 Women’s Murder Club- James Patterson.
Reviewed by: Cecilia Jansink
James Patterson is the first author to have #1 new releases on both The New York Times adult and children’s bestseller lists at the same time. The man behind the Alex Cross novels, two of which have already been made into movies (Along Came a Spider and Kiss the Girls) and standalone thrillers such as Swimsuit and Lifeguard has also captured the minds and imaginations of the younger generations with the adventures of Alien Hunter Daniel X, the Superhero-Esq Maximum Ride (soon to hit the big screen) and the new Witch and Wizard series ensuring a fan base that will hopefully keep his fingers to the keyboard for many years to come.
Above all, for me, the Women’s Murder Club series is the standout from all the amazing, vibrant character’s Patterson has brought to life. Women’s Murder Club brings us four strong and independent women all with a deep interest in the law and order field who together solve crimes and put the bad guys away in San Francisco, often piecing together the clues over a round of drinks and Mexican food at Susie’s.
Our four are composed of :
Homicide Detective Lindsay Boxer who often feels like the leader of our fab four. Lindsay is a second generation cop with a background in Sociology. You get the feeling Lindsay has a big chip on her shoulder, but the more you get to know her you realise she is determined to prove herself in what is still somewhat of a boy’s club.
Up and coming San Francisco Chronicle reporter Cindy Thomas sometimes feels a little left out of the loop, although the rest of the gang trust her implicitly there are some thing’s about an investigation the press can’t be told even off the record.
Chief Medical Examiner Claire Washburn juggles work with a hectic family life. Claire is often the wise mother figure of the group and helps keep the others grounded.
In the first three novels the group is rounded out by Attorney Jill Bernhardt. I don’t want to give away any spoilers but Jill leaves the group in tragic circumstances. We are then introduced to young and ambitious District Attorney Yuki Castellano. Half Japanese and half Italian/American, Yuki always seems to be in high gear and given to speaking at 90MPH.
 There are nine novels so far in the series:
1st to Die A serial killer is stalking and murdering newlyweds on their honeymoon. The women join forces to solve the case and the Women’s Murder Club is born.
2nd Chance Family members of San Francisco cops are found dead and the women must work quickly to track the killer down before he finds his next victim and strikes again
3rd Degree A deadly terror group begins their killing spree by blowing up  an expensive townhouse – with the family still inside. And, a member of the club is in some trouble of her own – will Lindsay be too late to save her?
4th of July Lindsay finds herself facing police brutality charges after a botched arrest. She heads out of town and straight into the middle of a killing
The 5th Horseman Hospital patients are dying mysteriously hours before they’re due to be released. When the women begin their investigation into the
The 6th Target Someone opens fire on unsuspecting pedestrians and one of the club is caught in the middle. As she struggles for her life, the others must work fast to track down the madman. Meanwhile, somebody is targeting children and their nannies. As the kidnappers await their  ransom, the women must find the mastermind before more children are harmed.
7th Heaven The son of a former governor disappears and prostitute Junie Moon confesses to the crime leaving Yuki Castellano to face the media circus surrounding the prosecution. But is Junie Moon really guilty? Meanwhile, a serial arsonist is torching beautiful homes and their occupants – but something doesn’t add up. Lindsay and the gang must find the truth.
The 8th Confession A killer is picking off the super-rich one by one without leaving a shred of evidence behind. A street preacher and a patron saint to the homeless is brutally beaten and left to die. And, danger strikes close to home when an unexpected romance threatens to tear the girls apart. In this installment, the stakes are high but the truth is  shrouded. Who will confess?
The 9th Judgment A young mother and her infant child are ruthlessly gunned down while returning to their car in the garage of a shopping mall. With no witnesses, Lindsay and the girls have only one piece of evidence – a cryptic message scrawled across the windshield in blood-red lipstick.
The next installment, 10th Anniversary, is due for release on May 2nd 2011: Detective Lindsay Boxer’s long-awaited wedding celebration becomes a distant memory when she is called to investigate a horrendous crime – a badly injured teenage girl is left for dead, and her newborn baby is nowhere to be found. Lindsay discovers that not only is there no trace of the criminals but the victim may be keeping secrets as well.
 So if you like your crime solved with spunk, integrity, girl-power and a healthy dose of unwavering friendship along the way, check out the Women’s Murder Club and become an honorary member and gain yourself four new friends to brighten your day.
