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# Mystery Writers of America NorCal Chapter

MWA NorCal - news, events and member info

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://mwanorcal.org/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Blog](https://mwanorcal.org/news/)
- [MWA Announces 2018 Edgar Award Winners](https://mwanorcal.org/2018/04/mwa-announces-2018-edgar-award-winners/) - MWA NorCal Chapter was well-represented at the 2018 Edgar Allan Poe Awards ceremony. Chapter members Camille Minichino, Terry Shames, and Claire Booth were on hand to present awards, and Chapter President Laurie R. King reports that a fun time was had by all. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees! April 26, 2018, New York, NY
- [NorCal @ the Agatha Awards!](https://mwanorcal.org/2018/04/norcal-the-agatha-awards/) - Congratulations! –to our Agatha-winning NorCal members Rhys Bowen (IN FARLEIGH FIELD, Best Historical Novel) and Gigi Pandian (“The Library Ghost of Tanglewood Inn”, Best Short Story)! MWA NorCal members rock the award world!
- [The Edgars raises a glass to mysteries!](https://mwanorcal.org/2018/05/the-edgars-raises-a-glass-to-mysteries/) - The 2018 MWA Edgars banquet was preceded, as always, by the festivities of a cocktail party. You think these writers are having a good time?
- [Summer Mystery Event for Kids](https://mwanorcal.org/2018/06/summer-mystery-event-for-kids/) - Please join us at the Albany Library on Thursday, July 19, 2018 at 4:00pm for a Summer Mystery Event for Kids hosted by MWA NorCal Chapter and the Alameda County Library Get a Clue...About Writing Mysteries! Get a Clue...About Writing Mysteries! is a participatory event, with three mystery authors telling stories about the writing life
- [Book Passage discount](https://mwanorcal.org/2018/06/book-passage-discount/) - STOP THE PRESSES! Book Passage now offers MWA NorCal members a $75 discount on their excellent Mystery Writing Conference! That nearly pays for a year's MWA membership! Registration is here.
- [Noir at the Bar @ Lit Crawl](https://mwanorcal.org/2018/09/noir-at-the-bar-lit-crawl/) - Mystery Week is coming nearer, starting off with a bang on October 20 with MWA's Noir at the Bar: But don't just come for the Noir–make an entire Crawl out of your Saturday, with all the events of Lit Crawl SF 2018, here.
- [Sisters in Crime Workshop: Mystery Writing Intensive](https://mwanorcal.org/2018/09/sisters-in-crime-workshop-mystery-writing-intensive/) - Saturday, October 6, 2018, 9:00am - 5:00pm: Daly City, CA Dig deeper into your writing. Join Sisters in Crime Northern California Chapter for a full day of craft workshops and discussions geared toward writers at any stage of their journey. Price includes all workshops and sessions, lunch, wine reception, general camaraderie, and even door prizes.
- [Mystery Week](https://mwanorcal.org/2018/10/mystery-week/) - Mystery Week, 2019: a solemn contemplation of the writer's craft, one night after the next.
- [Chandler and Fleming talk crime](https://mwanorcal.org/2018/11/chandler-and-fleming-talk-crime/) - CrimeReads have published an article linking to a 1958 BBC recording of two friends talking about writing crime. The friends are Raymond Chandler and Ian Fleming. Fleming: I think it is, yes. I don’t like to get too serious. This so-called hero of mine has a good time. He beats the villain in the end
- [Your own wish-list](https://mwanorcal.org/2018/11/your-own-wish-list/) - Yes, this is the time of year when you're filling your closet with gifts for other people–but in case you want to drop a hint about what Santa could bring you, here's an image for your Facebook page. Because someone you know may be wondering what to get the writer in their life.
- [Diversity in the genre](https://mwanorcal.org/2019/01/diversity-in-the-genre/) - NorCal member David Corbett has a long piece in Writer's Digest on how writers of color are overlooked...here.
- [Social Media like the Pros!](https://mwanorcal.org/2019/01/social-media-like-the-pros/) - Saturday's Social Media event at the Rockridge Library was a great success, with Maddee James (xuni web services) and Zoë Quinton (literary strategist) telling a packed house... ...all about doing our online presences... ...like real pros. And, we had time to chat, network, trade war stories, and drink coffee, too! Thanks, Maddee and Zoë–and thanks
- [PTSD and First Responders](https://mwanorcal.org/2019/02/ptsd-and-first-responders/) - Open to the public, so bring a writer friend!
- [First Responders and Traumatic Stress talk](https://mwanorcal.org/2019/02/first-responders-and-traumatic-stress-talk/) - Do not miss this fascinating talk–with the chance to meet up with fellow writers and first responders. Saturday morning in San Francisco:
- [Left Coast Criminals](https://mwanorcal.org/2019/03/left-coast-criminals/) - Your NorCal fellows are at LCC in Vancouver–along with Mr E. A. Poe himself! Including: MWA President Meg Gardiner NorCal chapter President Laurie R King NorCal member Margaret Lucke Zoe Quinton (NorCal) and Erica Ruth Neibauer and even LCC organizer Lucinda Surber What about you? If you're here in Vancouver, stop and take a selfie
- [NorCal Booth at BABF 2019](https://mwanorcal.org/2019/04/norcal-booth-at-babf-2019/) - The NorCal Chapter of Mystery Writers of America will have an information booth at the 2019 Bay Area Book Festival Outdoor Fair in Downtown Berkeley, May 4-5. The MWA booth is #152 and will be located on Allston Way. For maps of the festival, click here. Please stop by and say hello...and take a selfie
- [BABF 2019 & MWANorCal](https://mwanorcal.org/2019/04/babf-2019-mwanorcal/) - The 2019 Bay Area Book Festival is coming! - May 4-5 The full schedule can be found here. Once again, MWA NorCal will be there! Signing at a booth in the park (see the Booth schedule and the Festival map - Booth #152, on Allston Way) Criminally Good Writing—Stefan Ahnhem, Jonas Bonnier, Catherine Ryan Howard, Ragnar Jonasson,
- [Contest guidelines for the Koryta Anthology](https://mwanorcal.org/2019/06/contest-guidelines-for-the-koryta-anthology/) - Among the great benefits of MWA membership are the contests run every year for their upcoming anthologies. Here's the new one, for Michael Koryta's A Stranger Comes to Town. (We LOVE seeing NorCal names in these tables of contents!) Mystery Writers of America presents: When a Stranger Comes to Town guest editor, Michael Koryta Contest
- [Edgars on Jeopardy!](https://mwanorcal.org/2019/07/edgars-on-jeopardy/) - The MWA Edgars awards will be on Jeopardy this Thursday, July 18th--a special category featuring the Edgar awards!!! Check your local listings for stations and show times. https://www.jeopardy.com #edgarawards #jeopardy
- [Random Suppositions](https://mwanorcal.org/2019/07/random-suppositions/) - (Member Lexa Mack muses about murder...) I am guessing that the average (as in normal) person doesn’t sit in bed with their spouse and discuss creative (and undetectable) ways of killing other people. Nor do they daydream of ways one might be suspected, or convicted, of a crime based on erroneous evidence. Of course, I
- [Women in Mysteries–NorCal style](https://mwanorcal.org/2019/07/women-in-mysteries-norcal-style/) - Put this on your calendar, south Bay!
- ["Tells" and Red Herrings](https://mwanorcal.org/2019/07/tells-and-red-herrings/) - (An ongoing series of blog posts from member Lexa Mack, to spark your writing imagination. What do you think?) Tell - Noun – (especially in poker) an unconscious action that is thought to betray an attempted deception. Red Herring – Noun – Something, especially a clue, that is or is intended to be misleading or
- [Members-only page resources](https://mwanorcal.org/2019/07/members-only-page-resources/) - MWA NorCal's members-only page (here) has loads of things for NorCal members. Such as a pdf of "Accurate Sources of CSI and Forensic Information" from June's Finding Evidence workshop. It was compiled by Julie Jaecksch, long-time CSI with the Oakland Police Department, and makes for a valuable resource when you want to GET IT RIGHT! (Forgotten
- [BOROBORO and Kurt Vonnegut: the whole and the parts](https://mwanorcal.org/2019/08/boroboro-and-kurt-vonnegut-the-whole-and-the-parts/) - (An ongoing series of blog posts from member Lexa Mack, to spark your writing imagination. And she keeps a blog of her own, here.) Part One - JAPANESE BORO “Derived from the Japanese boroboro, meaning something tattered or repaired, boro refers to the practice of reworking and repairing textiles (often clothes or bedding) through piecing, patching
- [MWA Reception at Book Passage](https://mwanorcal.org/2019/08/mwa-reception-at-book-passage/) - All NorCal members are invited to a FREE cocktail reception on August 24 at the Book Passage Mystery Writers Conference! Come and meet the conference speakers and attendees! 5 to 6 PM at Book Passage.
