We normally meet the first Saturday of each month at 10:15 a.m.
PONTE VEDRA BEACH LIBRARY
101 Library Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
Friends of the Library (FOL) room
*Zoom links are available to both members of the Northeast Florida Chapter of Sisters in Crime and guests
2025 PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
Our group welcomes misters and sisters to learn more about writing, promoting, and enjoying crime fiction! – If you would like to see our previous events please visit our Events Archive
Gwen Goodrich - 30-year FBI veteran
From 10:15 am until 12:15 pm
At Hybrid Meeting in Person and On Zoom
101 Library Blvd, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
Gwen Goodrich is a 30-year FBI veteran who will be joining JSO soon as an analyst.
Ms. Gwendolyn "Gwen" Goodrich is a retired Intelligence Analyst with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Jacksonville field office, with over 30 years of experience. Ms. Goodrich most recently represented the FBI as a liaison with other federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in a fusion center, working multiple threats and programs. Ms. Goodrich is originally from West Virginia, where she received her undergraduate degree from Fairmont State University in History, French, and Criminal Justice, and her Masters degree from Marshall University in Criminal Justice. Ms. Goodrich is married to a retired FBI paralegal specialist and they have a rescue dog, Dixie.
Topic: The FBI: Past and Present
The FBI has a long history, developed and adapted through significant events. This presentation will highlight the historical timeline of events that changed the organization into what it is today.
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Merle Davenport - Author and Teacher
Echoes of the Criminal Mind - A Writer's Guide to Crafting Authentic Villains
From 10:15 am until 12:15 pm
At Hybrid Meeting in Person and On Zoom
101 Library Blvd, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
Merle Davenport was sent to prison for teaching ... er ... he spent the last 25 years teaching inside prisons in Michigan and Oklahoma. His Master's and PhD studies centered around criminal thinking and recidivism. He has a passion for helping other writers hone their craft. For the past 5 years, he has served as President of the Tulsa NightWriters (about 200 authors). Their motto is "Writers helping writers be better writers."
Authors Website: https://www.mkdavenport.com/
Writers Group: https://tulsanightwriters.org/team/merle-davenport/
Echoes of the Criminal Mind - A Writer's Guide to Crafting Authentic Villains - offers writers an inside look at the psychology of real-life offenders—distilled into ten key traits that drive criminal thinking. Drawing from decades of firsthand experience teaching in prisons and conducting extensive research on criminal behavior, Merle Davenport equips storytellers with a research-based framework for building multidimensional villains.
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Author and Chemist Kelle Z Riley
How to Poison Your Characters…and Keep Yourself Safe!
From 10:15 am until 12:15 pm
At Hybrid Meeting in Person and On Zoom
101 Library Blvd, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
Kelle Z. Riley, writer, speaker, scientist, global traveler, martial arts expert, and Golden Heart and Feathered Quill finalist has been in local newspapers and on national television.
Her Undercover Cat Mysteries (The Cupcake Caper; Shaken, Not Purred; The Tiger's Tale; Studying Scarlett the Grey) feature a cupcake baking scientist-turned-sleuth; her award-winning Riches and Royals Romances (Read My Lips; Royally Scandalized; Reluctantly Royal; Counterfeit Commoner) showcase modern women who discover loving a prince is harder than it looks.
Her affiliations include Chattanooga Writer's Guild, Sisters in Crime, and Romance Writers’ of America.
Kelle can be reached at:
https://www.facebook.com/KelleZRiley
“How to Poison Your Characters…and Keep Yourself Safe!”
- Use of poisons in writing books
- Types of poisons
- Basic science behind poisons
- How to determine how "deadly" a poison really is
- Examples of specific poisons and historical stories relating to each
- How to incorporate this information into novels and effectively suspend disbelief for your reader
- Both plant and non-plant poisons will be covered
- Presentation notes will be available for further study
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Jason Futch from Suwannee Valley Unsolved
Jason Futch, Chairman, Suwannee Valley Unsolved Discussion: NE Florida Cold Cases
From 10:15 am until 12:15 pm
At Hybrid Meeting in Person and On Zoom
101 Library Blvd, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
Jason Futch is a true crime researcher, journalist, and nonprofit leader with a lifelong interest in unsolved cases. While studying criminal justice, he helped uncover information that led to the identification of a 1994 murder victim and the arrest of the killer in 2017. He launched the podcast True Cold Case Files in 2018, covering cases across the U.S. and Canada. Returning to Florida, Jason founded Suwannee Valley Unsolved, now a nonprofit that has assisted law enforcement in resolving unidentified persons cases and building the region’s most accurate cold-case database.
Cold Case Resolution in North Florida explores how real investigations can inspire authentic crime fiction. Guest speaker Jason Futch shares how his lifelong interest in true crime led to uncovering critical evidence in long-forgotten cases, including a 1994 unidentified victim finally solved in 2017. Jason will discuss the evolution of his work—from the True Cold Case Files podcast to founding Suwannee Valley Unsolved, a nonprofit database aiding law enforcement with cold cases and missing persons. Mystery writers will gain insight into investigative persistence, community involvement, and the real-world process of bringing long-silent cases closer to justice.
Website: https://suwanneevalleyunsolved.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suwanneevalleyunsolved
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SuwanneeValleyUnsolved/
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Marcus Melnick Author and Firearms and Personal Safety Expert
Firearms and Personal Safety Measures for Authors and their Writing
From 10:15 am until 12:15 pm
At Hybrid Meeting in Person and On Zoom
101 Library Blvd, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
Marcus Melnick has 35 years in public safety (Security, Law Enforcement, and Firefighting). He is a published author, court recognized expert witness, and second-generation inventor. Notably, he managed security functions at Chicagoland Hospitals and School Districts, as well as management positions at two Chicago area police/fire departments.
Melnick conducts adult education training seminars in a variety of anti-violence responses. He hosts a radio program called, “The Personal Safety Show,” has his own YouTube channel, and speaks publicly on a regular basis.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@firearmmentor9963
Website: https://firearmmentor.com/
Firearms & Personal Safety for Writers
Join Marcus Melnick for a Zoom workshop that brings real-world expertise to crime fiction. With 35 years in public safety spanning security, law enforcement, and firefighting, Marcus offers writers a practical, no-nonsense look at firearms and personal safety. A published author, court-recognized expert witness, and second-generation inventor, he has managed security for Chicagoland hospitals, school districts, and police and fire departments.
This session focuses on firearm fundamentals, safety, legal realities, and realistic portrayal in fiction—cutting through myths to help writers create credible scenes. Marcus also draws on his experience teaching anti-violence strategies, hosting The Personal Safety Show, and producing educational content on YouTube. Writers will leave better equipped to write authentically, responsibly, and with confidence.
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Snail Mail
P.O. Box 24141
Jacksonville, FL 32241-4141
Message Phone: (904) 800-7786
