccormick, Wyoming Secrets a "J" Publishing, September Paula Unroe, Babe’s Amaze’n Grace, Kindle Team Novel , createSpace/Amazon ebook, Katherine Hall Page, The Body in the ebook, April February Boudoir, W m. Morrow, ebook, large print, Molly Weston won the Raven Award from carolyn McSparren, O ne Hoof in the Grave, May the Mystery Writers of America. Belle Books, Inc., January Sharon Pape, Sketch a Falling Star, Berkley catherine A. Winn, Tough Luck, Wings Ada Madison aka camille Minichinom, The Prime crime, March ePress ebook, January Probability of Murder, Berkley Prime Karen Pullen’s “Brea’s Tale” was co-winner of Joyce Yarrow, The Last Matryoshka, Istoria crime, March and Mix-up in Miniature, the derringer Award for best long story. Books ebook, March Perseverance Press, April Kathleen A. Rya, “Heat of Passion,” was Karen Spears Zacharias, A Silence of Marie Moore, Shore Excursion, camel Press, nominated for the derringer Award for Mockingbirds: The Memoir of a Murder, April Best Flash Fiction Story and winner of the MacAdam/cage, April Sandra Murphy, Bananas Foster, March and 2011 Public Safety Writers Association Elizabeth Zelvin, Death Will Extend Your Sweet Tea and Deviled Eggs, January, Flash Fiction Award Vacation, Five Star, April Untreed Reads ebooks connie Shelton, Sweet Hearts: The Fourth Samantha Sweet Mystery, Secret Staircase Books, January inSinC June 2012 15 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE

PO Box 442124 PAID BLACKSBURG, VA Lawrence KS 66040 PERMIT NO. 158 www.sistersincrime.com

Change Service Requested

Writing Contests The Tony Hillerman Prize June 1 co-sponsored by the Tony Hillerman Writers conference and St. Martin’s Press, the prize is awarded annually to the best debut mystery set in the Southwest. tinyurl.com/qyvt7e Claymore Award June 1 Sponsored by Killer Nashville, judges will consider the first 50 pages of a manuscript from any subgenre of mystery or thriller. www.ClaymoreAward.com

St. Martin’s Minotaur /MWA First Crime Novel Usually mid-November Writing Contests Open to any writer who has never been the author of a published novel (excepting self-published Please send all information or one who is under contract). tinyurl.com/6m6quoq for mystery writing contests, including those sponsored William F. Deeck-Malice Domestic by SinC chapters, directly to Grants Program for Unpublished Writers Molly Weston, inSinC editor, Annually, Mid-November at [email protected] . Grants to two unpublished writers in the malice domestic genre. Include contest name, entry www.malicedomestic.org/grants.html deadline, sponsor, and web - site. Include “Contest” in the Poisoned Pen Press Discover Mystery Award subject line. Deadline for the April 30 September issue is July 15. First book contest for unpublished writers. www.poisonedpenpress.com/contest