Off to See the Lizard?

By Kathie Felix

This summer, Vintage Books launched “Weekly Lizard,” a new mobile-enabled website for fans of mystery, crime, suspense and thriller fiction.

The site, online at weeklylizard.com, offers news and feature articles written by authors, booksellers, journalists, bloggers and other experts in the mystery and thriller genre.

The content includes author profiles in a section titled “In the Lineup,” essays and profiles of great mystery characters (filed under “Tough Guys and Dangerous Dames”), quotations from classic and contemporary mystery and thriller novels (“Wiseguy Quotes”) and early excerpts from upcoming novels.

The site draws on Vintage Crime/Black Lizard’s backlist and lineup of contemporary authors for access to original essays and historical documents. Feature articles are developed from books and news across the publishing industry.

Expect to see information on the imprint’s classic crime writers such as Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler, as well as current bestsellers Steig Larsson, Henning Mankell, James Ellroy and Ruth Rendell.

The site also covers book-to-film news and features, classic film noir and current popular crime television series.

Currently, Weekly Lizard offers an in-depth look at the life of hard-boiled hero James M. Cain, author of the crime fiction classics The Postman Always Rings Twice, Double Indemnity and Mildred Pierce; author Lisa Unger’s take on Scott Smith’s novel, A Simple Plan, and an inside look at the debut of the Aurelio Zen series now airing on Masterpiece Mystery. In addition, author Karen Essex writes about sex and storylines with a discussion of her thriller, Dracula in Love.

Vintage Crime/Black Lizard, founded in June 1990, combines the publishing muscle of Vintage Books, the publisher of Dashiell Hammett, James M. Cain and Raymond Chandler, with Black Lizard, a classic crime fiction publishing house focused on the post-World War II era.

25th Birthday Bash at Bouchercon

Sisters in Crime celebrates its 25th birthday during Bouchercon with a breakfast party at the Roberts Mayfair, a Wyndham Hotel, on Friday, Sept. 16, 2011, at 7:30 a.m.

A full plated breakfast will be served. Guests are welcome.

The cost is $25 for SinC members and $45 for nonmembers.

The Roberts Mayfair is the located near the front door of the Renaissance St. Louis Grand Hotel.

The deadline for registrations sent by U.S. Postal Service mail is Sept. 9. The mailing address is: Sisters in Crime, P.O. Box 442124, Lawrence, KS 66044. Be sure to include an email address with your reservation to receive a receipt from SinC.

The online registration deadline is Sept. 12. Members can click here to register; nonmembers can click here to register.

The room location for the breakfast will be sent to attendees by email and will be posted on the Sisters in Crime website by Sept. 9.

The 'Don Knotts Golden Donut Short Story Contest' Seeks Entries

This week, the Writers' Police Academy (WPA) announced that the Don Knotts Golden Donut Short Story Contest is open for entries.

The contest is seeking short stories of exactly 200 words (including the title) about the photograph published here and on the WPA website. The photo was taken by Sunday Kaminski, a Maryland-based photographer whose work has appeared in shows, exhibits and publications including Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine.

The entry guidelines:
-Use exactly 200 words, including the title.
-The image in the photograph must be the main subject of the story.
-The story must be polished and complete (with a beginning, middle and a twist of an ending).
-All stories must be submitted electronically.
-The submission deadline is midnight, August 19, 2011.
-A $20 entry fee must accompany each entry. The proceeds go to the Writers' Police Academy fund to benefit the Guilford Technical Community College criminal justice foundation.

For detailed submission guidelines, go to the WPA website and click on Short Story Contest in the blue menu ribbon at the top of the screen.

The contest winner will receive the Don Knotts Golden Donut Award sponsored by the High Point (North Carolina) Public Library and Krispy Kreme. The award will be presented at the Writers' Police Academy banquet on Saturday, Sept. 24.

The contest is open to everyone. Registration and attendance at the Writers' Police Academy is not required to participate.


**Photograph by Sunday Kaminski. The image may not be copied, reproduced or used in any manner without the express written permission of Sunday Kaminski.

