Sisters in Crime

Sisters in Crime

Florida Gulf Coast Chapter

November 2026 Meeting

Florida Gulf Coast Sisters in Crime is pleased to announce the topic for the November 7, 2026, Chapter Meeting is:

 “Amplify Your Writing: The Benefits of Podcasts”

Presented by Maria Simbra from Ironed Words Media

 Description: Thinking about launching a podcast to grow your author brand, connect with readers, and boost book and service sales? This session explores how podcasting can expand your reach and deepen your community. You’ll learn practical steps for starting your own show, plus smart strategies for finding podcasts that are a great fit for guest appearances. A valuable addition to any mid‑career author’s promotional toolkit—perfect for elevating your visibility and strengthening reader engagement.

 Meeting Details:

  • Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
  • Time: 1:00 FLGCSINC Chapter Meeting via Zoom

                   2:00 Maria’s Presentation via Google Meet

  • Chapter members will receive both the Zoom Link and the Google Meet link with the meeting agenda packet the day before the meeting.
  • SinC Worldwide members can obtain both links from the SinC LinC event notification in Chapter Events.
  • Non-members of the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter or Sisters in Crime Worldwide can request the meeting and presentation links by sending an email to flgulfcoastsinc@gmail.com

 Bio:  Maria Simbra is the director of Ironed Words Productions, LLC, where she supports writers through groups, conferences, retreats, and one‑on‑one coaching. An award‑winning author and journalist, she writes memoir and personal essays for numerous literary magazines and publishes medical and Gen X romance as Em S. A’cor. She has six books in The Tweet Hearts Series, multiple BookFest silver medals, a TAZ Award, and Amazon Top Ten rankings in medical romance and medical fiction. A former neurologist and longtime CBS Pittsburgh medical reporter, she is now well-ensconced in her third career as an indie author and writing consultant. She lives just south of Pittsburgh, coffee in hand, taking the world one word at a time with her husband, daughter, and a trusty pet gecko at her side.

Maria’s Social Media

October 2026 Meeting

Florida Gulf Coast Sisters in Crime is pleased to announce the topic for the October 3rd 10-Anniversary Celebration Event is:

“Why are Mystery Authors from 100 Years ago Popular Now?”        

Presented by Aubrey Nye Hamilton.

 

Dress as your favorite sleuth 

Come out to celebrate 10 years of our Florida Gulf Coast Chapter mystery-loving community.

Program Description: The formal duration of the Golden Age of Mystery is considered to be the period between the wars, 1918 to 1939. While the standards of the traditional mystery form endured into the 21stcentury, the style flourished during those years and the authors most associated with the period established their reputations then.

Many of those authors were forgotten, and their books were mostly out of print by the 1960s, but a groundswell began building to revive them early in the 21st century. But why? What do these authors have to offer the crime fiction reader of 2026? Their clothes were odd, their hairstyles even more peculiar. What is the appeal of these old stories?

Meeting Details: (Note the time change)

  • Date:                   October 3, 2026
  • Time: 1:15 pm – 3:15 pm
  • Location: Braden River Branch Library, 4915 53rd E., Bradenton, FL 34203

September 2026 Meeting

Sept 2026

Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of Sisters in Crime is pleased to announce that the topic for the September 12, 2026, meeting is:
“Using Financial Crimes in Your Writing,” presented by Paula Minydzak.

Do you want to layer criminal activity in within your book? Add financial crime.
Financial crimes cover everything from money laundering to terrorist financing. This workshop discusses how the crimes work, which US regulators are involved, and the best ways to add the information into your novel. Financial crimes are often linked to other crimes like human trafficking, or they can connect to legitimate sources like charities. The workshop will show you how the connections are made and how banks follow the money before alerting the government.

