SinC Desert Sleuths

Yes! The only thing that is not online is our anthology launch party Friday evening. Everything else is virtual, plus Friday's craft workshop and all of Saturday's events are being recorded and will be available for at least a year if you cannot attend live. 🙂

Tuning in Thurs, Aug 7 at 8PM ET for a FREE virtual panel on queer crime storytelling! ✍️💥 Some of the sharpest voices in the game—Lepionka, Manansala, Sherbow, Zgorski, Marks—dig into the craft of short fiction. Join us!
🔗 us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
#CrimeInk #QueerCrimeWriters

Hey! If you're going to Bouchercon NOLA put the Free Books event on your calendar. Bring a kids book and you'll get free books autographed by the authors in the pic. I'll be reading a bit of "The Birchbark House" by Louise Erdrich

#freebooks #library #writerscommunity #mystery #thriller #cosplayer

✨ We've got a killer listy list of all the Desert Sleuths 2025 WriteNOW! Conference faculty who are on Bluesky. Give them a follow or save the list in your feeds. ✨

#DSWN25 #DesertSleuths #SINC #AmWriting #CrimeWriters #MysteryWriters #ThrillerWriters #WritingCommunity

bsky.app/profile/did:...

Desert Sleuths WriteNOW! Conference September 19-20, 2025 Craft*Publish*Market Featured Guests: Terri Bischoff, Allison Brennan, Rhys Bowen, Christina Estes, Robyn Gigl, Jay Hartman, Ginger Hutchinson, Wendy H. Jones, Deborah J Ledford, Edith Maxwell, Catriona McPherson, Karen Odden, Anne Rainbow, Melissa Rechter, Raquel V. Reyes, D.M. Rowell, Alex Segura, and Lois Winston Friday: Agent pitch sessions ($35), an editor's assessment of your first 3 chapters ($60), and a writing craft workshop ($35) Saturday: One fee for a full day of panels, a workshop, and presentations; $25 Desert Sleuth members; $35 all others For registration and conference details: http://desertsleuths.com/writenow-2025/

One of the BEST writers conferences around* is back, baby!

Registration is now open for the Desert Sleuths 2025 WriteNOW! Conference. desertsleuths.com/writenow-2025/

*What can we say, we're proud of our small but MIGHTY conference. We hope you join us!

It was so good to have you! ❤️😀

“Creating Killer Characters: Villains Readers Love to Hate” with Deborah J Ledford Wed, Aug 20, 6p-7:30p AZ Time Register at DesertSleuths.com Award-winning author and former Desert Sleuths President, Deborah J Ledford discusses her favorite subject: The craft of creating a compelling antagonist. Ledford will offer tips to help you create memorable characters and what to focus on in order to make your character pop off the page. DEBORAH J LEDFORD is the award-winning author of the Eva “Lightning Dance” Duran suspense thriller series, including Redemption and Havoc. Also a screenwriter, she is president of the media company IOF Productions Ltd and producer of Causing Chaos and Crescendo, both Anthony Award Nominees for Best Audiobook. You can find Ledford’s podcast interviews of other authors on Soundcloud and YouTube. A member of SinC, MWA, Authors Guild, and ITW, Ledford is a past-president of the SinC Desert Sleuths Chapter. DeborahJLedford.com

On Wed, Aug 20, award-winning author, Deborah J Ledford will discuss creating the best baddies in literature & will offer tips to crafting memorable characters. All are welcome! Register at DesertSleuths.com
#AmWriting #MysteryWriters #CrimeWriters #thrillerwriters
@djledford.bsky.social

Headed to Bouchercon? Don’t miss Underrepresented Voices in Crime Fiction: A Celebration! 🎉 Fri, Sept 5 | 9:15–10:15 PM. Dessert, cash bar, Writer Bingo. Submit to be featured: forms.gle/aje8r5zwUHL3... #Bouchercon2025 #QueerCrimeWriters #SistersInCrime

Colorful graphic with various stripes from Pride flags over the image of a person wearing a bowtie sitting at a typewriter. Text over the graphic reads: Attention emerging LGBTQIA+ crime fiction writers! Do you know about the $2000 pride award? wwwsistersincrime.org/pride

🏳️‍🌈Pride Month might be over but there's still time to enter our 2025 Pride Award!🏳️‍🌈

Open to emerging LGBTQIA+ crime writers with unpublished crime fiction - everything from kid's books to adult mystery! You don't have to be a member to apply!

