speakers bureau

The Speakers Bureau provides New England mystery writers to booksellers and libraries planning special events. We have programs about agents and publishing, promotion and other mysteries of publication, and the techniques authors use to write their stories.  We're glad to provide speakers on your topic as well. See list of topics below. Individual speakers, pairs of speakers, or panels are available.

You can also download our Speakers Bureau brochure.

There are no fees, but if your library or organization normally offers honoraria, our writers appreciate them. Whenever possible we ask for $50.00 per author, and many organizations are able to offer more, which we appreciate.

We also appreciate the opportunity to sign books, provided either by the speakers or by a local bookstore or library Friends organization.

Be sure to check out the schedule of upcoming Speakers Bureau events below, and support our Sisters and Brothers in Crime.

And check out some of the great places our Speakers Bureau authors have visited
on our Where We've Been Page.

 

For information on speakers, contact:

Leslie Wheeler
SpeakersBureau@sincne.org
Or call: 617-576-0828

 Click here for
Planning for a Successful Library Event
(Tips for Librarians)

- a helpful and informative article by Kate Flora.
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UPCOMING SPEAKERS BUREAU EVENTS

2008 EVENTS

May 14, (Wednesday), 6:30-8:00PM
Location:
Rumford Public Library
56 Rumford Avenue
Rumford, ME 04276
207.364.3661
"It's a Mystery to Me" panel with
Page Erwin and Marilyn Rothstein.

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June 18, (Wednesday), 7:00 PM
Location:
Naples Public Library
940 Roosevelt Tr
Naples, ME
207.693.6841
Mystery panel with
M. E. Kemp and Lea Wait.

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June 25, (Wednesday), 7:00 PM
Location:
Blaisdell Memorial Library
129 Stage Road
Nottingham, NH
603.679.8484
Book discussion with
Roberta Isleib

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July 14, (Monday), 7:00PM
Location:
Monterey Public Library
452 Main Rd
Monterey, MA 01245
413.528.3795
"Using What You Know--Or What You'd like to Know" panel with
Gary Braver, Sarah Smith, and Jessica Speart.

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July 30, (Wednesday), 7:00PM
Location:
Smith Hokanson Memorial Hall
Vinalhaven Island
Vinalhaven, ME
207-863-4573
"It's a Mystery to Me" panel with
Frankie Bailey, Katherine Hall Page, and Julia Spencer-Fleming.

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August 20, (Wednesday), 7 PM
Location:
Westborough Public Library
55 West Main Street
Westborough, MA 01581
508.366.3050
"We're Not Making this Up" panel with
Jayne Hitchcock, Margaret Press and Mary-Ann Tirone Smith.

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September 28, (Sunday), 5:00-7:00 PM
Location:
Mystery on Main
119 Main Street
Brattleboro, VT
802.258.2211
"It's a Mystery to Me" program with
Hallie Ephron.

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October 2, (Thursday), 5:00-7:00 PM
Location:
Flint Memorial Library
147 Park St.
Noth Reading, MA
978.664.4942
"Using What You Know to Write Mysteries" panel with
Frankie Bailey, Dana Cameron, and Leslie Meier.

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October 18, (Saturday), 10:00 AM
Location:
Wiscasset Library
21 High Street
Wiscasset ME
207.882.7161
Program with
Kathy Lynn Emerson, Jayne Hitchcock and Lea Wait.

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October 19, (Sunday), 5:00-7:00 PM
Location:
Mystery on Main
119 Main Street
Brattleboro, VT
802.258.2211
"Using What You Know to Write a Mystery" program with
Hank Phillippi Ryan.

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October 22 (Wednesday) at 7:00-9:00PM
Location:
Franklin Adult Education and Community Center
Franklin, MA
508-541-2100
"We're Not Making This Up" panel with
Kate Flora and Lee Lofland.

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October 23 (Thursday) at 7:00PM
Location:
Swampscott Public Library
61 Burrill Street
Swampscott, Ma 01907
781.596.8868
Guest speaker Tess Gerritsen.

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2009 EVENTS

March 19, 2009, (Sunday), 5:00-7:00 PM
Location:
Mystery on Main
119 Main Street
Brattleboro, VT
802.258.2211
"Good Guys and Bad Guys: Creating Memorable Characters" program with
Kate Flora.

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April 19, 2009, (Sunday), 5:00-7:00 PM
Location:
Mystery on Main
119 Main Street
Brattleboro, VT
802.258.2211
"Writing Dialogue" program with
Jan Brogan.

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Here are some of our topics:

  • It's a Mystery to Me: Authors describe the writing process--getting that first idea, creating characters, doing the research, and the daily writing schedule that gets it done.
  • The Modern Heroine: Single mothers, cops, attorneys, journalists--today's heroines balance relationships and careers, leap over sexist obstacles, and rescue themselves from danger.  Women authors are redefining the genre.  Find out how they create strong women characters.
  • Stealing from the Dead: Ideas and Where She Gets Them.   You don't need to be an international spy to write a page-turning thriller.   How to put a new twist on an old plot, search newspapers, visit courtrooms, learn to discover plots right in your own neighborhood.
  • Using What You Know to Write a Mystery: Been a housewife?  A domestic worker?  Single parent?  Lived in a creepy old house?  You think your life's been boring--but exciting plots are buried in your own expertise.   Finding the clues to the novel only you can write.
  • How to Create Characters.  Contrary to popular belief, most mystery writers don't use their family and friends in their books, at least not directly.   Hear how writers find their characters, the good ones and the bad ones, and how writing a fictional character may differ from the real-life bad guys.
  • The Modern Historical: The new historical mystery is set in the twenty-first century; writers are using the techniques of the historical to look at their readers' history, and their own.
  • Publicity Today: Mystery authors today not only have to write a good book, but help it get into the right hands. Learn how to toot your own horn, write your own blog, and plan your own publicity.
  • Death in Shorts: Many mystery novelists also write murderous short stories. Learn how writers plot, construct and populate the mystery short story, from the light-hearted to the noir.
  • We're not Making this Up: Ever wonder what the story behind the story is? Hear from true crime writers, drug agents, cybersleuths and other about what really goes on behind the scenes.
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