August 2026 Meeting

Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of Sisters in Crime is pleased to announce that the topic for the August 1, 2026, meeting is:

“Partnering with Your Local Library: How to Build a Great Relationship”
–Presented by Renee Di Pilato, Director of Sarasota County’s Libraries and Historical Resources

Working with your local library system is one of the most effective—and often overlooked—ways to promote your writing and reach new readers. The Sarasota County Library System includes 11 branches stretching from Sarasota to Englewood, and like library systems throughout the United States, each branch offers unique programs, community connections, and opportunities for authors. The Sarasota County History Center in Osprey is an especially rich resource for writers who draw on historical research or local archives. By exploring your library system’s events, workshops, and author‑friendly initiatives, you can expand your visibility, build relationships with librarians, and strengthen your writing career through community engagement.

Meeting Details:

Date: Saturday, August 1, 2026
Times:

  • 1:00 p.m. Chapter Business Meeting
  • 1:45 p.m. Presentation

Location: Selby Library, 1331 1st St., Sarasota, FL

 

Call for Submissions: Passion, Palm Trees, and Payback

Florida Gulf Coast Sisters in Crime will publish an anthology in the second quarter of 2027. This is the call for short story submissions of no more than 5,000 words, with only one entry per author. The submission deadline is midnight September 30, 2026 (Eastern Time). All selected authors will need to sign a publishing contract, with rights reverting to the author after one year. All royalties will go to Florida Gulf Coast Sisters in Crime. Send your completed manuscript to FLGCAnthology@gmail.com.

Title: Passion, Palm Trees, and Payback – Gripping Tales II from Florida’s Gulf Coast

Eligibility Requirement: Authors must be members in good standing of Sisters in Crime Worldwide and members of a Florida Sisters in Crime chapter. In addition to FLGC SinC, the following chapters are in Florida: Orlando Citrus Crime Writers, Northeast Florida SinC, and Florida Treasure Coast SinC.
Non-members can join Sisters in Crime Worldwide and/or Florida Gulf Coast Sisters in Crime here: https://sistersincrime.org/page/join-now

Required Document Format: Microsoft Word .doc or .docx. No other formats will be accepted.
• Stories must be between 1,500 and 5,000 words
• Story must take place in Florida and include a crime
• 1-inch margins
• Double-spaced
• .5 indent paragraph – no line skips starting a new paragraph
• Include page numbers
• NO other headers or footers

Font:
12 pt Times New Roman

Submission Requirements/ Guidelines: Submissions must be 100% human-authored and may not be substantively generated by AI, but the use of AI-powered technical review tools, such as Grammarly or Microsoft Editor, is allowed.
No previously published works—all stories must be unpublished – that includes your website or Substack.
The author’s name should NOT be on the short story document. An anonymous review process will be implemented. Your story will be assigned a Submission ID number. The author’s identity will be unknown to the reviewers and the judges.

Questions? Contact: FLGCAnthology@gmail.com or refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on flgcsinc.com

June 2026 Chapter Meeting

June 2026 Chapter Meeting

The Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of Sisters in Crime is pleased to announce that the topic for the June 6, 2026, meeting is “Building Your Newsletter and Creating Superfans,” presented by author and graphic designer Dineen Miller.
Creating your author newsletter doesn’t have to be daunting or boring. It can be fun, exciting, and even impactful to your readers, as well as one of your most powerful and consistent marketing tools. In this workshop, we’ll talk about:

• Finding Your Why
• Newsletter Branding
• Structure & Content
• The Value of Storytelling (It’s not just for books!)
• Creating a Reader Magnet
• Optimizing Your Book Back Matter
• Organic Growth (Social Media, Books)
• Newsletter Swaps & Builders
• Calls to Action
• Organizing & Planning Your Newsletter Marketing
• Effective Onboarding Sequences to Welcome Readers & Build an ARC Team

As an author, your newsletter lets you grow your fanbase and increase sales more intentionally than social media or advertising, which can only offer sporadic contact and limited sales. Whereas connecting with your readers regularly through your newsletter will bring you a great return in the long run. And long term, it can be the best investment of time and energy you can make.

