Sarah E. Burr loves to murder people…in her books. She’s the author of four mystery series: the fantasy-based Court of Mystery, the paranormal Glenmyre Whim Mysteries, the social-media savvy Trending Topic Mysteries, and the book-loving Book Blogger Mysteries. Sarah serves on the NY Tri-State Sisters in Crime board as the social media liaison, and is the creative mind behind BookstaBundles, a digital content design service for authors. When she’s not spinning up new stories or creating online posts, Sarah is off seeing Broadway musicals, reading up a storm, video gaming, and enjoying walks with her dog, Eevee. Visit her website at www.saraheburr.com to learn more about her many projects.
Finola Austin, also known as the Secret Victorianist on her award-winning blog, is an England-born, Northern Ireland-raised, Brooklyn-based historical novelist and lover of the 19th century. Her first novel, Bronte’s Mistress, was published by Atria Books in 2020. By day, Finola works as a Creative Strategist at Meta (formerly Facebook), advising brands on their Facebook and Instagram advertising. Find her online at www.finolaaustin.com.
Chapter members will receive a Zoom link for this event.
Come join us for a Sisters in Crime event we’re very excited about. Sisters in Crime Tri-State New York and San Diego are collaborating to present our two anthologies: CROSSING BORDERS and JUSTICE FOR ALL: MURDER NEW YORK STYLE. The premises, settings, voices, characters and crimes are wonderfully diverse in these stories. Nevertheless, we’ve organized the discussion in panels around around some overall issues and themes:
- Same As It Ever Was: Historical Perspectives
- Same As It Never Was: The Dangers of Assumption
- Shame As It Always Was: The Scourge of Discrimination
- Breaking All The Laws: Genre-Bending Plots and POV
- Dames Looking into Cause: Seeking the Truth
- Aim and Revise the Flaws: The Editors Take Stock
More than twenty authors from both coasts will give their insights on how they dealt with these issues. The four editors will tell us how they chose the stories and how they suggested improvements.
Please register in advance at the link below. Free and open to anyone interested, SinC member or not. Please spread the word.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Join us for our annual Open Mic Night, and members read for their published and unpublished works!
Kathleen Kalb, Catherine Maiorisi, Mally Becker, Sarah Burr, Cathi Stoler, Nancy Good, Ursula Renee, Constance Meccarello, Peggy Katalinich, Nina Mansfield, Catherine Siemann, and Lori Robbins will entertain us with readings.
Please CLICK HERE to register for this Zoom Event.
Edgar Winner Joanna Shaffhausen will be joining us as our guest of honor for a conversation about all things writing. So please join us to toast the end of 2021 and the beginning of 2022.
Joanna Schaffhausen is the award-winning author of the Ellery Hathaway mystery series and the new thriller, Gone for Good. She has a doctorate in psychology, which reflects her long-standing interest in the brain―how it develops and the many ways it can go wrong. Previously, she worked as an editorial producer for ABC News, writing for programs such as World News Tonight, Good Morning America, and 20/20. She is the current Vice President for the New England chapter of Mystery Writers of America. She lives in the Boston area with her husband, daughter, and an obstreperous basset hound named Winston.
Looking to transform your written conversations into riveting, believable dialogue? In this fascinating program, two defense attorneys, formerly with the District Attorney’s office, will play and read actual phone calls and transcripts from both incarcerated felons calling cohorts from Riker’s Island and communicating “in code” to perpetuate their wrongdoings, and civilians on their worst day, prompting them to emergency dial 9-1-1. What are those felons actually saying? Who are the people who respond to those calls? How do they handle them? And what can you learn to make your next novel your most authentic yet?
Moderated by Dawn M. Barclay (D.M. Barr), this program will feature Civil rights and Criminal Defense Attorney Gregory Zenon, and Gilbert Parris, owner of Gilbert C. Parris Criminal Defense Attorneys.
Gregory Zenon, Esq (zenonatlaw.com) holds a JD from Brooklyn Law School. Before opening his own firm, he worked as a senior trial attorney at the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office, prosecuting over 750 cases. The bureaus he worked in include Crimes Against Children, Manor Narcotics, Sex Crimes/S.V.U. and the Red Zone Trial Unit. He also specialized in Animal Abuse and ASPCA crimes. Zenon is a published author and lecturer on criminal law who is also a member of the Brooklyn Barrister Editorial Board.
Gilbert C. Parris, Esq. (gilbertparrisattorney.com), has been practicing criminal law for over 20 years. He spent years working as a State Prosecutor in Kings County, NY before “changing sides’ and now represents clients that are both accused of and being investigated for federal and state crimes. As a former prosecutor, Mr. Parris says he has a “behind the scenes” understanding of the thought process of a prosecutor and the shifting procedures of the DA’s offices. He leverages his unique experience on both sides of the courtroom to build strong defense strategies for every client.
For our monthly meeting on October 20th at 6:30 pm, fellow sib Edgar-nominated Mariah Fredericks will be talking with the best-selling and award-winning author Elizabeth Kerri Mahon about her new book PRETTY EVIL NEW YORK focused on Gotham’s most fascinating female criminals, including Ruth Snyder, immortalized in James M. Cain’s novella Double Indemnity; serial killer Lizzie Halliday, nicknamed the Worst Woman in the World; and Celia Cooney, the Bobbed Hair Bandit.