- [A Celebration of Bette](https://mwanorcal.org/2019/11/a-celebration-of-bette/) - J.J. Lamb has sent an invitation to his fellow writers to honor the wonderful Bette's life, and all she contributed to the world. Her loss is keenly felt by all of us, and we miss her vivaciousness and humor.
- [NorCal Booth at BABF2018](https://mwanorcal.org/2018/04/norcal-booth-at-babf2018/) - The NorCal Chapter of Mystery Writers of America will have an information booth at the 2018 Bay Area Book Festival Outdoor Fair in Berkeley, April 28-29. The MWA booth is #20 and will be located in MLK Jr. Civic Center Park. For maps of the festival, click here. Please stop by and say hello...and take a
- [BABF & MWANorCal](https://mwanorcal.org/2018/03/babf-mwanorcal/) - The Bay Area Book Fest schedule is up, here! And MWA NorCal will be all over— Signing at a booth in the park (see the Booth schedule and the Festival map - Booth #20) “Murder She Writes”—Catherine Coulter interviewed by Laurie R. King (Saturday 10:00 in the Hotel Shattuck Plaza’s Crystal Ballroom) “Insider, Outsider: Do PIs or Cops
- [The Fest is coming!](https://mwanorcal.org/2018/04/the-fest-is-coming/) - Are you coming to the Bay Area Book Fest? It's a really fun event! Bring the kids, spread the word, and if you want to sign books and talk to your readers, drop us a line, here.
- [MWA @ LCC](https://mwanorcal.org/2018/03/mwa-lcc/) - Across our chapter area, members are packing up for chilly Reno. Yes, even E. A. Poe is looking forward to hanging with his mysterious buddies. Join us for a get-together with our Southern California chapter friends, at the Blind Onion just after opening ceremonies on Thursday. We'll buy you a drink, and introduce you to
- [Left Coast Poe](https://mwanorcal.org/2018/03/left-coast-poe/) - This pair of Poes shows our founding father getting ready for Left Coast Crime in Reno next week. Join MWA NorCal in the book room, or at the Blind Onion following the opening ceremonies. Edgar will!
- [Jeffery Deaver's "Commercial Fiction" class](https://mwanorcal.org/2018/03/jeffery-deavers-commercial-fiction-class/) - MWA President Jeff Deaver came to NorCal on March 10, to talk about "Writing Commercial Fiction." As an act of generosity to Mystery Writers of America, Jeff has been traveling the country to speak to all eleven MWA chapters on the topic–at no charge to the chapters. From outlining to editing, self-pub to social media, Jeff's
- [A novel laundering scam](https://mwanorcal.org/2018/03/a-novel-laundering-scam/) - Most established authors have come across oddly packaged, often pirated books for sale under their names. It’s one of the advantages of being with a publishing house rather than being a full-on Indie, since the big houses always have a legal department ready to come snarling out of the woods at wrongdoers. But this article
- [The self-pub writer's editor](https://mwanorcal.org/2018/02/the-self-pub-writers-editor/) - Our Indie writer panel on The Editorial Tangle, with Gigi Pandian, Steve Hockensmith, Heather Haven, Nick Mamatas, and Claire Johnson– is now up on our NorCal video/podcast page, here. This is not one of our members-only pages, so feel free to share it with anyone interested in how a self-published writer attains a cleanly edited
- [NorCal's contest winner](https://mwanorcal.org/2018/02/norcals-contest-winner/) - MWA NorCal member Claire Ortalda has won a place in Anne Perry's upcoming anthology with her story “Oglethorpe’s Camera"– Congratulations, Claire! Odd Partners will be out in April 2019, with stories from ten writers chosen by Anne herself and ten MWA members who won the blind-submission contest. It's going to be a really fun anthology.
- [Deaver’s Commercial Excellence](https://mwanorcal.org/2018/02/deavers-commercial-excellence/) - Can “commercial fiction” also be excellent fiction? Jeff Deaver says YES, and will tell us how to do just it. Writing is a business, MWA President Deaver says. Yes, it’s satisfying, and creative, and challenging—but if it doesn’t sell, it’s not going anywhere. Plot and pacing, character and dialogue, tension and detail, outlining and revisions:
- [Podcasted self-pub wisdom](https://mwanorcal.org/2018/02/podcasted-self-pub-wisdom/) - In an experiment to crawl towards the 21st century, MWA NorCal is putting up some podcasts of events–including all five panels of our recent Self-Published Writer workshop. Two are up now (who knew these things took so much editing and fiddling with?) including the initial Options discussion and the second one on how to edit
- [Indie workshop yay!](https://mwanorcal.org/2018/01/indie-workshop-yay/) - Saturday's MWA NorCal Indie/self pub workshop went really, really well! One packed room, five packed panels, a selection of packed lunches–more about the event in the newsletter, but if you missed it, you missed out, this time.
- [Edgar nominations!](https://mwanorcal.org/2018/01/edgar-nominations/) - Congratulations to our own Rhys Bowen, nominated in the Edgar Best Paperback Original category for In Farleigh Field. This is an amazing year at the Edgars–you can see all the nominations here.
- [MWA loves Indie Writers!](https://mwanorcal.org/2018/01/mwa-loves-indie-writers/) - This is going to be fabulous:
- [Election time!](https://mwanorcal.org/2017/12/election-time/) - It's time to elect our 2018 MWA NorCal board! If you're an Active status member, and your ballot did not show up in your email in-box, check to see if it's lurking in your spam filter. If it's not there either, please let us know asap! Our email is (replace the [at] ) – norcalmwa[at]gmail.com
- [All I want for Christmas...](https://mwanorcal.org/2017/12/all-i-want-for-christmas/) - ...is a membership to MWA.
- [Forensic miniatures](https://mwanorcal.org/2017/11/forensic-miniatures/) - There was an interesting post in "Murder is Everywhere" on crime-scene miniatures that were constructed by Frances Glessner Lee, the first female US police captain and "mother of forensic science", who precisely reproduced murder scenes for detectives to study. She was apparently a great lover of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries and loved solving murder puzzles.
- [A TRIO of Grand Masters for 2018!](https://mwanorcal.org/2017/11/a-trio-of-grand-masters-for-2018/) - Your next Grand Masters! Jane Langton, William Link, and Peter Lovesey. Awards will be presented during the Edgars banquet in April, watch for your invitation in the spring.
- [2018 is coming!](https://mwanorcal.org/2017/11/2018-is-coming/) - End of year business is upon us–the election of your 2018 board, a report on what we've done this year, and an update of our members' names, links, and cover art on the web site. The ballot will be sent out soon, the report will be in the December newsletter–and as for the site update,
- [Donald Yates](https://mwanorcal.org/2017/10/donald-yates/) - I was very sorry to hear that Donald A. Yates, who has been a member of Mystery Writers of America since 1960, has left us. Our condolences to his wife and family.
- [Send us your covers, yearning to be posted...](https://mwanorcal.org/2017/10/send-us-your-covers-yearning-to-be-posted/) - Got covers? We're doing our semi-annual renovation of the web site and need your cover art for our carousel–anything new, along with any members news, you can send to us at: norcalmwa@gmail.com Thanks!
- [MWA, Santa Cruz style](https://mwanorcal.org/2017/10/mwa-santa-cruz-style/) - On Thursday, Laurie R. King led John Burley, Heather Haven, Katherine Hyde, and Gigi Pandian in a discussion of Entertainment With an Edge... and a good time was had by all!
