The next RMMWA monthly meeting will be held August 10, 2023 at the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association (290 Speer Boulevard in Denver) and we’ll also broadcast a live, interactive hybrid meeting via Zoom. Please join us in-person or via Zoom for a talk by Sheriff Aaron Appelhans of Albany County Wyoming on the Creating Change in his Community .

The meeting at CADA will start at 6:15 p.m. (MDT) with drinks and networking, and dinner will be served at 6:30. Zoom attendees may sign on shortly before 7:00 for the start of the program. See the full agenda below.

To register to attend in person, please use the link below. Please sign up before Monday, August 7th to reserve your spot.

Zoom attendance is free and there is no need to register. Members will receive the meeting link via email. Non-members, please send an email to chapterpres@rmmwa.org to request access.

Dinner menu:

• Pepper crusted beef steak
• Crisp green beans
• Julienne roasted Red peppers
• Roasted Baby potatoes on crunchy Romaine
• Served with a side of Citrus Vinaigrette and a Cookie
• Beverages
  • Tea, coffee, and water included. Wine and beer are available for a suggested cash donation of $3.00 per drink.

Note: Please contact our Caterer Director directly if you have allergies or specific food issues. We will try to accommodate you if we can. 

Meeting Agenda:

• 6:15 Networking and drinks
• 6:30 Dinner
• 7:00 Introductions and Member News
• 7:30 Mystery Minute
• 7:40 Program

Meeting Program:

Wyoming Sheriff Aaron Appelhans –
Creating Change in his Community

When Sheriff Aaron Appelhans was elected to serve Albany County in Wyoming, he was ready for the challenges and to make changes in his department. Sheriff Appelhans will reflect on being a new sheriff as well as his role in improving diversity and transparency in the Albany County Sheriff’s office. Sheriff Appelhans will also discuss being the first Black sheriff in Wyoming and share some insights into the demands of his job in a large, sparsely populated area.

Speaker Bio

Sheriff Aaron Appelhans came to Laramie as a UW student in 1999 and graduated with a Civil Engineering degree in 2003.  Not coming from a small town, he became accustomed to the benefits of small-town living pretty quick, like being able to meet his neighbors and “go where everyone knows your name;” participating in and coaching kids in city recreation sports leagues, attending kids’ school plays, concerts, recitals; and enjoying the many outdoor activities. He’s called Laramie his home ever since.

His wife was a fellow Engineering student at UW. They were married in Laramie in 2004, where they have raised their three kids.

When he has time, he still enjoys a game of pick-up basketball, along with golfing and fishing in the summers, hiking and hunting in the fall, skiing and hot springs in the winter, and travel and gaming in the spring.

There will be no regular RMMWA chapter meeting on July 13, 2023.

Instead, please join us for our special summer event, a workshop presented by New York Times Bestselling thriller author Grant Blackwood. Click here for details.

The next RMMWA monthly meeting will be held June 8, 2023 at the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association (290 Speer Boulevard in Denver) and we’ll also broadcast a live, interactive hybrid meeting via Zoom. Please join us in-person or via Zoom for a talk by RMMWA member Matthew Porter on the Basics of Lock Picking for Mystery Writers.

The meeting at CADA will start at 6:15 p.m. (MDT) with drinks and networking, and dinner will be served at 6:30. Zoom attendees may sign on shortly before 7:00 for the start of the program. See the full agenda below.

To register to attend in person, please use the link below. Please sign up before Monday, June 5th to reserve your spot.

Zoom attendance is free and there is no need to register. Members will receive the meeting link via email. Non-members, please send an email to chapterpres@rmmwa.org to request access.

Dinner menu:

• Sautéed Chicken and Garlic in a rich and creamy Sweet pepper Onion Sauce
• Basmati Rice
• Vegetable of the day
• Seasonal greens salad
• Baked rolls and butter
• Selection of bite-sized deserts
• Beverages
  • Tea, coffee, and water included. Wine and beer are available for a suggested cash donation of $3.00 per drink.

