May 2016
Volume 2, Issue 4
1
Letter from the Editor
Greetings Sisters, Misters, and Mystery Lovers:
I had some notes here for exactly what I wanted to talk about.
And, of course, on the top of my list it said…”I think that
procrastination is a fine art.” And truly it is. But, like I promise you
almost every month, we’ll talk about it next month. Right now, let’s
get to some good stuff.
As this newsletter is a little behind schedule, talking about the
dinner meeting we had at London Pickle Works in April might seem
a bit…delayed, but it is well worth noting! The turnout was decent
and the company was excellent. It was nice to sit in a less formal
setting with the local Sisters and have a few drinks, eat some food,
and laugh at silly happenings. We also managed to get some
productive meeting business done as well! As my grandma would
say, “How delightful!”
I hope those of you who missed it can join us for the next dinner
meeting. And that will be…ok, you caught me, I have no idea when,
but I’ll be sure to tell you as soon as I find out! In fact, if you’d like
to have a dinner meeting at a restaurant near you, let me know.
Aside from that I just want to say congratulations to all of you who
are entering writing contests, winning awards and just being plain
fabulous. It so exciting to watch all of this going on and knowing
that all of you are so well-deserving of every success you achieve.
I’m having one of those, “Man, I love you guys” moments.
Completely switching gears, let’s talk about unsolved mysteries for
a second. My interest in the Lost Colony of Roanoke has been resparked by a variety of events, one of them being my recent love
for Stephen King’s novel-turned-adapted-TV series, Haven. If
you’ve seen it, you know what I’m talking about. Croatan. That’s all
I’ll say. Anyhow, I got so enthralled with it again, I bought a book
on it. Will this mystery ever be solved? The author promises it will
be...but we’ll see. Not too long after this abrupt fascination took
place, a ship was found floating out of the Bermuda triangle. If I
can remember correctly, it was about 90 years missing. Whoa! Just
whoa! So, that got my wheels turning about the Bermuda Triangle.
And where is all of this leading? Well, I’m not sure. But it interested
me in what other people are interested by and what your theories
are on certain unsolved mysteries. So, let’s hear it. Tell me your
favorite unsolved mystery, and what you think might be behind it.
And lastly, I leave you with a bit of a personal writing update. The
novel I’m working on is coming along rather well. I’m attempting a
writing goal of 2000 words a day. That goal isn’t always met, but it
is something for me to work towards and so far it’s keeping my
hands busy on the keyboard…minus that one night I forgot my
name and all motor functions. Silly writer’s block.
I have also started a Facebook fan page under my new pen
name…so if you want to check it out, you can find me at:
https://www.facebook.com/vivienchienauthor/
Until next time…Happy Writing!...and Reading!
2
The Power of Poison
Cleveland Museum of Natural
History
Saturday, June 25, 10:30 a.m.
Meet in Museum Lobby
Explore the complex and surprising world of poison.
Poison has been a mystifying and frightful force throughout recorded history, seeping from its
origins in the plant and animal kingdoms into human myth and legend. This exhibition takes
visitors on an immersive trip across different lands and times, exploring toxins’ roles in nature
and human history as weapon, defense and lifesaving healer. Tour the exhibit with chapter
members, discuss use and potential for mystery writing, gather afterward in the museum café
for further discussion. For other information, go to https://www.cmnh.org/visit/exhibits/powerof-poison.
Additional details will be sent via e-mail in June.
Haunted Housewives
Paranormal Investigators
Tuesday, May 10, 7 p.m.
Twinsburg Public Library
Haunted Housewives! Cathi “the Ghost Lady” Weber
and Theresa Argie, paranormal investigators and
authors from Northeast Ohio, spoke on all things
ghostly! Not only were they very well versed on the
subject and experienced, but had a great sense of humor
and kept us all entertained!
Cathi Weber is the author of Haunted Willoughby, Ohio
and the creator of the Willoughby Ghost Walk.
Theresa Argie is the author of America’s Most Haunted.
To learn more about them, check out their website:
www.hauntedhousewives.com
3
What’s Everyone Up To?
NEOSinC at Malice Domestic
Congratulations to Agatha Winner
Amanda Flower!
