My People, My Writing Groups - Guest Post!
- J.H. Jones
- Apr 15
- 3 min read
It's such a delight to welcome you to a guest post by Kaye George. Kaye is an award-winning short story writer and a novelist. Among her many novels are several mystery series, including the Imogene Duckworthy humorous Texas series; the Cressa Carraway musical mystery series; the Neanderthal People of the Wind series; the Fat Cat cozy series; and the Vintage Sweets cozy series. Of note, April 15 is a special day for Kaye and we're honored to be part of the launch of her first thriller/suspense novel, Someone Is Out There, which is sure to be a top seller! Kaye is passionate about writing groups and writing communities, as you'll read from her post. And don't miss her author Facebook page for author updates.
I slaved away in obscurity for some years, writing alone and collecting rejections slips. Also, I should mention, working full-time and raising three children with my husband, who often had jobs that took him away for a week or so at a time.
The day eventually came when I retired from programming, the kids were all grown, and the husband left his corporate job. We moved from Dallas to a very small town in NW Texas. I had belonged to a Sisters in Crime chapter in Dallas, but that’s when I began, in earnest to look for other mystery writers. I had plenty of friends, but, let’s face it, we writers are different. We don’t discuss recipes unless it’s for including in a cozy. Social relationships are to be explored for what can go wrong or lead to homicide. You can only get into a good murdery discussion with other murder writers.
The only writing group I could find there was for romance authors. I contacted them and they were very nice. Even gave me some books. The one I started reading had two characters having sex in the car on the first page, in the elevator on the third page, and on the office desk on the fourth page. No, these were not my people. No one died.
I don’t remember what led me there, but I got to the Guppies chapter on Sisters in Crime, all online. Yes! That’s what I needed. It’s not an exaggeration to say that I’m a published author because of that group. Nor to say that’s where I found what are now some of my best friends.
The opportunity to give back came when they needed a treasurer. I did that for several years, then stepped up to president for a term. I’m still active in the group, helping with the Fantasy Agent project, which was started by me and Elaine Douts (though I think it was her idea), and critiquing short stories as often as I can (and getting mine critiqued, too), as well as contributing to the discussions.
Most recently, I’m writing a column for the newsletter on the many benefits of that group to the members. I love doing that. They are my people!
Kaye George is an award-winning short story writer and a novelist, as well as the editor of several short story anthologies. As a member of Sisters in Crime, Kaye has been an active leader of the online Guppies chapter, which is dedicated to assisting and supporting unpublished and newly published mystery writers. She also is active with Sisters in Crime's Smoking Guns Knoxville, Tennessee chapter, which she helped organize.
On April 15, after 16 mystery novels, her first thriller/suspense, Someone Is Out There, was published by Rowan Prose Publishing.
I met Kaye at a Sisters in Crime meeting and later reconnected through SINC Guppies. She invited me to join Austin Mystery Writers. Then she decided the four unpublished members of the group should do more than meet and critique and wait for someday. She herded us along through writing short stories and editing and submission and ecstasy over landing a publisher (devoting time she might have spent on other projects; she's never said that--I did). In short, I'm Published because of three groups and Kaye's generosity as friend and mentor. (PSA: Kaye's book CHOKE is laugh-aloud funny. There's this letter opener . . . )
About those recipies...Mammoth Jerky for the Tribe from your Neaderthal series is still one of my favorites in Cozy Food: 128 Cozy Mystery Writers Share Their Favorite Recipes.
Thanks, Judy. Kaye's post made me laugh out loud... "No, these were not my people. No one died." (Funny because it is true.) And so touching when she found the Guppies. Yup, these were her people--and mine too ( ;
The SinC community is so supportive, and and no one more so than Kaye!