ENTER THRU JULY 31!
#writingcommunity #booksky #lgbtq+

Congrats!

Mega congrats!!

This Wed, July 16, James L'Etoile presents "What Authors Really Need to Know About What Happens in Prison (without the pesky felony conviction)." Great stuff for #CrimeWriters #MysteryWriters #AmWriting! All writers welcome, just register at DesertSleuths.com. @jamesletoile.bsky.social

Don't forget we've started a List of Sisters in Crime Members. You can use it as a feed to see what the SINC community is up to. If you're an active SINC member, reach out to be added to the list (check to see if you're on the list first please).

bsky.app/profile/dese...

Unfortunately, the SINC Starter Pack is full. We only made one to get people going for follows. But you have been added to the SINC member list which contains more folks and can be treated as a feed. bsky.app/profile/dese...

WHAT AUTHORS REALLY NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN PRISON (without the pesky felony conviction) with James L'Etoile Wed, July 16, 2025, 6p-7p AZ Time (virtual) Prisons, jails, and tight-knit criminal operations on the street exist with a unique flavor and culture. If you’re writing crime fiction, chances are one of your characters will rub up against prison or jail. There’s a difference between the two, and not every custodial setting is the same. James L'Etoile brings his two decades working in the prison system to our meeting so you can write with greater authenticity. This presentation will help you present your story with detail a convict would love. We’ll uncover what Hollywood gets wrong and reveal the character goldmine that lives behind the walls. Register at DesertSleuths.com

Join us for our July 16 meeting, award-winning author & former associate prison warden, James L'Etoile presents "What Authors Really Need to Know About What Happens in Prison (without the pesky felony conviction)." Great stuff for #CrimeWriters #MysteryWriters #AmWriting! @jamesletoile.bsky.social

Literary Auction for Change Silent auction 'Literary Auction for Change' hosted online at 32auctions.

In case anyone is interested, @litagentsofchange.bsky.social is running an auction with some great critiques, AMAs, and other opportunities. Go forth and bid! [Just don't outbid me, lol.] #kidlitchat #kidlit

www.32auctions.com/LAFC

Text: Let's Make a Mystery! Wed, June 18, 6p-7:30p MST Panelists will create a mystery based on the setting, characters, and weapon you provide. Moderated by Debra H. Goldstein, Panelists: Eva Eldridge, Sue Flaig, Sarah Smith (Editors for SoWest: Danger Awaits! Register at https://desertsleuths.com Images: Desert Sleuths logo, sleuth icon, magnifying glass icon.

Join us for a fun evening... Let's Make a Mystery! Panelists will create a mystery based on the setting, characters, & weapon you provide. Moderator: @debrahgoldstein.bsky.social Panelists: @evaeldridge.bsky.social, @sarahwriter.bsky.social, & Sue Flaig. Register at desertsleuths.com
#amwriting

Photo shows part of a laptop keyboard and a cup of coffee with a pen and paper to the right. On the left, colorful bullet points list the following text" Join SinC's Members-Only Summer Scrawl For your writing health Create a writing habit Join daily write-ins Create your own goals Build your writing community https://www.sistersincrime.org/events/

Hey Members! Our Summer Scrawl will be going throughout the month of June!

Not a Member? For $60 a year, you can scrawl with us and take advantage of everything else SinC offers!

Stay tuned for more info on how to participate!

#SinCScrawl #writingcommunity #crimewriter #booksky

Tonight!