- [NorCal does Santa Clara](https://mwanorcal.org/2017/10/norcal-does-santa-clara/) - An eager lot of library-lovers gathered last Monday... ...to listen to a discussion of MOTIVES FOR MURDER with Susan Bickford, John Billheimer, Ellen Kirschman, Robin Stuart, and Susan Wolfe.
- [MWA does Castro Valley](https://mwanorcal.org/2017/10/mwa-does-castro-valley/) - An audience of eager mystery-lovers gathered in the Castro Valley library to hear Camille Minichino, Ann Parker, Jim Giugli, and Janet Dawson discussing research methods and sources. The audience asked a lot of questions about the authors' writing process and the road to publication. Librarian Christianne Selig was on hand to answer questions related to library
- [Noir interview](https://mwanorcal.org/2017/10/noir-interview/) - Ellen Kirschman had an interesting "reading" for Noir at the Bar: an interview between Dr. Ellen Kirschman and Dr. Dot Meyerhoff. Author and character...or something deeper?
- [NorCal @ Santa Cruz!](https://mwanorcal.org/2017/10/norcal-santa-cruz/) - ...And, Mystery Week NorCal style ties it up tonight in Santa Cruz:
- [NorCal @ Berkeley!](https://mwanorcal.org/2017/10/norcal-berkeley/) - Tonight's MWA NorCal Mystery Week event is in Berkeley:
- [NorCal @ Davis!](https://mwanorcal.org/2017/10/norcal-davis/) - MWA NorCal's Mystery Week touches down in Davis tonight:
- [NorCal @ Santa Clara!](https://mwanorcal.org/2017/10/norcal-santa-clara/) - Join the MWA team tonight at the Santa Clara library:
- [Noir at the Bar, MWA NorCal style](https://mwanorcal.org/2017/10/noir-at-the-bar-mwa-norcal-style/) - Noir at the Bar, last night’s MWA NorCal event at LitCrawl, featured Cara Black, Tony Broadbent, Jerry Kennealy, Laurie R. King, Ellen Kirschman, Kelli Stanley & Jacqueline Winspear reading brief, punchy excerpts from their books before a packed audience at the Latin American Club down in the Mission district. Things were hopping! MYSTERY WEEK continues,
- [Free Deaver!](https://mwanorcal.org/2017/10/free-deaver/) - (The title is not a political exhortation, but an offer: gratis, not libre.) The first of the new MWA Presents Classics program is Jeffery Deaver’s A Hot and Sultry Night for Crime. This month, all month, Jeff’s own story is available free, to members and non-members alike. Go HERE for a free download, and please spread
- [Mystery Week, 2017](https://mwanorcal.org/2017/09/mystery-week-2017/) - Hey, a fun video to tease you about the upcoming Mystery Week: If you want to help spread the word, the Mystery Week 2017 video is on the NorCal YouTube Channel and on the NorCal Facebook page. Trenchant or tipsy, MWA NorCal has something for everyone.
- [Hot & Sultry!](https://mwanorcal.org/2017/09/hot-sultry/) - A Hot and Sultry Night for Crime, with twenty great storied edited by Jeffery Denver, is a MWA Presents Classic e-book reissue of the 2003 MWA Presents collection. “Temperatures rise and tempers flare in twenty original short stories by the mystery world's finest authors, set in hot climates where jealousy, greed, and murderous rage reach
- [Ron Tierney](https://mwanorcal.org/2017/09/ron-tierney/) - Ron Tierney, a long time member of MWA /NorCal, died last Saturday in Palm Springs. He had fought a great battle with cancer for multiple years, and left us peacefully, with a smile on his face. He was surrounded with a lot of love. To follow his wish, there will be no funeral service. He was
- [NorCal TV!](https://mwanorcal.org/2017/08/norcal-tv/) - MWA NorCal now has its own YouTube channel—here! We’ve started with the video of June’s Innocence Project event at the San Francisco public library, and there’s one of Pres. Laurie King’s book trailers up to start things off, but if you have any links you’d like to add, let us know.
- [Writers' Police Academy scholarship!](https://mwanorcal.org/2017/04/writers-police-academy-scholarship/) - Writers Police Academy scholarship! Writers’ Police Academy founder Lee Lofland (who’s holding a one-day workshop for us in September!) has offered one lucky NorCal member a free registration! The WPA is an intensive training course aimed at helping writers learn everything about law enforcement– from arms to arson, blood spatter to constitutional law, topics include dogs, fingerprinting,
- [Is there Life After Innocence?](https://mwanorcal.org/2017/06/is-there-life-after-innocence/) - A panel about wrongful convictions: how do such convictions come about? How does someone get exonerated, and what happens afterward? And, how did we come up with a book of bestselling authors telling the stories of exonorees? Panelists are lawyer/writers Leslie S. Klinger and Laura Caldwell of the Life After Innocence project, co-editors of The Anatomy of Innocence; writer Laurie R.
- [MWA on Social Media](https://mwanorcal.org/2017/02/mwa-on-social-media/) - February 11, 11:00, at the Rockridge Library in Oakland, MWA sponsors a panel talking about: Using Social Media to Promote Your Work Join us for a panel with award-winning writer Martha Conway, web site designer Maddee James, bestseller alchemist-and-author Gigi Pandian, and moderator Camille Minichino, NorCal board member and physics professor-turned-crime writer. These members of MWA
- [Join our Facebook group](https://mwanorcal.org/2017/01/join-our-facebook-group/) - Hello. We've had a Facebook page for the chapter as part of our social media outreach, but now we have launched a Facebook Group, which allows members to post and interaction more directly. Join our group today, by clicking here: MWA NorCal Discussion.
- [Holiday Party with Sisters in Crime](https://mwanorcal.org/2016/12/holiday-party-with-sisters-in-crime/) - MWA Norcal and Sisters in Crime are throwing their annual holiday party December 10th, and Borderlands Books in San Francisco, from 2:00 - 4:00 pm! Borderlands Books is at 866 Valencia Street San Francisco, California 94110 (415) 824-8203 There will be member books for sale and signing, food, wine, and more!
- [Members: Take A Quick Survey](https://mwanorcal.org/2016/09/members-take-a-quick-survey/) - Hello all, Please take a moment to take our member survey, so that we may better serve you, and that you might be better to help out the chapter with your skills and experience. Thanks!
- [Coming in October—Researching and Writing Historical Mysteries](https://mwanorcal.org/2016/09/coming-in-october-researching-and-writing-historical-mysteries/) - Come to our next event! October 15, 2016 Noon-2pm. Laurel Bookstore 1423 Broadway, Oakland, California 94612 Meet Rhys Bowen, Tony Broadbent, Laurie R. King and Catriona McPherson to talk about writing historical mysteries and how they differ from traditional mysteries. Sponsored by the Mystery Writers of America NorCal and moderated by Janet Rudolph.
