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
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 On Zoom Only
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.
On ZOOM ONLY - PVB Library Under Renovations
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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 On Zoom Only
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
ON ZOOM ONLY - LIBRARY CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS
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Writers Workshop with Sarah Bewley
Physical Security - What's New? with Author Sarah Bewley
From 10:15 am until 1:00 pm
At Hybrid Meeting in Person and On Zoom
101 Library Blvd, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
Sarah Bewley is a mystery novelist, playwright, and lifelong athlete based in Gainesville, Florida. Her debut novel, Burning Eden (Level Best Books, 2023), launched a police procedural series set in a fictional North Florida county, featuring Sheriff Jim Sheppard and physician Dr. Ryan Edwards. The second installment, Frozen Eden, followed in August 2024 under a three-book contract with Level Best Books.
Before turning to fiction, Bewley built an extensive career as a playwright, with productions staged across the United States and in Australia. She now writes in semi-retirement, balancing her craft with part-time work at a city office and the HR department of The Knot Climbing Gym in Gainesville.
An active rock climber since 2009 and boxer since 2014, Bewley brings the same discipline to her writing that she brings to the wall. She has climbed at gyms across Florida and beyond, from Stone Summit in Atlanta to Brooklyn Boulders in New York. She rounds out her athletic life as a devoted fan of the Tampa Bay Rays and Lightning.
Bewley shares her Gainesville home with artist Pat Payne, her partner of more than 45 years. She can be reached at https://www.sarahbewley.com/
Writers Workshop - Physical Security - What's New?
Protecting your money, schools, and other areas is a giant industry. What are the latest trends and tools that you need to know about for your heist or to give your police officer information to catch the criminal? What are the latest tools that are being used to make it more difficult for your plot to work? What gives your police new ways to find out who might have committed the crime? This workshop will provide you with information about some of the latest trends in physical security.
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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 On Zoom Only
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.
ON ZOOM ONLY
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August Is Vacation Month 2026 - No Meetings
Have a great time relaxing and decompressing - See you Next Month
August is Our Vacation Month!
August is the perfect time to step away from the keyboard, breathe deeply, and reconnect with the people and places that feed your soul. Whether you're heading somewhere new or simply savoring the comfort of home, consider making this month a true creative recharge.
3 Tips for Authors on a Creative Recharge Vacation
- Immerse Yourself in Something New You don't have to travel far to find fresh inspiration. Visit a town you've never explored, try a cuisine outside your comfort zone, or attend a local festival or cultural event. New sensory experiences have a way of quietly working their way into your fiction in the best possible ways.
- Let Nature Do the Heavy Lifting A walk in the woods, an afternoon by the water, or simply sitting outside at golden hour can quiet the mental noise that blocks creativity. Pay attention to what you see, hear, and feel. Your next setting or scene may be closer than you think.
- Follow Your Curiosity Take a class, visit a museum, volunteer somewhere meaningful, or dive into a hobby you've been neglecting. The skills and stories you gather outside of writing are what make your writing richer.
2 Reasons This Actually Works
- New Experiences Break Old Patterns Stepping out of your routine interrupts the autopilot thinking that leads to predictable storytelling. Fresh perspectives build more authentic, dimensional characters and unexpected plot turns.
- Rest Is Part of the Process Creative burnout is real, and pushing through it rarely produces your best work. Giving yourself permission to rest and play isn't procrastination — it's an investment in everything you'll write when you return in September.
See you back here next month, recharged and ready to write!
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Reach Us
Do you have a specific question? Send us a short message and please give us no more than 24 hours to respond. USE OUR CONTACT FORM
Snail Mail
P.O. Box 24141
Jacksonville, FL 32241-4141
Message Phone: (904) 800-7786
