
What we’re about
Mystery, murder, and mayhem -- that's what our members are passionate about . . . that is, in the books they read, write, or work with in their professional careers. If that sounds like you, then the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of Sisters in Crime (FLGCSinC) is the MeetUp group for you, one of more than 70 chapters of Sisters in Crime across the US and Canada and thousands of members across the globe.
Chartered in 1986, SinC is dedicated to the advancement of women crime fiction writers, and more contemporarily, strives to support all crime writers with the information, education, networking, and friendship opportunities that are key to writing and publishing success. Sisters in Crime welcomes members of all ages, genders, races, ethnicities, cultures, and religions--anybody and everyone who shares our passion for mystery, thriller, and suspense!
Locally, the FGC Chapter of SinC offers great benefits to members at a price you can’t get with any other writers group:
• Monthly Meetings with fantastic speakers who both inform and entertain with optional networking lunch afterwards. 10:30 am – 12:00 pm, 1st Saturday of every month – currently virtual (Zoom) and hopefully soon, in-person rotating locations across the greater Tampa/St. Pete/Sarasota metro area.
• Discounts and advance registration for online and in-person workshops on write-craft, publishing, and more.
• Publicity and book selling opportunities:
Meet-up group (post your profile and advertise virtual/in-person author events)
Website and social media pages
Community events, e.g., book festivals, author-reader luncheons, workshops
• Critique partners or groups that, because they know crime genres, can better help you reach for your writing and publishing goals. Even published authors can learn from helping others.
• READERS: this is a great opportunity for you to become Beta Readers and Book Reviewers – read books FREE before they hit the bookstores.
• Travel Buddy Program -- share travel expenses (e,g., hotels, car rides, Ubers) to Sleuthfest, Bouchercon, and other writer and reader conferences and book festivals.
• Participate in private meetups with best-selling authors, our Sisters and Misters, when they are in town for a book launch.
• Mystery-themed social events (e.g., Murder Mystery Dinner parties, escape room excursions, game nights).
• And most importantly, the chance to make good friends with men and women who share our passion for mysteries, thrillers, and suspense books you can't put down.
Nationally, your annual membership in Sisters in Crime includes:
• 2 free webinars per month covering write-craft, publishing, PR/marketing, business, and crime-related subject matter expertise (e.g., forensics, criminal psychology), PLUS access to a growing archive of webinars.
• Free annual “SinC into Great Writing” online workshop PLUS other special online programs.
• Monthly newsletters and quarterly magazines chock full of news and information you can use to further your writing and publishing goals.
• Education and scholarships grants to help pay for conferences, online classes, retreats, and more.
• And most importantly, friends all over the world who share a passion for SinC and supporting one another.
Come visit us and see what we're all about! For more information, go to www.FLGCSinC.com and www.SistersInCrime.org.
At only $20 local and $50 national, Sisters in Crime offers great value all around for following your passion -- less than 20 cents per day or $6 per month!
Upcoming events (1)
See all- Why Do You Want to Promote Your Book?Needs location
Details: The Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of Sisters in Crime is pleased to announce the featured speaker at the August 2, 2025, meeting will be Terena Bell.
Location: This is a ZOOM only meeting [https://sistersincrime-org.zoom.us/j/92024856842](https://sistersincrime-org.zoom.us/j/92024856842)
When it comes to book publicity, "The Today Show," Good Housekeeping, and NPR all sound impressive, but being on ABC7 might sell more copies. That’s because the best PR comes down to goals: Why do you want publicity? Is it about selling books or being read? For self-published or small press authors, your goal might even be to attract an agent for the next book. Everybody's desired outcome is different, so your approach to PR should be too. In this session, pinpoint your goals and learn easy steps you can take to promote your title accordingly.
Bio:
Terena Elizabeth Bell is a book publicist and fiction writer. As a publicist, she’s secured clients coverage with "The Today Show," Good Housekeeping, NPR, BookRiot, and others. Her own debut short fiction collection, Tell Me What You See (Whiskey Tit), published December 2022 and was recently named one of “the best books of the 21st century (so far)” by New York Society Library. Learn more at terenabellpr.wordpress.com.
Social Media Links:
Twitter: @TerenaBell
Medium: terenabell.medium.com
Patreon: patreon.com/terenaelizabethbell