Previous Events

Your Anthology Submission: How to Craft a Short Story that Stands Out

Date: October 4, 2026
Time: 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Location: Jefferson Market Library
We are finally back at the Jefferson Market Library! Derringer Finalist (and chapter co-president) Nina Mansfield will moderate a panel that includes award winning authors Kathleen Marple Kalb, Richie Narvaez and Lori Robbins to discuss how to put your best foot forward when composing a short story submission. We’ll delve into the craft of writing short stories, and cover submission do’s and don’ts so that your anthology submission will have the best chance of being accepted.

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Brooklyn Book Festival

Date: September 27, 2026
Time: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Location: Brooklyn Borough Hall

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED BECAUSE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER.

Brooklyn Book Festival is scheduled for Sunday, September 27th,  and, as usual, our NY/Tristate SinC chapter has secured a booth where you can sell your books.

Booth location and list of authors who will be signing their books is TBA. Check Back in early September for this information.

The festival marketplace is at Brooklyn Borough Hall, with additional events at surrounding venues. Last year, 30,000 people attended.

Chapter members: You received a sign-up form via email. Check the July Greetings.

Fall Kick Off Membership Zoom

Date: September 17, 2026
Time: 7:00 pm - 8:15 pm
Location: Zoom

Chapter members, this is your chance to meet the board, ask question, and to learn about our upcoming Anthology.

If you are a chapter member in good standing, check your email for information and the Zoom Registration link in our August and/or September Greetings.

 

Summer Party

Date: June 10, 2026
Time: 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Location: TBD
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Join your NY Tri-State SinC sibs for the end of year shindig

Members, details about our end-of-year celebration will be sent to your inboxes this Spring. We’re looking at various places to host, and we’ll get you information on that as soon as possible.

QueryFest 2026

Date: May 20, 2026
Time: 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Online (Zoom)
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Get a Critique of Your Query Letter from an Industry Pro

QueryFest is a SinC-NY/Tri-State member benefit that allows you to receive a firsthand critique of your query letter from publishing editors and literary agents (the “panelists”). This is not a pitching session, but an opportunity to get their pointers on how to shore up your query so it has the best chance of success.

You’ll get more details on how to participate (QueryFest is limited to the first twelve people who sign up) via email in March.

Find the zoom link for the event here: https://nysinc.org/meeting-zoom-link/ (Link is password protected. Access with your NY Tri-state SinC Chapter Members Only password. Note: You do not register for this event. You just join it via the zoom link at 6:30pm on May 20th.)

The names of the editors and agents will not be shared in advance. Remember, this is a query critique session, not a pitching session.

This event will be hosted by Dawn M. Barclay, Author/Editor.

Taxes: A Practical System for Writers

Date: May 6, 2026
Time: 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Online (Zoom)
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A Certified Financial Planner On What You Need to Know

Many writers don’t struggle with taxes themselves.

They struggle with staying organized in a way that makes tax filing straightforward.
This educational session walks through how taxes work for writers earning income from freelance work, royalties, platforms, or side projects, along with simple systems to stay organized throughout the year.
Topics include:
This session is designed for writers at any income level who want a clearer understanding of how to stay organized and better prepared for tax season.
Note: This session is for general educational purposes only and does not provide individualized tax advice.
Presented by: Megan N. John, CFP®.
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Megan John, CFP®, is a financial planner and tax advisor focused on serving self-employed individuals, creatives, and professionals building wealth outside of traditional paths. She specializes in practical, tax-aware planning for people with fluctuating income, multiple income streams, or growing businesses.
Before launching her firm, Megan worked with high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients, where she developed a strong foundation in comprehensive planning and client service. She now brings that same level of care and sophistication to clients who are often overlooked by the traditional wealth management industry.
Megan is particularly passionate about helping writers and other creatives get organized around their finances, make confident decisions about taxes and retirement, and build systems that support both their work and their lives.

Find the zoom link here: https://nysinc.org/meeting-zoom-link/ (Link is password protected. Access with your NY Tri-state SinC Chapter Members Only password. Note: You do not register for this event. You just join it via the zoom link at 6:30pm on May 6th.)

