I am leaving the board of directors of Sisters in Crime Los Angeles chapter, ending my two-year term with the Holiday party at the South Pasadena Women’s Club. I want to say thank you to my fellow board members, the Sisters and Misters for the chance to learn from you. All seasoned mystery writers, they have made the 210-mile round trip drive to Los Angeles worthwhile and pleasant. And taught me a lot.
Each year the Los Angeles Chapter either puts on the California Crime Writers Conference or publishes an anthology of member’s writing. I observed and participated in the behind-the-scenes details of staging a sell-out conference. Thirteen stories were accepted by the anthology editors and I watched and learned how those anthologies are being marketed.
Over twenty-four Sunday afternoons at the South Pasadena Public library, I was part of the audience to welcome speakers from all walks of the crime fiction life. Here’s a sample: Pis, forensics experts, the Secret Service, FBI, LAPD and well-known mystery writers sharing the lessons of the craft.
Now I’d like to share what I learned. An opportunity to launch a Bakersfield chapter of Sisters in Crime has arisen at the suggestion of Cherry Mattias, DVM, a fellow mystery writer.
Our first guest speaker, Marilyn Meredith, a Valley writer is the author of close to 30 published books, including the Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series and the Rocky Bluff P.D. series. For 10 years she taught for the Writer’s Digest School, served as an instructor for the Maui Writers’ Retreats, and has given presentations on my writing subjects for many different groups. She’s a member of Mystery Writers of America, three chapters of Sisters in Crime, and blogs regularly for The Stiletto Gang, Make Mine Mystery and Ladies of Mystery as well as her own blog where she also hosts many authors.
Our plan is to reach back into the Sisters in Crime Los Angeles chapter and invite the many fine writers I’ve come to know over these last two years as speakers in our fledgling chapter.
Please wish us luck. I want to keep in touch with all of you I’ve come to like and admire.