RECOMMENDED AUTHORS
Emory Cosgrove is a retired professor and software manager. He lives in Arizona and writes character-driven crime novels. You can learn more about Emory and his available titles on his website.
Arlene Miller is the author of several grammar books. She is also the author of Trashy Novel, written under the pseudonym JoJo Baker. She is from the Boston area, where she went to school and worked until 1993, when she and her family relocated to Sonoma County, California. She started her writing career as a newspaper reporter and editor before becoming a technical writer in the 1980s. She has won two awards of excellence from the Society of Technical Writers. More recently, she has been a freelance book editor and English teacher. Arlene holds a B.A. in English and Journalism and an M.A. in Humanities, as well as teaching and school administration credentials. She conducts grammar and writing workshops based on her book, and is also available for editing. See her website for more information or to set up a workshop.
WRITING GROUPS & ORGANIZATIONS
Mystery Writers of America – Northern California Chapter
One of eleven regional chapters of the Mystery Writers of America, the country’s oldest organization of professional mystery writers. MWA NORCAL’s goals are to promote the publication and discussion of mystery writing, and to promote and maintain high standards in the writing, publishing, and production of mystery stories. MWA NORCAL welcomes new writers, aspiring authors, and anyone who simply loves a good mystery. Learn more at their website.
Sisters in Crime
Sisters in Crime promotes the ongoing advancement, recognition and professional development of women crime writers. The organization consists of 3600 members in 51 chapters worldwide, offering networking, advice, and support to mystery authors. Members include authors, readers, publishers, agents, booksellers, and librarians bound by an affection for the mystery genre and support of women who write mysteries. Sisters in Crime was founded by Sara Paretsky and a group of women at the 1986 Bouchercon in Baltimore. Learn more at their website.
Arizona Authors Association
The Arizona Authors Association is a nonprofit group founded in 1978 by Boyé Lafayette De Mente, a flamboyant and brilliant author, adventurer, and entrepreneur. He wrote many books on Japanese culture and language, and was also an associate publisher of the Tokyo Journal, the oldest English-language magazine in Japan.
Boyé also wrote a memoir entitled, Once a Fool! From Japan to Alaska by Amphibious Jeep! Boyé made that incredible journey when his friend Ben Carlin was circumnavigating the globe in his jeep, Half-Safe. He asked Boyé to accompany him on the last leg of the journey. Boyé jumped on it, and their names were enshrined in the Guinness Book of World Records. Boyé died in 2017.
Arizona Authors Association co-founder, David Rich, was a practicing attorney and helped to form the Association. He wrote its first charter and bylaws and contributed valuable advice, photos, and more over the course of more than 40 years. His photo of a cactus was used to redesign our newsletter header. He has served on the board, written for the newsletter, and is still writing books on travel, myths, and more.
The Internet Writing Workshop is a set of mailing lists (groups) that communicate in English by email. We are:
- A community where writers can submit and critique written works.
- A forum to discuss and get help on all aspects of writing.
- A public service educational organization, staffed by volunteers and free of charge.
The Workshop is open to all styles and genres of writing: literary fiction, genre fiction, poetry, children’s writing, essays, newspaper articles, scripts, you name it. Members do not need to be published writers, only to be serious about writing and about wanting to improve. Learn more at their website.