Investigation, Protection, and Cybercrime with Douglas Rivers

Date: April 15, 2026
Time: 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Online (Zoom)
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Behind the Badge, the Battlefield, and the Boardroom: An Evening with Douglas Rivers

Step into the real world of investigation, protection, and cybercrime with Douglas Rivers. With over 20 years of experience spanning military intelligence, corporate security, and law enforcement, Douglas brings firsthand stories and insights that read like a thriller. He’s chased down cybercriminals, served in Afghanistan, and trained teams at top security companies like Symantec and Cylance. Now, he’s sharing how criminals think, how they get caught, and what writers need to know to make their mysteries pulse with authenticity. Whether you write cozies, thrillers, or espionage tales, you’ll walk away with details that can transform your fiction. Bring your notebook and your sharpest questions. This is a webinar you won’t want to miss.

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Douglas Rivers

Why Do You Want PR?

Date: March 18, 2026
Time: 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Online (Zoom)
why you want public relations blood splatter logo and sisters in crime graphic facilitated by book publicist Terena Bell

Mapping Author Goals to Publicity Actions

Why do you really want publicity for your book? Is it to sell books or to be read? Or maybe something else? Coverage from something like “The Today Show” may sound great, but sometimes being in the local paper can sell more copies. PR — like any form of marketing — should come down to goals. So what’s yours? For self-published or small press authors, sometimes publicity needs to attract an agent for the next book. Everybody’s reasons are different, so their approaches to PR should be too. Together we’ll help you articulate the reasons you want to promote your title and pinpoint easy steps to take accordingly.

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Terena Bell, Book Publicist, Author. Photo courtesy, Terena Bell

Terena Bell is a book publicist and writer. She’s successfully secured clients coverage from “The Today Show,” NPR, Good Housekeeping, Book Riot, New Books Network, and others. Her debut short fiction collection, Tell Me What You See (Whiskey Tit, 2022), was named one of the “best books of the century (so far)” by New York Society Library and a Ms Magazine must-read. The title story was a New York Foundation for the Arts grant winner and another from the collection has been optioned to become a feature film.
Find the zoom link here: https://nysinc.org/meeting-zoom-link/ (Link is password protected. Access with your NY Tri-State SinC Chapter Members Only password.)

CANCELED: Informal writing event

Date: February 28, 2026
Time: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Location: This venue has closed. Waiting to for the host to determine an update. Thanks.
sisters in crime tri-state informal event meet-up featured image. people at a cafe writing

Writing Meet-up Canceled

We’ll try again at a later date and a different place.

NY Tri-State Sisters in Crime Member and Board Secretary, John Ferriso, is hosting a writing meet-up.

Come, bring your laptop, get a cuppa and a scone, and write for a few hours. This is a chance to meet up with other writers and get in some dedicated writing time.

The meet-up starts at 1:00pm, and there’s no end time given. So, come by, bring your laptop and/or a pen and paper and write with one or more of your SinC sibs.

the front of the Sleeping Cat Bakery

Creating Book Covers (And Judging Them)

Date: February 18, 2026
Time: 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Online (Zoom)
webinar image book covers with red circle (What makes book covers work)

What Makes a Book Cover “Work,” and How to Do it Yourself

Have you ever heard the line “authors should never create their covers”? Well, here, you’ll hear the opposite! Indie authors Sarah and Elle will discuss the design tips they keep in mind, the pitfalls they try to avoid, and the tools they use for best results. If you’re unpublished so far or even traditionally published, come and join the discussion of what works and what doesn’t! Every book gets judged by its cover, but with a little preparation and persistence, an author can create a cover that gives them confidence.

Facilitated by: Elle Hartford, Indie Author and Coach

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Guest: Sarah E. Burr, Indie Author and Bookish Time Host

Find the zoom link here: https://nysinc.org/meeting-zoom-link/ (Link is password protected. Access with your NY Tri-state SinC Chapter Members Only password.)