Monday, January 28, 2019

Sunday Times

Chinese new year: gifts and gaffes

Stuck for what to give Chinese friends or colleagues to welcome the Year of the Pig? Author and historian Jonathan Clements – an expert on the country – tells you all you need to know
Illustrations by Maïté Franchi/Folio Art
Illustrations by Maïté Franchi/Folio Art
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THE VIRTUAL VICTORIAN: TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DEAD

THE VIRTUAL VICTORIAN: TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DEAD: As gruesome as it may seem today, during the Victorian era there was a widely accepted trend for taking photographs of the deceased....

TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DEAD



As gruesome as it may seem today, during the Victorian era there was a widely accepted trend for taking photographs of the deceased. Some pictures even showed the dead as if they were still living, being washed and clothed in their Sunday best, arranged in a naturalistic pose with their parents or their siblings.

Sunday, January 20, 2019

February 16, 2019 Florida Chapter, Mystery Writers of America Luncheon Meeting


GUEST SPEAKER: Daphne Nikolopoulos
PROGRAM: Writing for Magazines  Websites

Program: Whether working on your next novel or figuring out where to start, it’s important to keep your writing sharp and focused—and, of course, to make a living. Writing for magazines and websites can be rewarding on many levels. It hones your research skills, keeps you writing, broadens your network, and can provide the income to make the dream of full-time writing a reality. In this session, we will cover the basics of writing for the media, including who and how to pitch, common mistakes to avoid, how to best present yourself and your work, and how journalistic writing can benefit your fiction.

Speaker: Daphne Nikolopoulos is an award-winning journalist, novelist, lecturer, and writing instructor. She is editor in chief of Palm Beach Illustrated magazine in Palm Beach, Florida, and editorial director of Palm Beach Media Group, a publisher of lifestyle and custom magazines. Daphne writes historical mysteries and thrillers under the pseudonym D.J. Niko. Her books, including The Tenth Saint, The Riddle of Solomon, The Oracle, and The Judgment, have been published in four languages. Her newest novel, The Firebird, will be published in Germany in April. Her books have been awarded a gold medal for popular fiction in the Florida Book Awards, a national bronze medal for historical fiction in the Independent Publisher Awards, and first place in historical fiction in the Royal Palm Literary Awards. Daphne also teaches writing and literature courses at FAU’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

DATE:  SATURDAY, February 16, 2019
TIME: 11:30: Mingling; 12:00: Lunch; 12:30: Business Meeting; 1:00: Presentation
PLACE: Embassy Suites by Hilton Boca Raton, 661 NW 53rd Street, Boca Raton, Florida, 33487; Get Directions Here
COST:  $25 for MWA members; $30 for non-members. Prepayment by February 12 is strongly urged.

RESERVATIONS/PREPAYMENT:   To reserve and pay online: go to website link www.mwaflorida.org and click on the “Monthly Meeting” tab under “Events”. Once you reach the page, click on the “Register for Monthly Meeting Here” link. Scroll down to the “Sign up for Luncheon Meeting” box and fill in your information, then click the “Pay Now” button and follow the instructions.
IMPORTANT - if you sign up for a meeting via PayPal in error, do NOT dispute the charge with PayPal. Instead, please contact our Treasurer via email ASAP at ray@rayflynt.com and she will refund your payment less PayPal's transaction fee of 2.9% plus $0.30. If you do dispute the charge, be aware that you will be liable for any penalties back-charged to the FMWA Chapter by PayPal (minimum $20.00 per disputed transaction). Thanks for your cooperation!
To reserve and pay via mail: 
Step 1–Email ray@rayflynt.com with the subject line “FMWA Meeting” to reserve a spot.  In the body of the email, please include your name, the name of any guest you have invited, your email address, and telephone number. 
Step 2– Write your check or money order payable to “Mystery Writers of America/Florida Chapter.” 
Step 3-Mail your payment to FMWA Treasurer, 2301 S. Ocean Dr. #2005, Hollywood, FL 33019
Please make your online reservation by February 12, or mail your check at least 3 days prior to that date so that you will be included on the reservation list, and we can provide the hotel with an accurate headcount! Walk-ins are accommodated only it space allows. Next Meeting Date: April 13, 2019. (Please Note: This is the second Saturday as the third Saturday falls on Easter Weekend.)

Thursday, January 17, 2019

THE LYNCHING CALENDAR by JESSICA STARKS


The Lynching Calendar is a short story collection that gives readers a sneak peek into one of America's darkest times. History tends to tell the story from one perspective, but what if we had the chance to hear the story from all of those involved, not just the murders or the victims? The Lynching Calendar allows us a chance to hear the full story and show that, no matter what the circumstance may be, there is more than one side to every story. 


Jessica Starks is a small business owner and professional writer who enjoys expressing herself creatively. The Mississippi native is also a genealogist by hobby who appreciates the stories of her ancestors.  







Wednesday, January 9, 2019

SLEUTHFEST 2019

Sleuthfest Header

Why should you attend Sleuthfest? Glad you asked...

As winter drags on, March in South Florida is the place to be! Our all-suites conference hotel has a gorgeous outdoor heated pool, free made-to-order breakfast daily, and a complimentary evening reception as each day winds down.

Since 1994 SleuthFest has connected authors with agents and publishers and helped writers improve their craft learning from award-winning and best-selling writers like T. Jefferson ParkerTom StrawAlex Segura, and Alexia Gordon.

You’ll have the opportunity to pitch your finished manuscript to agents like Tess Callero of Curtis Brown, Cari Lamba of Jennifer de Chiara Agency, Nicole Resciniti of Seymour Agency, Michelle Richter of Fuse Literary.

You can make your manuscript all it can be or jump-start if you’re stuck with a strategy session with editors Anna Michels of Sourcebooks, Chantelle Aimée Osman of Agora (Polis Books), Stacey Donovan of Hallmark or Neil Nyren, former VP of Putnam.

Convinced? Great! REGISTER NOW! Registration fees increase on January 15 so don’t wait!