SinC Extends Member Discount for Writers' Police Academy

Sisters in Crime is extending the member discount for SinC members attending the Writers' Police Academy taking place Sept. 23 to 25, 2011, near Greensboro, North Carolina.

The offer, originally scheduled to end on June 16, was extended due to its popularity. SinC members are now eligible for the deeply-discounted registration fee of $100 throughout the entire registration period of the conference. SinC national will pay the balance of the $255 registration.

If you’re not a Sisters in Crime member, you can sign up for a SinC membership to receive the discount. The annual membership fee for a SinC professional membership is $40. For more information on membership, go to www.sistersincrime.org.

The Writers' Police Academy provides a hands-on interactive experience designed to help writers increase their understanding of all aspects of law enforcement and forensics.

The three-day training program offers access to active-duty police instructors, an on-site working fire station and working police, fire and EMS equipment.

Sisters in Crime will sponsor a mix-and-mingle reception on Friday, Sept. 24, from 7 to 9 p.m. The get-together will be followed by a “night owl” presentation by Lee Lofland, author of Police Procedure and Investigation, a bestseller in the Writers Digest “Howdunit” series.

To register, or for more detailed information on the Writers' Police Academy, go to writerspoliceacademy.com.

Writers’ Police Academy: SinC will pay more than half your way

Sisters in Crime members can attend the Writers’ Police Academy, to be held Sept. 23 to 25, 2011 near Greensboro, North Carolina, for a deeply-discounted registration fee of $100. SinC national will pay the balance of members’ $255 registration.

Act quickly to take advantage of this offer, which is in effect until June 15, 2011.

If you’re not a Sisters in Crime member, you can sign up for a SinC membership to receive the discount. The annual membership fee for a SinC professional membership is $40.

The Writers’ Police Academy, helmed by SinC member Lee Lofland, provides a hands-on interactive experience designed to help writers increase their understanding of all aspects of law enforcement and forensics.

The three-day training program offers access to active-duty police instructors, an on-site working fire station and working police, fire and EMS equipment. Law enforcement professionals participating in the event include ATF special agent Rick McMahan; Lt. Josh Morris of the Central Point Police Department, assigned to the FBI as the commander of the Southern Oregon High-Tech Crimes Task Force/FBI Cyber Crimes Task Force; Dave Pauly, retired from the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command as a Special Agent-in-Charge/Commander and forensic science officer, and others.

Exhibits and demonstrations will focus on crime lab work, firefighting equipment, command post vehicles and motorcycles, as well as the work of dive teams, the state police, K-9 teams and hazardous material teams.

Sessions and workshops will examine the use of force, 3-D laser modeling, bloodstain patterns and cold cases, including how cases go cold and the realities of homicide units. Dr. Katherine Ramsland will offer a special presentation on “Psychological Sleuthing and the Tools of Forensic Psychology.”

The keynote speech will be presented by award-winning author Christopher Reich, the author of eight espionage thrillers. His most recent work, Rules of Betrayal, is the third installment in the series featuring Dr. Jonathan Ransom, a surgeon who previously worked with Doctors Without Borders, and his wife, Emma, a secret agent.

Sisters in Crime will sponsor a mix-and-mingle reception on Friday, Sept. 24, from 7 to 9 p.m. The get-together will be followed by a “night owl” presentation by Lee Lofland, author of Police Procedure and Investigation, a bestseller in the Writers Digest “Howdunit” series.

To register, or for more detailed information on the Writers’ Police Academy, go to www.writerspoliceacademy.com.

Breakfast at Malice Domestic

Sisters in Crime hosts its annual breakfast at Malice Domestic at the Hyatt Regency in Bethesda, Maryland on Sunday, May 1, from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m.

The event offers a chance to toast the 25th birthday of Sisters in Crime, meet new friends – and even win a fun door prize.

Advance reservations are required. The cost is $20 for members and $30 for non-members. You can register online at www.sistersincrime.org.

Will you be at Malice Domestic this year? We hope you'll join us for breakfast!

SinC into Cyberspace: Re-launching the Internet Chapter

By Nan Harrington

Internet chapter? I didn’t even know we had an internet chapter! And, for that matter, why do we even need such a chapter?

