We mainly know the IRS as the nation’s tax agency, but their investigative unit has contributed to the capture of master criminals. Join us in welcoming Brian Watson, FBI Special Agent with the IRS Criminal Investigation Unit and Public Information Officer for the IRS Criminal Investigation Phoenix Field Office, who will present “IRS Criminal Investigation: The agency that took down Al Capone and solved the Lindbergh kidnapping.” The talk will include high profile criminal cases from around the country, investigative techniques utilized by IRS Special Agents, and a review of the latest tax-related scams. We’ll have a delicious lunch, and…
Animals are not only part of our lives, but often part of our work. We include pets as well as other critters into our writing. How do we make sure what we’re writing is realistic? Join us in welcoming Genie Joseph, certified dog trainer, animal-behavior specialist, and therapy dog handler, who will be speaking on writing about the human-animal bond. Her presentation will include therapy and service animals, and communicating with animals. Genie will be accompanied by her service dog, Sophia. We’ll have a delicious lunch, and a fun book drawing. In our afternoon session, artist and author David J….
Bombs are messy when they explode, but also create problems if they don’t. So just how do you go about cleaning up an area that has been bombed, with potentially unexploded ordnance? Join us in welcoming Pamela Asbury Smith, who will present “Kaho’olawe: Bullets, Bombs, and Mascara.” She will detail her experience working as the Quality Assurance Archaeologist during the ordnance clean-up of Kaho’olawe, a Hawaiian island that had been bombed for over 50 years by the American military. Although she tromped all over the island, she didn’t get blown up! We’ll have a delicious lunch, and a fun book…
April 14th meeting: Intelligence Agencies; The Craft of Dark Fiction
Sometimes known as “alphabet soup,” our country has a lot of intelligence agencies. When you’re looking to put one of these agencies in your work, how do you know which is the right one? What do they all do? Please join us in welcoming Kate Thornton, retired US Army Counterintelligence Agent and defense contractor (as well as author), who will present “Security Clearances and National Intelligence Entities.” We’ll have a delicious lunch, and a fun book drawing. In our afternoon session, Writers Studio teacher Phil Ivory will present “The Craft of Dark Fiction.” From William Faulkner to Shirley Jackson to…
Hawai`i journalist Natalie Seachrist has unusual visions. Her viewing of war-like scenes of a family’s predawn escape from Denmark initially seem unremarkable. Soon, Natalie and her boyfriend private investigator Keoni Hewitt move into a Lanikai cottage, where their expectations for relaxed living are met with warm welcomes. Across the fence live Miriam Didión, a widowed human rights activist, Joanne Walther, a retired teacher, and Esmeralda Cruz, a cook. They have all become friends by the time Natalie throws Keoni a surprise birthday party. Even Natalie’s feline companion Miss Una has embraced the women and keeps nightly watch over their property….
February 10th meeting (CHANGE IN LOCATION): Forensic Psychology; Goodreads
CHANGE IN MEETING LOCATION FOR FEBRUARY: Because of the Gem Show, we are meeting at U-Like Buffet, which is just north of River Road on Oracle (where the Hometown Buffet used to be). Here’s your chance to ask any and all questions about life in a mental hospital or prison from someone who has spent most of their life working in these institutions. Join us in welcoming retired forensic psychologist Dr. Kevin Kappler, who will be fielding a Q&A with our members. You can prompt him to share his insights on topics such as how a person gets into these…
January 13th meeting: Mental Illness in Fiction; Historical Writing
Good fiction shows characters’ mental states so we can understand them, but sometimes that mental state is beyond our everyday understanding. Join us in welcoming cognitive psychologist (and AMW Presiding Chair) Bill Adams, Ph.D., as he presents “Mental Disorders in Fiction: Writing it Real.” He will cover the main categories of mental disorder and show how they have been portrayed in novels and movies – sometimes accurately, sometimes not. You’ll get tips on how to make your characters accurate, believable, extreme, and dramatically compelling. We’ll have a delicious lunch, and a fun book drawing. In our afternoon session, Tucson journalist…
This month, we’ll forgo our usual informational programs and workshops to celebrate the season with fun, food and friends. There will be games and quizzes to test your knowledge. You can’t lose. Everyone will leave with at least a door prize. If that isn’t incentive enough, we’ll hold a raffle for a beautiful inlaid wooden box, hand crafted just for us by AMW member Mike Henry. And we’ll have our usual delicious lunch and time for socializing. If you have an ugly sweater, wear it. Who knows what your lack of fashion sense could do for you? RSVP by 9:30…
