April Speaker: Duane Laflin - Writing to Build a Fan Base and Sell!

 

The key concept is how I've taken concepts from the entertainment world and applied them to being an author, ensuring I write

in a way that makes people want to read and promote my books.

 Although what I will discuss applies to marketing, much of it also relates to writing choices in terms of capturing interest, pacing a story, appealing to emotion, making people "care" about what we share, meeting expectations, and not boring our readers.

 I just completed and published my 15th novel, and my books are selling reasonably well. I still have a lot to learn, but it will be fun to discuss what I've learned so far.

 

Confessions of a Retired Police Officer

 

David C. Reed is a retired veteran with 24 years experience in criminal investigation and specialized law enforcement training. he retired as the Chief, Major Crimes Unit from Metro.

In his second career as a Department of the Army instructor, writer, and analyst, he conducted courses in special tactics and policing management worldwide.

He continues to be a highly sought-out instructor of state and local police. 

He has been published for over twenty years in official DoD publications and has written doctrine, policy, and college accredited curriculum since 1998.

As to his third career, his first published novel, "Cold, Dark, and Silent" was released in late 2024, and his second, "The Blockade Runners" is expected to be published in early 2025. Hopefully late March, but...you never know.

His third novel, "The Elite Watch" will be out late 2025.

Place:  The Library Center, in the auditoriuim

Time: Saturday, March 8th at 10:30 AM

 

JANUARY is JANO KICKOFF

 For those of you participating in JANO 2025, you won't want to miss our January meeting. Instead of meeting on the second Saturday of the month in January, we'll be teaming up with the Ozark Romance Authors to host the annual MEGA WRITE IN at the Library Center on S. Campbell January 4th from 10-4.

There's is a catered lunch (sub sandwiches) for those who want to eat there. You are also welcomed to go out to eat or bring your own. However if you do want to partake in the catered lunch, you'll need to pay $10 toward the meal.  Here's the link to sign up.  https://ozarksromance.com/mega-critique-writein

It costs nothing to participate in the MEGA WRITE IN, but we do like to have a head count.

Munchies and drinks available, but feel free to bring something along to share if you want to.

November Speaker/JJ Renek/ WILL YOU COMMIT MEDICAL MALPRACTICE? (When you write)

 

JJ Renek is the pen name, and alter ego, of retired physician Dr. Janna Trombold.

Pivoting from a major in English literature, she pursu
ed a career in obstetric n
ursing, and holds both a BSN and MSN in that field. A decade and two children later, she returned to medical school and obtained her MD from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. During that time, she collaborated on several creative projects including faculty roasts and writing for the annual, irreverent senior video produced, in turn, by her medical school class.

Since retiring, JJ has penned seven suspense novels, and a collection of short stories across various genres. When not writing, she enjoys reading, traveling, interior design, and keeping an eye on current events. Gardening, putting up pickles – blah, blah, blah – she lives in the ‘Show-Me State’, minus any wild pets, where she writes full-time, or pretends to.

 

Ozark Creative Writers 2024

 

Sleuths' Ink Members at Ozark Creative Writers 2024.  

September Meeting

 Several of our members attended two national mystery conferences and conventions in August.  

Janna Trombold attended Killer Nashville in Tennesee, while Susan Keene, Lois Curran, Tierney James and Shirley McCann attended Bouchercon, a mystery writers' convention.

If your thinking of attending one of these huge annual events, come and here what these people have to say about them.

Join us at The Library Center on S, Campbell at 10:30 in the Auditorium. You do not have to be a member to visit, but we hope you'll like us so much you won't want to miss another meeting.

August Speaker/Chrissy (Clarissa) Willis

 Clarissa (Chrissy Willis) was the product of a minister and an actress. She has always had an active imagination and enjoys speaking and writing. She lived in nine states. She was a major corporation's senior vice president of publishing and was once arrested for horse theft

. As a child growing up in Little Rock, Arkansas, she wrote stories and got into trouble for a variety of mishaps, from the attempted murder of her brother, a crime she swears wasn’
t her fault, to robbing the collection plate at church. As an adult, she has provided workshops and keynote addresses in all 50 states and three foreign countries. She is the author of nineteen teacher resource books and four children’s books and is working on a memoir. In her spare time, she serves on the board for Ozark Creative Writers and Between the Pages.