Sisters in Crime does indeed have an internet chapter and it fulfills many vital purposes that no local chapter can achieve. The internet chapter exists to offer support, information, activities, interviews, resources, and interaction for all those who live where there are no local chapters; for those who are unable to attend because of illness or bad weather (remember this past February?!); or for members of local SinC chapters who want a “SinC supplement” between their local chapter meetings.

After nearly “closing our doors” in November, we realized that we offer crucial services that are valuable and unique to our SinC community.

As I live most of the time in Cuernavaca, Mexico where, needless to say, there are no local chapters even remotely close, having a cyber-community is of utmost importance to me. But, one doesn’t need to live in Outer Mongolia to choose to become a member of the internet chapter! We exist for some, not as a replacement for their local chapter, but as an addition to it.

In the next few months, we will launch our “new-and-improved” web site. We plan to include: guest interviews (authors, agents, editors, experts, booksellers); monthly member profiles; critique groups; guest blogs; weekly activities and tips; “soon-to-be-published” books by our members; a calendar of upcoming events, contests, retreats; a resource library; links to booksellers; and most importantly… information on how to join!

Now comes the Audacious Appeal for Aid! Anyone who has launched a new chapter, assumed the presidency of a local chapter, or revamped the format of their current chapter is well aware of the initial – and often quite daunting – impediments to dazzling success. We do need your help. Please consider offering yourself as a potential interviewee, blogger, expert, or participant for our internet chapter!

Since we exist in cyberspace, you don’t need to leave the comfort of your home to render assistance and encouragement! I should have mentioned that in addition to being audacious, this call for support is quite blatant. But truly needed!

My email address is: nan.harrington[at]gmail.com.
Our “in-process” web site will be: www.sinc-ic.org.



Nan Harrington, President of the Internet Chapter of Sisters in Crime, is a 5th generation Texan, a retired university professor, a wanna-be crime writer (her new passion!), and an inveterate traveler. She lives in Dallas and Cuernavaca, Mexico.

Celebrating 25 Years of Sisters in Crime

Beginning this month, Sisters in Crime is celebrating more than a year of milestones marking the organization’s 25 years of promoting the professional development and advancement of women writing crime fiction.

The seeds were sown in March 1986 at the first conference on Women in the Mystery organized by B.J. Rahn at Hunter College. During the session, Sara Paretsky spoke on the growing use of graphic violence against women in mysteries.

“Remarks I made at the conference set off a firestorm around the mystery world,” she said. “Women began calling me from all over the country with their personal histories of treatment/mistreatment.”

Later that year, Phyllis Whitney turned up the volume for the voices of women writing mystery and crime fiction when she wrote a letter to Mystery Writers of America pointing out that women authors weren’t being nominated for awards.

The group that would become Sisters in Crime made its debut in 1986 at the Baltimore Bouchercon when Paretsky convened the initial meeting of women interested in the project. During the session, she pointed out that books by women crime fiction writers weren’t being reviewed at a rate matching their participation in the publishing industry.

Nearly six months later, during Edgars Week in the spring of 1987, a breakfast meeting at Sandra Scoppettone’s New York loft brought women in the mystery and crime fiction industry together for additional discussion and the formation of the organization.

The first mission statement of the organization was “Sisters in Crime is committed to helping women who write, review, buy or sell crime fiction. Our ultimate goal is to become a service organization to address issues of concern to everyone involved in the mystery field.”

The initial steering committee members were Dorothy Salisbury Davis, Susan Dunlap, Betty Francis, Charlotte MacLeod, Kate Mattes, Sara Paretsky and Nancy Pickard.

The organization’s first elected President was Nancy Pickard. Margaret Maron served as Vice President.

Founding member Carolyn Hart created the backbone of the organization’s communications program by creating and compiling the Sisters in Crime mailing list.

“Some of my best memories are of the true support that grew from nothing to a nationwide network,” Maron said.

Plans for the 25th anniversary celebration will be discussed at the Sisters in Crime Presidents’ meeting next month at Malice Domestic in Bethesda, Maryland. If you’d like to attend that meeting, contact Chapter Liaison Sandra Parshall.



