Sisters in Crime

Sisters in Crime

Florida Gulf Coast Chapter

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

January 2026 Meeting

The Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of Sisters in Crime Worldwide is pleased to announce that Sue Toth will present “Five Reasons You Should Use the Same Editor for Your Series” at the January chapter meeting.

Meeting Details:

  • Date: Saturday, January 10, 2026
  • Time: 1:00 – 3:00 pm
  • Location: Via Zoom

The chapter meeting agenda will include a short presentation on “How to use SinC LInC.”  Sue Toth’s featured presentation will immediately follow the chapter business meeting.

Chapter members will receive the Zoom link, meeting agenda, and additional meeting documentation the day before the meeting.

SinC Worldwide members can obtain the Zoom link from the SincLinC event notification in Chapter Events.  SinC LinC

If you are interested in attending the presentation but are not a member of the Florida Gulf Coast chapter or Sisters in Crime Worldwide, you can request the link by emailing flgulfcoastsinc@gmail.com.

Presentation Title and Description:

“Five Reasons You Should Use the Same Editor for Your Series”

Maintaining consistency across a fiction series isn’t easy. Having the same editor by your side can make all the difference. In this presentation, we’ll explore five crucial reasons why a long-term editorial partnership can strengthen your storytelling, shorten your revision process, and maintain the continuity your readers love.

Bio:

For the past 25 years, Sue’s specialty has been in collaborating as an editor with authors to turn their books into the ones that readers can’t put down. She works with authors on book coaching and developmental editing. Sue’s goal is to be sure books are edited for clarity, coherence, and captivating charm. Many authors Sue has worked with have gone on to achieve Amazon bestselling status.

Her entire career has been dedicated to either diving into her own editing projects or teaching others how to do it well. In addition to editing, Sue has taught fiction editing at the University of San Diego and journalism and writing at the college level.

Social Media Links:

suetoth.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/suetoth/

https://www.facebook.com/suetothediting

https://www.instagram.com/suetothediting/?hl=en

@suetoth.bsky.social

https://www.threads.net/@suetothediting

November 2025 Chapter Meeting

November 1, 2025 - Energy Medicine for Writers

November 1, 2025

Braden River Library
4915 53rd Ave
Bradenton, FL 34203

1 PM – Chapter business meeting
Presentation – immediately following the meeting
In person and via Zoom!

Learn simple healthy ways to rejuvenate yourself while writing your novel!

 

October 2025 Chapter Meeting

Saturday, October 4th, 2025

Fruitville Library
100 Apex Rd
Sarasota FL

In person and via Zoom.

1 PM – Business Meeting
Presentation begins immediately after the business meeting.

Ritu Anand – D4EO Literary Agency
Agent-Author Collaboration – How to Make the Most of Your Relationship

June Chapter Meeting

June 7 program - Using AI for Publishing

DESCRIPTION: Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most rapidly expanding technologies in human history. Artificial intelligence tools can generate stories in a few seconds, books in less than a minute, and then convert novels into audiobooks and movies in less than 30 minutes. The impact of artificial intelligence on authors and publishers will be at least as great as the invention of the printing press.
Readers probably know that the screenwriters’ strike in California was partly about the possible loss of jobs due to the ability of artificial intelligence to write film and television scripts. However, AI can also increase revenues for authors and publishers with new products and services such as AI-generated movies, audiobooks, and rapid translations into many languages.
This talk discusses a new kind of e-book that lets readers meet and talk to characters in the book. It also discusses using artificial intelligence to illustrate conventional books.

Murder is My Cup of Tea

This monthly program will be held at The White Heron Tea & Gifts, a tea cafe, and offer 22 readers a chance to participate in a crime fiction book club that is not a club per se–but a chance to join in the fun as their schedule or the book offered allows.

The inaugural tea party (4-6 pm on Wednesday, May 21) will feature a discussion of Lisa Malice’s psych thriller, LEST SHE FORGET, while everyone sips on tea (specially selected to complement the book) and enjoys scones, clotted cream, and strawberry jam.