the Sisters in Crime Quarterly Vol. 26, No. 3 Strategic Planning Overview by Laura DiSilverio f you read inSinC front to back, you women crime writers.” We dropped the goal, ranging from expanding the moni- probably haven’t read Hank’s letter about phrase “to achieve equality in the indus- toring project to developing new edu- Ithe SinC strategic planning session… try” from the 2008 statement not because cational opportunities for members, to what? You haven’t? So go to Page 3 and male and female crime writers operate sharing webinars and information across read it—we’ll wait. Okay. Aren’t you excited on a level playing field, but because we chapters, and many more which you can now? This organization is going places, think the idea of promoting recognition read about in the full report. moving forward, heading for new heights. encapsulates our unchanged commitment Believe us, we came away from the two days to ensuring women crime writers receive Your national board is totally excited about of meetings totally jazzed up, not exhausted the reviews, publishing opportunities and our new direction and committed to it. like you usually get after a couple of days awards their excellence demands. Our hope is that as you read the full plan locked in a conference room. You’re prob- and discuss it, it will stimulate you to come ably wondering however, what, exactly, we • We broadened our mission statement forward with ideas, or even to volunteer accomplished. Let us tell you. to “Serve as the voice for excellence and in one of the goal areas. We’ll be forming diversity in crime writing.” We’re all about standing and ad hoc committees to propel The full report will be forthcoming in a getting better at our craft, helping others us forward and we hope each of you will month or so, after we polish it and add some get better, and being inclusive, as well as choose to be an active part of the process. photos and such. [Photos are on Page 13.] raising the bar for crime writing and excel- Email your board members with your ideas, In the meantime, here’s the Reader’s Digest lence across the crime fiction spectrum. or chat with us at conferences and conven- version: tions. We look forward to a fruitful and • We changed our tag line from “SinC into ongoing discussion! • We refined the mission statement to read a Great Mystery” to “SinC Up with Great “Promote the ongoing advancement, rec- Crime Writing!” to show that we encom- ognition and professional development of pass a broader spectrum of writing than straight mysteries. • We established four goal areas to strive Strategic Planning Committee for over the next five years and appointed Rather than a summit conference this board goal champions (not necessarily the year, SinC President Hank Phillippi Ryan committee chairs) for each: called for a strategic planning session. • Membership Growth, Retention and The last such meeting was held in 2008. Value Creation (Frankie Bailey) Bill Pawlucy of Association Options facili- • Chapter Relations (Martha Reed) tated the meeting of seven board mem- • Voice of the Industry and Promotion bers (Hank, Frankie Bailey, Sally Brewster, Laura DiSilverio, Cari Dubiel, Barbara Fister, of the Professions (Barbara Fister) and Martha Reed), three former SinC presi- • Educational Excellence (Laura dents (Marcia Talley, Kate Flora, and Judy DiSilverio) Clemens), and three staff members (Sarah Glass, Beth Wasson, and Molly Weston). • Finally, we generated specific strategies and even some tactics for achieving each Get a Clue inSinC the Sisters in Crime Quarterly Hello from Hank Hank Phillippi Ryan ...............3 The mission of Sisters in Crime isPromote the ongoing advancement, Editor’s Note recognition and professional development of women crime writers. Molly Weston .....................3 Chapter News .......................4 Hank Phillippi Ryan, President Sally Brewster, Bookstore Liaison Laura DiSilverio, Vice President/Pres.-Elect Cari Dubiel, Library Liaison Board & Officers.................... 