Events Calendar

Speaker Schedule

MWA/NE Events

Member Events

Speaker Schedule

Brookline Public Library

May 8 - Author Idol

Bring the first three pages of your manuscript (single-sided, double-spaced, 12-point font) making sure that your name doesn't appear anywhere on the pages.

Tim McIntire will randomly select and read each manuscript until a panel of judges stop the process, after which they'll say why they would have stopped reading that submission.

This year's panel consists of agents:

Kaylee Davis -- Dee Mural Literary
Paula Munier -- Talcott Notch Literary Services
Kimiko Nakamura -- Dee Mural Literary 
Lana Popovic -- Zachary Shuster Harmsworth Literary Agency

April 10 - The State of the Industry

Literary agent Eric Ruben will offer an insider's take on the state of our ever-turbulent industry.

March 13 - MARCH SOCIAL MEDIA MADNESS

Julie Hennrikus will talk about using social media (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.) to build communities of readers and supporters to advance your career.

Julie is current president of the New England chapter of Sisters in Crime and co-chair of the 2013 New England Crime Bake. As J.A. Hennrikus, she has had short stories published in the Level Best Books anthologies DEAD CALM, THIN ICE, and BLOOD MOON. Her master's thesis was on narrative voice in the works of Agatha Christie and their contribution to the genre.

February 13 - THE P WORD

Do you have what it takes to become a publisher and bring your own material to market? Moderator Steve Ulfelder leads a panel (consisting of Judy Copek, Paula Munier, and CJ West) through a discussion of this complicated topic.
 

January 9 - POVs on POV

A panel of experienced writers discuss the various pros, cons, and challenges of the POVs they typically employ in their work.  

December 12 - MURDER IN WELLESLEY

"On Halloween morning in 1999, Mabel Greineder was savagely murdered along a wooded trail in the well-heeled community of Wellesley. As the shock following the brutal killing slowly subsided, the community was further shaken when the focus of the investigation turned to her husband, Dirk Greineder, a prominent physician and family man who was soon revealed to be leading a secret double life involving prostitutes, pornography, and trysts solicited through the Internet." 

Join former lead Homicide detective Marty Foley and Boston Herald reporter Tom Framer as they discuss the case.

October 10 - WRITING BELIEVABLE COPS

Retired Oakland police detective Brian Thiem reveals the secrets of writing cops, drawing upon 30 years's experience in law enforcement, he assocation with Talcott Notch Literary Agency, his MFA training, and his own writing. 

June 13 - CELEBRATE THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Come to the June 13th meeting where we'll honor all those who have published in the past MWA year  (July 2011 thru June 2012).

MAY 9 - AUTHOR IDOL

Have you ever wondered what goes through the head of an agent who is reading the first pages of your manuscript? What are they looking for? What do they like? And, most importantly, what causes them to stop reading?

At our next MWA meeting on May 9th, you'll have a chance to find out, as we host a session of author idol with a panel of three local agents.

APRIL 11 - SCENE ONE: Every Writer's Guide to Writing Story Openings that Sell!

Join us and writer, editor, and publishing exec turned literary agent Paula Munier as she reveals the secrets of SCENE ONE: Every Writer's Guide to Writing Story Openings that Sell! In today's past-paced cacophony of media, you need to grab your reader's attention within 140 characters. Whether you're looking to land an agent, find a publisher/production company, or dazzle your writer's group, you need an opening scene that's compelling. Based on 20 years of experience reviewing the first pages of novels, scripts, and memoirs, Paula's approach works for all kinds of stories. 

MARCH 14 - Advice from Two Edgar Nominees

Come listen to Edgar nominees Leonard Rosen and Steve Ulfelder talk about their experiences on the way to the top.

FEBRUARY 8 - A Short Panel for A Short Month

Leslie Wheeler will moderate a panel of award-winning short story writers: Mark Ammons, Stephen D. Rogers, Mo Walsh, and Fred Waterman. 

JANUARY 11 - Forensic Chemical Analysis for Mystery Writers

CSI gets it wrong, but it doesn’t mean you have to. Learn from an expert analytical chemist and mystery writer how to write truthfully about forensic chemical analyses. Learn how infrared spectroscopy is used to analyze controlled substances and trace evidence collected at crime scenes such as hairs, fibers, particles, and tape. See how a device called a gas chromatography-mass spectrometer analyzes blood and urine for traces of drugs…and poison. Discover how DNA profiling really works. Get your science right to make your writing more believable.

