By Tiffany Merlo Phelps
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It's not every day that you get to sit in the library and pick the brain of a CPA with over 40 years of experience as a Big Four auditor, consultant, and Fortune 50 executive. Unless you happen to be attending a Sisters in Crime meeting in Northeast Florida, that's exactly the opportunity you get.
On a recent August morning, local crime writers and readers gathered at the Ponte Vedra Beach library branch to hear a talk titled “The Magic of Fighting Fraud” by forensic accountant John Tonsick, CFA, CFE. The hybrid meeting (both in person and via Zoom) was hosted by the local chapter of the national organization Sisters in Crime, and for many in this group dedicated to promoting female crime writers, it was an opportunity to conduct firsthand research for their crime novels. It’s one way to better understand motives for murder—in a crime novel, of course.
Take secretary Elaine Anwander, for example. She is writing a crime novel about Medicare fraud and found Tonsick's presentation very helpful.
Anwander, of Jacksonville, joined the group first as a member, then as treasurer and now as secretary. She said her interest in reading crime novels and the speakers at the monthly meetings drew her to the organization.
“I really like the interactive format with the speakers,” she said. “All the speakers were great, especially the subject matter experts.”
Anwander added that the group's focus was also to provide equal opportunities for female authors in the genre, and that remains true today. Both men and women, and authors of all genres, are welcome to join.
The Northeast Florida Sisters in Crime chapter, founded in 2004, currently has 30 members, said Vice President Shelley Marsh.
Marsh, a Ponte Vedra Beach native, was first drawn to the group when she attended a writing workshop in 2014 and another in 2019. Then the pandemic hit and the workshops were halted. One of her goals since becoming vice president of the board in January is to reinstate the writing workshops, starting with one planned for October. Marsh is currently writing a cozy mystery series that will be released in summer 2025.
President Lana McAra of Live Oak initially served as a speaker for the group before joining and becoming president in January. She said the group has booked high-profile guest speakers through next June, some in person and some via Zoom. That allows more members to attend, and Zoom presentations also allow the group to attract speakers from across the country, giving it a global reach. Past speakers have included a private investigator, a missing persons attorney, a police officer's wife and a representative of a wounded soldier. Future speakers include an anti-violence specialist and an attorney.
McAra, who published her first book in 1996, said novice authors, long-time writers and avid readers all come together at the meetings to learn, gather research, ask expert questions and give each other tips and encouragement. She said she is proud to work with fellow board members who are hard-working and enthusiastic.
“We are building a community locally,” Marsh said.
McAra said she became interested in crime fiction in fourth grade after reading Nancy Drew and Agatha Christie. She began writing romantic mysteries.
“I couldn't write a book without a secret. That's become my trademark. No matter what genre, it will have a secret,” said McAra, who is also the ghostwriter of 44 titles, a podcast host and founder of Divine Downloads.
McAra noted that while membership comes with benefits such as discounted workshop pricing and a Zoom link, it is not a requirement to attend the meetings or workshops. The next meeting will be held on September 7 at 10:15 a.m. at the Ponte Vedra Library with guest speaker Marcus Melnick on “How to Survive a School Shooting Situation.”
[Author’s note: Northeast Florida Sisters in Crime is presenting a writing workshop, “Double Vision: Writing Dual Timelines” on Oct. 5 at the San Marco Community Center. Author Denny S. Bryce will be the guest speaker. Visit www.nefloridasistersincrime.org for more information about becoming a member or to sign up for workshops.]
Photo courtesy of Tiffany Merlo Phelps
Northeast Florida Sisters in Crime President Lana McAra and Vice President Shelley Marsh.