May 2026 Chapter Meeting

May 2: A Panel Discussion on Writing Short Stories
May 2: A Panel Discussion on Writing Short Stories

The Florida Gulf Coast Sisters in Crime Chapter is pleased to announce that the May 2, 2026, meeting will be “Let’s Write Short: A Panel Discussion on Writing Short Stories,” featuring Julieanna Blackwell, Mark Mathes, Michael L. Joy, and Jenny Ramaley.

“Let’s Write Short: A Panel Discussion on Writing Short Stories” brings together accomplished authors, educators, and an editor to explore the art and craft of short fiction. From idea generation to structure, voice, and impact within a limited word count, this lively conversation will help you think sharper and write tighter. In preparation for our second chapter anthology, the goal of this session is to inspire you to ‘write short’ and answer the call for submissions with a story that showcases your unique voice. Join us for an energizing, insight-packed discussion designed to spark your next great short story.

Meeting Details:

  • Date:              Saturday, May 2, 2026
  • Time:              1:00 p.m. Short Chapter Business Meeting

1:30 p.m. Presentation

  • Location: Gulf Gate Library. 7112 Curtiss Ave, Sarasota, FL 34231
    • This meeting will also be held via Zoom
    • Chapter members will receive the Zoom link with the meeting agenda packet the day before the meeting
    • SinC Worldwide members can obtain the Zoom link from the SinC LinC event notification in Chapter Events
    • Non-members of the Florida Gulf Coast chapter or Sisters in Crime Worldwide can request the Zoom link by sending an email to flgulfcoastsinc@gmail.com

Panelists’ Bios:

Julieanna Blackwell – A writer of short stories and essays, Julieanna Blackwell’s work has appeared in Necessary Fiction, Stonecoast Review, Saw Palm: Florida Literature and Art, MoonPark Review,  Slippery Elm Literary Journal, Lunch Ticket, and elsewhere. The Naples Daily News published her humorous column of personal essays. She was also the Flash Fiction editor for the award-winning 805Lit,  the first literary journal published by a public library in the country. She developed and leads the Elements and Arcs series of writing classes and workshops, which are designed for adult and teen library patrons. She currently directs WordSmitten WorkShop, which has been a part of the St. Petersburg writing community for over a decade. https://juliannablackwell.com

Michael L. Joy – Michael L Joy, often writing as MLJOY, earned an MFA in Creative Writing from Stonecoast and is a retired English professor. He spent several years serving on the board of the Florida chapter of Mystery Writers of America and as co-chair of the chapter’s Sleuthfest mystery-writing convention. He is a member of the committee bringing the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention to Miami in 2029. He plays some music and does some DIY, but mostly, he likes to tell stories.

Mark Mathes – Successful writer, book editor, and publisher with over 80 books published from manuscript to marketplace since 2014. A lifetime in journalism, book editing, and publishing. President of Sarasota Fiction Writers and is currently curating an anthology from their most recent Short Story contest. Mark Mathes | LinkedIn, https://www.sarasotafictionwriters.com

Jenny Ramaley – Her short story “Ruby’s Rodeo Tailors and Western Wear Emporium” was selected for inclusion in Tales of Music, Murder, and Mayhem: Bouchercon Anthology 2024!

Her story, “A Long-Term Plan,” was selected as the 1st story in the FLGCSinC Anthology,

Paradise is Deadly – Gripping Tales from Florida’s Gulf Coast. Her novella, “Workplace Rules for a Firebreathing Dragon,” was an Honorable Mention in the Black Orchid Novella Award. She has attended ShortCon, the conference for short story writers. She also writes novels for adults and teens. jennyramaley.com

April 2026 Meeting

The Florida Gulf Coast Sisters in Crime Chapter is pleased to announce that Irish novelist and screenwriter, Cat Hogan, will be the guest speaker at the April 4, 2026, meeting.