With five member authors attending,
NEOSinC was well represented at
Malice Domestic, the mystery book
conference dedicated to the traditional
mystery. Highlight of the event was
member Amanda Flower's winning
the chapter's first-ever Agatha Award!
Our authors at Malice:
• Gloria Alden moderated the
"Small Town Murder" panel.
• Shelley Costa participated on the
"Fish Out of Water" panel.
• Casey Daniels/Kylie Logan participated
on the "Ghostly Murder" panel.
• Amanda Flower participated in the
"Kids Love a Mystery" panel and won
the Agatha for Best Children's/Young
Adult Mystery.
• Jane Turzillo participated on the
"Just the Facts, Ma'am" panel and was
a nominee in the Best Nonfiction category.
Fellow nominee Jane Turzillo and author Nancy
Pickard congratulate Amanda Flower on winning the
Agatha Award in Best Children's/YA Mystery
category for Andi Unstoppable. For Amanda's
comments and photos, go to her blog
https://amandaflower.wordpress.com/
NEOSinC President Irma Baker also
attended Malice and met with chapter
presidents from around the country.
Malice Domestic is held in the Washington,
DC area each spring. For more information,
go to www.malicedomestic.org.
Member Gloria Alden autographs books for a fan at
Malice Domestic. For Gloria's commentary on the
conference, go to
http://writerswhokill.blogspot.com/2016/05/malicedomestic-28.html
4
What’s Everyone Up To?
Kylie Logan
Irish Stewed is the first book in Kylie’s new cozy Ethnic Eats
Mystery series.
Be sure to grab a copy if you haven’t already and join the
delicious world of Laurel Inwood as crime sidetracks her as she
tries to rejuvenate her aunt’s dingy diner.
Available starting May 3.
Amanda Flower
Congrats to Amanda Flower, whose recent
release, Crime and Poetry, made #47 on the
American Booksellers Association
Indiebound Bestseller List for mass market
paperback! The ABA list tracks sales at
independent bookstores. To view the list,
visit: http://tinyurl.com/gmjqxzo
Amanda has also recently released the
second installment of her Living Museum
Mystery, The Final Tap.
Available starting May 8.
5
What’s Everyone Up To?
Wendy Campbell
Good luck Wendy!!!
Congratulations to Wendy who is a finalist in the Daphne du Maurier contest! Her entry is
competing in the Mainstream Mystery/Suspense category.
Winners are announced during the Kiss of Death’s annual Death by Chocolate party at the
RWA National Conference in San Diego. Kiss of Death is the mystery/romantic
suspense chapter of Romance Writers of America. For more information on
the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense, visit:
http://www.rwamysterysuspense.org/daphne
Shelley Costa and Casey Daniels
Shelley and Casey (aka Kylie Logan) have taken on a huge project for Sinc National! They,
along with current SinC National President Leslie Budewitz, will consolidate the 30-year
archives of Sisters in Crime. Documentation currently is housed in several locations. The first
five years are with founder Sara Paretsky. The years from 1986 to 1996 are at Rutgers
University in New Jersey, where they are storing nine cubic feet of boxed materials. The
remaining 15 years are with SinC Executive Director Beth Wasson.
Your Name Here
Insert flattering
image or book
cover here.
Your awesomeness here
Book deals, releases,
awards, etc.
Do you have a book coming out? Won an award recently? Have exciting news
to share with other writers and fans? Email [email protected] today!
6
What’s Everyone Up To?
Sisters in Crime
Sisters in Crime Loves the Seville Library!
Seville Library Awarded $1,000 Grant
Congratulations to the Seville branch of the Medina County Library District, winner
of a SinC National We Love Libraries $1,000 grant to buy books for its
collection! The grant check was presented on May 12, at the Medina Library
District's Writers Live Author event at the Weymouth Country Club. Library
Manager Jamie Stilla says the We Love Libraries grant will be shared among all six
libraries in the Medina countywide system and mysteries will definitely be included
in the new acquisitions.
“Our library is the smallest in the county and the opportunity to win grants
definitely assists in strengthening libraries,” Stilla said and adds that she
appreciates the value Sisters in Crime brings through its support of libraries.
“Organizations like Sisters in Crime also help draw attention to the myriad of
services that libraries offer today,” she said.