When a crime occurs, who provides help and support to the victims? Victim advocates, available through the Pima County Attorney’s Office, provide support for crime victims from the initial crisis call through court appearances and trials. Our own Lisa Sternberg will share stories about her work as a volunteer Victim Services Advocate, and use role-play to take us inside a typical case. We’ll have a delicious lunch, and a fun book drawing. In our afternoon session, we’ll be having a group discussion on Great Beginnings. Have a favorite book with a great beginning? Or have you written one of your…
October 14th meeting: Prosecuting Homicides; Investigative Reporting
In spite of the image presented on crime shows, a case isn’t done at arrest. The accused still has to be convicted. Join us in welcoming Chief Trial Counsel Jonathan Mosher of the Pima County Attorney’s Office, who will give us a look inside specific, high-profile homicide trials to illustrate common challenges faced in homicide cases and how to overcome them. Specifically, he will talk about the disappearance and murder of Kay Read and the cold case murder trial of her killer. We’ll have a delicious lunch, and a fun book drawing. In our afternoon session, Arizona Daily Star reporter…
A college campus is the size of a small city, with many of the same problems, but packed into a small space. Join us in welcoming Chief Brian Seastone of the UAPD, who will tell us what it’s like to work as law enforcement in that environment, the special challenges it presents and how it differs (or doesn’t) from a city or county police force. We’ll have a delicious lunch, and we will also be announcing the winners of the 2017 Short Story Contest! In our afternoon session, author and teacher Laurie Schnebly will discuss “plotting via motivation.” Any of…
Death can be a rough business, not only for the victim, but for the survivors. Squabbles between beneficiaries over property of all sorts can end up in the court system….and possibly be a motive for murder. Join us in welcoming attorney Robert B. Fleming, whose practice includes trusts, estate planning, and probate. We’ve asked him to bring some good stories about disputes over wills (or lack thereof), but be sure to bring your questions too! We’ll have a delicious lunch, and a fun book drawing. In our afternoon session, back by popular demand….David Fitzsimmons, humor columnist and editorial cartoonist for…
Bombs are a complicated business – both dealing with live ones, and trying to investigate their aftermath. Please join us in welcoming Deputy Ryan Inglett, Pima Regional Bomb Squad Investigator, and Sgt. Christopher Rogers, Commander of the Pima Regional Bomb Squad. Although they encourage the asking of lots of questions, be aware that they may not be able to answer them – for obvious reasons. We’ll have a delicious lunch, and a fun book drawing. In our afternoon session, we’ll be listening to some of our authors read. Wanna participate? This is your chance to shine. Come prepared with a…
June 10th meeting: Mental Health Support Team; How to Tell a Good Story
Last month we heard how they deal with mental health issues in the jail, but the care for those with such issues starts with officers’ street contact. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department’s Mental Health Investigative Support Team (MHST) was created to insure individuals with mental health challenges are receiving necessary treatment and support through a collaborative effort with behavioral health professionals, law enforcement, medical practitioners and the public. Join us in welcoming Sgt. Jill Isely and Det. Maria Stengel from the PCSD MHST unit, who will be discussing the unique makeup and mission of the unit, the challenges involved with…
May 13th meeting: Mental Health Issues in Jail; Dialog, Dialect and Voice
Some of those who enter jail facilities need mental health assessments and treatment. How is this accomplished? What is the process? Join us in welcoming Mary Scott, a Sergeant with the Medical/Mental Health units at the Pima County jail, who will discuss how the Pima County Adult Detention Complex deals with these cases. Pima’s facility is one of the few that immediately start identifying those that have a mental illness and start a treatment program for them upon booking. We’ll have a delicious lunch, and a fun book drawing. In our afternoon session, Donis Casey will present “Dialog, Dialect and…
The private investigator is a darling of the mystery genre. But what kind of cases do they really cover? Join us in welcoming Shelly Cloud, a PI who works out of Cochise County, who will tell us what her job encompasses. Cloud has investigated child pornography cases, sexual abuse cases, child support cases, adoption cases, drug cases, divorce cases, domestic relations, social media investigations, asset location and recovery, missing persons cases, skip tracing, background checks and more. We’ll have a delicious lunch, and a fun book drawing. In our afternoon session, AMW Presiding Chair Bill Adams will talk about pitches….
