A Love Letter to Sisters-in-Crime by Poppy Gee

Do you belong to any writing organizations, for crime writers or general writing—MWA? SinC, International Thriller Writers? If not, why not? If so, what value have they been for you? 

Like everyone who has posted this week, I am a big fan of Sisters-in-Crime. In 2013 when my debut novel was released, they invited me to be on a fantastic panel in Melbourne called Something Rotten in the Apple Isle. It was held in the upstairs room of a quirky 1867 corner pub. We ate dinner and then me and two authors were interviewed about our crime fiction which was set on the island of Tasmania (colloquially known as the Apple Isle because of its fairly romantic history of apple growing).

The Sisters-in-Crime event was the first time I met other crime fiction authors. It was the first time I had a chance to talk candidly with industry insiders. I met the founder of Sisters in Crime Australia, independent publisher/writer Lindy Cameron, who gave me constructive advice and kind encouragement. I’ve never forgotten how positive that experience was.

Where I live there’s not a lot for crime fiction writers – not many of us even get invited to our city’s writer’s festival. A small group of Sisters-in-Crime members are determined to change that. Initial inspiration included an event like Eric Beetner’s Noir at the Bar but we probably don't have enough crime writers to maintain that. Instead, we decided to start a series of crime fiction literary dinners.

  

Now, we host three crime fiction literary dinners each year, copying the winning format of that Sisters-in-Crime evening. One of the goals is to sell books on the night – local bookseller Books at Stones sets up a book stall at our venue. But for the authors on the panel, and for the many writers who attend, it is much more valuable than that. It’s a chance to network, make friends, swap ideas, and be part of the industry for a fun night of food, wine and conversation. 

In Australia, men are not allowed to be on the Sisters-in-Crime panel, so we alternate the literary dinners between an all-female SIC Literary Dinner and a mixed-gender panel called Wine and Crime with Ben’s Book Club. Ben Hobson is a writer friend of mine and a great conversationalist. Both nights attract about 70 guests and are very relaxed and a lot of fun.

It's been a whirlwind experience getting these evenings going. My big mistake at the first event was not checking if the microphones were working. Instead of worrying about that, I spent my time arranging vases of flowers and putting out cookies for the guests. It looked pretty, but when we began, it was a bit stressful with only one microphone working. We had to wing it. I won’t make that error again - but I'm busy making other ones!

I’m not all sunshine and smiles about writing industry mechanics. I've experienced a dodgy side of the business: the workshops, classes, and mentors that pilfer money from vulnerable, desperate writers. I haven’t been burnt by an organisation, but I’m very careful about what workshops I attend after going to more than a few that don’t do what they promise to do on the tin. And that’s not good enough!