Dr. Brian C. Smith is an analytical chemist and mystery writer. He teaches forensic scientists how to analyze trace evidence and controlled substances. The NYPD, DEA, and the Minnesota Bureau of Incarceration are among his clients. Dr. Smith founded his consulting and training business Spectros Associates in 1992. He has authored a mystery featuring forensic private eye Dr. Jack Diamond, which is still in search of an agent and publisher. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Dartmouth College.
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DECEMBER 14 - THE AGENT'S ROLE IN THE E-BOOK WORLD

Eric W. Ruben (The Ruben Agency) will talk about the shifting roles of the agent in the brave new world of e-publishing.

OCTOBER 12 - PUTTING THE MYSTERY IN HISTORY

A mystery panel of historical mystery writers. 

JUNE 8 - Year End Party and the Year in Review

Come and honor all those who have published in the past MWA year, July, 2010 thru June, 2011. 

MAY 11 - You Have the Right to Remain Silent

Detective Sergeant Thomas Ward has spent the over twenty-eight years as a Brookline Police Officer. Over the years he's worked in-Drug Unit, Gang Violence Unit, Sexual Assault Unit, and Domestic/Violent Crimes) working with the Boston Police, State Police, FBI, DEA, ICE, Postal Inspectors and the United States District Attorney's Office. He has documented interviews and interrogations of hundreds of suspects, witnesses, and victims, and has been involved in well over 400 arrests that have included the most serious offenses. He spent 3 years assigned to the Boston Police Youth Violence Strike Force and over 2 years working with the FBI on a organized crime case resulting in the prosecution of 5 defendants. He's testified in county, supreme, and federal courts. He's also published three short stories:  ALL ROADS LEAD, PRIVILEGE, and THAT PARTICULAR TATTOO.

APRIL 13 - Character-Building Workshop

Details to follow.

MARCH 9 - The Mystery of War

Nicholas Sarantakes will talk about the Naval War College, its rich history, and what it has to offer for writers. The NWC has an impressive archives and library which is open to the public, and would be useful for the many mystery writers who develop characters with military backgrounds (Nelson DeMille, Michael Connelly). It also has the JAG school with mock trials and training for military lawyers. They have a wonderful speaker series where experts talk about military/foreign policy. The Wargame Department runs simulations of past and future wars. There's much more to learn, so come and join us at the Brookline Library.

FEBRUARY 9 - A Twisted Tinseltown Tale

Joe Burke will discuss the A-to-Z process of self-publishing his novel HOW HOLLYWOOD KILLED JFK.

JANUARY 12 - Cancelled due to snow

DECEMBER 8 - Psychic Investigator

Donna DiPietro will discuss her psychic abilities, challenges, and her work for the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.

OCTOBER 13 - The Paths We Choose

Lloyd L. Corricelli is a graduate of the University of Lowell (now UMASS Lowell) with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. He served eight years on active duty in the United States Air Force as a "SAC Trained Killer" with the Security Police and as a Special Agent with the Office of Special Investigations. He rose to the rank of Captain before separating as part of the Cold War "peace dividend."

After leaving the Air Force, he worked in the film and television industry in Orlando, FL where his credits included the sci-fi television series "seaQuest 2032" and the Jodie Foster film "Contact." It was during this time that Lloyd began to write screenplays. One of his very first, a vampire story called "Dark Millennium" was optioned by the film production company that made the series "Swamp Thing" and "Superboy." Though never produced, it provided him a great deal of experience in writing. He also won the best screenplay award at the 2000 Kissimmee Film Festival.

Switching to novels in 2002, Lloyd's first book, the Ronan Marino mystery entitled "Two Redheads & A Dead Blonde" was released in 2009. The next book in the Ronan Marino Mystery Series series called "Chasing Curves" followed in July 2010. In 2011, Lloyd plans to release the third Ronan book "The Vicious Circle" and an unrelated book called "Three Chords & The Truth" which he says is about the paths we choose to take and how it affects the lives of those around us.

MWA/NE Events

Annual New England Crime Bake

Meg Gardiner is the Guest of Honor at the 2013 New England Crime Bake, held again at The Boston/Dedham Hilton. Crime Bake, co-sponsored with Sisters in Crime, draws guests and attendees from all over the East Coast and beyond.

Member Events