Sisters in Crime is an organization that has 3,600 members in 48 countries worldwide,[1] offering networking, advice and support to mystery authors. Members are authors, readers, publishers, agents, booksellers and librarians bound by their affection for the mystery genre and their support of women who write mysteries.
Events leading up to the formation of Sisters in Crime included a conference at Hunter College on Women in the Mystery Genre in 1986, at which Sara Paretsky spoke on growing use of graphic sadism against women in mysteries; a letter by Phyllis Whitney to the Mystery Writers of America, pointing out that women were not being nominated for awards; an initial meeting of interested women at the October 1986 Bouchercon World Mystery Convention in Baltimore convened by Sara Paretsky; and a meeting at Sandra Scoppettone's loft during the annual Edgars week, at which the organization was formed.[2][3][4][5]
The Sisters in Crime mission statement:
"To combat discrimination against women in the mystery field, educate publishers and the general public as to inequities in the treatment of female authors, raise the level of awareness of their contributions to the field, and promote the professional advancement of women who write mysteries."
Presidents of the organization have included P. M. Carlson.[6]
See also
References
- ^ "Sisters in Crime (official site)". Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ^ "A history of Sisters in Crime". Sisters in Crime website. Archived from the original on 25 August 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ^ Barbara Fister, 'Sisters in Crime at the Quarter Century: Advocacy, Community, and Change' A paper presented at the International Popular Culture Association Annual Meeting, San Antonio, Texas, April 23, 2011
- ^ Carolyn G. Hart "Sisters in Crime" The Oxford Companion to Crime and Mystery Writing. Rosemary Herbert. Oxford University Press 1999. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. National Library of Australia. 5 September 2012 <http://www.oxfordreference.com.rp.nla.gov.au/views/ENTRY.html?subview=Main&entry=t190.e0606>
- ^ 'Historical sketch, Sisters in Crime, Records, 1976-2004 (bulk 1988-1998). Manuscript Collection 1105, Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries. accessed 4 September 2012
- ^ Kathleen Gregory Klein (1994). Great Women Mystery Writers: Classic to Contemporary. Greenwood Press. ISBN 978-0-313-28770-1.