Killin’ It During a Killer Weekend

 

by Paula Gail Benson

 Following are the words of Penny Manson, Past President, Capitol Crimes Chapter of Sisters in Crime:

Once upon a time there were two Sisters in Crime (SinC) Board members. They lived on opposite sides of the United States, in different SinC Chapters even in different time zones. One lived in Sacramento, California, (The Capitol Crimes Chapter) the other in Columbia, South Carolina (The Palmetto Chapter).

Sonja Hazzard-Webster 

The Sacramento Chapter had lost their President and they were very sad. The Board member from South Carolina had been friends with their President and she was sad too. She helped out the new President and they became friends.

It happened that a great pandemic had taken over the land and many SinC Chapters were undergoing changes. Some lost many members and even their chapters as the period of the great Zoom came over the land. As time passed the two SinC Board members began to see how the differences in each of their individual chapters could add up to strengths when combined together.

It’s been a real privilege for me to get to work with Penny (she’s the Capitol Crimes member and I’m the Palmetto Chapter member) on the in-person and virtual Killer Workshop that took place this past Saturday, May 14, 2022. In addition, the village that made this project a reality included: (1) the members of the Capitol Crimes board, Sarah Bresniker (President), Jennifer Morita (Vice President), Karen Phillips (Secretary), James L’Etoile (Treasurer), and members-at-large Richard Meredith and Terry Shepherd; (2) the members of the Palmetto board, Carla Damron (President), Yasmin Angoe (Secretary), and Cathy Blake (Treasurer); and (3) the workshop committee, Jessica Cline, Chris Dreith, Rae Franklin James, James L’Etoile, Jennifer Morita, Karen Phillips, and Marie Sutro.

Gregg Hurwitz and Dana Kaye

Previously, I’ve written about this endeavor in the Stiletto Gang and Writers Who Kill. This event had two different venues (one in Sacramento and the other online) and two different schedules. In Sacramento, participants could chose between two programs for part of the day. Online, we had three wonderful panels expertly moderated and facilitated by Dana Kaye.

Our one shared segment was the keynote interview with New York Times #1 internationally best selling author Gregg Hurwitz.

And, here is why an effort like this requires a village and some flexible planning. Originally, Gregg planned to be in-person at the Sacramento venue, but on Monday prior to the event we learned that he had contracted Covid. With Gregg’s willingness, Dana Kaye’s assistance, and Charles (our in-person audio-visual coordinator) Gregg’s interview was conducted through the online Crowdcast format and simultaneously made available to all the registrants.

On the bright side, Gregg answered Dana’s and registrants’ questions from a desk where he had a “floating” aloe vera plant given to him in recognition of the consecutive aloe vera plants named Vera that his character Evan Smoak, Orphan X, has in his office.

When asked about his writing practice, Gregg indicated he began each day tackling the first draft. About his writing style, he said, “I need to keep the possibility of discovery on every page.”

Dana and Sarah -- Opening the Event

The in-person program featured authors Dr. Ellen Kirschman, Cara Black, Simon Woods, Eileen Rendahl, Claire Booth, Kris Calvin, James L’Etoile, and Quan Huynh. Rick Nickel, a crime scene professional; publishing industry expert Karen Phillips; and special guest District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert, who spoke about resolving the Golden State Killer case using genetic genealogy, also appeared live.

D.A. Anne  Marie Schubert
Photo by Lynda Pearson Markham

Penny Manson described some of the highlights from the in-person program:

The speakers had insights for the readers of their books and for writers who aspired to create their own work. Kris Calvin, another victim of COVID, was not well enough to attend but provided attendees with a downloadable copy of her presentation, “Your First Novel: How to Finish Writing it & Sell it When You Do!” as well as a copy of her first book which she referenced in the presentation.

What struck me the most listening to the speakers was how knowledgeable, willing to share, and generous they were with tips, insights, and suggestions. Everyone found items of interest. Most of all, I laughed, a lot, but it wasn’t all fun and games. I don’t see how anyone could not have been moved when DA Anne Marie Schubert talked about the human toll of a violent offender like the Golden State Killer and what drove her to use this new tool to not only punish the criminal but free those wrongfully accused. Ryan Nickel from the Sacramento Crime lab followed her on the schedule and was simply put, fascinating to hear talk further about the science and technology they use now and will develop in the future. (Don’t even get started talking about what cell phones can tell us about tracking bad actors, finding dead bodies, and lost children.)