- [Notes from August Event: Libraries and Writers, A Mutual Admiration Society](https://mwanorcal.org/2016/09/notes-from-august-event-libraries-and-writers-a-mutual-admiration-society/) - Did you miss our last meeting, at the Oakland Public Library? Well, Laurie King was there, and she took notes! Enjoy, and don't forget our forthcoming October meeting, also in Oakland. Writers and libraries have long made for a mutual admiration society: without us, their shelves would collect dust; without them, we’d have grown up
- [MWA NorCal members at Bouchercon!](https://mwanorcal.org/2016/08/mwa-norcal-members-at-bouchercon/) - Going to BoucherCon 2016? Check out the panels of your NorCal members--here's some for Thursday, September 15: John Billheimer, 9:00, Another Tricky Day Tess Collins, 1:30, Can't You Hear Me Knocking? Ann Parker, 1:30, Road to Find Out Catherine Coulter, 1:30, Something to Talk About Janet Finsilver 3:00, Scooby Snacks Janet Rudolph (M), 3:00, Small
- [Some Quick Links For Libraries](https://mwanorcal.org/2016/08/some-quick-links-for-libraries/) - Crime Writers & Libraries: MWA NorCal Mystery Writers of America (membership fee, but NorCal meetings are open to all) has many resources for new writers, from mentors and manuscript evaluations to data bases of libraries and bookshops. The NorCal Chapter of MWA serves northern California and Nevada. Check out some library-themed resources for writers below! Authors for Libraries (American
- [August Event: Loving the Library at Rockridge](https://mwanorcal.org/2016/06/august-event-loving-the-library-at-rockridge/) - August 13th 11:30am-12:30pm Oakland Public Library—Rockridge Branch 5366 College Avenue Oakland, CA 94618 (510) 597-5017 Writers and Libraries: a mutual admiration society. Emily Weak, the adult services librarian at the Rockridge branch, talks about what we authors can do to best work with libraries. What do librarians need? How can a writer both use libraries,
- [What You Missed: The Bay Area Book Fest](https://mwanorcal.org/2016/06/what-you-missed-the-bay-area-book-fest/) - We were out in force at the Bay Area Book Festival this past weekend, with a hoppin' booth featuring giveaways of one-page short fiction by our members, a raffle of MWA anthologies, and more The Set Up: Members Cara Black and Reece Hirsch: . Member Rita
- [Edgar Award Winners Announced](https://mwanorcal.org/2016/05/edgar-award-winners-announced/) - April 28, 2016, New York, NY: Mystery Writers of America is proud to announce the winners of the 2016 Edgar Allan Poe Awards, honoring the best in mystery fiction, non-fiction and television published or produced in 2015. The Edgar® Awards were presented to the winners at our 70th Gala Banquet, April 28, 2016 at the
- [April 16th Event! Search and Rescue Dogs with Kathryn Stewart!](https://mwanorcal.org/2016/04/april-16th-event-search-and-rescue-dogs-with-kathryn-stewart/) - Our next chapter event will be a talk and demonstration on search and rescue dogs by Kathryn Stewart, a certified Mission Ready Handler for CARDA (California Rescue Dog Association), on the site of Orion Academy, in Moraga CA. Please come on out! April 16 (Sat) 11:30-1:00 Kathryn Stewart, Training Search & Rescue Dogs Orion Academy 350
- [Welcome to MWA NorCal](https://mwanorcal.org/2011/01/welcome-to-mwa-norcal/) - Welcome to the website for the Northern California Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America. Our organization is dedicated to supporting and promoting the careers of published and aspiring mystery and thriller authors through education, outreach and community. Find out more about MWA NorCal. Explore: Check out our blog for the latest news and happenings,
- [Message from the President](https://mwanorcal.org/2016/02/message-from-the-president/) - Save the date, June 16th, 2016! MWA Grandmaster Walter Mosley is coming to Menlo Park, CA! MWA Norcal is co-sponsoring this exclusive event with Kepler's Books! http://www.keplers.com/event/premier-event-walter-mosley We will be raffling off several tickets to the Mosley event at a future MWA event, so please come join us at our March 13th meet and greet
- [Edgar®   Week](https://mwanorcal.org/2016/02/edgar-week/) - Here’s the schedule of activities for EDGAR® WEEK. Click around the site for the latest news from MWA Headquarters, including the full list of Edgar® nominations and new books by MWA members. https://mysterywriters.org/
- [Spring 2016 Events](https://mwanorcal.org/2016/01/spring-2106-events/) - Join MWA NorCAL for our first event of 2016. Sunday, March 13, 2016, 3 PM to 5 PM DST Borderland Books 866 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA Meet and Greet with readings and refreshments. Share your news and hear about upcoming events. COMING SOON: Kathryn Stewart on Training Search and Rescue Dogs April 16, 11:30
- [Our Officers and Board for 2016](https://mwanorcal.org/2016/01/our-officers-and-board-for-2016/) - President, Nick Mamatas; Vice President, Rhys Bowen; Treasurer, J. J. Lamb; Secretary: Camille Minichino; At Large: Jack Erickson, Laurie King, Claudia Hagadus Long, Terry Shames, Sal Towse
- [Message from the New President](https://mwanorcal.org/2016/01/message-from-the-new-president/) - Hello MWA NorCal Members! I am Nick Mamatas, your new President, and I am as surprised as you are. Until a few years ago I was almost exclusively a writer of science fiction, fantasy, and horror, and editing the same is still my day job. But a few years ago I decided to try my
- [October Meeting: State of the Industry Panel](https://mwanorcal.org/2014/08/october-meeting-state-of-the-industry-panel/) - Saturday, October 11, 2014. Noon - 2:00 PMOffice of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & HamptonFour Embarcadero Center, Suite 1700San Francisco, CA 94111BART Station: Embarcadero (we're one block away)You won't want to miss this year's annual panel (also co-sponsored with Sisters in Crime). Our experts will include:Vicki DeArmon. Copperfield's Books.Laura Lent. Chief of Collections & Technical Services,
- [Anne Perry event on Friday, October 18th](https://mwanorcal.org/2013/09/anne-perry-event-on-friday-october-18th/) - On Friday, October 18th, we’ll be presenting an evening with international bestselling author Anne Perry in conjunction with Litquake. Mystery, History: Anne Perry in conversation with William C. Gordon $5 in advance, $7 at the door 7:30pm Location: Glass Door Gallery 245 Columbus Ave San Francisco, CA 94133 (415) 500-2271 Famed New York Times bestselling
- [Death Investigator Kim Gillis](https://mwanorcal.org/2013/05/death-investigator-kim-gillis/) - Next Meeting: Saturday, June 8, 2013 Death Investigator Kim Gillis Most of the information about death investigators has been generated by Hollywood, and often is not entirely correct. Death investigators perform a myriad of tasks that far exceed the “body snatcher” mold that is so popular. Kim Gillis will talk about the differences in the
- [Member News](https://mwanorcal.org/2013/04/member-news-2/) - Diana Orgain signed with Berkley Prime Crime to co-author the next two books in the in the NY Times Bestselling Scrapbooking Mystery Series with Laura Childs. The first of these books, GILT TRIP, will be published in October 2013. Michelle Gagnon’s Young Adult technothriller DON’T TURN AROUND was nominated for a Thriller Award in the
- [Sat, May 11th @ 2pm: Renowned CIA Operative and Author Robert Baer](https://mwanorcal.org/2013/04/renowned-cia-operative-and-author-robert-baer/) - Some stories are so incredible you couldn’t make them up. Please join us for a special event on May 11 to hear one of those spectacular stories. The Northern California chapter of the Mystery Writers of America is proud to announce it is hosting an afternoon with Bob Baer, whose storied twenty-one year career as
- [Upcoming Spring 2013 Events](https://mwanorcal.org/2013/02/upcoming-2013-events/) - We have some exciting events on the horizon. On Friday, April 12th, we’ll be co-hosting our semi-annual State of the Industry panel at 6:30pm with Sisters in Crime/NorCal. Our panel will consist of bookseller Praveen Madan of Kepler’s/Booksmith, Editor Jay Schaefer, Literary Agent Andy Ross, and Librarian Barbara Bibel of the Oakland Public Library. This
- [Holiday Party!](https://mwanorcal.org/2012/11/holiday-party/) - Come join your friends and colleagues from MWA and SinC at our annual holiday party, held this year at Orinda Books, December 1st, from 1:00 to 3:00. Hope you can make it! Orinda Books 276 Village Square Orinda, CA 94563 store (925) 254-7606 orindabooks@thegrid.net
- [Member News](https://mwanorcal.org/2012/09/member-news/) - Michelle Gagnon's Young Adult debut Don’t Turn Around will be released by Harper Teen next week (August 28th), and so far it has received starred reviews from Kirkus and Voya, and been selected as one of the Autumn 2012 Kids' Indie Next List—"Inspired Recommendations for Kids from Indie Booksellers"! The book trailer debuted on Entertainment Weekly’s shelf life page. It is
- [Northern California Crime Writing Conference](https://mwanorcal.org/2012/08/northern-california-crime-writing-conference/) - The Northern California chapters of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime are thrilled to be partnering with Litquake to launch a new conference on the art, craft and business of crime writing, to be held in San Francisco on Saturday, September 22nd.
- [Save the Date! Northern California Crime Writing Conference](https://mwanorcal.org/2012/08/save-the-date-northern-california-crime-writing-conference/) - Mark you calendar for September 22nd for the inaugural edition of the Northern California Crime Writing Conference! Sponsered by MWA, SinC and Litquake, it will take place in downtown San Francisco and feature a full day of panels about the craft and business of writing. Details coming soon!