The series was also adapted for TV in 2007 it was only a short run and not as enjoyable as the written version but still worth a watch if you can find it on DVD.
There is also a range of Women’s Murder Club video games available through iPlay.
 Inside the Two Worlds of Kathryn Fox
Interview by: Kylie Fox
Kathryn Fox is a medical practitioner with a special interest in forensic medicine giving her an insight into the minds of the criminals and the victims that she writes about.
Kathryn’s first novel, “Malicious Intent” received international acclaim and won the 2005 Davitt Award for adult fiction.
Since, Kathryn has written another four novels which have all hit the best seller lists.
Her latest, starring the popular character Dr Anya Crichton, is “Death Mask” and deals with footballers behaving very badly. See Mandy’s review on this page.
Kathryn spends her spare time (in between writing best sellers and practicing medicine!) running the “Read for Life” project which provides children’s books and resources to indigenous and remote communities where poor literacy levels are directly correlated with poor health and increased infant death rates.
Kathryn was kind enough to answer a few questions.
KYLIE Parallels are always going to be drawn between yourself and your character, Dr Anya Crichton. Is this something that bothers you now that her own personality has been so well defined across your novels?
KATHRYN First, may I say, I am definitely not Anya. She has a degree of clinical detachment that’s necessary for longevity in her job, whereas I got burnt out because I couldn’t reach that balance between caring and maintaining objectivity.
In some ways, I wish Anya had more social skills. Conversations would flow more quickly and information exchange would be a lot simpler. If she were more outgoing, she could have had a romance by now!
KYLIE You say that you believe evil really does exist as an absolute entity. Is it your work in medicine, your research, or personal experience that leads you to this conclusion?
KATHRYN I was sixteen when I read ‘In Cold Blood’ by Truman Capote. The real crime behind that book made me question whether evil really did exist.
Two men drove across the US to a family they didn’t know because of a rumour they’d heard in prison that there may have been a safe and some money in the home. They brutally assaulted and murdered the Clutters – both parents, a son and daughter. They left with less than fifty dollars, from memory.
Once caught, the killers coldly described the murders, demonstrating a complete lack of empathy for the victims. They continued to show no remorse up to their executions.
Since then, through medicine, I’ve seen numerous psychopaths – in addition to those in prison. Some have attained success in business, law, politics, teaching and even medicine and can be incredibly cruel to those around them.
I’ve met a couple of children who appear to lack any sense of empathy or conscience and are cruel to animals or other kids for no other reason but sheer pleasure. They were both at primary school.
Lots of people are competitive from an early age, but the ones I’m talking about have a true killer extinct and seem capable of things that could only be described as evil. The two who tortured and killed 2 yr old Jamie Bulger’s, are examples.
Obviously, IQ, circumstance, opportunity, home life and other environmental factors come into play, but sometimes there seems to be no other explanation. In some individuals, evil thoughts lead to evil actions.
 KYLIE ‘Death Mask’ explores American footballers behaving badly – sexual assaults, the abuse of power and the ensuing cover-ups. This has become an even more poignant issue in Australia since the book’s release. What inspired you to write this particular story and; what have the reactions from the sporting world been like?
KATHRYN I’ve seen women who’ve been raped by a group of men from their local club team, and ones who have been assaulted by groups of professional players, of all football codes. There appears to be a culture of degrading women that is more apparent in male contact-sports, and part of that culture is to close ranks and protect each other.
 The problem also occurs around the world. Ice Hockey and Football of all codes are rife with similar scandals in the US, England, Canada, Europe and Australia.
I imagined footballers wouldn’t pay any attention to Death Mask, and possibly criticise it, but I’ve had the opposite reaction! In fact, a chairman of a Professional Rugby League club contacted me and asked if I’d speak to their young players about appropriate sexual behaviour, sexually acquired infections and symptoms of significant head injuries. He’d heard me interviewed on radio, read Death Mask and was impressed with how I had captured the real football culture.
I’m also in talks with a representative from the national league about more educational input. It’s impressive that people really are working hard to stop the bad and illegal behaviour by sports men, but there is a long way to go.
KYLIE How do you think that the focus and manner of crime fiction has changed over the years? What do you see as the future for crime fiction?
KATHRYN Crime fiction has definitely become more science-based, as the public’s appetite for all things forensic has shown. Unfortunately, at the same time, it seems that books, tv and games have all become more graphic and explicit. There’s more extreme violence, explicit sex and gore on screen and in books, which does bother me.