Ryan Nickel
Photo by Lynda Pearson Markham

Finally, an informal panel of all the speakers (except Cara Black who had to leave early) took questions from the audience and spoke frankly about their experiences concerning “What interesting things are currently on your browser?” and “Where do you get ideas for characters?” and “How do you conduct the business of writing” and “Are you making any money?”

All in all, it was an incredible day with a fabulous lunch from Panera’s and our own little Book Store thanks to Face in a Book.

Face in a Book, located in El Dorado Hills, California, also provided a book store for the virtual audience.

In the virtual program, a panel of lawyer mystery writers, Debra H. Goldstein, Roger Johns, and Wanda Morris, spoke about how legal training and writing taught practitioners about the value of effective storytelling. Debra mentioned that lawyers “like to play with words.” Roger talked about being like a crow “picking up items for the nest.” Wanda said that lawyers were good explainers and she had to learn how to give the bits and pieces without explaining so much.

Wanda Morris, Debra H. Goldstein, and Roger Johns 

The second virtual panel of Yasmin Angoe, E.A. Aymar (Ed), and Carla Damron dealt with the difficult topic of how to portray sex trafficking in fiction. They all said they were inspired to write about the topic after hearing victims speak and demonstrate true bravery. Audience member Sue Husman wrote in the chat room that she needed to hurry home to warn her nieces about what she had learned.

Finally, a panel of authors who co-write with other authors spoke about their experiences being part of a team and the balance that must be achieved. Specifically, Robin Burcell collaborated with Clive Cussler on his Fargo novels; Terrie Farley Moran worked with Laura Childs on her scrapbooking cozies and now writes the Jessica Fletcher, Murder She Wrote novels; and Charles Todd, with his mother Caroline, penned the Ian Rutledge and Bess Crawford series.

Carla Damron, Yasmin Angoe, and E.A. Aymar

This is how Penny Manson concluded her explanation of our joint endeavor:

And that is how the Killer Workshop came to be. One, both Virtual and In Person, event with great speakers appealing to both reader and writer alike. Just like a true family of siblings, greater than the sum of their individual parts they came up with a way for SinC Chapters of all sizes to carry out joint projects and be better together than they are apart.

Not “The End”

“Hopefully A Beginning”

Thank you, Penny and all the folks at Capitol Crimes and Palmetto for encouraging this project. It’s been a learning process and worthwhile achievement. I think Sonja Hazzard-Webster, the President of Capitol Crimes who brought us together would be proud. I certainly consider it a part of her legacy.

Charles Todd, Robin Burcell, and Terrie Farley Moran

James L’Etoile, and Quan Huynh
Photo by Lynda Pearson Markham

Dana Kaye and Carla Damron

Pivot by Annette Dashofy

I’ve written before about “plans” and making God laugh. You would think I’d just stop making them.

Seriously though, as writers, we’re not just artists or craftsmen, we’re business owners. Entrepreneurs. We can’t go blindly into the world. We must have a business and marketing plan.

Granted, when things went off the rails in March, my writing and business plan, like so many others’, did as well. However, I gradually found my creative voice and started writing again. And I dusted off my business plan, made a bunch of adjustments, and refocused. June is filled with the online class I’m teaching and the release of my next book. That hasn’t changed. But each month afterward, I started scheduling the tasks needed to accomplish what I intended to publish next and into 2021 and beyond, including a brand-new project.

Then I received some professional advice on the current market and what is and isn’t selling right now. Under the “what isn’t” column sat my brand-new project. Three months ago, it would have been a hot commodity. But reading habits have changed.

Since I value this professional’s opinion, I’ve decided to change directions and put the brand-new project on hold. For now.

I’m pivoting.