CHANGE IN MEETING LOCATION FOR FEBRUARY: Because of the Gem Show, we are meeting at U-Like Buffet, which is just north of River Road on Oracle (where the Hometown Buffet used to be). Announcement 1: If you have not paid your dues ($25), pay them at the February meeting – otherwise you will be paying the non-member price for February. Announcement 2: We are having a PI for our April meeting. You are encouraged to submit questions beforehand! Send them to amwmembershipchair@gmail.com with “PI question” in the subject line. Reminder: Our prices are $25 for RSVP’d AMW members, $30 non-members….
January 14th meeting: Facial Reconstruction; Facts vs. a Good Story
Happy New Year! Facial reconstruction has been in the news quite a bit – from its use in cold cases to examination of historical figures such as Robert the Bruce and King Tut. How is it done? Join us in welcoming forensic artist Catyana Skory Falsetti, who will discuss not only facial reconstructions, but all aspects of forensic art, including composite sketches (and how they are affected by perception and memory), post-mortem images and image clarification. Learn about the foundations for forensic art, where it’s going, and what a forensic artist is and is not able to do. We’ll have…
December is a month of celebrations and Mystery Writers will be celebrating the written word! A select group of our members will be reading from their own work. Join us for this excellent opportunity to learn more about your colleagues and hear what they are writing. Come and cheer them on for their work, as well as their courage in sharing. We’ll have a delicious lunch, and then our door prize drawings! All attendees get a ticket for a chance to win. Who knows what unique prize you might win: A scarf? A Downton Abbey mug? Handmade soap? A new…
November 12th meeting: Wild Life Wields Death; Planting Clues
Reminder: Our prices are now $25 for RSVP’d AMW members, $30 non-members. A few notices: Our morning speaker will be bringing some scaly/slithery “friends” (who will stay in their cages), so if you are snake- or reptile-phobic, this is your warning notice. Our December meeting will feature a Writers Read segment, where authors can read (5 minute slot) for our attendees. Interested in reading? Contact Kay, our Workshop Chair. January is membership renewal time! Want to get a jump on your dues? You can pay early in November or December. Our November meeting: As Arizona residents, we all know there’s…
Note: We will be in a different room this time — the doors to the left of the room we’re usually in. Look for the signage! Reminder: Our prices are now $25 for RSVP’d AMW members, $30 non-members. We have all heard the famous Miranda Rights. But how did they come to be? Join us in welcoming Timothy Moore, recently retired after nearly 30 years as a Phoenix Police Detective, and author Clark Lohr, who collaborated on the book Mirandized Nation. Moore and Lohr will detail how the book was researched and written, and offer the actual account of the…
September 10th meeting: Serial Killers; Creating Believable, Compelling Characters
Reminder: Our prices are now $25 for RSVP’d AMW members, $30 non-members. Serial killers are a staple of mystery and thriller writing. But what part of the popular conception of serial killers is genuine, and what are just creative liberties? Join us in welcoming Marsheila Rockwell and Jeffrey J. Mariotte, long-time authors with more than 60 books between them, who will discuss the psychology and neuroscience behind serial killers and mass murderers. Their recent collaborative novel, 7 SYKOS, deals with advances in neuroscience — science fiction that’s rapidly becoming science fact — and how brain structure contributes to criminal violence….
Reminder: Our prices are now $25 for RSVP’d AMW members, $30 non-members. Nowadays, everyone knows what a CSI is. But what do they really do? Please join us in welcoming Bill Brantley, currently with the TPD Property & Evidence Section but who previously worked as a crime scene specialist. (You may remember Brantley from his presentation on evidence in February.) Brantley will take us through an overview of the Identification Section (crime scene unit), how the work has changed over time, and a few case studies. We’ll have a delicious lunch, and a fun book drawing. In our afternoon session,…
Reminder: Our prices are now $25 for RSVP’d AMW members, $30 non-members. One would imagine life in a small town would be peaceful and relaxing, but the reality can be something entirely different. Join us in welcoming AMW’s own Rhema Sayers, who will speak on “A Doctor’s Life on the Border.” Having imagined that life would be slow paced and relaxing in a small town, Rhema found out reality was far from that image. She will discuss her experiences with “life, death, politicians, corruption, drug smuggling, cowboys, Indians and the Hispanic culture” in the town of Douglas. We’ll have a…
Reminder: Our prices are now $25 for RSVP’d members, $30 non-members. Poisons are a staple of mystery writing, and many come from natural sources. What makes a plant toxic? What could it do to a person? Or to their pets or livestock? (For some, that might be an even more heinous crime!) Join us in welcoming Anthony Knight, who will discuss toxic plants with us — particularly those found in Arizona and the Southwest. We’ll have a delicious lunch, and a fun book drawing. In the afternoon, D H Tremont will guide us through possible story lines, crime scenes, and…