Crime books are human interest stories. They should have intriguing and cogent plots, three-dimensional characters who engage the reader, and an exciting denouement. Above all, the reader should care what happens next, not feel as if they need a pair of tongs to turn the pages.
KYLIE You take your characters into their (and our) worst nightmares. Is there a point where you draw the line, a story you won’t tell?
KATHRYN My simple rule is: write what I love to read. That means I won’t glamorise criminals or write about children being physically and sexually abused.
 Any violence or sex has to be essential to the story and has to leave as much to the readers’ imagination as possible. Showing the characters’ emotions is far more powerful for me.
KYLIE What’s next for Kathryn Fox?
KATHRYN I’m currently working on my sixth novel. This one is about crimes committed on cruise ships and the culture of the Cruise Line industry.
I’m still working as a victim’s advocate and running the Indigenous literacy project, Read For Life, so life is pretty busy!
NOVELS BY KATHRYN FOX
MALICIOUS INTENT ISBN: 978-0340895849
WITHOUT CONSENT ISBN: 978-0340895863
SKIN AND BONE ISBN: 978-0340933084
 BLOOD BORN ISBN: 978-0340933091
DEATH MASK ISBN: 978-0340919064
http://www. kathrynfox.com
 FRINGE
Reviewed by: Cecilia Jansink
Fringe is arguably one of the most popular shows currently on the small screen. With 2,195,196 fans on just one of the Facebook pages dedicated to the show, along with forums filled with discussions on the plot twist and turns, Fringe has fans of both the Sci-Fi and Crime genres hooked.
We don’t often see this kind of crime; to mysteries to sink our teeth into and puzzle over while providing Sci-Fi fans plenty of new theories to ponder, and a Parallel Universe to explore. The inclusion of cult favourite, Lenord Nimoy in a recurring guest role gives us a good old fan-squee!
Brought to us by the combined creative genius of J.J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci the series focuses on the investigations of the “Fringe Division” of the FBI in Boston, Massachusetts under the watchful eye of Homeland Security. The team comprised of Special Agent Olivia Dunham, Dr Walter Bishop and Peter Bishop use a unique blend of “fringe science” and detective skills to solve some unimaginable and terrifying murders that are often scientific in origin. The blend of the here and now, and forays into the past, keep the show fresh and edgy. The past relationships of some of the main characters in particular, help give the storyline a deeper realist feel and a separate overlaying storyline that in my opinion often helps soften some of the more terrifying aspects of the cases the team handle.
From Dr Bishop’s hilarious one liners, to Peter’s dodgy connections and mostly untapped genius potential, to Dunham’s search to uncover the secrets hidden in her past, Fringe will have you addicted and enthralled right from the first episode. One of the best and freshest shows to hit our screens yet. Give yourself the Fringe experience and open your mind to a whole new world.
Season 1 and 2 are out now on DVD and season 3 is shown on the Go network Wednesday nights.
Main characters
Anna Torv as Olivia Dunham (Season 1—Present), a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent assigned to investigate the spread of unexplained phenomena. Torv also plays Olivia’s counterpart in the parallel universe, dubbed by the characters of the prime universe as “Fauxlivia”.
Joshua Jackson as Peter Bishop (Season 1—Present), a jack-of-all-trades who is brought in as a civilian consultant by Olivia to work with his estranged father, Walter. Peter is actually Walternate’s son from the parallel universe, abducted by Walter shortly after his own Peter’s death at a young age.
John Noble as Doctor Walter Bishop (Season 1—Present), a former government researcher in the field of fringe science who was seen as a mad scientist and institutionalized after a lab accident in which his assistant was killed. Noble acts as the parallel universe’s Walter, named “Walternate” by the characters in the prime universe. Walternate rose to power as the U.S. Secretary of Defense and instituted the war against the prime universe after the abduction of his son Peter.
Lance Reddick as Phillip Broyles (Season 1—Present), a Homeland Security agent and Senior-Agent-In-Charge (SAIC) who runs the Fringe Division. Reddick also performs the role of the parallel universe Broyles, who finds sympathy for Olivia and sacrifices himself during season 3 to allow her to escape the parallel universe.
Jasika Nicole as Astrid Farnsworth (Season 1—Present), an FBI Junior Agent and assistant to Olivia and Walter.
