Yasmin McClinton by Paula Gail Benson Each year, Sisters in Crime presents the Eleanor Taylor Bland grant to assist an emerging writer of color in that writer’s continuing journey. Born in Boston on December 31, 1944, Eleanor Taylor Bland spent a good portion of her life in Chicago where her husband served in the military. […]
by Paula Gail Benson Sometimes you have to dedicate time to your writing craft. In pre-Covid-19 days, that was accomplished at writers’ conferences. You spend some time listening to master classes and panels, then you learn what’s going on in the business by talking with fellow writers in the hall and bar. Now that travel […]
by Paula Gail Benson The Palmetto Chapter of Sisters in Crime and the Southeast Chapter of Mystery Writers of America were delighted with the response to Mystery in the Midlands. We started off with a terrific panel on short stories featuring John Floyd, Tara Laskowski, and Art Taylor. Among them, those talented writers have been […]
by Paula Gail Benson For the last two years, the Palmetto Chapter of Sisters in Crime and the Southeast Chapter of Mystery Writers of America have sponsored a mid-summer conference for readers and writers in “famously hot” Columbia, S.C. While we had to cancel our in person gathering due to Covid 19, our third venture […]
by Paula Gail Benson I’m very proud to be among the authors whose stories are in Heartbreaks and Half-truths, an anthology selected (from over 100 submissions) and edited by Judy Penz Sheluk, noted for her novels, for her anthology The Best Laid Plans (2019), and for recently being elected the new chair of Crime Writers […]
by Paula Gail Benson Jessica Riley Miller with husband Chuck Miller at her first signing. (Her short story is in The Big Bad II anthology.) Jessica and I initially met as members of the Inkplots Writing Critique Group. I’ve always loved Jessica’s wonderfully inventive imagination and intriguing descriptions. We’ve gotten closer as roommates at two […]
by Paula Gail Benson I met Larissa Reinhart, author of the Maizie Albright Star Detective series, a few years ago at Murder in the Magic City, in Homewood, Alabama. She impressed me immediately as someone with spunk, determination, and drive, very much like her protagonist Maizie, although maybe without the mishaps. Just reading about Larissa’s […]
by Paula Gail Benson This year, we won’t be able to gather in Bethesda, Maryland, to celebrate the best of the traditional mystery. We’ll miss the homecoming, family reunion, and all round party blast. But, that doesn’t mean that we can’t celebrate the magnificent authors whose brilliant works have been nominated for the Agatha Award. […]
by Paula Gail Benson Each year, it is such a delight for me to welcome the authors whose short stories have been nominated for the Agatha award, presented at Malice Domestic. This year, the event may have been postponed, but that’s no reason not to celebrate the authors and their nominated stories! These authors are […]
by Paula Gail Benson During this time of uncertainty about the corona virus, it’s good to hear messages that encourage. Yesterday’s reading from my worship service (although the actual gathering was cancelled, the devotional materials were shared via email and social media) is a particularly relevant passage to consider. From the book of Romans, Chapter […]