Sisters . . . in Crime by Lesa Holstine

Lesa Holstine has been blogging and reviewing books at Lesa's Book Critiques for over six years.  Born in Ohio, she was a library manager there, in Florida for eighteen years, and in Glendale, AZ for almost seven. Lesa reviews women’s fiction for Library Journal and mysteries for Mystery Lovers’ Journal.  Lesa's Book Critiques is syndicated through Blogburst, and reviews have been picked up by Reuters, USA Today and other news distributors. She was the winner of the 2009 Spinetingler Award for Best Reviewer. She considers two of her greatest accomplishments the chairing of the Authors’ Committee for the Lee County Reading Festival for six  years, and the Authors @ The Teague program.

 

Sisters . . .   in Crime

by Lesa Holstine

Over in the sidebar of Kaye’s blog, she has this sentence - “Pull up a chair, pour yourself a cup of coffee or a cuppa tea, have a piece of pie and always feel free to speak your mind, and your heart, here at Meanderings and Muses.” So, today is my chance to speak my heart about sisters, “Sisters…in Crime.”

My husband, Jim, died in February 2010, and so many of those sisters I met in the crime fiction community reached out to me. You, along with my family and my co-workers, are the reason that 2010 and 2011 actually turned into very good years for me, and I wanted to say thank you.

I met Judy Starbuck at Poisoned Pen Bookstore in Scottsdale about a year before Jim died. Judy read my blog, Lesa’s Book Critiques, and recognized me. She tells me now that she spends time with me through my blog with her first cup of coffee every morning. Judy is a member of the local chapter of Sisters in Crime here in Arizona, Desert Sleuths. She introduced me to fellow members of that group, who have become friends, Roni Olson, Chantelle Aimee Osman, Deb Ledford, Kris Neri. Desert Sleuths came as a group to the Velma Teague Library to celebrate the release of two of their books. And, last summer, they made me their first fan guest of honor at their WriteNow! Conference. That’s quite an honor. But, even more important, they truly made me feel like a sister. They’ve included me in lunches, dinners after programs at the Poisoned Pen. We all met up in Santa Fe at Left Coast Crime, supported friends who were nominated for awards, went to dinner, just shared time, hugs, and laughter. I don’t get to see them as often as I would like, but they’re always in my heart.

Left to right - Rebecca Cantrell, Lesa Holstine, Chantelle Osman, Kris Neri and Roni Olson

Then, there are three other crime writers who I’m lucky to call friends, Zoe Sharp, Sophie Littlefield and Juliet Blackwell. I first met all three of these women when they appeared at Velma Teague. Zoe was the very first author I ever hosted for Authors @ The Teague. She’s been there three times, and I love to host her. But, I’ve also had dinners and breakfasts with her and her wonderful husband, Andy. They took me out for my first sushi meal, and poor Andy even had to show me how to use chopsticks. And, I thank them for all of the time we’ve had together in the last year. 

Left to right, back row - Zoe Sharp, Jeanne Matthews, Sophie Littlefield, Juliet Blackwell. In front - Lesa Holstine

I really don’t think of Sophie Littlefield and Juliet Blackwell separately. They’ve appeared at the library together. I met up with them at a Poisoned Pen conference together, and at the Tucson Festival of Books. I follow them on Twitter, and get notes from them saying “We were just talking about you.” Seeing Sophie and Juliet, or hearing from them makes me feel as if I received a group hug.

Louise Penny isn’t just the bestselling author of the Three Pines mysteries featuring Armand Gamache. Louise is a dear friend. I meet up with her for dinner every time she comes to the Poisoned Pen. We’ve shared stories, hugs, and I have a standing invitation to stay in her guest house, one that she offered as soon as she heard of Jim’s death.

Louise Penny and Lesa Holstine at Poisoned Pen Bookstore, Scottsdale, AZ

And, I can’t talk about “Sisters…in Crime” without mentioning four special people in the blogging community, Jen Forbus, Janet Rudolph, Maddee James and Kaye Barley. I got to meet Jen in Ohio last summer, and she’s just as enthusiastic as you’d expect if you read her blog. I finally  met Janet and Maddee at Left Coast Crime in Santa Fe. Janet inspires me daily with all of her contributions to the mystery field. She hosts authors in her home, edits Mystery Readers’ Journal, and tweets about the crime fiction genre. Maddee is Xuni of xuni.com,  Maddee has been there from the beginning of my blog, assisting me with it. She even offered me use of her house when Jim died.  And, Kaye. Every time I receive a note from her that says “Sweetie,” I feel hugged.

There’s a whole group of wonderful “Sisters” out there, Vicki Delany, Hank Phillippi Ryan, Clea Simon, Libby Hellmann, Cara Black, Deb Baker. The list could go on and on. Thanks to all my sisters for their support this year.

With your support and friendship, the last year and a half has been good to me in the crime fiction world. I’ve written the chapter on mysteries for the forthcoming edition of Genreflecting. I was honored to be the first Fan Guest of Honor for Desert Sleuths. Thank you. I’ve reviewed mysteries for my blog and journals. I attended Left Coast Crime, and was honored to meet so many other “Sisters.” I can’t thank all of authors enough who take time to appear at the Velma Teague Library for Authors @ The Teague. And, now I’m even going to Book Expo America (BEA) in New York City to be on a panel. Does it surprise you to know that I’m talking about mysteries?

Jen Forbus recently did a guest blog here in which she talked about finding a home in the crime fiction community. She’s right. But, it may only be when you have a crisis in your life that you realize how many “Sisters” you truly have in the mystery world. Thank you to all of you.

I love you.  Lesa

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Lesa Holstine
lesa.holstine@gmail.com

http://www.lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com