Note: Please contact our Caterer Director directly if you have allergies or specific food issues. We will try to accommodate you if we can. 

Meeting Agenda:

• 6:15 Networking and drinks
• 6:30 Dinner
• 7:00 Introductions and Member News
• 7:30 Mystery Minute
• 7:40 Program

Meeting Program:

How Did You Get In Here?
Basics of Lock Picking for Mystery Writers

For as long as there have been locks, people have devised ways to get past them. And for as long as there has been crime fiction, it has reflected our fascination with picking locks and getting into places we shouldn’t.

Join us as writer, podcaster and locksport hobbyist Matthew Porter talks about the history of locks, the basics of lock picking, and ways to include realistic lock picking in your fiction.

Speaker Bio

Matthew Porter writes detective stories, 20th Century historical mysteries, and is working on a cozy mystery featuring a locksmith with a shady past. He is also a Colorado attorney and a consultant on managing digital evidence.

Online, Matthew talks about retro pop culture as co-host of the Inter-Millennium Media Project podcast (www.IMMProject.com) and reviews movies and movie theaters on YouTube (www.YouTube.com/@ByMatthewPorter). When he’s not trying to improve his lock picking skills, he can be found driving a MINI Cooper on twisty mountain roads. You can keep up with Matthew’s projects at ByMatthewPorter.com.

The next RMMWA monthly meeting will be held May 11, 2023 at the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association (290 Speer Boulevard in Denver) and we’ll also broadcast a live, interactive hybrid meeting via Zoom. Please join us in-person or via Zoom for a talk by forensic artist Cynthia Marsh on The Case for Forensic Art.

The meeting at CADA will start at 6:15 p.m. (MT) with drinks and networking, and dinner will be served at 6:30. Zoom attendees may sign on shortly before 7:00 for the start of the program. See the full agenda below.

To register to attend in person, please use the link below. Please sign up before Monday, May 8th to reserve your spot.

Zoom attendance is free and there is no need to register. Members will receive the meeting link via email. Non-members, please send an email to chapterpres@rmmwa.org to request access.

Dinner menu:

• Lightly floured and sautéed chicken breasts, served with a lemon caper butter sauce
• Garlic mashed potatoes
• Vegetable of the day
• Baked rolls and butter
• Dessert Tray
• Beverages
  • Tea, coffee, and water included. Wine and beer are available for a suggested cash donation of $3.00 per drink.

Note: Please contact our Caterer Director directly if you have allergies or specific food issues. We will try to accommodate you if we can. 

Meeting Agenda:

• 6:15 Networking and drinks
• 6:30 Dinner
• 7:00 Introductions and Member News
• 7:30 Mystery Minute
• 7:40 Program

Meeting Program:

The Case for Forensic Art

“There is no landscape that we know as well as the human face. Twenty-five odd square inches containing the features is the most intimately scrutinized piece of territory in existence, examined constantly, and carefully, with far more than an intellectual interest. Every detail of nose, eyes, and mouth, every regularity in proportion, every variation from one individual to the next, are matters about which we are all authorities.”                   

– Gary Faigin, Facial Expression, Watson & Guptil Publications, New York, 1990

“It is the responsibility of the investigating officer to pursue every investigative lead. Where one or more witness or victims are available to provide descriptions of an unidentified subject, a forensic/composite artist should be able to advise the investigating officer of the forensic art applications that would best contribute to the case..”

-Standards and Guidelines for Forensic Art and Facial Identification, International Association for Identification

So what exactly is a Forensic Artist?

A forensic artist is a person who assists law enforcement by combining artistic skills with scientific information to aid in criminal investigations and case prosecutions.

Certified by the International Association of Identification and the composite sketch artist for Denver Police Department and other Departments throughout the Front Range, Cynthia Marsh will explain the four categories of Forensic Art and share some behind the scene insight into the work of a forensic artist.

