The mission of Sisters in Crime is to promote the ongoing advancement, recognition and professional development of women crime writers. Sherry Harris, former national president, in an article in the Washington Review of Books, explained SinC’s intersectional approach to our mission in 2021. “Our mission has expanded. Women writers still haven’t reached parity with men when it comes to awards and reviews, but we’ve made vast gains since the organization was formed in 1986. We realized there were other voices we needed to raise up, and it fits with the original intent of SinC as an advocacy organization.”
I joined Sisters in Crime about twenty years ago, and joined the New England chapter around the same time. In the time since, I’ve served on the New England board, and on the National board. Currently, I’m the acting executive director of the organization. One of the many reasons I love Sisters in Crime is because of the action oriented, intersectional way the board, staff, and members tackle issues, including issues around diversity, inclusion and equity in the crime writing field. We don’t hold ourselves up as perfect. No organization is. But we do learn, adapt and respond with an eye to the future.
Sisters in Crime has two programs to help spotlight marginalized voices. The Pride Award is a $2000 grant for LGBTQIA+ emerging crime writers. In order to submit your work, you don’t have to a SinC member, and you don’t have to have a full manuscript. Submissions are open through March 15. To learn more, and submit your work, go here.
The Eleanor Taylor Bland Crime Fiction Writers of Color Award is an annual grant of $2,000 for an emerging writer of color. Submissions are opening in March. Last year’s winner, Yasmin Angoe, has her book coming out this October, and a series is being developed from the book. The 2018 winner, Mia Manansala, has her first book coming out in May.
Sisters in Crime provided programs and resources to help all of our members. I hope you’ve all signed up for SinC Into Great Writing this Saturday, March 6, from 1pm-3:30pm ET. The registration page is here. We do these larger workshops twice a year, and offer other webinars every month.
If you’re reading this blog post, chances are that you know the value of Sisters in Crime, and this wonderful chapter. Please let folks know about the Pride and Eleanor Taylor Bland awards. Come to SinC Into Great Writing, and visit the webinar archives. Let us know about your upcoming books, so we can let librarians and booksellers know. Enjoy your writing journey, and celebrate the success of others.
Finding Sisters in Crime changed my writing life. How lucky am I to have found it, and all of you?
As Julia Henry, Julie Hennrikus writes the Garden Squad Mysteries for Kensington. Book #4 in the series, Wreathing Havoc, will be released this October. She also writes as J.A. Hennrikus and Julianne Holmes. www.JHAuthors.com She just launched a Writing Journey membership that includes monthly coaching calls. That, and other classes are on YourLadders.com She blogs with the Wicked Authors, and is the acting executive director of Sisters in Crime. @JHAuthors