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Event: A Day with Author Ellen Byron

/ Sisters in Crime-Colorado

EBPlease join us for a special day with multi-award-winning author Ellen Byron!

Saturday, October 9, 2021 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Tivoli Student Union: Baerresen Ballroom (Rooms 320 ABC)
Auraria Campus
900 Auraria Parkway, Denver, CO 80204
[parking map]

Ellen Byron’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, under the name Maria DiRico, and will debut the Vintage Cookbook Mysteries (as Ellen) in June 2022. Ellen is an award-winning playwright and non-award-winning TV writer of comedies like WINGS, JUST SHOOT ME, and FAIRLY ODD PARENTS. She has written over two hundred articles for national magazines but considers her most impressive credit working as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart. She blogs with Chicks on the Case, is a lifetime member of the Writers Guild of America, and will be the 2023 Left Coast Crime Toastmaster.

Learn more at ellenbyron.com.

Session One: The Magic of Setting

Evocative settings add atmosphere and dimension to your writing. Through improvisational writing exercises, participants will first explore the many aspects of setting, and then use what they’ve discovered to bring color and richness to their projects.

Session Two: Adding Humor and Heart to Your Writing

In this workshop, Ellen shares fifteen-plus easy-to-implement tips and workshop exercises on how to find and mine the funny in any manuscript, culled from years of writing sitcoms. In addition, Ellen will look at how to balance humor with heart and when the right choice is not to be funny.

The cost is only $15.00 and includes the workshop as well as lunch.

Registration is closed. Thank you!

The cost will be covered for current students at the host institution, so if you are a MSU Denver student, please be sure to check the appropriate box on the form and use your MSU Denver student email address.

Sponsored by Sisters in Crime, Sisters in Crime-Colorado, and Metropolitan State University of Denver Department of English.

If you have any questions, please use the Sisters in Crime-Colorado contact form.

Please note that masks are required indoors per current campus protocols.

 

 

Event: Shawn McGuire & Sandra Murphy plus The Craft of Writing Q&A/Brainstorming Session

/ Sisters in Crime-Colorado

Quarterly Chapter Meeting/Event:
August 17, 2019
Lone Tree Library, 10055 Library Way, Lone Tree, Colorado 80124 (303-791-READ)

9:30-10:00 am
Welcome, Announcements

10:00 am-12:00 pm
Shawn McGuire & Sandra Murphy: “Creating Complex Characters”

No one wants to read about a character who is no more interesting than their driver’s license. The author’s job is to make sure their characters are well-rounded and interesting. The actor’s job is to bring scripted characters to life. In this workshop, you will work with both author, Shawn McGuire, and actor, Sandra Murphy, to explore how characters are created and brought to life.

We will start with the vital stats that tell us little more than what we know about a stranger on the street. We’ll add layers and details that make the story practically start writing itself. Using a developed character, Shawn will walk you through a step-by-step outline as you follow along creating your own character and filling in the details. Sandra will get you up off your chair to put into practice what you’ve learned. Through acting exercises, you’ll engage with your characters on a visceral level and explore your character’s physicality, body alignment, and non-verbal communication.

By really getting to know your characters, you will learn how much easier it is to write scenes that are believable and make sense to the story.

12:00-1:00 pm
Lunch (brown bag or visit nearby restaurants)

1:00-3:00 pm
“The Craft of Writing Q&A/Brainstorming Session”

A Sisters in Crime-Colorado First! Join us for a Q&A and brainstorming extravaganza in our afternoon session. Is there a question about the craft of writing or promoting that you’ve been wondering about? We will have members submit their questions on a piece of paper at the beginning of the session and the group can have a discussion regarding the topic. Also, if you need help on a scene you are working on (limit to one page please), or maybe a query letter, or need help with coming up with ideas for the second or third act of your novel, why not use the collective brain power of the group to help come up with a solution or give feedback?

3:00-4:00 pm
Board Meeting (all are welcome, location to be announced at the meeting)

Please feel free to come to either the morning or afternoon session if you cannot attend both.