6 Stephanie Pintoff, Secretary/Publicity Val McDermid, At-Large Awards & Rewards Robert Dugoni, At-Large Cathy Pickens, At-Large Margaret Maron ................7 Kathryn Wall, Treasurer/Authors Coalition Liaison Barbara Fister, Monitoring Project We Love Libraries! Martha Reed, Chapter Liaison Frankie Bailey, Past President Debra H. Goldstein ................8 Mary Boone, Library Adviser Sarah Glass, Web Maven/Social Media Beth’s Bits Laurel Anderson, inSinC Proofreader Kaye Barley, inSinC Proofreader Beth Wasson......................9 Gavin Faulkner, inSinC Proofreader Molly Weston, inSinC Editor/Layout Sarah Weinman on Domestic Suspense Beth Wasson, Executive Director, po Box 442124, Lawrence ks 66044-2124 Barbara Fister....................10 Phone: 785.842.1325; Fax 785.856.6314; e-mail [email protected] SinC into Great Writing Cathy Pickens....................12 SinC’s Strategic Planning Committee...13 Events & Happenings ...............14 Sisters in Crime Past Presidents RIP.............................. 14 1987-88 Sara Paretsky 1988-89 Nancy Pickard Writing Contests....................15 1989-90 Margaret Maron 1990-91 Susan Dunlap Law & Fiction—Getting the Facts Straight 1991-92 Carolyn G. Hart 1992-93 P. M. Carlson Leslie Budewitz ..................16 1993-94 Linda Grant 1994-95 Barbara D’Amato Katherine Ramsland, PhD ...........17 1995-96 Elaine Raco Chase 1996-97 Annette Meyers The Docket ........................18 1997-98 Sue Henry 1998-99 Medora Sale Awards & Nominations..............19 1999-00 Barbara Burnett Smith 2000-01 Claire Carmichael McNab Writing Contests ................... 19 2001-02 Eve K. Sandstrom 2002-03 Kate Flora 2003-04 Kate Grilley 2004-05 Patricia Sprinkle Deadlines & Submissions 2005-06 Libby Hellmann 2006-07 Rochelle Krich 2007-08 Roberta Isleib 2008-09 Judy Clemens • Deadline for articles for the December 2009-10 Marcia Talley 2010-11 Cathy Pickens issue of inSinC is October 15. 2011-12 Frankie Bailey • Include name, e-mail, mailing address, and phone number with submissions. • Send columns, articles, high-res photos, ideas, praise, and story ideas via e-mail to Molly Weston Legend [email protected] 919.362.1436 In 2008, the board of directors of Sisters in Crime implemented a new strategic plan. Three goals emerged from this plan: inSinC articles will be marked with icons to represent the The Docket appropriate goal. • To list your publications and award nominations, login to SistersinCrime. Advocacy, monitoring, and reporting org and look for “The Docket” under “Members Only.” Fill in the information, one entry per publication. Professional education and career development • Information on the SinC website will be updated regularly and will be available to anyone under “Resources.” Membership growth, networking, and forums for members • 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 ©2013. inSinC -2- September 2013 Strategy vs. Tactics—SinC & YOU But what about how you’re to get there? Will e do it every day—but we prob- you get up earlier every day to write before ably don’t think of it in military you leave for work? Will you make a word- terms: Strategic decision-mak- W count-per-day chart? Will you promise to ing vs. tactical decision-making. Sounds more like a Bruce Willis movie than the writ- write first, before you check your email and er’s life—and I clearly remember my high Facebook page? Will you come to the SinC school history teacher trying to explain the into Great Writing Workshop at Bouchercon? difference as he taught us about World War Those are your tactical decisions—the little II. But in an oak-paneled conference room picture. The specific individual steps you at a Chicago hotel this June, I began to real- choose to take—every day—on the way to ize how fascinatingly important that way of achieving the goals in your mission statement. thinking can be. By creating that statement—which takes Even more fascinating, how successful it can thought, consideration and passion—you’ve be to apply those skills to our own lives and set the stage for your future. An attainable, careers—and to our writing community. possible, powerful future. By listing your tac- tics, you’ve set the path to get there. Here’s what I mean. Do you have a mission statement for your writing career? A new And that’s just what we’re doing at Sisters author might say something like: A power- in Crime! In that oak-paneled boardroom ful story, a quality manuscript, continuing in Chicago, a group of board members and Kate Flora suggested a wonderful motto for education and devotion to my task—lead- past presidents and Beth, Sarah, and Molly Sisters in Crime: You write alone, but you’re ing to publication and success. Okay, good met to think strategically and tactically not alone. I’ve thought about that every day. one. If you looked at that every morning, it about the future of Sisters in Crime. We’re would keep you on your path, right? If you focusing on chapters, and new members, If you’re on a mission, you have to know were trying to decide whether to do some- and education, and finding our voice.