by Edith Maxwell
It’s 2003, and I hear about a mystery writers’ conference called the New England Crime Bake. In the last decade, I’ve written two-thirds of a gentle murder mystery, my favorite genre to read, but I know nothing about the industry or the craft, and I don’t know how to finish the book. I register for the all-day Saturday conference option and show up. Janet Evanovich is the keynote speaker. I win speaker Hallie Ephron’s raffle box of books she has reviewed for the Boston Globe, and I meet authors at a table for the New England chapter of an organization called Sisters in Crime.
I ask myself, “Why am I not a member?” and join on the spot, an act that changed my life for the better.
I’m Edith Maxwell, aka Maddie Day, and I want to wish Sisters in Crime a happy fortieth anniversary. SINC means everything to me as a crime fiction author.
This year is also my fourteenth anniversary of being traditionally published – 39 books and going strong – which never would have happened without SINC. The workshops, the networking, the conferences, starting with that first Crime Bake, led me to where I am.
I’ve been the newbie – and the president of the New England chapter of Sisters in Crime as well as co-chair of Crime Bake. I joined the Guppies chapter before I was published – and later served on the Steering Committee. Even though I’m no longer one of the Great Unpublished, I’m grateful to be able to stay in the most supportive chapter of the entire organization.
I’ve been mentored – and am now mentoring. I met my former Wicked Authors blogmates through SINC, as well as my foodie blogmates at Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen.
Since its inception, SINC has always been about writers lifting each other up, a mission that’s ongoing. The expansions and improvements in recent years, such as the podcasts and webinars, under the expert guidance of Executive Director Julie Hennrikus and the board, have enriched our advocacy, our education, our outreach, and our efforts to establish equity, diversity, and inclusion, even in the face of opposition by powerful government and corporate figures. Julie has been rightly recognized for her service to Sisters in Crime by Bouchercon, awarding her the 2026 David Thompson Special Service Award. Congratulations, Julie!
Nothing makes me prouder than to be a lifetime member of this fine organization. May we continue to lift up our sisters and misters for many years to come.
About Edith Maxwell:
Agatha-Award winning Edith Maxwell, aka Maddie Day, writes gentle and historical mysteries and Agatha-nominated short crime fiction. Maxwell/Day, who lives north of Boston, is a lifetime member of Sisters in Crime and a member of MWA. Find her at Maddie Day/Edith Maxwell, at mysteryloverskitchen.com and at edithmaxwell.com.
For More Information:
Website: https://edithmaxwell.com/
Instagram: @MaddieDayAuthor
Facebook: MaddieDay/EdithMaxwell
BlueSky: @maddieday.bsky.social
3 responses to “What SinC Means to Me”
I forgot to include that I found my first agent after he contacted Sheila Connolly, our SINC New England president back in 2011, and said he was looking for authors to propose cozy mystery series. She sent the request out to the entire membership. I jumped on it, signed with him the following week, and landed my first Kensington Publishing contract about a month later!
Beautifully expressed, and I couldn’t agree more about the importance of Sisters in Crime, especially the Guppies!
Hi, Edith, 39 is an amazing number of books in 14 years! I’m also a member of SinC and the Guppies, although not as active as you (and a much slower writer.) I’ll look for you at Killer Nashville and Bouchercon.