Libraries in the United States can enter SinC's monthly We Love Libraries lottery by
submitting an entry form and a photo of one or more staff members with three
books by Sisters in Crime authors.
7
Enjoy a One-Day Novel Writing Seminar with
Bob Mayer
West Point Graduate, Former Green Beret
& NYT Bestselling Author
WHEN: May 21, 2016, Registration and Continental breakfast
will begin at 8:15am.
All events will be held in the Chestnut Room
WHERE: Strongsville Holiday Inn, 15471 Royalton Road, Strongsville, Ohio
(8 miles from Cleveland Hopkins airport)
You do not need to be a member of NEORWA or RWA to attend this event.
The 2016 conference will be a one-day workshop novel writing seminar aimed at writers in all
phases of their career. Author and writing guru Bob Mayer will present an assortment of topics
including the nuts-and-bolts craft of writing from idea to creation as well as the business of writing
from the current state of the industry to the future of self-publishing and more. See our agenda for
more details. Bob will also have an assortment of his books available for purchase and
personalizing. Annual basket raffle will include workshop registrations, critiques & baskets
brimming with books and goodies galore. Tickets are available pre-sale when you register and they
will be sold throughout the day long event.
WORKSHOP TOPICS INCLUDE:
The Original Idea—The Heart of Your Story and Key to Selling Your Book
Plot and Outline: The Events of Your Story
Point Of View: The Voice of Your Story
Characters: The People of Your Story
Setting, Dialogue, Writer’s Block and Re-Writing
Selling And Marketing Your Book
The Current State and Future of the Publishing Business for the Writer
COST: $65 for NEORWA members - $70 for non-members
For more information, go to http://www.neorwa.com/conference-2/
In the event we reach maximum capacity in our event room, NEORWA reserves the right to close
registration early.
8
Like Whatever
A monthly column on Anything Mystery Writing or Crime Related or, you know, whatever…
By T.K. Starr
A Proud History of Being Nasty
Oh, the pouty foot stomping, the endless whining, the petty name calling. The boastful lies,
cries of “he/she did it first” and playground bullying. No, it’s not the schoolkids at recess
or even the tweenies in the back seat. Think meaner. Yup, you guessed it, the 2016
Presidential Campaign!
While the field has narrowed in the last few months and the “small hand” jokes seem to
have slowed, the jeering rhetoric remains. Contested conventions, unbound delegates and a
possible “Mystery Candidate” have all contributed to make this year’s campaign “Must See
TV” on both sides.
But have the 2016 campaign shenanigans really been that bad? Has this campaign involved
the worst behaved ever? The exception to some idealized norm? Being in the middle of it,
one might think so. But when you step back and look at our history, you get another
impression. Dubious behavior on the campaign trail is in our national blood. Sadly, this is
the norm.
Don’t believe it? Just Google “Dirty Presidential Elections” and you’ll get a slew of articles
and books, scholarly and popular, documenting the tortured history of our nation’s
elections. Every election cycle seems to be more outrageous than the last with louder
accusations, damning doublespeak, and polished half-truths. Certainly, there were probably
quieter, less contentious election cycles, but who remembers those few or talks about them?
Too boring apparently.
So really how did we get here? Well my dear sisters (and brothers), I mentioned it’s in our
cultural DNA and I meant it. For some of the ugliest mudslinging and downright meanness
in campaigning, we have to go back to our “ancestors,” back to the beginning when
American partisan politics gained its foothold. Before mass communication, the Internet
and the exhausting 24-hour news cycle. To the days and nights of our beloved founding
fathers. Yeah, those guys. The ones who gave us the Declaration of Independence, the
Constitution and, of course, the electoral college. That last one should have been a clue.
Cont.
9
Like Whatever
A monthly column on Anything Mystery Writing or Crime Related or, you know, whatever…
By T.K. Starr
The year was 1800 and Thomas Jefferson found himself running against his vice president
John Adams for the Presidency. In those days, although there were state electors, each who
could vote twice for president, there were no “political conventions”, primaries or
delegates as we envision them today. There were also no presidential “tickets”. Each man
ran on his own (Note #1: yes, technically Aaron Burr was Jefferson’s Republican “running
mate” in 1800, but it just complicates matters due to the two vote thing and not really the
issue here so let’s just move on). Basically, he who got the most votes became the Prez and
second place got the Vice Prez. Thus, a President could find himself running against his
own Vice President for re-election. (Note #2: this fundamental flaw in the original version of
the electoral college was cured by the passage of the 12th Amendment in 1804, but that’s
another tortured story).