This may well be the year of the pivot. Dana Kaye of Kaye Publicity has been using the term since the quarantine began. I’ve been a member of her Your Breakout Book community for quite a while now. Unable to afford to pay a publicist, I instead subscribe to YBB where Dana provides monthly online trainings, access to past webinars, templates, and videos where I and other members learn to be our own marketing experts. Dana has her finger on the pulse of the publicity world and has been keeping us current on the newest trends. Her advice has always been, if something doesn’t work for you, pivot. This holds true now more than ever before.

If you feel like your floundering in the abyss of media, marketing, and promotion, I highly recommend you try Your Breakout Book by signing up here.

But I digress. Pivoting. When all of my in-person book events were canceled, I started doing online Zoom and Crowdcast events and interviews. When the wind shifts, you either change the set of your sails or go under.

When your book contract is canceled, you look at your options and move on, either indie publishing or seeking a new traditional publisher or both.

When the new series you eagerly started writing doesn’t appeal to the agent or editor at this time, you either put it aside for later or you move forward and indie pub it.

Thank goodness we have those options now. And what’s right for one person, isn’t the right fit for another. Set your sail according to your own plan.

I’m not at liberty to share my new plan just yet as there are too many variables and hurdles to overcome. I already feel like I’m getting whiplash from all the pivoting I’ve been doing. I don’t want to send all of you to the chiropractor as well! I will tell you I’m keeping a weather eye out, I’m heeding the storm warnings, but I’m also continuing to move forward, which for me means putting pen to the page and keystrokes to an open Word document.

What types of books are you reading these days? Have your reading tastes pivoted since February? And writers, are you changing what you’re writing or staying the course?

Murder and Mayhem, Chicago Style

by Julie Tollefson

Great swag.

Last weekend, I had the great joy of attending the inaugural Murder and Mayhem in Chicago (MMC) conference. I had two big professional goals for the day: (1) Learn something from the terrific lineup of writers and presenters that I could apply to my own writing and (2) meet some people in real life who I’ve only known online.

I’m happy to say MMC exceeded my expectations on both counts. The organizers (with Lori Rader-Day—one of my previous online-only acquaintances, now a real-life friend—and Dana Kaye at the helm) put together panels of authors, publishers, publicists, agents, librarians, and booksellers to talk about a well-thought-out mix of crime fiction and publishing topics.

The first panel of the day, Violence in Crime Fiction, played beautifully into my first goal. Panelists Lucy Kerr, Elizabeth Buzzelli, Nic Joseph, and Michael Harvey, moderated by Lynne Raimondo, unanimously agreed that violence is not the most compelling component of crime fiction, an opinion I hold as well. The aftermath of crime, the human reactions to violence are what make crime stories gripping and relevant.

New publications from conference
organizers Dana Kaye and
Lori Rader-Day.

As I listened to the panelists, I thought about my current work in progress, in which a young woman is murdered before page one. The story follows the tendrils of consequences and devastation her death causes in her small college town, especially how her murder affects her roommate, the cops who investigate her death, and her family.

One of the panelists mentioned the classic Raymond Chandler essay, The Simple Art of Murder. I’m a bit ashamed to admit I hadn’t read it in full before, but when I rectified that oversight, I recognized this famous passage:

But down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean, who is neither tarnished nor afraid. The detective in this kind of story must be such a man. He is the hero, he is everything…He has a range of awareness that startles you, but it belongs to him by right, because it belongs to the world he lives in. If there were enough like him, I think the world would be a very safe place to live in, and yet not too dull to be worth living in.

Of course I indulged in
Chicago-style pizza, too.

These words and the panelists’ comments have been in my thoughts this week as I work on revisions to my manuscript. Crime and punishment as presented in news stories often appear to be black and white, but the best crime fiction explores the gray areas, too. And that excellence is what I hope to achieve in my stories.

The folks who put together this first MMC are already planning the second and beyond. If you’re looking for an outstanding experience filled with fun people, I give MMC my highest recommendation.

Do you attend writer/fan conferences? If so, what’s your favorite conference, favorite brush with greatness, or favorite story?

Chicago started celebrating St. Patrick's Day early. Shout out to this terrific Irish band at The Gage, a lovely, lively venue.