Sisters In Crime NY

Open Mic

Because, it’s been so popular the last two years, our January meeting (on the 21st) will again be an open mic night.  That means anyone who wishes can read aloud a selection of her work in a fun, supportive atmosphere and listen to a lot of great stuff, too.  On the date of our meeting last year, a plane actually landed on the Hudson just to be close enough to hear the dulcet tones and gripping tales.  Whether in print or in-process, all writing’s welcome!  More details and RSVP info at the Chapter Meetings link on the sidebar.

Of course, at this time of year, we’re very thankful for our Sisters in Crime, and we’re grateful for all the good times and successes within our chapter.  That’s why we’re talking about our upcoming party to celebrate!

On Tuesday, December 8th, we kick it off at 6pm at the kitschy and delish Cowgirl restaurant.  All the details are posted on the Chapter Meetings page. We need final counts by Friday, December 4th, so polish up your spurs and RSVP for holiday festivity with your Sisters!

Perhaps it’s our fast-paced world, or the way modern technology encourages communicating in brief, but there’s a revival in short fiction.  Many of us enjoy writing shorts as additional creative outlets, though now, we’re also using them as entrees to help sell our novels or as support for an existing series.  With that in mind, we’re hosting a panel next week to help define what takes a short submission from slush to stand-out.

Philip Cioffari teaches creative writing at William Paterson University. He has published a novel and a short-story collection and is also an award-winning film writer and director.  A former reporter for The Los Angeles Times, Jack Getze has authored two mystery novels and edits Spinetingler, an online short fiction magazine.

Our chapter experts will include member Anita Page who’s published numerous short stories, in print and online, most recently in the MWA anthology The Prosecution Rests, edited by Linda Fairstein, and the current holiday anthology The Gift of Murder.  Chapter member Terrie Farley Moran will appear in next year’s MWA anthology, edited by Charlaine Harris, and her story “Bright Star” was recognized in Otto Penzler’s Best American Mystery Stories of 2009. She will also be editing our chapter’s upcoming 2010 anthology.  Moderating this terrific panel will be our longtime officer and board member, herself a short story and novel author, Peggy Ehrhart.

More details about location and scheduling at the Chapter Meetings page.

Publishers Weekly is spearheading the first of this annual event as an opportunity to celebrate bookselling and the vibrant culture of bookstores. No matter your favorite independent nook or chain, stop by this Sunday and share the love!

Peggy Ehrhart has sold the second book in her blues mystery series to Five Star/Gale/Cengage.  Titled GOT NO FRIEND ANYHOW, it features Ehrhart’s blues-singer sleuth Elizabeth “Maxx” Maxwell in a second mystery featuring equal parts music and murder.  Maxx made her debut last year in SWEET MAN IS GONE, and we’re delighted she and her author have been called back for an encore!

In the October 26th issue of the popular Woman’s World magazine, member Jenna Weart’s mystery short “Fast Worker” appears.  As many of you know, this is a terrific (and tricky) market to get into, so many congratulations to Jenna!  See you at the checkout stands!

Tomorrow, Bantam is releasing the 8th title in Cynthia Baxter’s, paperback series Reigning Cats and Dogs!  You can pick it up at your most beloved bookstore.

Veterinarian and amateur sleuth Jessica Popper’s latest adventure is titled MURDER HAD A LITTLE LAMB, and you can learn all about this series, the current Murder Packs a Suitcase series, and many other books (also written as Cynthia Blair) at her website.

Congratulations to another of our busy Sisters!

Another exciting crime fiction debut from our chapter!

Per Publishers’ Marketplace:  ”Journalist Hilary Davidson’s debut THE DAMAGE DONE, about a travel writer who is called back to New York when her estranged sister is murdered, only to discover that the body belongs to a stranger who’d stolen her sister’s identity, and that her sister has vanished, to Paul Stevens at Forge Books, in a two-book deal, for publication in October 2010, by Judith Weber at Sobel Weber Associates (NA).”

Many Congratulations!  So, for next year at this time, we should all be penciling in a fabulous book party, right, Hilary?

Coming up this Thursday, October 22,  Stephen Morello, Deputy Commissioner of the NY City Dept. of Correction, will debunk the myths about Rikers Island, sharing fascinating stories of life (and even love) among a population of 14,000 daily inmates.  And, he’s bringing visual aids!  More details at the Chapter Meetings link from the sidebar.

Two of our local sisters, Elizabeth Zelvin and Anita Page, have short stories appearing in Wolfmont’s latest anthology to benefit Toys for Tots.  Congratulations to them both for being selected for this terrific project!

This year, THE GIFT OF MURDER was edited by noted short story author John Floyd.   This is the fourth annual installment of this anthology which collects great seasonal crime stories across eras and traditions.  Over the years, more than sixty-six hundred’s been raised to make sure every kid gets a gift over the holidays, and the goal this year is to bring that total over ten thousand dollars.

This is the fattest collection ever, at 19 stories and 278pp, and it’s stuffed like the proverbial goose with favorite authors and others who’ll become your new favorites.  Get it online, from independent bookstores, or the publisher, and while you’re pleasantly snuggled under the covers with criminals, you’ll be helping to make a child’s season brighter.