All would have been well in 1800 (and maybe onward) if gentlemen had remained
gentlemen. But alas, no. While political differences and philosophical tensions had always
existed under the surface of a unified front against Britain, the truce was tenuous. Without a
common enemy, the Federalists and Republicans (main parties of the time), fought openly
amongst themselves for the philosophical direction of the fledgling nation. The
Republicans wanted limited federal involvement and the Federalists wanted more
centralized control (mmm..kinda sounds familiar).
While Jefferson (Republican) and Adams (Federalist) had political differences, they were
great personal friends, sharing an interest not only in the young nation and its future, but
also gardening (Note #3: yes gardening, all the founding fathers were avid gardeners, see
Founding Gardeners by Andrea Wulf, great book and I loved it, but not a good choice for
book club as I found out…oh, but I digress).
However, there’s nothing like a good dirty campaign to tear a friendship apart, even when
the candidates don’t personally do the campaigning. Jefferson and Adams spent much of
the actual campaign at their respective residences letting others sling the mud for them
instead. For example, one Adams’ loyalist, the President of Yale University, publically
opined that a Jefferson victory, “would see our wives and daughters the victims of legal
prostitution” while another Adams backer, a popular Connecticut newspaper, proclaimed
that a Jefferson victory would make this nation a place where “murder, robbery, rape, adultery
and incest will openly be taught and practiced.” (Forbes, The Dirtiest Presidential Campaign
Ever? Not Even Close! , August 20, 2012, http://onforb.es/Otxpx3 )
Cont.
10
Like Whatever
A monthly column on Anything Mystery Writing or Crime Related or, you know, whatever…
By T.K. Starr
Not to be outdone, Jefferson hired an Eli Gold-type (if you don’t watch the Good Wife, I
mean a ruthless publicist/campaign manager) who made the Watergate folks look
downright amateurish. James Callendar was the perfect hitman for Jefferson. A journalist
previously jailed by Adams for violations of the Sedition Act, Callendar hated Adams. He
imbued his pro-Jefferson pamphlets with particularly vicious vitriol. Callendar claimed that
Adams wanted to invade France, which was completely untrue. Further, Callendar wrote
that Adams was “a rageful, lying, warmongering fellow; a “repulsive pedant” and “gross
hypocrite” who “behaved neither like a man nor like a woman but instead possessed a hideous
hermaphroditical character.” (Forbes, supra) Adams felt he was above the fray, so did nothing
on his own to counter the attacks. As a result, Jefferson’s hired hatchet tactics helped win
the day. (Note#4: Callendar, unbelievable perhaps by today’s standards, was actually jailed
for his slander against Adams. When released, Jefferson disassociated himself from
Callendar and refused to help him prompting Callendar to vengefully reveal the whole
Sally Hemings/Jefferson connection. Karma bites.) The Founding Fathers’ Dirty
Campaigns, 8/22/2008,
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/08/22/mf.campaign.slurs.slogans/
So the election of 1800 started the partisan politics snowball and it’s rolled downhill since
then. But what, that’s not enough proof of our treacherous tradition? Well how about the
election of 1828 between “Founding Son” John Quincy Adams and War Hero Andrew
Jackson considered by many to be the dirtiest campaign of all time? Although these days
politicians decry the partisanship of the “liberal media” or the dubious “fair and balanced
reporting” claims, today’s media can take a lesson from the partisan journalism of our
nation’s past. Adams was accused of pimping while Jackson’s wife was accused of being a
bigamist and slut. Jackson actually wrote letters to supportive newspapers directing them
how to counter Adam’s negative campaigning. Both used the press to write blazing,
blatantly untrue headlines. Even if there was a kernal of truth perhaps in the bigamist
claim, calling Jackson’s wife a “slut” seemed a step too far. At the time, incumbent Adams
was already considered an usurper. In 1824, Jackson had won the popular vote, but Adams
the electoral college. Henry Clay and others entered into what Jackson referred to in 1824 as
the “Corrupt Bargain” in the House of Reps to sway the vote for Adams. Makes hanging
chads look downright tame.