 Blair Brown as Nina Sharp (Season 1—Present), the Chief Operating Officer of Massive Dynamic, a leading firm in science and technology research and longtime friend of Walter and William.
Recurring characters
Kirk Acevedo as Charlie Francis (Season 1—Season 2: episodes 1-4, 11. Recurring thereafter), FBI Senior Agent, Olivia’s colleague and close friend, and the second-in-command of the Fringe Division before his demise. Though Charlie was killed early in the second season, Acevedo reprises the parallel universe version of Charlie.
Mark Valley as John Scott (Season 1, episodes 1-13), Olivia’s former FBI partner and secret lover, and whose death in ‘Pilot’ leads Olivia to join the Fringe division.
Michael Cerveris as The Observer (Season 1—Present), one of several “Observers”, a traveling chronicler and enforcer of extraordinary events. He appears in one form or another, usually in an Alfred Hitchcock-like cameo, in every episode to date. He is referred to as “September” by other Observers.
Kevin Corrigan as Sam Weiss (Season 2—Present), Olivia’s Yoda-like amateur psychologist and manager of a Boston-area bowling alley.
Seth Gabel as Lincoln Lee (Season 2—Present), an agent of the parallel universe Fringe Division.
Michael Gaston as Sanford Harris (Season 1), an old nemesis of Olivia’s assigned to assess Fringe Division.
Ari Graynor as Rachel Dunham (Season 1—Present), Olivia’s sister.
Jared Harris as David Robert Jones (Season 1), leader of the ZFT cult.
Chance Kelly as Mitchell Loeb (Season 1), an FBI agent and mole working for ZFT.
Ryan McDonald as Brandon Fayette (Season 2—Present), a scientist at Massive Dynamic.
Leonard Nimoy as William Bell (Season 1—2), Walter’s former lab partner, the founder of Massive Dynamic.
Lily Pilblad as Ella Blake (Season 1—Present), Olivia’s niece, the daughter of Rachel.
Sebastian Roché as Thomas Jerome Newton (Season 2—3), the leader of the shapeshifters, human/machine hybrids and undercover agents from the parallel universe.
 Harry’s Law
By David. E. Kelly and Lawrence Broch
Reviewed by: Belinda Hamilton
This is a fabulous new show to grace our TV screens at 9:30 on a Sunday evening.
There are so many crime/law type shows on TV right now that one more would probably have you wanting to jump off a building. Harry’s Law however, is the other side of the coin. Filled to the brim with underdogs being given a second chance, witty repartee, and feel good moments. It really is my type of law show.
Harriet Korn (Kathy Bates), a disillusioned patent lawyer, is fired from her firm and has to make it on her own in the legal world. Her first case literally falls from the heavens when Malcolm Davies’ (Aml Ameen), suicide attempt is thwarted by an awning and Bates as his landing mat.
Her coworker, Adam Branch (Nathan Corddry) comes along in an equally unusual way, when he hits her with his fully loaded Mercedes.
Along with a workspace full of high end label shoes and a shoe addicted secretary (Brittney Snow) we’ve got the winning combination making up Harry’s Law.
Though we’ve only had the pleasure of one episode so far on Australian TV, I have great faith that the ten episodes long first season will be the jewel in the crown of the recently quality lacking channel nine.
Cast of Characters
Harriet Korn – Kathy Bates
Adam Branch – Nathan Corddry
Jenna Backstrom – Brittney Snow
Malcolm Bavies – Alm Ameen
Damien Winslow – Johnny Ray Gill
Tommy Jefferson – Christopher McDonald
Chunhua Lao – Irene Keng
Rachael Miller – Jordana Spiro
Delighted to say I’ve been guest blogging over at the Paperback Dolls about my favourite obsession!
And here is a rather cool review for Sharp Turn.
Sharp Turn is the second book in this series about Tara Sharp, a private investigator of sorts. Tara is a sexy, car loving, West Australian girl with the unusal ability to read auras. The series is similar to the Janet Evanovich books, but with a unique Australian flavour. Sharp Turn has motorbikes, gorgeous love interests, an assistant with narcolepsy and a runaway teenager. Fun, action packed and well written, they are a joy to read for all fans of sassy women heroines. — Leanne, Kiama Library
 Veronica Mars
Review by: Amy Parker
If you asked me which two prematurely-cancelled shows I’d bring back on the air, I wouldn’t have to think. One would be Joss Whedon’s Firefly. The other would be Veronica Mars.