Historical information originally compiled by Lora Roberts.

Breaking & Entering

One of the many benefits of Sisters in Crime membership is members-only access to publications written specifically for mystery and crime fiction writers.

This year, SinC produced the third edition of Breaking & Entering: The Road to Success, a writers’ handbook compiled and edited by L. C. Hayden. The 137-page book features 27 pieces that offer a practical look at the journey to publication.

The entries include:

A look at author preparation for career success by Radine Trees Nehring

A discussion of the value of critique groups by William Kent Krueger

A meditation on tenacity by Maryann Miller

Cartoons by Debra C. Thomas on plot solutions and rejection recovery

Thoughts on rejection by Lynda Fitzgerald

“How to Get Organized” by Kaye George

“Wondering About Websites” by Peggy Ehrhart

Tips on introducing yourself to the writing community by Sheila Connolly

“Standalone vs. Series” by Carolyn Hart

“Series or Standalone” by Margaret Maron

“Publishing Options” by Cathy Pickens with contributions by Patricia E. Canterbury and Marja McGraw

An examination of the young adult mystery market by Gay Toltl Kinman

“Using Short Stories to Break Into the Mystery Field” by Toni L.P. Kelner

“Getting the Most Out of a Conference” by Kelly Nichols/P.J. Parrish

“Submitting Can Be Murder: Strategies for Survival” by Chris Roerden

“A Little Note on Copyright” by Cathy Pickens

“Formatting Manuscripts: Why Bother? And How to Do It Right” by Donna Andrews

“Making Your Mystery Stand Out: Advice from an Agent’s Chair” by Ellen Geiger

“How to be a Dream Author: What Are Editors and Publishers Looking For?” by Toni Plummer

“Agents Are Human” by Cynthia Riggs

“The Agent Search” by Joyce Tremel

“The Query Process” by Kendel Flaum

“The Perils of Publication: How a Debut Author Can Avoid Making a Fool of Herself” by Sandra Parshall

“Reinventing Yourself” by Elaine Viets

“Breaking and Entering: Television” by Lee Goldberg

A trade paper edition of the book is available directly from Sisters in Crime for $14.99 ($11.99 plus $3.00 postage and handling).

In addition, a trade paper ($11.99) and electronic ($1.99) edition are available at www.lulu.com via a direct link from the SinC website. Access through this link is required -- the publication is available only to Sisters in Crime members.

For ordering instructions, see the SinC website. Go to www.sistersincrime.org, select Resources, then select Publications.

SinC Plans Web Technology Update

By Beth Wasson

Two weeks ago, I had the honor of representing Sisters in Crime at an Affiniscape conference in Austin, Texas.

Affiniscape is the company that handles SinC's secured member data, sends out our e-blasts and hosts our custom search features on www.sistersincrime.org.

The 10-year-old organization has 1,200 clients located throughout the U.S. The company handles data for bankers, veterinarians, pharmacists -- and mystery lovers and writers (although I'm betting we're the only crime writers' association on their client list).

My four days in Austin were filled with lectures and individual training -- a huge amount of practical information that I've brought back to my work at Sisters in Crime.

The biggest news from my trip: you'll be seeing a few new online features in 2011, including increased website speed and some new interface upgrades.

Trust me, the presentation on the company's upgraded hardware was tedious, but the bottom line was the good news of the increased hosting speed.

Of more interest to all of us, www.sistersincrime.org will move to a new platform within Affiniscape this summer. The change will be seamless and unseen by members.

One result of the shift will be an opportunity for member profiles in a new attractive format, somewhat like a page from a school yearbook. A member name, picture and book titles all will appear on one page. This will give our authors an attractive "face" to present to the book-buying and reading world during searches of the Sisters in Crime custom online databases.

My trip to Austin had me thinking about the fact that it is an honor and a joy to represent Sisters in Crime. This led me to think about the many others representing our organization in a variety of venues.

Recently, a number of SinC members have been working in support of the organization, including:

Pat Remick and members of the New England chapter -- working on Crime Bake

Katy King and members of the Harriet Vane Chapter -- working on the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association annual conference

Dana Fredsti and members of the Northern California Chapter -- working on the great hospitality room at Bouchercon and the Sisters in Crime reception at Bouchercon.