Cont.
11
Like Whatever
A monthly column on Anything Mystery Writing or Crime Related or, you know, whatever…
By T.K. Starr
Since then it’s just been one appalling antic after another. The following are highlights
from a few election cycles. These have been labeled as “some of the most vicious,
outrageous and frequently ridiculous slams, slanders and ploys used throughout American
history to try and gain the White House.” Buckle up:
1836: Martin Van Buren prevailed despite Whig candidate William Henry Harrison’s
backers hammering the aristocratic Van Buren’s style of refined dress. “Van Buren is laced
up in corsets, such as a woman in town wears,” read one hit piece.
1844: Henry Clay, who in trying to up the tally from the sizeable Irish population in New
York City falsely claimed that he was also an immigrant whose real name was “Patrick
O’Clay.” Polk still won.
1856: James Buchanan, afflicted with a congenital palsy that caused his head to tilt slightly
to the left, was accused by Opponent John Frémont’s supporters of once trying to hang
himself (hence the head tilt).
1860: Democratic foe Stephen Douglas’ backers at the Charleston Mercury newspaper called
Abe Lincoln a “horrid-looking wretch” who was “sooty and scoundrelly in aspect, a cross
between the nutmeg dealer, the horse-swapper, and the nightman.”
1876: Democrats spread the rumor that Rutherford Hayes shot his own mother “in a fit of
insanity” after a night of drinking in Ohio. Sophia Birchard Hayes was deceased, so she
couldn’t deny the claim. Hayes still defeated Samuel Tilden, though narrowly.
1896: The New York Times, in endorsing Republican William McKinley, published an
article about his opponent William Jennings Bryan with the headline: “Is Mr. Bryan Crazy?”
The piece interviewed so-called experts from the psychiatric field that concluded he
suffered from megalomania, delusions of grandeur and quarrulent logorrhea, which is
basically complaining too much. One expert said, “I should like to examine him as a
degenerate.”
1908: A Midwestern paper published the following on William Taft, a Unitarian: “Think of
the United States with a president who does not believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of
God, but looks upon our immaculate Savior as common bastard and low, cunning
imposter.”
1928: Speaking of playing the religious card, Herbert Hoover’s backers said Democrat Al
Smith, a Catholic, engaged in “card-playing, cocktail drinking, poodle dogs, divorces,
novels, stuffy rooms, evolution . . . nude art, prize-fighting, actors, greyhound racing and
modernism.” (Note #5: uh, Poodle dogs?)
Cont.
12
Like Whatever
A monthly column on Anything Mystery Writing or Crime Related or, you know, whatever…
By T.K. Starr
1952: A pro-Eisenhower leaflet distributed in the US heartland claimed that Adlai
Stevenson had once killed a young girl “in a jealous rage.” Stevenson lost.
1964: In Lyndon Johnson’s campaign against GOPer Barry Goldwater, he set up a secret 16member team dubbed the “5 o’clock club” that wrote anonymous letter to columnist Ann
Landers slamming Goldwater; secretly fed hostile questions to reporters on the Goldwater
campaign trail; infiltrated headquarters to swipe advance texts of speeches; and even wrote
books with titles like “The Case Against Barry Goldwater” and a kids book in which tykes
could color in with crayons Goldwater dressed in a Ku Klux Klan robe.
1972: Watergate was the coup de grâce, but Nixon operative Donald Segretti and his team
started small. In the Democratic primary season, voters began getting late-night phone calls
from rude people pushing for Muskie. To play on racist fears, many callers were either
black or pretended to be and added that they’d been bused up from Harlem to work for
Muskie.
(originally from Joseph Cummins book, Anything for a Vote, but reprinted in the New York
Post, http://nypost.com/2015/11/01/a-history-of-dirty-tricks-in-presidential-elections/,
from which I paraphrased here in parts for space).
Okay, enough already! I think we can say that there never was a really high standard of
conduct and expectation to begin with. Shenanigans, doublespeak, yellow journalism all
seem to be both our heritage and our legacy. Amazingly, we have survived 240 years with
this process. What does that say? Well, at least no one should panic, no matter how
adolescent and cringeworthy the conduct. We will get through this as we have before. After
all, even Jefferson and Adams eventually made up and remained friends until they both
died on July 4, 1826. Hope remains.