- [July Meeting: MWA Courtroom!](https://mwanorcal.org/2012/07/july-meeting-mwa-courtroom/) - MWA NorCal is proud to announce our big event of the summer: a stellar panel of legal professionals ready to discuss the mysteries and intricacies of the legal process from every angle of the courtroom! You will meet: Susan M. Breall, a judge in San Francisco Superior Court. Vilaska Nguyen, felony trial attorney in the
- [Member News: New Books From Susan Shea](https://mwanorcal.org/2012/07/member-news-new-books-from-susan-shea/) - Susan C Shea has sold the next two books in her Dani O'Rourke mystery series. Top Five Books will publish THE KING'S JAR in trade paper and e-book versions in spring 2013. MIXED UP WITH MURDER will come out in fall 2013 in the same formats. In addition, Avalon Books has sold the e-book rights
- [Local PI to Speak at April Meeting](https://mwanorcal.org/2012/03/local-pi-to-speak-at-april-meeting/) - MWA Nor Cal is thrilled to announce a terrific speaker for our April meeting, a rare appearance by a renowned local PI (see below). We’re also trying out a brand new meeting venue, complete with our own semi-private banquet room and entirely private pool table. Come out, meet your fellow members, here a great talk,
- [Susan Shea on Art and Crime in Sausalito](https://mwanorcal.org/2012/05/susan-shea-on-art-and-crime-in-sausalito/) - Susan C Shea will be speaking about art and crime, in Sausalito on MONDAY, MAY 14 at 7 PM. Every month, new records are being set for the sale of paintings and other art and decorative artworks - millions of dollars, some of it for what the market calls "untested" work, some of it for
- [Member News: Left Coast Crime Award Winners](https://mwanorcal.org/2012/04/member-news-left-coast-crime-award-winners/) - Our chapter had a great showing at the 2012 Left Coast Crime Awards dinner, and that isn't even counting dessert. Big congratulations to Bruce Alexander Historical Mystery Award winner Ann Parker and our esteemed president Kelli Stanley for winning the Golden Nugget for best mystery set in California! Congrats to all the nominees and
- [Member News: Hitting the Charts](https://mwanorcal.org/2012/03/member-news-hitting-the-charts/) - A couple quick hits of good news as we head into LCC weekend: Cara Black's latest Aimee Leduc mystery, Murder at the Lantern Rouge, appeared on the San Francisco Chronicle Fiction Bestsellers list. Rhys Bowen's new book in the Molly Murphy series, Hush Now Don't You Cry, made the New York Times extended bestsellers. Congratulations
- [Nadia Gordon on the Food Network!](https://mwanorcal.org/2012/03/nadia-gordon-on-the-food-network/) - Lethal Vintage, by our own Nadia Gordon (aka Julianne Balmain) was the book club pick for the February 18th, 2012 episode of Giadia at Home on the Food Network! During the episode, Giadia and her friends talked about Sunny McCoskey, Rivka Chavez, Wade Skord, and the rest of the Napa Valley gang. See here for
- [MWA NorCal Members in 'Authors On the Move'](https://mwanorcal.org/2012/02/mwa-norcal-members-in-authors-on-the-move/) - Lisa Lutz, John Lescroart (keynote speakers), Janet Dawson, Catriona McPherson, Cindy Sample, and Kelli Stanley will all be appearing at the Authors On the Move gala fundraiser for the Sacramento Public Library Foundation on Saturday, March 3, from 5-10 pm. From the site: This year's "Authors on the Move: The Plot Thickens, The Future of
- [Kelli Stanley and Cara Black at the Mechanics' Institute](https://mwanorcal.org/2012/02/kelli-stanley-and-cara-black-at-the-mechanics-institute/) - On Thursday, March 22, from 6:00-8:00 pm, the Mechanics' Institute will be hosting Cara Black and Kelli Stanley as a double bill for their March Mystery Night. Come hear the authors in conversation about their new books, set in modern-day Paris and 1940s San Francisco. Event info: Where: Mechanics' Institute, 57 Post Street, San Francisco
- [New Book: Pat Morin](https://mwanorcal.org/2012/02/new-book-pat-morin/) - MWA NorCal board member Pat Morin has a new book, Crime Montage coming out on March 25th from Top Publications. Congrats!
- ["Bullets Across the Bay" at UC Berkeley](https://mwanorcal.org/2011/09/bullets-across-the-bay-at-uc-berkeley/) - An event and exhibit featuring Bay Area-set mysteries coming to Cal this fall!
- [MWA/Sisters in Crime Holiday Party!](https://mwanorcal.org/2011/10/mwasisters-in-crime-holiday-party/) - Where: M is for Mystery When: Saturday, December 3rd, 12-2 PM What: Food, festivities and fun (including a whodunit play) Who: Everyone who is anyone, darling. How much: Free! Reminder: Authors planning to attend, please RSVP to M is for Mystery so they can make sure your book is stocked! info@MforMystery.com or 1-650-401-8077.
- [January Meeting 1/22](https://mwanorcal.org/2011/12/january-meeting-122/) - Where: Mechanics' Institute, 57 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94104 When: 2 pm 1/22/2012 Who and What: MWA NorCal will host a conversation/roundtable and workshop with Charlie Newton on January 22, 2012 at 2:00 PM. Charlie and his private editor, Ed Stackler, will discuss the publishing journey, the novels, the research, the choice of multiple gender first person, and
- [Bullets Across the Bay Closing Reception](https://mwanorcal.org/2012/02/bullets-across-the-bay-closing-reception/) - To celebrate the conclusion of the exhibit, Bullets Across the Bay: The San Francisco Bay Area in Crime Fiction, the Library at the University of California, Berkeley, in partnership with Mystery Writers of America, NorCal Chapter and Sisters in Crime, Northern California Chapter, is holding a closing reception on Friday, February 24, 2012 from 6:00-8:00pm
- [New Books By Camille Minichino](https://mwanorcal.org/2012/01/new-books-by-camille-minichino/) - Coming this year to a bookshelf near you: • March 6: the second Professor Sophie Knowles mystery by Ada Madison, THE PROBABILITY OF MURDER, from Berkley Prime Crime. • April 2: the sixth miniature mystery by Margaret Grace, MIX-UP IN MINIATURE, from Perseverance Press.
- [Edgar Awards Nominees Announced](https://mwanorcal.org/2012/01/edgar-awards-nominees-announced/) - The nominees for the 2011 Edgar awards were announced today. Congratulations to all! BEST NOVEL The Ranger by Ace Atkins (Penguin Group USA – G.P. Putnam’s Sons) Gone by Mo Hayder (Grove/Atlantic – Atlantic Monthly Press) The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino (Minotaur Books) 1222 by Anne Holt (Simon & Schuster
- [CIL 7th Annual Authors' Night](https://mwanorcal.org/2011/10/cil-7th-annual-authors-night/) - Coming November 3rd, NorCal members Penny Warner, Camille Minichino, Susan Dunlap and Cara Black are the featured guests at the Center for Independent Living's Annual literary fundraiser. See below for information, and stay tuned for further details:
- [SleuthFest 2012](https://mwanorcal.org/2011/11/sleuthfest-2012/) - Is Florida sounding pretty good right now? How about in March? Here's some information from Julie Compton, the Co-Chair of SleuthFest, scheduled to take place March 1-4 in Orlando: SleuthFest is sponsored by the Florida Chapter of Mystery Writers of America. Our guests of honor in 2012 are Charlaine Harris and Jeffery Deaver, and our
- [McCloy-MWA Scholarship Announcement](https://mwanorcal.org/2011/11/mccloy-mwa-scholarship-announcement/) - GET UP TO $500 FOR WRITING CLASSES Every year, MWA awards two promising mystery writers up to $500 each for tuition or registration fees for classes, courses, workshops, or other programs to improve your writing -- whether your mystery is in the form of a short story, novel, script or nonfiction. Submissions for the annual
- [MWA Norcal Authors in New Anthology](https://mwanorcal.org/2011/10/mwa-norcal-authors-in-new-anthology/) - Just out this month: the new anthology West Coast Crime Wave, featuring stories by members Steve Hockensmith, David Corbett, Steve Brewer and our former president, Simon Wood. Congratulations, all!