I mean, a show where a father tells his daughter to ‘take backup’ on a run to shoot some surveillance photos at a motel, which culminates in the revelation that ‘Backup’ is the name of the family dog? Absolutely classic.
Anyone I Know in It?
Probably! This is what Kristin Bell and Amanda Seyfried were doing before they really hit Hollywood. And if you’re a Buffy fan, you’ll have no trouble spotting a couple of familiar faces: Alyson Hannigan and Charisma Carpenter (Willow and Cordelia) are both recurring characters. Oh, and Jason Dohring, who was in Moonlight? He’s a regular cast member.
The Setup
Veronica Mars is a wisecracking high school student with a very sharp tongue and an even sharper wit. Neptune, the fictitious community she lives in, is divided into two halves: the ridiculously rich, and the working class who clean their houses and sell them groceries.
The same applies to Neptune High, Veronica’s school. The popular kids all have wealthy or high-status families. Veronica was permitted into the rich kids’ social circle because her father was the town’s sheriff, until Keith Mars was run out of office following a scandal. The series picks up after this event: Veronica is ostracised at school, and her father is now a private detective.
 The case that ruined Keith Mars’ career is the murder of Veronica’s best friend, Lilly. Most of the rich families in town owe their fortunes to Lilly’s father, Jake Kane, and when Veronica’s father had Jake arrested for Lilly’s murder, it spelled the end of his career as sheriff.
Veronica holds regular conversations with Lilly, her dead best friend, throughout season one of the show. It’s one of the quirkier traits, along with Veronica’s postmodern narration of certain events, but it’s fun, and it works. When she finds evidence that the man convicted of the murder is innocent, she begins looking into the murder herself, to try to salvage her father’s credibility.
Cool Stuff in Every Episode
This is the underlying plot of the first season of the show, but there’s an investigation-of-the-week formula, too. Veronica often helps her father out with his PI business, taking surveillance photos and running internet searches, and when word gets out around school, some of the students pay her to look into their own personal cases.
The relationship between Veronica and her single-parent father is at times heartbreaking, often humorous and always touching, and it really makes the show. Kristin Bell and Enrico Colantoni are a very convincing family.
Veronica’s friend, a new student named Wallace who was taped to the flagpole outside the school on his first morning, is a fantastic sidekick, and later they’re joined by a computer genius named Mac. And let’s not forget the head of the local teenage biker gang, Weevil, who Veronica clashes with early on, then later befriends.
Looking for Love?
And yeah, there’s romance. Before Lilly’s murder, Veronica was dating her best friend’s brother, Duncan Kane. He broke up with her after the murder, and hasn’t spoken to her since, but during the series they begin to interact again, slowly.
By the end of the show, you’ll be rooting for a very different romantic pairing, though. I’m not gonna spoil it, but there’s a sexual tension between Veronica and the guy I’m talking about that leaps off the screen!
 You Said This Was Season One?
Yup – and there are two more seasons afterward. The mystery of Lilly’s murder is dealt with by the end of season one, and season two involves a new mystery. A school bus filled with students crashes from a high cliff into the ocean, and there’s only one survivor. Veronica works to discover the truth behind the crash while her father attempts to be re-elected as the town’s sheriff: was it an accident or sabotage?
Season three takes place after Veronica’s graduation from high school, in her first year of college. The mystery involves a rapist on the college’s campus, and due to the change of setting, the season falls a little flat. If you really want to leave Veronica Mars on a high, stop watching after season two. Otherwise, don’t expect too much of the final season.
Any Final Words?
I think Max, who blogs on Marianne’s Burn Bright young adult site, said it best when he handed over the DVDs to me: “Paris Hilton’s in the first couple of episodes, but it’s okay – she’s only got a small part, and she’s not in it for long. Other than that, you’ll love it.”
Enough said!
 LADY KILLER
Ellen Connolly and Candy Sutton
Interview by: Marianne Delacourt
Ellen Connolly and Candy Sutton are the authors of “Lady Killer” – the story of how conman Bruce Burrell kidnapped and murdered rich women for their money.
Ellen is a former Sydney Morning Herald journalist who now freelances for The Guardian, the SMH, and a variety of magazines, including Marie Claire.
Candy is a former Sun Herald journalist who also freelances for newspapers and magazines.