You can download Cynthia’s article “A Case for Forensic Art” here.

Speaker Bio

A lifelong artist, muralist and educator (originally from NY), Cynthia Marsh has lived in Colorado since 2010. Since becoming a Forensic Artist in 2012 Cynthia has worked on cases for over a dozen law enforcement agencies, and is certified by the International Association for Identification. She has been a presenter at the Denver Museum of Art, The Denver Museum of Nature and Science, The Denver Botanic Gardens, CU Boulder, and at many forensic conferences, schools, and law enforcement agencies. Her skills as a forensic sketch artist have also been applied in documenting the memories of contactees and near-death experiencers.

Cynthia’s current work began years ago when symbols and sacred geometries were shown to her in dreams. These are now the main focus of her art. This evolving body of work represents Cynthia’s best effort at stepping out of the way, and allowing the dreams to come through without judgment, much like the role she plays as a forensic artist who documents the memories of others.

Cynthia’s current work began years ago when symbols and sacred geometries were shown to her in dreams. These are now the main focus of her art. This evolving body of work represents Cynthia’s best effort at stepping out of the way, and allowing the dreams to come through without judgment, much like the role she plays as a forensic artist who documents the memories of others.

The next RMMWA monthly meeting will be held April 13, 2023 at the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association (290 Speer Boulevard in Denver) and we’ll also broadcast a live, interactive hybrid meeting via Zoom. Please join us in-person or via Zoom for a panel on Independent Publishing

The meeting at CADA will start at 6:15 p.m. (MT) with drinks and networking, and dinner will be served at 6:30. Zoom attendees may sign on shortly before 7:00 for the start of the program. See the full agenda below.

To register to attend in person, please use the link below. Please sign up before Monday, April 10th to reserve your spot.

Zoom attendance is free and there is no need to register. Members will receive the meeting link via email. Non-members, please send an email to chapterpres@rmmwa.org to request access.

Dinner menu:

• Pepper crusted Pork Tenderloin served with a Cherry Demi-Glace
• Creamy Mashed Potatoes
• Vegetable of the day
• Dinner rolls
• Selection of bite-sized deserts
• Beverages: Tea, coffee, and water included. Wine and beer are available for a suggested cash donation of $3.00 per drink.

Note: Please contact our Caterer Director directly if you have allergies or specific food issues. We will try to accommodate you if we can. 

Meeting Agenda:

• 6:15 Networking and drinks
• 6:30 Dinner
• 7:00 Introductions and Member News
• 7:30 Mystery Minute
• 7:40 Program

Meeting Program:

Independent Publishing Panel

Fifteen years ago, the only way to publish a book was through a literary agent and atraditional publishing house. It was a highly competitive market, saturated with thousands of query letters and writers hoping their bulky piles of paper manuscripts would stand out from the crowd.

Today, we have more options–the current major ones being:

• traditional agent and publishing contract through the Big 5
• traditional publishing via an array of indie presses (some require agents, others do not, buyer beware)
• self-publishing which usually means doing it all yourself
• hybrid publishing which includes sub-contracting out aspects of editing and production. Writers who to both traditional and self-publishing can also be referred to as hybrid authors

95% of the book market is self-published with about 20M books in print (40x more than 1990) but only about 30K volumes are in bookstores at any given time. 90% of the self-published books are sold online. Adult non-fiction is twice the market of adult fiction, by the way.

Looking further into the future, we can follow an author on Twitter or Medium or Substack, then go read their book on Royal Road or Wattpad or Kindle, then review it on Amazon or Goodreads. We can interact with an author on Discord and support them via Kickstarter or Patreon or Buy Me a Coffee. Okay, maybe too much information to digest, but keep these options on your radar.

Join RMMWA authors, Lori Lacefield, Tom Farrell, Jodi Burnett and Sue Hinkin to hear about their publishing journeys and answer questions as to the pros and cons of choices and surviving and  thriving in the publishing fray.