Please RSVP at our Meetup Page: https://www.meetup.com/Sisters-in-Crime-Colorado/events/262899786/

About the Presenters:
Suspense author Shawn McGuire started writing after seeing the first Star Wars movie (that’s episode IV) as a kid. She couldn’t wait for the next installment to come out so wrote her own. Sadly, those notebooks are long lost, but her desire to tell a tale is as strong now as it was then. She grew up in the beautiful Mississippi River town of Winona, Minnesota and then called the Milwaukee area of Wisconsin (Go Pack Go!) home for many years before moving to Colorado. Shawn is a homebody. When not writing or read, you’ll find her find her in the kitchen or crafting something. Find out more at: https://www.shawn-mcguire.com/

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Sandra Murphy, the Voice Mama™, is a versatile voice over actor and award-winning audiobook narrator whose compelling, sophisticated narration fully envelopes the listener in the story, whether it’s a cozy mystery or an intense thriller. Sandra knows that there is so much more to a story than the words on the page and is adept at using her theatrical instincts to bring stories to life fully enveloping the listener in the story. Find out more at: https://www.voicemama.com/

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Please RSVP above. This event is funded and presented by Sisters in Crime-Colorado and is not sponsored by Douglas County Libraries. To request more information, please use our contact form.

Photos of the Meeting (08/17/19):

Event: A Day with Author Nancy Pickard

/ Sisters in Crime-Colorado

Saturday, July 14, 2018
Auraria Campus
Tivoli Student Union, Room 640
900 Auraria Parkway, Denver, CO 80204
[parking map]

Please join us for a special day with award-winning author Nancy Pickard!

In the morning session, Nancy will discuss her successful creative writing career. The afternoon session will offer an interactive workshop for writers of all levels. Book signings will follow both sessions.

The event is free but space is limited: please RSVP below [reservations are now closed].

 

Author Talk: 10:00 am – 11:00 am
“Thirty Years of Writing and Publishing: How To (and How Not To) Establish a Long-Running Writing Career”

Lunch (provided): 11:30 am – 12:45 pm

Writing Workshop: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
“How to Become A Better Writer”

How to begin being a writer, how to become a better writer, how to write what you love for as long as you love it. How to get through the hard parts of the writing and of the writing life.

For this lively, hands-on workshop, bring any of the following: something you’ve written or something you’ve read and admired. A chapter, several chapters, a poem, a short story, a published novel or short story (by you or anyone else). The idea is to have some writing in front of you to mark up, to make notes on, to detect problems, to improve. When you leave this workshop, you’ll be a better writer, in either large or small ways, and that’s a promise.

“Nancy Pickard is acclaimed as one of today’s best mystery writers. Mounting evidence suggests that this description is too limited. . . Pickard [is] one of today’s best writers, period.” ~ The San Diego Union

Nancy Pickard is the author of eighteen popular and critically acclaimed novels, including the Jenny Cain and Marie Lightfoot mystery series. Her work covers an amazing span of the mystery world, from the classic cozy to private eye stories, and from humorous mysteries to psychological suspense.

She is the author of dozens of short stories and of three novels in the Eugenia Potter series created by Virginia Rich and co-author, with psychologist Lynn Lott, of the beloved non-fiction book about writing, Seven Steps on the Writer’s Path, of which the best-selling writer Sue Grafton says, “I can give you seven reasons to buy this book for every writer you know. It’s fresh, insightful, candid, funny, supportive, encouraging, and wise.”

Nancy has won the Agatha, Anthony, Macavity, Barry, and Shamus awards for her short stories. She is a four-time Edgar Allan Poe award nominee, a Mary Higgins Clark award finalist, and a recipient of Lifetime Achievement awards from Malice Domestic as well as Romantic Times. In her hometown area that includes both the Missouri and Kansas sides of the state line, she has received The Thorpe Menn Award from the Kansas City, Missouri branch of the American Association of University Women and the Don Coldsmith Award. Two of her novels, The Virgin of Small Plains and The Scent of Rain and Lightning have been named Kansas Notable Books. The Virgin of Small Plains was the Kansas Reads Book of 2009. The Scent of Rain and Lightning was made into a feature film.

She is a founding member and former president of Sisters in Crime, the international organization dedicated to the advancement of women mystery writers, and she is a former national board member of the Mystery Writers of America. She founded a local chapter of Sisters in Crime called, “Border Crimes,” for which she served as the first president. For more information, please visit www.nancypickard.com.

Sponsored by Sisters in Crime; Sisters in Crime-Colorado; Metropolitan State University of Denver College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences Dean’s Office; Metropolitan State University of Denver Department of English Arts Committee; and Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society.

