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Welcome to the Triangle, North Carolina Chapter of Sisters In Crime
The mission of Sisters in Crime is to promote the ongoing advancement, recognition, and professional development of women crime writers. Triangle Sisters in Crime meets virtually via Zoom. The meetings are open to the public. Once you register for a meeting, instructions on how to attend will be sent via email. You will find registration links in the meeting information below and in our chapter newsletter. If you're not already signed up to receive our chapter newsletter, you can sign up here. If you miss any of the virtual meetings and the chapter has been given permission to share the recording online, you can find them here. UPCOMING MEETINGS 
Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 1:30 pm (EST): Killing Me Softly: Writing the Cozy Mystery with Lynn Cahoon
Is writing the cozy mystery in your wheelhouse? Anthony nominated, New York Times, and USA Today bestselling author of several cozy mystery series, Lynn Cahoon, will walk you through the cozy promise to the reader so you can determine if writing a cozy mystery is for you. Participants will learn the requirements of a cozy mystery –a story low on gore, low on sex, and high on fun. Think David Addison and Maddie Hayes in Moonlighting, Remington Steele and Laura Holt, or Richard Castle and Kate Beckett in Castle (before the last season). The importance of a cozy setting, the cast of quirky secondary characters, and, most importantly, the why behind a good series. Finally, we’ll answer the most important question haunting the cozy mystery world today. How can so many dead bodies show up in one little town? We may also learn how many licks it takes to get to the middle of that famous sucker or maybe the world may never know. BIO - NYT and USA Today bestselling author, Lynn Cahoon is a multi-published writer with years of experience training and presenting to groups in various day jobs. An Idaho native, her stories focus on the depth and experience of small-town life, including the required murder. Currently, she’s living in a small Eastern Tennessee town where her imagination tends to wander. In 2013, she published her first cozy mysteries for Kensington Publishing and has continued developing cozy worlds, including the Tourist Trap series, the Cat Latimer series, the Farm to Fork series, the Kitchen Witch series, and the Survivors’ Book Club series. She recently released a new series set in Bainbridge and is writing a new series set deep in the North Carolina mountains. She’s now a hybrid author, self-publishing another fun paranormal cozy and taking back the Cat Latimer series to keep the books flowing. A fifteen-plus-year breast cancer survivor, she blames her love of cozy mysteries on the extensive waiting time in doctors’ offices. Register here. 
Saturday, October 10, 2026, at 1:30 pm (EST): Triangle Sisters in Crime Author's Panel
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Writing and Publishing – Presented by the Triangle Sisters in Crime both virtually and LIVE at the Durham Main Library auditorium - 300 North Roxboro Street, Durham, NC 27701 A panel of published author members of the Triangle Sisters in Crime will share insider tips on: 1) how to write the best story possible. 2) grabbing the attention of agents, editors, and readers. 3) choosing the best publishing option for your work, including self-publishing, small press, and traditional publishing. Attendees will learn tips for success and survival in this ever-changing industry. The perfect program for writers in any genre. Bring your questions, meet the authors, and go home with lots of helpful information and some entertaining books! Panelists will include: Ashley-Ruth Bernier, Melissa Bourbon/Ivy Cassidy/Winnie Archer, Nora Gaskin, Victoria Gilbert, Ruben Gonzales, Diane Kelly, G.L.T. Lyons, Michael Mayo, P.M. Raymond, and Marlie Wasserman. About the authors: Ashley-Ruth Bernier, Award-winning author Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier writes short mystery and crime stories set in her home island of St. Thomas, and her debut novel, THE BUSH TEA MURDER, was released in April 2026. Melissa Bourbon/Ivy Cassidy/Winnie Archer is a national bestselling author of more than thirty-five novels, founder of WriterSpark Academy and the Bourbon & Books YouTube channel, a staff member at Pocket MFA, and the creator of one of Writer’s Digest’s 101 Best Websites for Writers. Nora Gaskin lives and writes in Chatham County, inspired by her native landscape, her husband, and at least one dog-in-residence. Victoria Gilbert is a retired librarian who lives in the North Carolina Triad and is the author of four cozy and traditional mystery series -- the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series, the Booklover's B&B series, the Hunter and Clewe mystery series, and the Campus Sleuth mystery series. Ruben Gonzales usually writes in the mystery genre, but his latest book to be published by Histria Books is historical fiction about the Mexican Revolution and follows the exciting exploits of a woman soldier whose character is based on his great-grandmother. Diane Kelly writes funny mysteries featuring feisty females with furry sidekicks, including the Death and Taxes series, Paw Enforcement K-9 series, House Flipper mystery series, Busted motorcycle cop series, Southern Homebrew moonshine series, and Mountain Lodge Mysteries. G.L.T. Lyons is the author and illustrator of the Library of Hereafter magical realism series and the Destiny Bay mystery series under the pen name, Gina Lea. Michael Mayo is the author of the Jimmy Quinn historical suspense novels, and he has written extensively about film and popular culture in books, newspapers, and other media. P.M. Raymond is an award-winning author and aspiring screenwriter from New Orleans whose work spans horror, crime, and Southern Gothic fiction. Marlie Wasserman loves writing historical crime fiction from her desk in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Register here. 
Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 1:30 (EST): Inspirational and Practical Tips on the Emotional Writing Journey with Landis Wade The presentation covers the five realities of being a writer: (1) rejection, (2) pressure and fear, (3) encouragement, (4) self-care, and (5) perseverance. The source material comes from the 7th book in The Write Quotes series published by Charlotte Readers Podcast of over 500+ author interviews with authors in 33 states and five countries. As Craig Nova says, “…the bottom doesn’t last forever, and the top doesn’t last forever.” What can last forever, though, is your words. As New York Times bestselling novelist Steve Berry says, “From 1990 to 2002, I wrote eight novels. Five of them went to New York publishing houses, and they were rejected a total of 85 times. It was on the 86th time that I made it, 12 years after I started. So my road to publishing was a very long process.” And Chris Fabry, an award-winning author who has published more than 80 books, says, “If you don't want to get hurt, don't write. If you don't want to have layers of your own soul exposed to people who say, didn't really connect with that, don't put the words down there. Because you will be rejected.” Bio: Landis Wade is a recovering trial lawyer who writes mysteries and legal thrillers. He founded the popular Charlotte Readers Podcast where he and his cohosts interviewed more than 500 authors in 33 states and five countries. Now a resident of Durham to be close to his grandson, his current series is set in Charlotte, where he grew up and practiced law. Deadly Declarations, his first in the series, won ten awards, including Winner in the 2022 American Fiction Awards in the Cozy Mystery category, and Winner in the Mystery category in the 17th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards. His second in the series, Deadly Gold Rush, released in 2026 to positive reviews, with Kirkus Reviews saying: “Mystery fans who love Richard Osman’s cozy Thursday Murder Club books will enjoy the similarly energetic take on mystery-loving retirees.” Landis also has written a trilogy of Christmas books, a podcast mystery novella with another author, eight writing quote books, and a number of award-winning short stories. The Charlotte Writers Club awarded him their 2025 Adelia Kimball Founders Award for service to the club and the literary community. 
Saturday, December 12, 2026, at 1:30 (EST): Great Book Publicity Starts with Great Goals with Terena Bell
When it comes to book publicity, outlets like “The Today Show” and NPR sound impressive, but going on the local news might be better for your books. That’s because the best PR comes down to goals: Why do you want publicity? Is it about selling books or being read? Or for self-published or small press authors, your goal might even be to attract an agent for the next title. Everybody’s desired outcome is unique, so your approach to PR should be too. In this session, pinpoint your goals and learn easy steps you can take to promote your work accordingly. Bio: Terena Bell is a book publicist and fiction writer. As a publicist, she’s secured clients coverage with “The Today Show,” Good Housekeeping, NPR, BookRiot, and others. Her debut short fiction collection, Tell Me What You See (Whiskey Tit, 2022), was named one of “the best books of the 21st century (so far)” by New York Society Library. Learn more at terenabell.com/bookpr. Want to know what our chapter members have been up to?
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us on Facebook MEETINGS: Triangle Sisters in Crime meets virtually. The meetings are open to the public. If you miss any of the virtual meetings and the chapter has been given permission to share the recording online, you can find them here. Once you register, instructions on how to attend will be sent via email. If you're not already signed up to receive our monthly emails, you can sign up here. |