Presenter Bios

Sue Hinkin
Voted Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Writer of the Year for 2021-22, Sue Hinkin was raised in Chicago and is a former college teacher and administrator, TV news photographer, and NBC-TV art department manager. She was also a Cinematography Fellow at the American Film Institute. Her thrillers, featuring Los Angeles TV news journalist Bea Jackson and photographer Lucia Vega, have been recognized with multiple awards including the Colorado Book Award for Best Thriller, The Colorado Author’s League Best Thriller and The Foreword Indies Best Mystery. Book 5 in the Vega and Middleton series, The Rx for Murder, has recently been released. See more at www.suehinkin.com. Sue Hinkin now lives in Littleton, Colorado where she is the new grandmother of twin girls who already love a good book.

Tom Farrell
Tom Farrell is the author of Wager Easy, A Sports Betting Mystery Thriller and Wager Tough. Both books received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews. Wager Tough was selected by Kirkus Reviews as one of the Best Indie Books of 2021 and one of the Best Indie Mystery Thrillers of 2021.

Jodi Burnett
Jodi Burnett is a Colorado native and a mountain girl at heart. She loves writing Mystery and Suspense Thrillers from her small ranch southeast of Denver where she dotes on her horses, complains about her cows, and writes to create a home for her imaginings. She is the author of the three series: Flint River, FBI K9 Thrillers, and Tin Star K9, and this year Jodi is starting a new US Marshal Thriller series. Her books are available in paperback, eBook and audiobook formats. Inspired by life in the country, Jodi fosters her creative side by writing, watercolor painting, quilting, and crafting stained-glass. She is a member of Novelists, Inc. and Sisters In Crime.

Lori Lacefield
Lori began her writing journey at the age of 14, making up stories about teens navigating the precarious world between childhood and adulthood. Her inspiration was S.E. Hinton and the troubles Ponyboy and the gang encountered in The Outsiders. Those troubles seem tame compared to the entanglements her characters find themselves in now. Whether hunting serial killers, taking on outlaw motorcycle gangs, or facing a threat from the Russian mob, her characters are guaranteed to bring you hours of suspense.

Lori attended her first writing conference more than twenty years ago, and since has studied the art and craft of fiction writing through reading many a book, picking the brains of best-selling authors, and of course, a whole lot of writing and editing. Lori is a lover of coffee, books, music, yoga, pilates, wine, travel, and most of all, dogs. She lives in Centennial, CO with three adorable Pomeranians.

The next RMMWA monthly meeting will be held March 9, 2023 at the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association (290 Speer Boulevard in Denver) and we’ll also broadcast a live, interactive hybrid meeting via Zoom. Please join us in-person or via Zoom for a presentation by Cathy Bryarly on Search and Rescue—Finding the Missing.

The meeting at CADA will start at 6:15 p.m. (MT) with drinks and networking, and dinner will be served at 6:30. Zoom attendees may sign on shortly before 7:00 for the start of the program. See the full agenda below.

To register to attend in person, please use the link below. Please sign up before Monday, March 6th to reserve your spot.

Zoom attendance is free and there is no need to register. Members will receive the meeting link via email. Non-members, please send an email to chapterpres@rmmwa.org to request access.

Dinner menu:

• Sautéed chicken breast in apricot-ginger sauce
• Fragrant basmati rice
• Vegetable of the day
• Dinner rolls
• Selection of bite-sized deserts
• Beverages: Tea, coffee, and water included. Wine and beer are available for a suggested cash donation of $3.00 per drink.

Note: Please contact our Caterer Director directly if you have allergies or specific food issues. We will try to accommodate you if we can. 