Both followed the case of Bruce Burrell from the beginning, as journalists, reporting on the disappearance of Kerry Whelan. “Lady Killer” won the 2010 Davitt Award for True Crime.
Here, Marianne discusses with the authors the trials and tribulations of writing a true crime – particularly as a collaboration.
Marianne: You’re both respected journalists with busy careers. What made you decide to embark on this book about Bruce Burrell? What so captured you about the story?
Ellen and Candy: We felt that this story needed to be told.
Sydney mother-of-three Kerry Whelan, and elderly widow, Dot Davis, had disappeared without a trace, and the main suspect, Bruce Burrell, remained a free man.
As journalists working for major Sydney newspapers, we found ourselves covering the inquest into their deaths, and came to know well the grieving families, and also the detective leading the investigation, Dennis Bray.
We also witnessed the bravado and arrogance of Bruce Burrell who, despite the mounting evidence, was certain he was going to get away with his crimes.
Marianne: How did you go about finding your sources?
Candy and Ellen: Our first point of call was Kerry Whelan’s husband, Bernie, to ascertain whether he would be willing to contribute to the book and help us in our research. Once Bernie gave his full We also tracked down numerous witnesses who gave evidence in court, as well as friends and family of Kerry Whelan and Dottie Davis. Candy also spent some time in the Goulburn region, digging up Burrell’s background, and we managed to track down his ex-wife.
Marianne: Did you have any unsettling moments when you were doing your research?
Ellen and Candy: A few: Each of us had chased Bruce Burrell, at his place of work, or at the house at which he was staying in between court cases. Candy staked out his house three times and Ellen confronted him at the house following the hung jury decision in his first trial for Kerry’s murder, and he set his dog on her.
Also, Detective Inspector Bruce Couch, who led the search for Kerry Whelan and in earlier times had discovered the bodies of the backpackers (Ivan Milat’s victims). It was a lonely, eerie place strewn with the remnants of an old gold rush humpy community. When the Whelans and the members of the Davis family revisited Bungonia, we were there. It was an emotional moment.
Marianne: Did you uncover any new material about the crime?
Ellen and Candy: Yes. We unearthed a lot of material about Burrell’s past which cemented our view (and that of forensic psychiatrists) that he was a psychopath, starting off as a conman, rising to car thief and then murderer.
We uncovered evidence of police suspicions that Burrell may have killed a third person, an elderly man. Unfortunately, this was following publication, but if we get a chance to rewrite a new edition, or perhaps write a TV script of Lady Killer, we will certainly include it!
Marianne: Could you briefly describe the writing method you worked to with your collaboration?
Ellen and Candy: We drew up an outline of the book, a chapter list. We then selected which ones we wanted to write, based on where our individual strengths and knowledge lay in respect of all the story’s parts. We were mindful of not splitting the writing into two halves. We wanted the book to flow in one voice. So, lots of emailing and periodically getting together for a glass of wine to read each other’s work, and chat.
Marianne: Having done this once, would you do it again?
Ellen and Candy: In the right circumstances, yes. Putting the book together was an enormous challenge, involving many hours of work.
Each of us had full time jobs, and Lady Killer took over our lives for quite a while. That said, it was rewarding to have completed it and to lay down the facts for the people involved, the families, the police and crown prosecuting team.
Lady Killer
ISBN: 9781741751635
Published by: Allen and Unwin
 Scarlet Stiletto
Sisters in Crime Short Story Competition
Article by: Mandy Wrangles
< < < Hey, wouldn’t you love one of these?
Oh, no – it’s not just an ordinary, yet fabulous red shoe. It’s a Scarlet Stiletto trophy, one of only seventeen in existence, and it’s mine, all mine <cue evil, possessive laughter>.
Each year, Sisters in Crime Australia runs a short story competition for female crime writers, with the coveted shoe being the first prize, along with nice big cheque. The competition is open to everyone (as long as you’re a woman, of course) and is a fantastic springboard to fame and fortune in the crime-writing world. Ok, maybe just fame, or at least a little cred.
Past winners and category winners who’ve gone on to publication include Cate Kennedy (1st place twice!), Josephine Pennicot, Angela Savage, Alex Palmer and Liz Filluel. Even Tara Moss, Australia’s most popular crime writer, won the Young Writer’s Award in 1998. Our own Kylie Fox, the Tara Sharp Site Manager, won the Dorothy Porter Prize for Innovation last year, with her brilliant story ‘Poppies’ – a crime told in verse.