Here's to all who worked hard for Sisters in Crime in 2010! Thank you for your efforts!


Beth Wasson is the Executive Secretary of Sisters in Crime/national.

Congratulations to Sisters in Crime Founding Mother Sara Paretsky

By Cathy Pickens, SinC President

Bouchercon 2010: Sara Paretsky checks in with volunteers from the SinC/Northern California chapter on duty in the conference hospitality suite. From left: Helen Sandoval, Sharon Owen, Chloe Winston and Sara Paretsky. Photo courtesy of Gigi Pandian.

On Thursday, the Mystery Writers of America announced that Sara Paretsky is this year’s MWA Grand Master.

According to the organization’s news release, “MWA's Grand Master Award represents the pinnacle of achievement in mystery writing and was established to acknowledge important contributions to this genre, as well as a body of work that is both significant and of consistent high quality.”

Well, Sara Paretsky has done all of that – written a significant, high-quality body of work AND made important contributions to the mystery genre.

High on the list of those contributions – particularly to anyone reading this blog – is her role as a founding mother of Sisters in Crime.

Paretsky will receive the Grand Master Award at the Edgar Awards Banquet in New York in April. MWA will mark its 65th birthday at the event, making the Grand Master honor even more special. In addition, 2011 will be the year that SinC celebrates the 25th anniversary of its founding.

In 1987, one year after providing the spark that launched Sisters in Crime, Paretsky was named Woman of the Year by MS. magazine. To all of the women crime writers who followed on the many trails she has blazed, however, she’s been the Woman of the Year for many years.

Paretsky’s V.I. Warshawski novels helped open the door for women private investigators in crime fiction, and she herself has opened doors – and opened eyes – to the need for more balance in reviews, in advances and in recognition for women writing crime fiction.

In April 2007, by a quirk of fate, I attended a ceremony at Kate’s Mystery Books in Cambridge (owned by Kate Mattes, another SinC founding mother). At the event, Ms. P. accepted a Dove Award on behalf of Sisters in Crime, presented by the Popular Culture Association and the American Culture Association in recognition of SinC’s strong support of women crime writers.

As goddess/past president Roberta Isleib noted on her blog that week, it was exciting to be in the jammed bookstore with two founding mothers. (Kate Mattes was also in attendance.)

Did they dream in 1986 that, one day, Sisters in Crime would be more than 3,000 members strong and international in scope? I don’t know the answer to that, but I’m sure in their vision for SinC they knew that sisters would help other sisters – and brothers – along the road. (And, for me, that sisterly bond and supporting hand were the things that attracted me to Sisters in Crime not quite 20 years ago.)

Thank you, MWA, for giving SinC sisters and brothers everywhere a wonderful new opportunity to celebrate the glorious network that Sara Paretsky launched nearly 25 years ago.

And congratulations, Ms. P., your Sisters in Crime are celebrating with you – all across the globe.



Cathy Pickens, the national president of Sisters in Crime, serves on the MWA board of directors. She is the author of the award-winning Southern Fried mystery series featuring South Carolina attorney Avery Andrews. The most recent title in the series is Can’t Never Tell.

SinC Still Loves Libraries

We love libraries so much, we've extended our "We Love Libraries"  lottery through 2011.  Monthly grants of $1,000 will be awarded from through December 20111.  At the end of each month, a winner will be drawn from entries received at our website at http://www.sistersincrime.org/.  Only U.S. libraries may enter the drawing.  Click here to see our winners.

To enter, simply complete the entry form and upload a photo of one or more of your staff with three books in your collection by Sisters in Crime members.  You can find a list of our members who are authors by clicking here, or by navigating to our left side menu under Resources, SinC Authors.

After the random drawing on the last business day of the month, the winning library will be contacted and announced.  All branches within a larger system may enter; however, once a library in the system has won, no other libraries within that system can win the grant.  Those not successful in one month will automatically be entered for subsequent drawings.  Grants must be used to purchase books and may not be used for general operating expenses.  Book purchases are NOT restricted to the mystery genre nor to those by Sisters in Crime members. There is no cost or obligation other than allowing us to post winners' photos on our website.

