Donna Lagone

Susan Sundwall & Donna Lagone: March 7 at 4pm

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Screen Shot 2015-03-06 at 10.32.56 AMJoin us at Kinderhook Library Saturday March 7th at 4pm to listen to Mavens Susan Sundwall and Donna Lagone read from their work. Directions:

From the south

Take Route 9 north to the center of Kinderhook Village. Just before the main intersection, bear right at the village green onto Hudson Street (County Route 21).  The library is on the right at the corner of Hudson and Sylvester Streets.

Alternatively, take Route 9H north.  At the Elks Lodge, exit 9H to County Route 21. Take a right onto County Route 21 which becomes Hudson Street as you cross the bridge over Kinderhook Creek and enter the village.  The library is on the left at the corner of Hudson and Syvester Streets.

From the north

Take Route 9 south the the center of Kinderhook Village. Turn left at the main intersection onto Hudson Street (County Route 21).  The library is on the right at the corner of Hudson and Sylvester Streets.

Alternatively, take Route 9H south and exit at the County Route 21 exit. Take a right onto County Route 21 which becomes Hudson Street as you enter the village.  The library is on the left at the corner of Hudson and Sylvester Streets.

Mavens in the Library by Carol Derfner

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Thanks for the photo, Debbie!
Thanks for the photo, Debbie!

An enthusiastic audience of crime and mystery writers and readers in the Capital Region braved frigid temperatures to gather in the Greenbush Community Library on January 31st to listen to six longtime Mavens members share their personal experiences and insights into what it takes to successfully become a published author in the genre. The afternoon’s panelists included:

  • Frankie Bailey, a professor of criminal justice at the University of New York at Albany and the author of 7 mystery novels (the newest, “What The Fly Saw” comes out next month) encouraged aspiring writers to join organizations like Sisters In Crime and Mystery Writers of America and to attend conference and workshops to be inspired and learn from the efforts of other writers;
  • Robert Knightly, former LAPD police officer and lawyer for the New York City Legal Aid Society, is the author of two police procedurals, “Bodies In Winter” and a sequel, “The Cold Room” spoke of the need to have confidence in your story and to persevere in spite of receiving rejections by potential publishers;
  • Eleanor Kuhns spoke of winning the coveted MinotaurBooks/MWA First Crime Novel Competition in 2011 for her Shaker-inspired “A Simple Murder” and outlined how she uses research in her writing;
  • Donna Lagone, current President and author of the recently published novel “Reflections” advised using the services of an agent as well an attorney to assist with the contractual matters required when working with publishers;
  • Susan Sundwall, gave the audience an overview of how she has handled the publication and sales of her Minnie Markwood comic-cozy series without using an agent; and,
  • Kate Laity, Associate Professor of English at the College of St. Rose, the author of “White Rabbit” and the Chastity Flame series, described how she writes and publishes in a number of different genres and admonished the audience to finish one’s writing projects!

Moderated by Jeanette  Whitbeck and organized by June Kosier, the event was lively and engaging as well informative. And June’s exhibit highlighting the chapter’s authors was well worth taking a trip to the library in East Greenbush!

Coming Up on June 21:

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The Upper Hudson Chapter of Sisters in Crime (The Mavens of Mayhem) will meet on Saturday, June 21 at 10:30 am at the Bethlehem Public Library (451 Delaware Ave., Delmar).

At 11:00 am, authors and fellow Sisters In Crime members Carol Derfner, Donna Lagone and Susan Sundwall will discuss their books, and will meet and greet the public afterwards during a book signing. Joining the program will be Admission is Free.

Carol DefnerCarol Derfner is a published author of memoir, short fiction and poetry. She is an active participant with The Center for Creative Non-Fiction, the Arts Center of the Capital Region’s Memoir Project, Sisters In Crime, A Room of Her Own Foundation, and the Edna St. Vincent Millay Society. She contributed to the anthology, Times They Were A’ Changing: Women Remember the ‘60s and ‘70s, which has been nominated by Foreword Reviews as one of the top anthologies published in 2013.

Donna LagoneDonna Lagone’s novel, Reflection, is a story of two women bound by time, journeying together to find the truth in a spiders web of secrets that have dominated the lives of three generations of women. The novel has been featured at The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, The Boston’s Book Buyers Spring Conference, and The Miami Book Fair International. Donna lives with her husband in Schenectady’s Historic Stockade Neighborhood.

Susan SundwalSusan Sundwall is a mystery writer who sets her stories in and around Albany, New York.. Her first novel, The Red Shoelace Killer – A Minnie Markwood Mystery, was published in late 2012. Her second book in the series, The Super Bar Incident – A Minnie Markwood Mystery, will be released on August 1. She will be speaking about the process of incorporating humor into a murder mystery. Susan lives in Valatie, New York, with her husband and adopted stray cat, Sister Agnes.

November Meeting

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The Mavens of Mayhem (the Upper Hudson Chapter of Sisters in Crime) will be hosting an author recognition event at their next meeting on Saturday, November 16th at 10:30 am at the Bethlehem Public Library (451 Delaware Ave., Delmar). Mavens members who have published in the last year will be reading selections from their latest work. Authors include Betsy Bitner, Suzanne Cifarelli, Joel Gomez-Dossi, Robert Knightly, June Kosier, Donna Lagone, Kate Laity, and Susan Sundwall.  The meeting is free and open to the public.