And yeah, I was lucky enough to win first place back in 2009 for my story ‘Persia Bloom’; and a Special Commendation last year for ‘Annie at the Beach’. Personally, I have to say winning the award changed my life in a huge way. So many doors in the publishing world were suddenly opened, as well as other opportunities like speaking engagements, radio and writing blogs and reviews for particular websites J
This year, submissions for entries are closing a month earlier than usual due to Sisters in Crime’s 20th Anniversary Convention – SheKilda Melbourne 2011. So here’s your warning girls… get writing NOW. Your story needs to be in by July 30th 2011.
So, how does it all work? Well, first and foremost, you need to come up with a crime story that’s 5000 words or less. It has to have a female protagonist (main character). And… that’s about it.
Apart from the HarperCollins Publishers 1st Prize, the Kill City 2nd Prize and the Readings 3rd Prize, (valid for all entries), there are a number of categories you can write for, such as:
- The Allen & Unwin Young Writer’s Award, for writers 18 and under (proof of age is required with entry).
- The Kerry Greenwood Malice Domestic Award.
- The Cate Kennedy Award or for Best New Talent (for writers who are unpublished, or have not won a category prize in the past).
- The Dorothy Porter Award for Innovation.
- Benn’s Books Best Investigative Award.
- Pulp Fiction Funniest Crime Award.
- Scriptworks Great Film Idea Award.
- The Olvar Wood Late Starter’s Award, for writers 50+ (proof of age is required with entry).
… and announcing a brand new one for this year…
- The Clan Destine Press Award for Cross-Genre.
You can download the entry form and terms and conditions here – www.sistersincrime.org.au
My advice?
- Get started now. A good story isn’t generally born overnight or in one or two drafts.
- Always, always get someone else to read your work. No, not your mum. Someone who isn’t scared to point out flaws in the plot, or typos. Read your story aloud – it’s easier to find mistakes that way.
- Never written crime before? Not to worry, neither had I before ‘Persia Bloom’.
 Write what you do know, and weave a crime into it.
- Protagonist does not mean victim – as in a woman is murdered and a male cop solves the crime. Protagonist means main character / hero(ine) / anti-hero of the story. So yes, you can have a female victim – but the cop/whoever who solves the crime should be a woman or women; and of course you can have a female criminal – if she’s the main character.
- Be original. The judging panel are intelligent and are very widely read in the area of crime fiction. They don’t take lightly to plagiarism, even if it’s an episode of CSI.
- Always remember, it’s easier to divorce him than stab him with kitchen scissors. Make your story believable. That being said, Clan Destine Press have their new Cross-Genre Award this year. Think vampires and zombies and time travel with a twist.
- You can enter two stories per year and those stories can be ‘entered’ in as many categories as you think your story is eligible for. The chance of winning one of them gets better!
The award night itself is a blast, and each year SinC-Oz have a special guest presenter, last year it was Nadine Garner from City Homicide, and the year before it was Catherine McClements from Rush.
Finally, what are you waiting for? Get writing and good luck! (but not too much good luck, because, you know – I’d like to win a second shoe!)
 More Bizarre Laws From Around the Globe
Article by: Kylie Fox
Even when the laws have been written down, they ought not always remain unchanged. Aristotle.
Or maybe they should! It would seem that the ridiculous laws that abound on the books around the world kept up all amused the first time around, so I’ve compiled a second collection.
FRANCE
France may be considered the romance capital of the world, but you’d best keep that romance away from train stations. It is actually against the law to kiss at railway stations. So much for the teary, passionate goodbyes!
Lovers of George Orwell also have to be careful in France – it is prohibited to name any pig Napoleon.
ENGLAND
In England, it is a capital offence to commit suicide. Guess what the penalty is? You guessed it – death! Huh?
Be careful while mailing those postcards if you visit England – sticking any stamp bearing the queen’s head on it upside down is considered an act of treason. To the tower!
MIDDLE EAST
Most middle eastern countries abide by the following law – After having sexual relations with a lamb, it is a mortal sin to eat its flesh!
I should think so too! Eating your sexual partner has to be a no-no, right? The fact that you can have sex with a lamb doesn’t raise any eyebrows at all?
SWITZERLAND
The Swiss must have issues with aiming accuracy when it gets late at night – one law states that no man may relieve himself while standing up after 10pm.
