By Tiffany Merlo Phelps
mail@floridanewsline.com
It is not every day that you get to sit in the library and pick the brain of a forensic accountant with more than 40 years of experience as a “Big Four” auditor, consultant and Fortune 50 executive. Unless you happen to attend a Northeast Florida Sisters in Crime meeting and then you get to do just that.
On a recent August morning, local mystery authors and readers came together at the Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library to listen to a presentation, “The Magic of Fighting Fraud”, by forensic accountant John Tonsick, CFA, CFE. The hybrid meeting (both in person and via Zoom) was hosted by the local chapter of the national organization Sisters in Crime, and for many in this group dedicated to the advancement of women crime writers, it was an opportunity to conduct firsthand research for their crime story books. It is one way to better understand motives for murder — in a murder mystery, of course.
Take, for example, secretary Elaine Anwander. She is writing a murder mystery novel that includes Medicare fraud and found Tonsick’s presentation to be very helpful.
Anwander, who is from Jacksonville, joined the group first as a member, then as a treasurer and now as a secretary. She said her interest in mystery reading and the speakers at monthly meetings drew her to the organization.
“I really like the interactive format with the speakers,” she said. “All of the speakers have been great, especially the subject matter experts.”
Anwander added that the group’s focus has also been to bring equity to the genre for women writers, and that remains true today. Both men and women are encouraged to join as well as writers from all genres.
Started in 2004, the Northeast Florida Sisters in Crime chapter currently has 30 members, said Vice President Shelley Marsh.
Marsh, who is from Ponte Vedra Beach, was first attracted to the group when she attended a writing workshop in 2014 and then another in 2019. Then the pandemic hit, and the workshops stopped. One of her goals since becoming board vice president in January is to bring the writing workshops back, beginning with one slated for October. Marsh is currently writing a cozy mystery series that will be published in summer 2025.
President Lana McAra, who is from Live Oak, was first a speaker at the group before becoming a member and then became president in January. She said the group has high quality guest speakers booked through next June, some in person and some by Zoom. This enables more members to attend, and Zoom presentations also allow the group to attract speakers from across the country, creating a global reach. Past speakers have included a private investigator, a missing persons advocate, a police officer’s wife and a Wounded Warrior representative. Future speakers include an anti-violence specialist and an attorney.
McAra, who published her first book in 1996, said novice writers, longtime authors and avid readers all come together at meetings to learn, gather research, ask experts questions and offer tips and encouragement to each other. She said she is proud to serve with fellow board members who work hard and enthusiastically.
“We are building a community locally,” said Marsh.
McAra said she has been interested in mysteries since the fourth grade after reading Nancy Drew and Agatha Christie. She started off by writing romantic mysteries.
“I could not write a book without a mystery. So, that has become my trademark. Whatever the genre, it is going to have a mystery,” said McAra, who is also a ghost writer of 44 titles, podcast host and Divine Downloads founder.
McAra noted that membership, while it does come with perks such as discounted workshop rates and a Zoom link, is not required to attend any of the meetings or workshops. The next meeting will be held on Sept. 7 at 10:15 a.m. at the Ponte Vedra Library with guest speaker Marcus Melnick, “How to survive an active shooter situation.”
[Author’s note: Northeast Florida Sisters in Crime is presenting a writing workshop, “Double Vision: Writing Dual Timelines” on Oct. 5 at the San Marco Community Center. Author Denny S. Bryce will be the guest speaker. Visit www.nefloridasistersincrime.org for more information about becoming a member or to sign up for workshops.]
Photo courtesy Tiffany Merlo Phelps
Northeast Florida Sisters in Crime President Lana McAra and Vice President Shelley Marsh.