- [MWA U, The Mystery Writers' University, comes to San Francisco](https://mwanorcal.org/2011/07/mystery-writers-university-san-francisco/) - Join us on Saturday, October 15, 2011 for MWA U in San Francisco.
- [Litquake Mystery Events](https://mwanorcal.org/2011/09/litquake-mystery-events/) - Four mystery-focused events at a Bay Area literary festival.
- [Gigi Pandian In New Anthology](https://mwanorcal.org/2011/09/gigi-pandian-in-new-anthology/) - Congrats to NorCal member Gigi Pandian on the publication of her short story!
- [End-of-Summer Pisco's party!](https://mwanorcal.org/2011/08/end-of-summer-piscos-party/) - Join us on Friday, August 29th for food, drinks, and good company.
- [Congratulations to MWA Member Mark Coggins](https://mwanorcal.org/2011/06/congratulations-to-mwa-member-mark-coggins/) - The Big Wake-Up, a novel by Mark Coggins, won the Independent Publisher Book Award Gold Medal in the mystery category.
- [Robert Baty's new series](https://mwanorcal.org/2011/08/robert-batys-new-series/) - The series features a retired cop who finds classic cars for rich collectors (and also finds trouble).
- [Ronald Tierney's new mystery now available](https://mwanorcal.org/2011/08/ronald-tierneys-new-mystery-now-available/) - Entitled GOOD TO THE LAST KISS, this new stand-alone mystery was released on August 1st.
- [Marilyn Meredith's new mystery](https://mwanorcal.org/2011/08/marilyn-merediths-new-mystery/) - New in the Tempe Crabtree series, BEARS WITH US, is now available.
- [Congratulations to Reece Hirsh](https://mwanorcal.org/2011/08/congratulations-to-reece-hirsh/) - THE INSIDER was a finalist in the International Thriller Writer Awards.
- [New book by co-authors J. J. and Bette Golden Lamb](https://mwanorcal.org/2011/08/new-book-by-co-authors-j-j-and-bette-golden-lamb/) - SISTERS IN SILENCE, an original medical thriller, is now available as an e-book and trade paperback.
- [Kelli Stanley's CITY OF DRAGONS nominated for Macavity](https://mwanorcal.org/2011/08/kelli-stanleys-city-of-dragons-nominated-for-macavity/) - Also her newest book, CITY OF SECRETS, is coming out on September 13.
- [MWA NorCal at the Sonoma County Book Festival](https://mwanorcal.org/2011/08/sonoma-county-book-festival/) - We'll have a table at the Sonoma County Book Festival on Saturday, September 24th in Santa Rosa.
- [Congratulations to MWA member Pat Morin](https://mwanorcal.org/2011/06/pat-morin-congratulations/) - Congratulations to Pat Morin, whose humorous story “Gin and Piels” is being published in an upcoming anthology.
- [Mysti Berry's short story included in upcoming anthology](https://mwanorcal.org/2011/08/mysti-berrys-short-story-included-in-upcoming-anthology/) - INSIDE JOB will be in a Sisters in Crime anthology next year.
- [MWA Members: Share your news](https://mwanorcal.org/2011/08/mwa-members-share-your-news/) - If you are a MWA NorCal member and you'd like to share your news on the web site, let us know!
- [Staci McLaughlin signs book deal](https://mwanorcal.org/2011/08/staci-mclaughlin-signs-book-deal/) - Staci's first mystery, GOING ORGANIC CAN KILL YOU, is slated for August 2012 release.
- [Next Meeting: Saturday, April 30th](https://mwanorcal.org/2011/04/next-meeting/) - Join us for our upcoming meeting where we welcome Holly Pera of the San Francisco Police Department.

## Pages

- [Welcome to MWA NorCal](https://mwanorcal.org/) - We are a regional chapter of the Mystery Writers of America, the country’s oldest organization of professional mystery writers. Our 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.
- [Events](https://mwanorcal.org/events/) - Click here for a list of past events. Ongoing Event: MWA NorCal Saturday Write-In Every Saturday from 10:45 AM-Noon Join us on Saturday mornings for 10 minutes of chatty camaraderie followed by some dedicated writing time. Members, email MWANorCalEvents@gmail.com and request the Google Meet link to join. Upcoming Events: July 17-19, 2026 2026 Book Passage Mystery Writers
- [Member News](https://mwanorcal.org/our-members/member-news/) - July 2026 Daisy Bateman (Stacie Grey) – My third thriller, She Had Enough, will be out in the world as of July 21st! To celebrate, I will be in conversation with our own Faye Snowden on July 22, at 6 PM at Books Inc in Alameda. RSVP here, there will be cake! Also, as part of the
- [Our Members](https://mwanorcal.org/our-members/) - We have different categories of membership, but most of our Active NorCal members are professional writers with websites. Here are their links:
- [Upcoming Conferences](https://mwanorcal.org/upcoming-conferences/) - 2026 FEB 5-8 Savannah Book Festival, Savannah, GA FEB 17-22 Granite Noir, Aberdeen, UK FEB 28 Amelia Island Book Festival, FL FEB 26-MAR 1 Left Coast Crime, San Francisco, CA MAR 12-15 New Orleans Book Festival, New Orleans, LA MAR 14-15 Tucson Festival of Books, Tucson, AZ MAR 20-22 Virginia Festival of the Book ,
- [About](https://mwanorcal.org/about/) - The Northern California chapter is one of the largest of the eleven regional chapters of MWA, and includes California and Nevada roughly north of the 36th parallel (that is, above Cambria, Bakersfield, and Las Vegas). We have a tremendous wealth of talented writers—novels to screenplays, fiction to nonfiction, best-selling to brand-new. Our associate members include
- [Past Events](https://mwanorcal.org/past-events/) - 2025: December 9 Crime Fiction that Matters, with Mysti Berry, John Copenhaver, and Curtis Ippolito (Zoom) December 7 Joint Holiday Party with MWA NorCal, with Author Brand-in-Action panel featuring Lisa Towles, Thena MacArthur, and Michelle Chouinard The Grand Oak Room at the Los Altos Community Center November 15 2nd Annual Lincoln Book Festival Lincoln Public
- [Biographies and mission statements](https://mwanorcal.org/biographies-and-mission-statements/) - Daisy Bateman is a longtime writer and fan of mysteries, and a member of MWA for more years than she would care to admit. As Stacie Grey, she is the USA Today bestselling author of two standalone psychological thrillers, the most recent of which is She Didn't Stand a Chance. Under her own name, she
- [Podcasts & Videos](https://mwanorcal.org/podcasts-videos/) - Visit our YouTube channel to catch up on past events. You can find a listing, along with links, here (PDF). Members-only podcasts and videos here. The Mystery Novel and the U.S. Constitution Retired District Attorney Micheal O'Connor dispels common myths crime fiction authors include in their novels and discusses various constitutional amendments and their relationship to
- [Bullets & Balloons: Crime, Mystery, and the History Of Comics, Part Twenty-Five](https://mwanorcal.org/comics/bullets-balloons-crime-mystery-and-the-history-of-comics-part-twenty-five/) - MWA NorCal board member Dale Berry is a San Francisco-based writer and illustrator, who has produced independent comics since 1986. His graphic novels (the Tales of the Moonlight Cutter series, The Be-Bop Barbarians with author Gary Phillips) have been published by mainstream, as well as his own imprint, Myriad Publications, and his graphic short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery
- [Remembering Camille Minichino](https://mwanorcal.org/remembering-camille-minichino/) - Daisy Bateman — I met Camille in the early 2000s, through a grad school classmate. Mary knew I was writing a mystery novel (my first), and she offered to introduce me to her godmother who was a published writer. Camille not only met with me, she took the time to read that first (terrible) book,
- [BULLETS & BALLOONS: CRIME, MYSTERY, AND THE HISTORY OF COMICS](https://mwanorcal.org/comics/) - A Series by Dale Berry MWA NorCal board member Dale Berry is a San Francisco-based writer and illustrator, who has produced independent comics since 1986. His graphic novels (the Tales of the Moonlight Cutter series, The Be-Bop Barbarians with author Gary Phillips) have been published by mainstream, as well as his own imprint, Myriad Publications, and his graphic short stories
- [Bullets & Balloons: Crime, Mystery, and the History Of Comics, Part Twenty-Four](https://mwanorcal.org/comics/bullets-balloons-crime-mystery-and-the-history-of-comics-part-twenty-four/) - MWA NorCal board member Dale Berry is a San Francisco-based writer and illustrator, who has produced independent comics since 1986. His graphic novels (the Tales of the Moonlight Cutter series, The Be-Bop Barbarians with author Gary Phillips) have been published by mainstream, as well as his own imprint, Myriad Publications, and his graphic short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery
- [Bullets & Balloons: Crime, Mystery, and the History of Comics, Part Twenty-Three](https://mwanorcal.org/comics/bullets-balloons-crime-mystery-and-the-history-of-comics-part-twenty-three/) - MWA NorCal board member Dale Berry is a San Francisco-based writer and illustrator, who has produced independent comics since 1986. His graphic novels (the Tales of the Moonlight Cutter series, The Be-Bop Barbarians with author Gary Phillips) have been published by mainstream, as well as his own imprint, Myriad Publications, and his graphic short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery
- [Bullets & Balloons: Crime, Mystery, and the History of Comics, Part Twenty-Two](https://mwanorcal.org/comics/bullets-balloons-crime-mystery-and-the-history-of-comics-part-twenty-two/) - MWA NorCal board member Dale Berry is a San Francisco-based writer and illustrator, who has produced independent comics since 1986. His graphic novels (the Tales of the Moonlight Cutter series, The Be-Bop Barbarians with author Gary Phillips) have been published by mainstream, as well as his own imprint, Myriad Publications, and his graphic short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery
- [Bullets & Balloons: Crime, Mystery, and the History of Comics, Part Twenty-One](https://mwanorcal.org/comics/bullets-balloons-crime-mystery-and-the-history-of-comics-part-twenty-one/) - MWA NorCal board member Dale Berry is a San Francisco-based writer and illustrator, who has produced independent comics since 1986. His graphic novels (the Tales of the Moonlight Cutter series, The Be-Bop Barbarians with author Gary Phillips) have been published by mainstream, as well as his own imprint, Myriad Publications, and his graphic short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery
- [List of Reference Materials](https://mwanorcal.org/members-only/list-of-reference-materials/) - Reference Mystery Writers of America, How to Write a Mystery: A Handbook from Mystery Writers of America, Child, Lee, King, Laurie A. (eds) Storr, Will, The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human and How to Tell Them Better. Craft Baxter, Charles, The Art of Subtext Brody, Jessica, Save the Cat Writes a Novel!
- [Bullets & Balloons: Crime, Mystery, and the History of Comics, Part Twenty](https://mwanorcal.org/comics/bullets-balloons-crime-mystery-and-the-history-of-comics-part-twenty/) - MWA NorCal board member Dale Berry is a San Francisco-based writer and illustrator, who has produced independent comics since 1986. His graphic novels (the Tales of the Moonlight Cutter series, The Be-Bop Barbarians with author Gary Phillips) have been published by mainstream, as well as his own imprint, Myriad Publications, and his graphic short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery
- [Bullets & Balloons: Crime, Mystery, and the History of Comics, Part Nineteen](https://mwanorcal.org/comics/bullets-balloons-crime-mystery-and-the-history-of-comics-part-nineteen/) - MWA NorCal board member Dale Berry is a San Francisco-based writer and illustrator, who has produced independent comics since 1986. His graphic novels (the Tales of the Moonlight Cutter series, The Be-Bop Barbarians with author Gary Phillips) have been published by mainstream, as well as his own imprint, Myriad Publications, and his graphic short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery
- [Bullets & Balloons: Crime, Mystery, and the History of Comics, Part Eighteen](https://mwanorcal.org/comics/bullets-balloons-crime-mystery-and-the-history-of-comics-part-eighteen/) - MWA NorCal board member Dale Berry is a San Francisco-based writer and illustrator, who has produced independent comics since 1986. His graphic novels (the Tales of the Moonlight Cutter series, The Be-Bop Barbarians with author Gary Phillips) have been published by mainstream, as well as his own imprint, Myriad Publications, and his graphic short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery
- [Bullets & Balloons: Crime, Mystery, and the History of Comics, Part Seventeen](https://mwanorcal.org/comics/bullets-balloons-crime-mystery-and-the-history-of-comics-part-seventeen/) - MWA NorCal board member Dale Berry is a San Francisco-based writer and illustrator, who has produced independent comics since 1986. His graphic novels (the Tales of the Moonlight Cutter series, The Be-Bop Barbarians with author Gary Phillips) have been published by mainstream, as well as his own imprint, Myriad Publications, and his graphic short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery
- [Bullets & Balloons: Crime, Mystery, and the History of Comics, Part Sixteen](https://mwanorcal.org/comics/bullets-balloons-crime-mystery-and-the-history-of-comics-part-sixteen/) - MWA NorCal board member Dale Berry is a San Francisco-based writer and illustrator, who has produced independent comics since 1986. His graphic novels (the Tales of the Moonlight Cutter series, The Be-Bop Barbarians with author Gary Phillips) have been published by mainstream, as well as his own imprint, Myriad Publications, and his graphic short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery
- [Bullets & Balloons: Crime, Mystery, and the History of Comics, Part Fifteen](https://mwanorcal.org/comics/bullets-balloons-crime-mystery-and-the-history-of-comics-part-fifteen/) - MWA NorCal board member Dale Berry is a San Francisco-based writer and illustrator, who has produced independent comics since 1986. His graphic novels (the Tales of the Moonlight Cutter series, The Be-Bop Barbarians with author Gary Phillips) have been published by mainstream, as well as his own imprint, Myriad Publications, and his graphic short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery
- [Bullets & Balloons: Crime, Mystery, and the History of Comics, Part Fourteen](https://mwanorcal.org/comics/bullets-balloons-crime-mystery-and-the-history-of-comics-part-fourteen/) - MWA NorCal board member Dale Berry is a San Francisco-based writer and illustrator, who has produced independent comics since 1986. His graphic novels (the Tales of the Moonlight Cutter series, The Be-Bop Barbarians with author Gary Phillips) have been published by mainstream, as well as his own imprint, Myriad Publications, and his graphic short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery
- [Bullets & Balloons: Crime, Mystery, and the History of Comics, Part Thirteen](https://mwanorcal.org/comics/bullets-balloons-crime-mystery-and-the-history-of-comics-part-thirteen/) - MWA NorCal board member Dale Berry is a San Francisco-based writer and illustrator, who has produced independent comics since 1986. His graphic novels (the Tales of the Moonlight Cutter series, The Be-Bop Barbarians with author Gary Phillips) have been published by mainstream, as well as his own imprint, Myriad Publications, and his graphic short stories have appeared in
- [Bullets & Balloons: Crime, Mystery, and the History of Comics, Part Twelve](https://mwanorcal.org/comics/bullets-balloons-crime-mystery-and-the-history-of-comics-part-twelve/) - MWA NorCal board member Dale Berry is a San Francisco-based writer and illustrator, who has produced independent comics since 1986. His graphic novels (the Tales of the Moonlight Cutter series, The Be-Bop Barbarians with author Gary Phillips) have been published by mainstream, as well as his own imprint, Myriad Publications, and his graphic short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery
- [Bullets & Balloons: Crime, Mystery, and the History Of Comics, Part Eleven](https://mwanorcal.org/comics/bullets-balloons-crime-mystery-and-the-history-of-comics-part-eleven/) - MWA NorCal board member Dale Berry is a San Francisco-based writer and illustrator, who has produced independent comics since 1986. His graphic novels (the Tales of the Moonlight Cutter series, The Be-Bop Barbarians with author Gary Phillips) have been published by mainstream, as well as his own imprint, Myriad Publications, and his graphic short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery
- [Bullets & Balloons: Crime, Mystery, and the History of Comics, Part Ten](https://mwanorcal.org/comics/bullets-balloons-crime-mystery-and-the-history-of-comics-part-ten/) - MWA NorCal board member Dale Berry is a San Francisco-based writer and illustrator, who has produced independent comics since 1986. His graphic novels (the Tales of the Moonlight Cutter series, The Be-Bop Barbarians with author Gary Phillips) have been published by mainstream, as well as his own imprint, Myriad Publications, and his graphic short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery
- [Bullets & Balloons: Crime, Mystery, and the History of Comics, Part Nine](https://mwanorcal.org/comics/bullets-balloons-crime-mystery-and-the-history-of-comics-part-nine/) - MWA NorCal board member Dale Berry is a San Francisco-based writer and illustrator, who has produced independent comics since 1986. His graphic novels (the Tales of the Moonlight Cutter series, The Be-Bop Barbarians with author Gary Phillips) have been published by mainstream, as well as his own imprint, Myriad Publications, and his graphic short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery
- [Bullets & Balloons: Crime, Mystery, and the History of Comics, Part Eight](https://mwanorcal.org/comics/bullets-balloons-crime-mystery-and-the-history-of-comics-part-eight/) - MWA NorCal board member Dale Berry is a San Francisco-based writer and illustrator, who has produced independent comics since 1986. His graphic novels (the Tales of the Moonlight Cutter series, The Be-Bop Barbarians with author Gary Phillips) have been published by mainstream, as well as his own imprint, Myriad Publications, and his graphic short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery
- [Bullets & Balloons: Crime, Mystery, and the History of Comics, Part Seven](https://mwanorcal.org/comics/bullets-balloons-crime-mystery-and-the-history-of-comics-part-seven/) - MWA NorCal board member Dale Berry is a San Francisco-based writer and illustrator, who has produced independent comics since 1986. His graphic novels (the Tales of the Moonlight Cutter series, The Be-Bop Barbarians with author Gary Phillips) have been published by mainstream, as well as his own imprint, Myriad Publications, and his graphic short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery
- [Bullets & Balloons: Crime, Mystery, and the History of Comics, Part Six](https://mwanorcal.org/comics/bullets-balloons-crime-mystery-and-the-history-of-comics-part-six/) - MWA NorCal board member Dale Berry is a San Francisco-based writer and illustrator, who has produced independent comics since 1986. His graphic novels (the Tales of the Moonlight Cutter series, The Be-Bop Barbarians with author Gary Phillips) have been published by mainstream, as well as his own imprint, Myriad Publications, and his graphic short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery
- [Bullets & Balloons: Crime, Mystery, and the History of Comics, Part Five](https://mwanorcal.org/comics/bullets-balloons-crime-mystery-and-the-history-of-comics-part-five/) - MWA NorCal board member Dale Berry is a San Francisco-based writer and illustrator, who has produced independent comics since 1986. His graphic novels (the Tales of the Moonlight Cutter series, The Be-Bop Barbarians with author Gary Phillips) have been published by mainstream, as well as his own imprint, Myriad Publications, and his graphic short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery
- [Bullets & Balloons: Crime, Mystery, and the History of Comics, Part Three](https://mwanorcal.org/comics/bullets-balloons-crime-mystery-and-the-history-of-comics-part-three/) - By Dale Berry MWA NorCal board member Dale Berry is a San Francisco-based writer and illustrator, who has produced independent comics since 1986. His graphic novels (the Tales of the Moonlight Cutter series, The Be-Bop Barbarians with author Gary Phillips) have been published by mainstream, as well as his own imprint, Myriad Publications, and his
- [Bullets & Balloons: Crime, Mystery, and the History of Comics, Part Two](https://mwanorcal.org/comics/bullets-balloons-crime-mystery-and-the-history-of-comics-part-two/) - By Dale Berry MWA NorCal board member Dale Berry is a San Francisco-based writer and illustrator, who has produced independent comics since 1986. His graphic novels (the Tales of the Moonlight Cutter series, The Be-Bop Barbarians with author Gary Phillips) have been published by mainstream, as well as his own imprint, Myriad Publications, and his
- [Bullets & Balloons: Crime, Mystery, and the History of Comics, Part Four](https://mwanorcal.org/comics/bullets-balloons-crime-mystery-and-the-history-of-comics-part-four/) - MWA NorCal board member Dale Berry is a San Francisco-based writer and illustrator, who has produced independent comics since 1986. His graphic novels (the Tales of the Moonlight Cutter series, The Be-Bop Barbarians with author Gary Phillips) have been published by mainstream, as well as his own imprint, Myriad Publications, and his graphic short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery
- [Bullets & Balloons: Crime, Mystery, and the History of Comics, Part One](https://mwanorcal.org/comics/bullets-balloons-crime-mystery-and-the-history-of-comics-part-one/) - By Dale Berry MWA NorCal board member Dale Berry is a San Francisco-based writer and illustrator, who has produced independent comics since 1986. His graphic novels (the Tales of the Moonlight Cutter series, The Be-Bop Barbarians with author Gary Phillips) have been published by mainstream, as well as his own imprint, Myriad Publications, and his
- [2022 Middle Grade Summer Book Club](https://mwanorcal.org/2022-middle-grade-summer-book-club/) - A Few of Our Favorites From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin Midnight at the Barclay Hotel by Fleur Bradley From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead Lola Benko, Treasure Hunter by Beth McMullen Zora &
- [Self-Pub Writer Handout](https://mwanorcal.org/self-pub-writer-handout/) - Mystery Writers of America | MWA NorCal chapter Since 2017, Mystery Writers of America has welcomed self-published writers to Active Status membership. In an effort to meet the specific needs of Indie writers, MWA NorCal held an all-day workshop made up of the following panels: Publishing options—how your strengths affect your choices. The Editorial Tangle:
- [Contact](https://mwanorcal.org/contact-us/) - Membership Visit the MWA National site for more information. Change of Address Changes of address, email, etc. are implemented by the national office. Please email Margery Flax at mwa (at) mysterywriters.org in order to update your personal information. MWA NorCal Officers Email addresses for the officers can be found on the About page. Web Coordinator
- [Join](https://mwanorcal.org/join/) - Membership in Mystery Writers of America numbers more than 3,000 Active, Associate, and Affiliate members internationally. There are four categories of membership: Active members are published professional writers of fiction or nonfiction in the crime/mystery/suspense field. Associate members are professionals in allied fields such as editors, publishers, agents, booksellers, librarians, etc. Affiliate members are writers
- [Blog - old](https://mwanorcal.org/blog/) - News about the MWA and its members:
- [Links to Our Members](https://mwanorcal.org/mwa-members/) - Here you'll find links to our members' websites: Julianne Balmain Sandra Balzo Dale Berry Mysti Berry Susan Bickford John Billheimer Cara Black Claire Booth Rhys Bowen Allison Brennan Emily Brightwell Theresa Brown Robin Burcell John Burley Patricia E. Canterbury Diana Chambers Tess Collins Jodi Compton Martha Conway M. P. Cooley Michael J. Cooper Catherine Coulter
- [Members Only](https://mwanorcal.org/members/) - Members can access the password protected material here. Many of our meetings, discussions, and social media are open to the public (see the links on our home page), but other meetings, all newsletters, the discussion group, and some videos are for NorCal members only. We also focus on NorCal members for our talks, panels, and
- [Lefty Award Nominees](https://mwanorcal.org/members-only/member-newsletters/spring-2013-lineup/lefty-award-nominees/) - The Lefty (best humorous mystery novel): Mike Befeler, Cruising in Your Eighties Is Murder (Five Star) Laura DiSilverio, Swift Run (Minotaur) Jess Lourey, December Dread (Midnight Ink) Lisa Lutz, Trail of the Spellmans (Simon & Schuster) Brad Parks, The Girl Next Door (Minotaur) Nancy Glass West, Fit To Be Dead (Southwest Publications) The Bruce Alexander
- [Join](https://mwanorcal.org/join-2/) - Membership in Mystery Writers of America brings everything from discounts to professional forums. MWA National has more than 3,000 members internationally, with four kinds of membership available: Active members are published professional writers of fiction or nonfiction in the crime/mystery/suspense field, a category that includes self-published writers. Associate members are professionals in allied fields—editors, publishers,
- [Cover Gallery](https://mwanorcal.org/cover-gallery/)

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