AUSTRALIA
In Western Australia it is illegal for any woman to crush beer cans between her breasts. Sorry ladies, you’ll have to find another party trick!
Despite the Australian national anthem declaring proudly ‘for those who’ve come across the seas, we’ve boundless plains to share”, policy states that anyone coming across those seas without a Visa will be kept in mandatory detention, generally far away from those boundless plains, while their refugee status is verified. Sometimes this process takes several years.
ALASKA
 Moose are forbidden from having sex on the streets of Alaska. Um, are you going to break them up?
CALIFORNIA, USA
Thinking of a shopping expedition on Hollywood Boulevard? Better be careful how many of your sheep you take with you. The law states that no more than 2000 sheep may be driven down Hollywood Boulevard at one time.
FORT THOMAS, KENTUCKY
In Fort Thomas it is illegal for your pet to molest a vehicle. All those hamsters with tyre fetishes or dogs with a hankering for exhaust pipes had best be on their guard.
INDONESIA
Indonesians take the phrase “knocking the head off” before a big date a tad too literally. The penalty for masturbation is decapitation!
CHINA
Life guards aren’t necessary in China. Rescuing a drowning person is deemed to be interfering with their fate and is punishable by the law.
The laws of the world couldn’t get any more bizarre right? I only wish that were true. For every stupid act a person commits, another even stupider law seems to be added to the law books.
 Medium
Review by: Cecilia Jansink
Medium blends crime with the supernatural in a thrilling edge-of-your-seat ride. The TV series stars Patrica Arquette as world-renowned medium and author, Allison Dubois, and is loosely based on her world. We follow Allison’s journey as she uses her gifts to help solve cases as part of the Phoenix District Attorney’s team of investigators. Not only do we get to join in on the hunt for the killer each episode, we also get an in-depth look at her home life with husband Joe and her three daughters – each with their own blossoming gifts.
What I liked most about Medium, apart from the obvious thrill of the chase and the chance to put my amateur sleuthing skills to the test, was the dignity and respect Allison’s gifts were treated with. Even those skeptical of the existence of such abilities will find something to love about Medium.
Whether it be the appeal of the eye candy that is Lee Scanlon, or Allison’s initial struggle to convince DA Devalos that she is indeed the real deal, or watching her scatter-brained brother come to terms with the fact that he has been bitten by whatever it is that caused Allison to be the way she is. The loving and realistic far- from-perfect relationship with husband, Joe, adds a nice heartwarming touch. Sadly, Medium was axed after the seventh season but it really is the kind of crime drama that’s worth hunting down on DVD or, at least, watching the re-runs.
Cast of Characters
Patricia Arquette Allison Dubois
Jake Weber Joe Dubois Allison’s husband
Miguel Sandoval Manuel Devalos Allison’s boss District Attorney of Phoenix
Sofia Vassilieva Ariel Dubois Oldest Dubois daughter
Maria Lark Bridgette Dubois Middle Dubois daughter
David Cubitt Detective Lee Scanlon Allison’s co-worker
Madison and Miranda Carabello Marie Dubois Youngest Dubois daughter
Tina DiJoseph Lynn DiNovi Mayor’s liaison, later Deputy Mayor
Ryan Hurst& David Arquette Michael “Lucky” Benoit Allison’s half-brother
Arliss Howard Kenneth Push Captain of the Texas Rangers
Bruce Gray Mr. Dubois Joe’s father (deceased) Ghost
Kathy Baker Mrs. Dubois Joe’s mother (deceased) Passes away from cancer.
Margo Martindale A Psychic with whom Allison later depends on A friend/mentor of Allison’s She helped Allison when she was a novice and coming in terms of her special gifts.
Kurtwood Smith Edward Cooper FBI agent (deceased) Ghost
Roxanne Hart Lily Devalos Manuel’s wife
John Prosky Tom Van Dyke Former District Attorney (deceased) Manuel’s rival
 Anjelica Huston Cynthia Keener Former “AmeriTips” Investigator and Allison’s former employer. Arrested for the murder of her daughter’s killer.
The real life Allison has also written three books that deal beautifully with the subject of life after death and her gifts:
Don’t Kiss Them Goodbye ISBN:0-7432-7602-7
We Are Their Heaven ISBN:0-7432-9113-1
Secrets of the Monarch ISBN:978-074329115-6
For more information on Allison check out her website http://www.allisondubois.com/
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