 The Newton Falls Public Library in Newton Falls, Ohio was our July winner

All libraries are welcome to enter. If you have Sisters in Crime author mysteries in your collection we would love for you to enter this money giveaway.

We at Sisters in Crime LOVE our libraries and want to see them thrive. Enter for your library's chance to win.  Click here for the entry form.

If you have any questions please contact Beth Wasson.

SinC 2010 Summit Report is now available for Members

The SinC 2010 Summit Report is now available for members to download. 

This treasure trove of information on the exciting world of e-publishing--where it is, where it's going--was put together by members of the Sisters In Crime board:  President Marcia Talley, Vice President Cathy Pickins, PR Director Ellen Hart, and Bookstore Liaison Jim Hueng.

Click this link to take you to the members sign in, which will lead you to the Summit Report.

Tell us what you think:  we want to know!

WE'VE GOT A NAME -- WE'VE GOT A NAME!

For the past four years, this blog has been only known as the Sisters In Crime blog. Period.

Well, things have been changing round the blog -- as we hope you've noticed -- and if you'll look above this post, you'll see we now have a blog banner that includes our new name:  SinC into the Depths of  Mystery -- and that's what we hope will happen.  We intend to delve into the mystery genre -- the nuts and bolts, what makes a good read, introduce you to some of our members, and hopefully educate our readers about the publishing industry and the place women have in it.

So, what do you think about the name, the banner, and the changes so far?

We'd love to hear from you!

Gadget Magic

Here at Sisters In Crime, we love gadgets that make life easier.  And, in fact, we just installed a new gadget here on the blog that will make it easier for oure readers and members to share our blog posts.

If you look down at the bottom of the blog, on the right, you'll see a series of buttons.  Let your mouse hover over those buttons and you'll see that you can share any of our posts on your Facebook or Twitter pages.

How cool is that?

We're hoping our members and readers will make use of these cool buttons.  Go ahead -- try it now.

Just Who Reads Mysteries?

So, just who DOES read myseries?  It's been a mystery to us . . . but not for much longer.

Sisters in Crime (SinC) is pleased to announce that they have commissioned a comprehensive study on mystery readers' buying habits. Working with Bowker’s PubTrack Consumer service and its extensive standing panel of readers, SinC had the opportunity to ask mystery buyers in-depth questions about how they learned about the mysteries they buy and what motivated them to make an actual purchase. In an age when authors are increasingly expected to promote and market their own books, SinC wants to save members from spending their time and money on strategies that don't work, in favor of efforts that definitely reach consumers. The Bowker study will provide solid, real world data to guide members’ promotional efforts.


SinC expects to announce the results of this study in the fall of 2010, first to members, and then to the industry at large.

Representatives of Sisters in Crime, Bowker and other industry professionals will present the results of the study to the public in conjunction with Bouchercon, the world mystery conference, October 14-17, in San Francisco, CA.

Bowker is the world`s leading provider of bibliographic information management solutions.

Pssst! It's a secret (at least until tomorrow)

Sisters in Crime is pleased to announce the release of the revised, completely updated edition of Breaking and Entering: the Road to Success. Edited by L.C. Hayden, this tradepaper edition contains articles by 27 Sisters in Crime, including Donna Andrews, Lee Goldberg, Carolyn Hart, William Kent Krueger, Margaret Maron, PJ Parrish, and Elaine Viets, among others. Beginning tomorrow, April 12, the trade paperback edition will be available at www.sistersincrime.org . Click on members and look for publications on the drop down menu. Cost is only $11.99 plus shipping.

Or, if you prefer, send your name, address and email address, along with a check for $14.99 ($11.99 plus $3.00 postage and handling) to:

Sisters in Crime

P. O. Box 442124

Lawrence, KS 66044-8933

If you'd rather have the electronic version, that is also available at www.sistersincrime.org for only $1.99.

Are you attending the Malice Domestic Conference? Then we have great news for you. The trade paperback edition will make its debut at the conference and will be available to members only for the special introductory Malice Domestic price of $10.