This event will be held on Zoom and is open to the public. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
Stop by table #427 at the Brooklyn Book Festival!
Our anthology will be on sale throughout the day, and the following Sisters in Crime authors will be selling and signing books:
10:00-11:00
Catherine Siemann
Lori Robbins
11:00-12:00
Elizabeth Mannion
Dawn Barclay
12:00-1:00
Constance Meccarello-Gerson
Nina Mansfield
1:00-2:00
Lori Robbins
Cathi Stoler
2:00-3:00
Nancy Good
Tina deBellegarde
3:00-4:00
Mally Becker
Nina Wachsman
4:00-5:00
Mary Jo Robertiello
Susie Case
Join us on Zoom as we launch our newest short story anthology with readings from the authors.
You’ll here excerpts from many of the stories, and get to meet the authors. The following authors will be reading:
Lori Robbins, Ellen Quint, Nina Wachsman, Nancy Good, Nina Mansfield, Mary Jo Robertiello, Susie Case, Cathi Stoler, Catherine Maiorisi, D.M. Barr, Elle Hartford, Catherine Siemann, Anne-Marie Sutton, and Kathleen Marple Kalb.
The evening will conclude with a word with the editors. Joseph R.G. De Marco & D.M. Barr.
REGISTER TO JOIN US ON ZOOM BY CLICKING HERE.
You can Pre-Order the anthology by CLICKING HERE.
We are also hoping to broadcast the event on FacebookLive. We hope to “see” you there!
SinC-New York/Tri-State’s First QueryFest
We’re delighted to announce the chapter’s first QueryFest! A true member perk, three leading editors and agents will be joining us to discuss best query practices, after which they will evaluate our members’ query letters in groups of four in private virtual rooms. These letters will be delivered in advance to give each group leader sufficient time to digest their contents and offer meaningful advice on how to improve them. You’ll also glean insight by listening to your fellow members’ queries and the advice given. It’s a great opportunity to polish up your pitch!
Thanks so much to the Query Advisors who will be leading this event:
Terri Bischoff, Senior Acquisitions Editor, Crooked Lane Books, began her life in books as a bookseller at Kramerbooks in Washington, DC. After moving home to the Midwest, she worked at a feminist bookstore before purchasing and operating Booked for Murder in Madison, WI. She spent 10 years at Midnight Ink as their acquiring editor and published 36-40 books a year. Terri has a wealth of experience and knowledge in both mysteries and in bookselling, particularly as a book buyer and reviewer. Terri’s interests lie in mainstream suspense, thrillers, quirky and humorous cozies, LGBTQIA, and diverse characters/storylines.
Nettie Finn, Associate Editor at St. Martin’s Press, began her publishing career at St. Martin’s Press and Minotaur in 2016, where she has been happily reading and editing ever since. For Minotaur’s list, she’s on the lookout for domestic thrillers, sharply plotted mysteries, unconventional sleuths, and cheerful cozies. She’s drawn to commercial and upmarket suspense with a focus on strong women and unique perspectives, and to anything with a powerful sense of place, such as international and historical fiction, as well as stories set in the south or with a gothic edge. On the St. Martin’s Press side, she’s looking for women’s and book club fiction with strong characters and lots of heart.
Victoria Skurnick has been with the Levine Greenberg Literary Agency since 2007. Among the suspense novels she represents are A Death of No Importance and Death of a Showman, by Mariah Fredericks, Mr. Churchill’s Secretary and the forthcoming The Hollywood Spy, by Susan Elia MacNeal, Jar of Hearts and Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier, and Bad Things Happen and The Good Killer, by Harry Dolan. In addition, Victoria represents literary fiction, women’s fiction and nonfiction, specializing in history and politics. Victoria was Editor-in-Chief of The Book-of-the-Month Club and senior editor at St. Martin’s Press and Pocket Books.
We look forward to seeing you all in May!
Multiple award winning author Ellen Byron talks with her agent, Doug Grad about the happiness and hell of publishing, Hollywood, and a career in storytelling.
Ellen’s Cajun Country Mysteries have won the Agatha award for Best Contemporary Novel and multiple Lefty awards for Best Humorous Mystery. She writes the Catering Hall Mystery series, which are inspired by her real life, under the name Maria DiRico. Ellen is an award-winning playwright, and non-award-winning TV writer of comedies like WINGS, JUST SHOOT ME, and FAIRLY ODD PARENTS.
Doug Grad was an editor for twenty-two years at imprints of Simon & Schuster, Random House, Penguin, and HarperCollins. He acquired and edited numerous bestsellers in fiction and nonfiction, including the first two New York Times bestselling novels of historical fiction by Jeff Shaara. Over the years he’s worked with generals and admirals, war heroes, historians, politicians, astronauts, sports stars, coaches, comedians, mobsters, cops, journalists, musicians, truckers, cowboys and Native Americans among others. He opened his own literary agency in 2008 and has sold a wide range of fiction and nonfiction to Big Five publishers, as well as mid-sized and small publishing houses. His authors have hit the New York Times bestseller list, won prestigious awards, and have been critically acclaimed. Doug is married to a librarian, lives in Brooklyn, NY with his wife and two children and their pug dog, Winston.