Speed City Sisters in Crime BIG HIT at Annual Indiana Historical Society's Authors Fair

Co-editors Marianne Halbart and Diana Catt*

Several members of the Speed City Sisters in Crime participated in the Indiana Historical Society's Annual Author's Fair on December 1 at the Indiana Historical Society in downtown Indianapolis.
Authors were selected by the Historical Society.

Members greeting readers and signing books were:

Diana Catt, editor of the just released Speed City Sisters in Crime anthology Homicide for the Holidays. The recently released book includes 12 seasonal tales of murder, mayhem and Christmas joy, along with a dozen recipes that correspond with each story. The book is available at local Barnes and Noble stores, as well as online at Amazon, BarnesandNoble.com and Walmart.com.

Author Larry Sweazy*

Larry Sweazy, author of the Marjorie Trumaine series and recently named by Indianapolis Monthly Magazine to its annual Book Recommendations list for his western, "Pointe Blank, Texas."

Author Janis Thornton*

Janis Thornton, author of "Too Good a Girl," a true crime book about a 1965 unsolved murder in Tipton, Indiana. The book has been receiving high praise, including a feature article in the Indianapolis Star and appearances on Indianapolis television stations.


*Photos by Crystal Rhodes.

Speed City Sisters In Crime Featured at Historical Society's Dec. 1 Holiday Author Fair

Sisters (and Misters) Among the Featured Authors 

at This Year’s Holiday Author Fair

By Janis Thornton

Author of "Too Good a Girl"

Sisters in Crime member Janis Thornton
and David Williams, author of Indianapolis Jazz
at 2015 Author's Fair

The Indiana Historical Society’s 2018 Holiday Author Fair, scheduled for Saturday, December 1, will host more than 70 Hoosier authors and their latest books, including the Speed City Sisters in Crime and two individual members.
            The event is unquestionably the place to be for anyone who loves books. It’s even better for those who enjoy mingling with homegrown, Indiana authors. And it’s better still because visitors can take home as many books as they can carry, all of them personally autographed by the authors.
            Speed City Chapter of Sisters in Crime latest anthology “Homicide for the Holidays” is among the books selected for the event. Book editor and Speed City member  Diana Catt will host the Sisters in Crime table. 
            Two other Speed City Chapter members were selected for their own books. Larry Sweazy will be there with his Marjorie Trumaine Mystery, “See Also Proof.”  Janis Thornton will be be present with her gripping true crime mystery, “Too Good a Girl.”
        While it’s an awesome honor to be selected for this affair, it also is exciting and fun. I was privileged to participate in 2012 and 2015, and both times, I relished the unique opportunity to meet several of the other authors as equals and to exchange ideas and tips. Among those I talked with were James Alexander Thom, Jennifer McFadden, Dick Wolfsie, Angie Klink, Nelson Price, Barbara Shoup, Ray Boomhower, Sandy Sasso, and David L. Williams. In fact, I talked non-stop with fellow authors and visitors during the four hours and almost lost my voice. What a fabulous experience!
        The range of book topics at the 2018 event is vast — from politics and history to young adult nonfiction and mysteries (and true crime!).
            Please don’t miss this opportunity to support and rub elbows with some of Indiana’s finest authors.
            Doors will be open from noon to 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 1 in the William Henry Smith Memorial Library at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, 450 W. Ohio St., Indianapolis.
            And, as a gift from the Indiana Historical Society, admission is free.
            We hope to see you there!
            Click to download the Author Fair brochure.

Speed City SinC Star on WFYI's NO LIMITS; Streaming Interview Available Online

Front row: Michael Dabney, Crystal Rhodes & Diana Catt in WFYI Studios

Three members of Speed City Sisters in Crime talked for an hour WFYI-FM host John Krull on his weekly show NO LIMITS.

Michael Dabney, Crystal Rhodes and Diana Catt talked about the Sisters in Crime Organization, the value of joining writing groups, and the Chapter's upcoming major event, writing and producing a one act mystery play.

The play will be performed six times between August 16-26 as part of Indy Fringe Fest.

The one-hour show is available for streaming on line.  To listen, Click HERE

WFYI's "No Limits" Focuses on DEADBEAT, Speed City SinC; Tune In July 31 at 1 p.m.

WHAT:     No Limits Interview about DEADBEAT & Sisters in Crime
WHEN:    Tuesday, July 31 at 1 p.m.
WHERE:  WFYI (90.1 FM), Indianapolis

WFYI'S July 31 No Limits program will feature an hour-long discussion about Speed City Sisters in Crime and its latest project, the one-act play Deadbeat, which is scheduled for six performances during Indy FringeFest.

No Limits is a daily program  hosted by John Krull on WFYI radio (90.1 FM), the Indianapolis Public Radio Station operated by Butler University.  Speed City members Diana Catt, Crystal Rhodes and Michael Dabney talked with Krull about mystery writing and the Chapter's first-of-its-kind play. Deadbeat is the first time any chapter of the national Sisters in Crime organization has attempted writing and producing a play.

