For over twenty years, Arizona Mystery Writers has been a gathering place for people who love reading and writing mysteries. The club is run by enthusiastic volunteers (including those writing in other genres) and we always welcome new faces.
We meet every second Saturday of the month, from 10:00 am to noon, to hear fascinating speakers and learn about the craft of writing crime fiction and mystery. Our meeting topics alternate between criminals and crime-fighters, and writing workshops and publishing news.
Over the years, some of our favorite speakers have been attorneys, law enforcement agents, private investigators, and forensic experts, with whom we can freely discuss weaponry, poisons, corpses, and blood spatter patterns. The Q&A sessions that follow can be sometimes be very entertaining.
Alternate months offer writing workshops presented by professional writers and writing instructors. These workshops explore every aspect of writing and publishing in today’s changing marketplace, geared for both new and experienced authors.
We meet in the L Offices office space complex, 1840 E. River Road in northwest Tucson. See the “Meeting Information” tab for information and a map. We offer coffee and cookies, and meetings are also available via live Zoom, and recorded for future access through Vimeo.
In place of the March meeting, AMW volunteers manage a booth at the celebrated Tucson Festival of Books, where we spread the word about the joys of mystery reading and writing. Our published authors often have their books for sale and love to chat about writing.
Arizona Mystery Writers also sponsors two writing contests each year, one for adults, and one for youth age 9-18. The judges provide written feedback for every entry, and the top three entries are awarded cash prizes. These contests promote literacy and writing skills, and are just plain fun.
Arizona Mystery Writers is based in Tucson, though our pandemic-inspired Zoom meetings have brought us many new readers and writers from across Arizona and other states. AMW is independent, i.e. not affiliated with Mystery Writers of America, and membership dues are $45 for a calendar year. Membership brings a $5 discount on the monthly meeting fee and other benefits (see more under the “Membership” tab), and visitors are always encouraged and welcome.
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