Title:    “Land, Sea, Song, and Story: A Writer’s Life in Ireland”

A conversation with Irish novelist, Cat Hogan on the impact of the Irish land/seascape and Wexford on her writing and writing process; pursuing the craft as a single mother of two young boys; how grit and resilience factor into her success; adult education and literacy in Ireland and, how, in her own words, “being a published writer in Ireland is not a green light to swan around in silk all day.” Reading recommendations on contemporary Irish writing greats and how academia and fiction overlap in her imagination.

Meeting Details:

  • Date: Saturday, April 4, 2026
  • Time: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
    • The presentation will follow a short chapter meeting.
  • Location: This is a Zoom-only meeting
    • Chapter members will receive the Zoom link with the meeting agenda packet the day before the meeting
    • SinC Worldwide members can obtain the Zoom link from the SinC LinC event notification in Chapter Events
    • Non-members of the Florida Gulf Coast chapter or Sisters in Crime Worldwide can request the Zoom link by sending an email to flgulfcoastsinc@gmail.com

Bio: Cat Hogan is an international bestselling novelist and screenwriter from Wexford, Ireland. Her first novel, They All Fall Down (2016), was an Irish Times award-nominated bestseller, followed by the bestselling There Was A Crooked Man (2017), nominated for Crime Fiction of the Year by the Irish Independent. Cat’s third novel is due out in 2027.

Raised in a home of bookworms near the Irish Sea, Cat learned to read before she could walk. Her father, an Irish lightship man, instilled in her a love of the ocean and stars. Her mother’s love for storytelling and books was instrumental in her formative years. Cat’s imagination developed alongside the wild Irish land and sea scape she grew up in.

She is a member of Wexford County Council Panel of Artists for Creative Communities and works on numerous projects in film and television, most recently with Jeb Stuart and Sydell Albert. Passionate about access, equality and diversity in Education and The Arts, Cat facilitates, mentors and curates writing events and adult education forums, all over Ireland. She has worked with the University of Limerick Winter Writing School. Cat holds an honors degree in Law and a master’s degree in Criminology. She is about to pursue a PhD.

Hogan is a recipient of: The John Hewitt Society Bursary Award (2017); University of Limerick Winter Writing School residency (2018); Bursary for Tyrone Guthrie (2019); Writer in (their) Residence for the Irish Writers Centre (2020); Culture Ambassador for Wexford (2020) and Literature Bursary Award with The Irish Arts Council (2022). Artists Panel Wexford (2019-present).

Insta: @cathogan1

March 2026 Meeting

The Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of Sisters in Crime Worldwide is pleased to announce that Cynthia Fabian will be the speaker at the March 7th chapter meeting.

Cynthia’s presentation, “Creepy-Crawlys Aren’t Just for Gardens – Using Bugs and Insects for Effect in Your Crime Novels,” dives into the fascinating world where entomology meets mystery. Discover how even the smallest creatures can inject tension, deepen atmosphere, and turn an ordinary scene into a page‑turning moment. She’ll explore surprising (and delightfully gross) facts, smart ways to weave insects into your plots, strategic placement that heightens suspense, and how to keep every creepy‑crawly detail both plausible and compelling.

Meeting Details:

  • Date: March 7, 2026
  • Time: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
  • Location: In person at the William Jervy Venice Public Library. The meeting will also be available via Zoom:
    • Chapter members will receive the Zoom link with the meeting agenda packet the day before the meeting
    • SinC Worldwide members can obtain the Zoom link from the SinC LinC event notification in Chapter Events
    • Non-members of the Florida Gulf Coast chapter or Sisters in Crime Worldwide can request the Zoom link by sending an email to flgulfcoastsinc@gmail.com

Bio: Cynthia was born in Los Angeles but grew up in New York City. She’s a general writer, writing for local newspapers and SRQ. She invented a patented product that kills bugs naturally. A retired English and ESOL teacher, she loves writing for kids and has published 10 children’s books.

Social Media: cynthiafabianbooks.com