Directed by noted local director Deborah Asante, DEADBEAT will have six performances between August 16 and 26 at the 100-seat Basile Fringe Theater, 719 E St Clair St, Indianapolis, IN 46202. The play features an outstanding cast of experienced local actors: Gabrielle Patterson, Alicia Sims & Zach Hyatt

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and adults, with a $1 per ticket service fee for online orders.  Tickets are available now. To Order, click this link:  TICKETS TO DEADBEAT


Remember: Tuesday,  July 31, 1 p.m. on WFYI (90.1 FM).

June Brings Opportunities to Talk Writing and Books With Speed City Sisters in Crime

Speed City Sisters in Crime members will be hitting the highways in Indiana over the next two weeks for three different programs around the state.  This weekend (Saturday, June 9), Chapter members will be meeting readers and fellow writers  at an art fair in Kirklin, Indiana and an author fair in Bloomington at the Monroe County Public Library. On both weekends, noted writer and Chapter member Larry Sweazy will be teaching a classes for writers at the Indianapolis Writers Center.

It's a great time to meet up with our members, discuss writing, their books and maybe becoming a member.

Kirklin Art Fair, Kirklin, Indiana:  Saturday, June 9, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm 

Speed City Sisters-in-Crime will have a book table for sales of all of our anthologies.  The table will be located on Min Street in Kirkland. Authors Janis Thornton, Janet Williams, and N. W. Campbell will be available to talk writing and sign books.

Monroe County Public Library, Bloomington, IN:  Saturday, June 9, 2 - 4 p.m.

Writers and Chapter member Brenda Stewart, Stephen Terrell and Russ Carley will be in Bloomington to discuss the Sisters in Crime murder mystery anthologies.  Brenda has served as editor for all of the Speed City Sisters in Crime anthologies to date, and has written stories appearing in each book.  Stephen has a two short stories in the latest anthology, and has written two legal thrillers, Stars Fall and The First Rule. Russ has written two thrillers set in the world of Formula 1 racing and has a new book coming out in late June. 

Indianapolis Writers Center:   June 9 and June 16,  1 - 4 p.m.

Larry Sweazy will be teaching two classes.  On June 9, he will teach  "Writing Your First Novel." The following Saturday, June 16, he will teach a time management class for writers titled “How Much Time Do You Really Have.”  The fee for each is $75, with a lesser fee for Writers Center members.

Wild Deadwood Reads, Deadwood, South Dakota: June 7-9

If you happen to be in Deadwood, South Dakota, you can also meet Speed City Chapter member Diana Catt, who will be meeting readers and signing books at the annual Deadwood festival.

How an Ugly Picture Became the Inspiration for Diana Catt's Short Story "Framed"

That Ugly Picture 

By Diana Catt

I’m willing to bet your mom has a picture hidden away in the bottom of a box, or a drawer, that makes you cringe whenever it makes the light of day.

You know the one. That awkward pose you hope is not how you really look.

Here’s one of mine – all pointy elbows, shoulder blades, and knees. Odd sunglasses and mother-dictated haircut. About 11 or 12 years old. The cute, photogenic boys in front are my brothers. I’m sure there’s a freaky photo of them in mom’s picture box, too.

I thought about my own ugly pictures when I saw “The Two Sisters,” a painting by Georges Lemmen (1894) on display at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

I can understand how a camera might capture an off-guard moment, a fleetingly awkward position, but don’t you have to pose for extended times for a painting?

Wouldn’t it be appalling if a painting you posed hours for ended up looking like an embarrassing, momentary, snapshot pose? 

Something more had to be going on with those two sisters…

Suddenly, I had my inspiration for a short story,Framed, which appears in the anthology, The Fine Art of Murder.

Since I bravely put up an embarrassing photograph of myself, I’m going to counter with an outright brag.  Framed was chosen to be included in an anthology of the Best from Women in Horror, called Killing It Softly, 2 (Digital Media Publishing, 2017)

Here’s a short excerpt from Framed:

The wilted missionary was back in the foyer when I returned to the living room and I watched Papa escort him into the library. Mama continued her piano playing and singing so I couldn’t hear any conversation leaking from the partially open library door. Papa had given the man some money earlier today, so I couldn’t imagine why he’d be back. I stood erect for Vonnie but kept one eye on the front lobby, waiting for the missionary to emerge.

At the moment the library door opened wider to reveal Papa and his guest, Mama finished the piece she was playing. In the sudden vortex of quiet, I distinctly heard Papa say, “Be careful what you say, sir. Your life may depend on it.”

I didn’t know if that was a warning or a threat.

Then Mama started playing again.

Links:

Killing It Softly 2: A Digital Horror Fiction Anthology of Short Stories (The Best by Women in Horror)

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_11?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=killing+it+softly+2&sprefix=Killing+it+%2Caps%2C152&crid=3LWNH6YW7T8QT

The Fine Art of Murder

https://www.amazon.com/Fine-Art-Murder-Collection-Stories/dp/1681570238/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1512016720&sr=1-1&keywords=Diana+Catt

www.dianacatt.com