Kaua'i Storm: A Ranger Makalani Pahukula Mystery by Tori Eldridge, Bestselling Author of the Lily Wong Series. "Emotionally Riveting!" - Star Tribune "Transporting!" - Los Angeles Times "Deftly crafted. Genuine mastery!" - Midwest Book Review "An atmospheric love letter." -Kirkus Reviews "Exotic and utterly captivating!" -Deadly Pleasures

And one lucky attendee will win a signed copy of the perfect summer read, Kaua'i Storm by Tori Eldridge. This is a brand-new release, hot off the press, AND the first in an exciting new series by a bestselling author. If you can't go to Hawai'i, bring the island to you! 🌺 #amreading #mysterywriters

There's a change in program for our monthly meeting. Please join us for...

A SPECIAL (FREE) VIRTUAL EVENT!

A Conversation with Award-Winning Tori Eldridge - Writing Mystery, Heritage & Hawaii
Wed, May 21, 6:30p-7:30p (AZ time). Register: desertsleuths.com
@torieldridge.bsky.social #amwriting

This Wed, May 21, join us & guest speakers, Jane and Carl Bock, to discuss how plants are full of toxins as well as cures plus how you can use that to murder, or SAVE, a character in your mystery. As usual, all are welcome, just register at DesertSleuths.com. #amwriting #mysterywriters #crimewriters

Text: Forensic Plants and Your Mystery with Jane and Carl Bock Wed, May 21, 6p-7:30p MST/PT (virtual) Register at DesertSleuths.com The plant world is filled with toxins and cures. How can you work this into your mysteries? Knowing a plant's effects on the body can help you murder or save a character in your next fictional murder. Jane and Carl Bock will give us an overview of plant science- how components of some plants are poisonous while another part is harmless, what's harmless to humans may be harmful to your pet, and vice versa. Image: Photo of Carl standing with his arms around Jane who is sitting and holding their Corgie.

Join us for our Wed, May 21 meeting with Jane and Carl Bock and we'll discuss how plants are full of toxins as well as cures and how you can use that to murder, or SAVE, a character in your mystery. As usual, all are welcome, just register at DesertSleuths.com. #amwriting #mysterywriters

Text: Anthology Writers Conference, Saturday, May 10, 2025, 8a-5p, Mesa, AZ- Register at anthology.org A full-day conference for writers across all genres, including workshops, panels, and presentations by members of Sisters in Crime Desert Sleuths Chapter and Mystery Writers of America. desertsleuths.com Image: Logos for Mystery Writers of America (Edgar Allen Poe cartoon face), Sisters in Crime Desert Sleuths (Saguaro cactus shaped into a pen with blood red ink dripping from it), and Anthology Writers Conference (dragon with back to the viewer and a paintbrush/pen). A photo of the desert with saguaros and mountains during a lightning strike is in the background.

We hope to see you at the Anthology Writers Conference tomorrow! A fun and informative variety of panels and presentations to pick from!

www.anthology.org/index.php/an...

Write FORWARD w/ the Anthology Writers Conference, from @anthologyaz.bsky.social in partnership with @desertsleuths.bsky.social & @mwasouthwest.bsky.social. Sat, May 10, 8a-5p, $69. Benedictine University, Mesa, AZ. All welcome! Register at anthology.org. #AmWriting #mysterywriters #crimewriters

Indie authors, you can apply for the Indie Author Pavilion starting Jul 9- Sept 30. And exhibitor applications open Sept 2. Put it in your calendars!

If you’re a trad pub author launching a book in 2025 or early 2026, you or your publicist can nominate you to be a presenting author at the Tucson Festival of Books starting May 15-Sept 1. The TFOB is a fantastic literary weekend. Apply, apply!

tucsonfestivalofbooks.org?id=168

So glad you enjoyed it Karen.

My last day as Writer in Residence at Glendale Public Library ... it's been an incredibly rewarding experience. Sad to see it end (sniff)!! #library #readingcommunity #writingcommunity #arizona

Why Shopping Local This Indie Bookstore Day Is More Important Than Ever Several independent book store owners are encouraging people to go out to their local independent bookstores to buy some novels to help celebrate Independent Bookstore Day and keep independent busines...

Need an excuse to buy more books? Now you have one! Saturday is Indie Bookstore Day! Show your favorite indie some love.