Host a Lively Panel of New England Mystery Authors
Libraries, bookstores, schools, and community groups have discovered the rewards of offering mystery fans programs from the Sisters in Crime New England Speakers Bureau. Increased patron traffic and satisfaction, and a more engaged community are some of the benefits of hosting an author panel.
From Woonsocket, Rhode Island, to Boothbay Harbor, Maine, across New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, and to the shores of Lake Champlain in Vermont, mystery writers speak to packed houses about all aspects of plying the mystery craft, from inspiration to publication and more. Whether it’s a library’s book club or a regional literary festival, our authors travel to all corners of New England.
Do you want to reach more young readers? Does your community have a certain passion they want to know more about? Our Speakers Bureau can create a panel around a chosen topic. If May is Cozy Mystery month, or October is filled with thrills and horror, or if February is when love gets complicated by crime, our authors can help your organization with events targeted to your needs.
Sisters in Crime is a robust organization of mystery and thriller authors. Our speakers span New York Times bestselling authors to emerging greats. Each engages and entertains your audience while sharing their experiences in the fast-changing world of publishing.
Typically, a panel of three Sisters in Crime New England authors addresses a topic chosen by the sponsoring organization, but individual or pairs of speakers are also available. Do you have a local mystery author you’d like to celebrate? Ask us for an experienced author to create an interview to help make your local choice shine.
To see currently scheduled Speakers Bureau events, click Speaker Events
Our Most Popular Speakers Bureau Topics
Our Speakers Bureau has over 20 years of experience in creating and providing panels for a variety of events. Below are some suggested panel topics. If you don't see what you want here, feel free to inquire. We are happy to share our expertise with your organization to guarantee your event is a success.
Mystery Making: In this interactive workshop, four mystery authors representing different sub-genres, including cozy/traditional and thriller/suspense, will brainstorm on their feet to create a brand new mystery using suggestions provided by the audience. Fun, fast-paced, and fascinating, this improv game offers important insights into mystery writers’ minds and the conventions of the genre.
We're Not Making This Up: What’s the story behind the story? Hear how authors combine personal experiences and events ripped from the headlines to create compelling mysteries. From that first idea, to research and their daily writing schedule, authors discuss their creative process.
The Modern Heroine: Single mothers, cops, attorneys, journalists—today's heroines balance relationships and careers, leap over sexist obstacles, and rescue themselves from danger. Women authors are redefining the genre. Find out how authors create strong women characters.
Pathways to Publication: Mystery authors today not only have to write a good book, they must help it get into the hands of readers. Today’s authors have multiple choices to bring their book to life. From getting an agent and a large press offer to deciding to go with a small press or to self-publish, hear how authors decided upon their unique publication path.
Stealing from the Dead—Ideas and Where We Get Them: You don't need to be an international spy to write a page-turning thriller, or a law enforcement professional to write a police procedural. This discussion shows how authors put new twists on old plots, research facts and settings, and discover potential stories right in their own neighborhood.
Using What You Know to Write a Mystery: Been a housewife? A domestic worker? Single parent? Lived in a creepy old house? You think your life's been boring–but exciting plots can be buried in your own experience. In this discussion, audience members will find the clues to the novel only they can write.
How to Create Characters: Contrary to popular belief, most mystery writers don't use their family and friends in their books, at least not directly. Hear how writers find their characters–the good ones and the bad ones–and how fictional characters may differ from the real-life bad guys.
The Modern Historical: The new historical mystery is set in the twenty-first century; writers are using the techniques of the historical to look at their readers' history, and their own.
Death in Shorts: Many mystery novelists also write murderous short stories. Learn how writers plot, construct, and populate the short mystery, from the light-hearted to the noir tale.
It's a Mystery to Me: Authors describe the writing process—getting that first idea, creating characters, doing the research, and the daily writing schedule that gets it done.
Publicity Today: Mystery authors today not only have to write a good book, but help it get into the right hands. Learn how to toot your own horn, write your own blog, do social media, and plan your own publicity.
Interested?
Contact: For more information or to schedule an event, contact Leslie Wheeler, our Speakers Bureau Coordinator, at speakersbureau@sincne.org.
Fees: If your library or organization normally offers honoraria, our writers appreciate them. Whenever possible we ask for $50.00 per author, and many organizations are able to offer more.
Books: We also appreciate the opportunity to sell signed copies of our books, which can be done by the authors themselves, or by a local bookstore.
Brochure: You can download our Speakers Bureau brochure with a click of this button Speakers Bureau Flyer pdf
Hints and tips: Click here for Planning for a Successful Library Event a helpful and informative article by Kate Flora