Still it’s enough to make one want to disconnect the cable, cancel the newspapers, and
binge watch 10 years of Murder She Wrote on Netflix. Of course I’ll come out to vote, but
don’t tell me who the mystery candidate is, I want to be surprised. But you know, whatever.
For a bit more scholarly take on the election of 1800, its background and meaning, please see “The
Presidential Election of 1800: A Story of Crisis. Controversy, and Change,” accessed at
https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/early-republic/essays/presidential-election-1800-storycrisis-controversy-and-change
TKStarr hopes you will visit her at TKStarrMysteries.com or on FaceBook as
TKStarr/TKStarrmysteries.
13
Birthdays:
May
May 13 – Daphne Du Maurier
May 20 – Douglas Preston
May 22 – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
May 25 – Robert Ludlum
May 27 – Dashiell Hammett
May 27 – Tony Hillerman
May 28 – Ian Fleming
May 19, 1780
New England’s Dark Day refers to an alleged phenomenon
that occurred on that day. Beginning around 10:00am, parts
of New England and Canada experienced an unexplained
darkness that continued on until the next day sometime in
the afternoon. Much later it was discovered the strange
occurrence was due to forest fires in a close proximity to the
region. At the time, many believed it to be a religious sign of
the prophesied “day of judgment.”
May is:
National Physical Fitness and
Sports Month, Asian
American Heritage Month,
Jewish American Heritage
Month, Skin Cancer
Awareness Month, National
Bike Month
“Among the changing months,
May stands confest, the sweetest,
and in fairest colors dressed.”
James Thomson
-Scottish poet and playwright
May 7, 1896
Dr. H.H. Holmes, one of America’s first
well-known serial killers, was sentenced
to hang to death on this day in
Philadelphia. He was convicted of nine
murders, confessed to 27 and was
suspected of as many as 200.
Author Anthony Boucher even used
H.H. Holmes as his pen name during the
1940s for several murder mysteries and
magazine reviews.
14
Did you
know…?
Check It
Out!
Want to share
your blog or
website? Send
an email to the
editor!
paula.corrao@
yahoo.com
Mickey Spillane ordered 50,000 copies of
his novel, Kiss Me, Deadly, to be destroyed
when he found the comma was left out of
the title.
“A single dream is more powerful
than a thousand realities.”
~ J.R.R. Tolkien
Who’s Who and What’s Where
President – Irma Baker
Vice President – Jane Turzillo
Treasurer – Kim Hammond
Secretary – Open
Library Liaison – Cari Dubiel
Newsletter Editor – Paula Corrao
Program Chair – Donna Feldman
Members-at-Large - Shelley Bloomfield,
Lisa Kaplan
https://www.facebook.com/NEOSinC
https://www.pinterest.com/NEOSinC
Check out our website!
http://neosinc.org/wordpress/
15
Chapter Business
Open Offices...The office of Secretary is open. We also need a
Publicity Chair. Currently the board is handling these offices
as needed but we want to hear from any members interested in
taking on these roles. We promise it won't take over your life.
When Do
We Meet?
We Need
You!
Meeting Dates/Flexible Scheduling...Our meetings are tentatively
booked for the second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. generally at the
Twinsburg Library but we adjust the date, time and place based on
availability of speakers and opportunity for special events. For instance,
this summer we’re panning a field trip to “The Power of Poison” exhibit
at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. See page 3 for more
information. Always check the most current newsletter or the website
and watch for email meeting notices.
Meeting Locations…This year we're looking at quarterly
scheduling that would set two meetings at the Twinsburg Library
and a third meeting at a different location. We're open to
suggestions for off-site meetings or events for third and fourth quarter.
Would you like to host a meeting at your local library or another location
or do you have a suggestion for an event or field trip? Let us know!
What’s
Our
Focus?
Where
Do We
Meet?
Meeting Topics… We're continuing our theme of "Getting It Right" by
scheduling speakers professionally involved in crime detection/prevention,
whose expertise can help us get our mystery writing right. We also want to
cover craft-related issues and offer opportunities to get together to share
experiences and learn from each other. Have suggestions? Let us hear them!
16