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Appearances: ALA

/ Sisters in Crime-Colorado

Sisters in Crime-Colorado will have a booth in the Exhibit Hall at the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting and Exhibits, February 9-12, 2018. Come on by and say hello…

Shifts Authors
Friday 2/9 5:30-7 Becky Clark, Cynthia Kuhn, Peg Brantley
Saturday 2/10 9-11 Leeann Betts, Fleur Bradley
Saturday 2/10 11-1 Elizabeth Richards,  Theresa Crater
Saturday 2/10 1-3 Rhonda Blackhurst, Naomi Hirahara
Saturday 2/10 3-5 Karen (K.L.) Docter, Margaret Mizushima, Terrie Wolf
Sunday 2/11 9-11 Catherine Dilts, Sue Hinkin, Cordia Booth
Sunday 2/11 11-1 Jennifer Kincheloe, Nora Page
Sunday 2/11 1-3 Chris Goff,  Mary Birk
Sunday 2/11 3-5 Ann Dominguez, Shawn McGuire
Monday 2/12 9-11:30 Rosemary Berry,  Sandra Murphy
Monday 2/12 11:30-2 Karen Whalen,  Francelia Belton

Event: Laura DiSilverio and Mark Pfoff

/ Sisters in Crime-Colorado

 

February 24, 2018

Lone Tree Library, 10055 Library Way, Lone Tree, Colorado 80124 (303-791-READ)

 

 

9:30-10:00 am Welcome, Announcements

10:00 am-12:00 pm Laura DiSilverio: “No Pain, No Gain: Increasing Conflict In Your Story”

No story moves without conflict.  No characters change without conflict.  It’s at the heart of any storytelling–romance, mystery, mainstream, fairytales–and yet, many writers shy away from it.  We like our characters too much to make their lives miserable.  That attitude can derail our storytelling.  I define conflict as anything and everything that keeps the viewpoint character(s) from accomplishing his or her goal.  I’ll provide techniques for increasing conflict in every scene and across the scope of the story or novel.  I have a five-step process for doing this: 1) defining the viewpoint character’s goals and needs in each scene, 2) providing internal and/or external opposition to those goals, 3) giving the illusion of progress, 4) surprising with disappointment and setbacks, and 5) working with a “What Could Be Worse?” mindset.   I’ll also discuss how creating characters with conflict inherent in their relationships and goals can get your story off to a fast start and keep the conflict humming through what is often the “sagging middle” of a novel.

12:00-1:00 pm Lunch (brown bag or visit nearby restaurants)

1:00-3:00 pm Mark Pfoff: “The Groomer: The Story of Ronald Stanley and Those Who Brought Him to Justice.”

This real case presentation will explore how criminals are caught by law enforcement by using forensic technology. Due to the sensitive nature of the presentation material (which includes sexual assault), this presentation is intended for mature audiences only.

3:00-4:00 pm Board Meeting (all are welcome, location to be announced at the meeting)

Please feel free to come to either the morning or afternoon session if you cannot attend both.

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You may RSVP via email (click red button above) or at our Meetup page: www.meetup.com/Sisters-in-Crime-Colorado.

About the Presenters:

A retired Air Force intelligence officer, Laura DiSilverio is the national bestselling and award-winning author of 21 mystery, suspense and young adult sci-fi novels. Library Journal named her recent book, Close Call, one of the Top Five mysteries of 2016, and The Reckoning Stones (2015) won the Colorado Book Award for Mystery. Incubation, the first book of her young adult dystopian trilogy is an Amazon bestseller. A Past President of Sisters in Crime, she lives in Colorado Springs.

website:  www.lauradisilverio.com
blog:  www.careerauthors.com.
FB: www.facebook.com/lauradisilverio

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Mark Pfoff retired from law enforcement in October of 2014 after a 17 year career; the last 10 as a Detective with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in Colorado Springs, Colorado specializing in computer related crimes and computer forensics. Prior to
going into Law Enforcement full time in 2003 he was a computer engineer for 22 years.

During his career, he has examined thousands of items of digital evidence to include hard drives, cellular telephones, tablets, flash drives, memory sticks, DVDs, and CDs. His knowledge of technology has been utilized in many major criminal investigations to include financial crimes, kidnappings, robberies, sex assaults and homicides.

Mark has been qualified in court as an expert in computer forensics, cell phone forensics, cell phone technology, computer surveillance systems, police procedures, investigations and child exploitation. He has testified numerous times in both State and Federal court on a wide range of criminal cases to include child exploitation, sex assaults, burglaries and homicides.

He is currently a consultant with Rocky Mountain Computer Forensics working on both criminal and civil cases.

