Quarterly Events

Our quarterly events are our biggest events of the year, when we gather in person for a day of speakers on the writing craft and some aspect of the criminal justice system. It's also time for us to catch up as a chapter and enjoy hanging out together.

Quarterly events are free and typically held in a public library in Douglas County, the exact geographic middle of our membership. We also host the meetings on Zoom for those who cannot join us in person.

Quarterly Events Coordinator

Quarterly Events Calendar 2026

  • March 7 - Lone Tree Library, 10055 Library Way, Lone Tree, CO 80124
  • June 27 - Lone Tree Library, 10055 Library Way, Lone Tree, CO 80124
  • Aug. 29 - Lone Tree Library, 10055 Library Way, Lone Tree, CO 80124
  • Oct. 17 - Castle Rock Library, 100 S. Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, CO 80104

Typical daily schedule

  • 10:15 a.m. - Welcome (note: library opens at 10)
  • 10:30 a.m.-noon - Morning panel related to the craft or business of writing - Zoom is on
  • Noon-1 p.m. - Lunch (bring your own or walk to a nearby restaurant) 
  • 1-1:20 p.m. - Continue eating while we provide chapter news and updates - Zoom is on
  • 1:20-1:30 p.m. - Break before afternoon panel, reset tables as needed from lunch
  • 1:30 p.m.-3 p.m. - Afternoon panel related to criminal justice system - Zoom is on

Additional info

  • Parking at the libraries is free and usually plentiful
  • You can attend all or part of the day - though we'd love to have you there for it all!
  • Some members often go to a nearby restaurant after 3 p.m. to continue the conversation 

If you're looking to learn about writing, or to dig into the minds of criminals and law enforcement, or just have tons of fun with like-minded writers, Sisters in Crime-Colorado is truly the place to be!

Join Us for Our Next Quarterly Event: Oct. 17

Meet Your Speakers: Morning Panel

Meet Your Speakers: Afternoon Panel

Plan Ahead to Join Us in 2027! 

We're making changes in 2027 to make our events even better:

  • We will be able to sell books at our meetings so, if you're interested, get your tax sales information together.
  • We welcome folks bringing in their books and materials, even if not for sale, so we can get to know each other's work.
  • Library staff will be handling set-up and tear-down, which should make for smoother transitions.
  • We'll have AV support so presentations should go smoothly and we'll focus on ensuring a great Zoom experience.
  • We can do a catered lunch from nearby restaurants if folks would like. Details to come on this option.

Lone Tree continues to be the geographical center of our membership so that's why we focus our Quarterly Events there. 

But we're interested in field trips to other areas and in partnering with other groups, whether libraries or writing organizations, to create opportunities for our members across the state. 

Please share your recommendations or ideas for these and let's make it happen!

Check out our previous events this year

Our Third Quarterly Event of 2026: June 27 

Our Second Quarterly Event of 2026: June 27 

Our First Quarterly Event of 2026: March 7

Check Out Photos from Past Quarterly Events

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See Our Past Quarterly Events 

2025

  • Oct. 4 - I want to start a podcast. Now What? and The Real CSI. Not That Stuff on TV
  • Aug. 9 - Book Brush Tools for Author Success and Murder in Westminster
  • June 14 - Developing Quality Panels and A Three-Decade Journey to Justice: The Roger Dean Homicide Investigation
  • Feb. 15 - Meet! Greet! Speak! and You’re Not Going to Believe What I Saw Today

2024

  • Nov. 16 - Sit and Be Fit and Captain Joel White of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
  • Aug. 10 - The Psychological Health of Writers and Witness Statements
  • June 8 - Book Launches and Polygraphs
  • Feb. 17 - Artificial Intelligence As It Impacts Writers and The Psychology of Police Officers/Dealing with Dangerous Individuals

2023

  • Oct. 21 - Eight Weeks to a Complete Novel and The Mind of a Hunter/Mercenary vs. Contractor
  • Sept. 30 - Special Event with Hank Phillippi Ryan
  • Aug. 5 - Complex Villains and The World of Art Theft and Forgery
  • June 3 - Great Characterization: More Than Description and Murder in the Kitchen
  • Feb. 4 - Finding and Wrangling Historical Research and Writing Believable Fight Scenes

2022

  • Nov. 12 - Marketing for Authors and True Community Policing
  • Aug. 13 - How to Write a Synopsis and Character Workshop: The Life and Writing of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
  • June 11 - Editing Fiction for Content and Being a Mitigation Attorney and Saving Someone from the Death Penalty
  • Feb. 12 - Exploring Short Stories and What I Learned in Jail

    2021

    • Nov. 6 - Setting and Writing the Law: A Guide to Avoiding Landmines
    • Oct. 9 - A Day with Author Ellen Byron
    • Aug.14 - 8 Weeks to a Complete Novel and So You Found A Body, Now What?
    • June 19 - A Season to Play Mindfully, Write Miraculously and CSI: The Real Story (Not That TV Show)
    • Feb. 27 - Self-Publishing in 2021 – Tips for Finding Success in the World of Self-Publishing

    2020

    • Nov. 7 - Beating Writer’s Block
    • Aug. 8 - 14 Tips for Writing Suspense
    • June 6 - From Manuscript To Masterpiece
    • Feb. 1 - Social Media 101: A Tutorial for Authors and NecroSearch International: Murder, Mayhem and Mysteries

    2019

    • Nov. 16 - Stand Out Submissions: What Makes a Literary Agent Say “Yes” (or at the very least, “Maybe”) and True Crimes and Presumptions of Guilt
    • Aug. 17 - Creating Complex Characters and The Craft of Writing Q&A/Brainstorming Session
    • June 8 - Kathy Fish: “Setting the Tone: Skills to Borrow from the Flash Fiction Toolbox” and Laura Manuel: “Underutilized Forensic Evidence in Fiction”
    • Feb. 9 - The Nuts and Bolts of Blood and Guts for Writers

    2018

    • Nov. 17 - Nail Your Research: A Writer’s Guide to Disasters, Drug Dens and Other Surprising Sources and Behind Bars: What it’s Like to Be an Inmate, Deputy, or Research Scientist in the Denver County Jails
    • Aug. 11 - Writing a Successful Series and Interviewing without a Badge
    • July 14 - A Day with Author Nancy Pickard
    • Feb. 24 - No Pain, No Gain: Increasing Conflict In Your Story and The Groomer: The Story of Ronald Stanley and Those Who Brought Him to Justice

    2017

    • Oct. 28 -Writing Compelling Characters panel and Private Eye Stories and Secrets panel
    • Aug. 5 - Becky Clark, Karen Docter, Rebecca Martinez: “Take Two Beckys and Call Your Docter: Plotting Panel” and Human Trafficking 101 and Then Some
    • June 10 -The ABCs of Author Branding/Giving Your Book A Voice and Anatomy of an Arson
    • Feb. 11 - PR 101: Promoting and Branding Your Book to The Masses and Homicide for Writers, Not Criminals

    2016

    • Nov. 12 - Communications Director for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation
    • July 30 - Book Trailers as Marketing Tools
    • July 9 - Firearms: What Crime Writers Should Know
    • June 25 - Networking
    • April 24 - Top Ten Medical Pitfalls When Killing Your Characters
    • Jan. 9 - Criminal Profiling with an FBI Profiler

    2015

    Our very first event:

    • Oct. 3 - Let’s Talk Stalking
    • Fun Fact: We found our very first speaker when one of our members struck up a conversation in line at a local water park.


    Questions or ideas for Quarterly Events? Email us!