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Please RSVP above. This event is funded and presented by Sisters in Crime-Colorado and is not sponsored by Douglas County Libraries. To request more information, please use our contact form.

Event: Elli Reid, Becky Clark, Karen Docter, Becky Martinez

/ Sisters in Crime-Colorado

Quarterly Chapter Meeting/Event: August 5, 2017
Lone Tree Library, 10055 Library Way, Lone Tree, Colorado 80124 (303-791-READ)

9:30-10:00 am Coffee, Donuts, Welcome, Announcements

10:00 am-12:00 pm Becky Clark, Karen Docter, and Becky Martinez : “Take Two Beckys and Call Your Docter: Plotting Panel”

Have you ever wanted to speed up your process and write a complete and non-crappy novel in only two months? Learn how to create a flexible outline you can live with (even if you hate outlines), how to write fast, and how to organize yourself using Becky Clark’s tried-and-true techniques.

Hate plotting? Learn how to plot your novel in 12 easy steps with a simple method that can take your story idea from beginning to end. Whether you are a plotter or write by the seat of your pants–like Becky Martinez– she can show you how to turn your story ideas into a cohesive plot that moves in logical fashion while providing emotional conflict and action. Becky Martinez worked with writers her entire professional life as a journalist and has spent the past 12 years writing fiction, non-fiction and teaching writing classes.

How many of us have decided to write a book, then stared at that blank page or computer screen without a clue how to proceed? What about those of us who write by the seat of our pants, the pantsers? Do we dare risk scaring off our muse by [shudder] plotting our story? How do the mega-plotters, the overachievers, know when it’s time to stop and just put pen to paper? How do we avoid sagging middles and plot holes big enough to drive a truck through them? For “pantser at heart” author, Karen Docter, the “W” plotting technique is the method she not only uses but taught online for over 20 years to hundreds of new and published authors. It’s a flexible technique that give authors a way to plot just what they need without destroying their creativity.  

12:00-1:00 pm Lunch (brown bag or visit nearby restaurants)

1:00-3:00 pm Elli Reid, “Human Trafficking 101 and Then Some”

Human Trafficking 101 (the difference between smuggling, boy-friending, and kidnapping) followed by a case review. You’ll learn about the enterprise of human trafficking, how easy it is for a victim to fall into, and how the prosecutorial aspects can be extremely difficult. You’ll also learn how and why victims are vulnerable.

3:00-4:00 pm Board Meeting (all are welcome, location to be announced at the meeting)

rsvp

You may RSVP via email (click red button above) or at our Meetup page: www.meetup.com/Sisters-in-Crime-Colorado.

About the Presenters:

A highly functioning chocoholic, Becky Clark is the seventh of eight kids, which explains both her insatiable need for attention and her atrocious table manners. She likes to read funny books so it felt natural to write them, too. She published her first novel in 2001, and is a sought after speaker. Visit her online at www.BeckyClarkBooks.com.

 

 

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Bestselling Author Karen Docter writes contemporary romance. When she feels the need to feed the dark side, she writes intense suspense thrillers as K.L. Docter. She’s an award-winning author, a four-time Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® finalist, and won the coveted Kiss of Death Romance Writers Daphne du Maurier Award Category (Series) Romantic Mystery Unpublished division. 

 

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Becky Martinez has spent her entire professional life working with writers. She is an Emmy award winning former broadcast journalist who spent 30 years writing and producing television newscasts in Los Angeles and around the west. She went on to work in public relations and video production. For the past 12 years she has also written fiction and non-fiction books as well as teaching writing classes online for Savvy Authors and other writers’ groups. She also gives workshops on plotting, creating characters, editing and writing the dreaded query and synopsis.

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Detective Elli Reid joined the German Police Force in 1996 serving in the Riot Unit and Major Accident Unit. After moving to the United States in 2002, she joined the Colorado Springs Police Department in 2006 and served eight years in the Sand Creek Division as a Patrol Officer. She received her bachelor’s degree in 2009 from Colorado State University.

Detective Reid is currently assigned to the Metro Vice, Narcotics, and Intelligence Division of the Colorado Springs Police Dept.

In January 2014, Detective Reid was selected to join her city’s first Human Trafficking Unit. Since then, she has undergone over 100 hours of training and does public speaking engagements to educate the community and law enforcement agencies about Human Trafficking.

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Please RSVP above. This event is funded and presented by Sisters in Crime-Colorado and is not sponsored by Douglas County Libraries. For more information, please contact sinc.colorado@gmail.com.

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