Meeting Agenda:

• 6:15 Networking and drinks
• 6:30 Dinner
• 7:00 Introductions and Member News
• 7:30 Mystery Minute
• 7:40 Program

Meeting Program:

Search and Rescue—Finding the Missing

by Cathy Bryarly

As both a search and rescue volunteer and former sheriff’s deputy with Boulder County, Cathy has been involved with many different cases. Join her for a discussion that will include learning about the history of Boulder County’s search and rescue teams and how Cathy’s dogs aided in finding those who went missing. Along with discussing search and rescue, Cathy will talk about her experiences when a search became not just for missing persons, but also for criminals. Her current K-9 Sam is certified to find human remains and he has helped with several different criminal cases. Cathy will explain how the dogs often showed the truth or hinted at the truth that made a difference in a case.

Presenter Bio

Cathy Bryarly is a retired Sheriffs Deputy. She was an original member of Search and Rescue Dogs of the United States (SARDUS) when it began in 1993. She was a volunteer dog handler with Front Range Rescue Dogs in Boulder from 1987 to 1997 and had a certified area search and avalanche dog, Morgan, from 1991 to 1997. Cathy was a K9 Bloodhound handler for the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office from 2004 to 2017. Her first dog, Sally, was certified in trailing and her second dog, Jason, was certified in trailing and human remains detection. Her current dog, a Labrador named Sam, is certified in human remains detection. Sally, Jason, and Sam have all had successful searches in each of their various disciplines. Cathy enjoys coaching dog teams and evaluating them for certification.

Cathy and her husband Rob live on a 1 acre “ranch” east of Longmont. They have four horses, five cats, two dogs, and two ducks. Besides training dogs, Cathy enjoys photographing and advocating for wild horses, building and furnishing doll houses, and, of course, reading mysteries.

The next RMMWA monthly meeting will be held February 9, 2023 at the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association (290 Speer Boulevard in Denver) and we’ll also broadcast a live, interactive hybrid meeting via Zoom. Please join us in-person or via Zoom for a presentation by Officer Kate Young of the Denver Police Department on Active Shooter Preparedness .

The meeting at CADA will start at 6:15 p.m. (MT) with drinks and networking, and dinner will be served at 6:30. Zoom attendees may sign on shortly before 7:00 for the start of the program. See the full agenda below.

To register to attend in person, please use the link below. Please sign up before Monday, February 6th to reserve your spot.

Zoom attendance is free and there is no need to register. Members will receive the meeting link via email. Non-members, please send an email to chapterpres@rmmwa.org to request access.

Dinner menu:

• Chicken Cacciatore

  • Thighs and Drumsticks simmered in an herbed tomato sauce

  • Creamy mashed potatoes

  • Seasonal Greens Salad

  • Bite-sized desserts
• Beverages: Tea, coffee, and water included. Wine and beer are available for a suggested cash donation of $3.00 per drink.

Note: Please contact our Caterer Director directly if you have allergies or specific food issues. We will try to accommodate you if we can. 

Meeting Agenda:

• 6:15 Networking and drinks
• 6:30 Dinner
• 7:00 Introductions and Member News
• 7:30 Mystery Minute
• 7:40 Program

Meeting Program:

Active Shooter Preparedness Training

by Officer Kate Young, DPD

Active Shooter Preparedness training covers:

• What is an active shooter?
• Run, Hide, Fight basics
• Red flags and warning signs
• What to do when Law enforcement arrives
• Recovery-short and long term
• Situational awareness
• See something, say something
• Considerations

Please note that this presentation contains two somewhat intense training videos.

Presenter Bio

Officer Kate Young is a Colorado Native, and grew up in Conifer.  In high school she joined the law enforcement explorer program with Jefferson County Sheriff’s Dept, where she met her husband.  She is the first Police Officer in her family, and has been with the Denver Police Dept (DPD) for 7 years. During her time with DPD, she has worked as a patrol officer, done homeless outreach, and is now enjoying engaging the community as a Community Resource Officer. In her off-time she enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids, reading (mainly true crime, and mystery novels), and kayaking. She’s also a certified wine Sommelier, so she enjoys doing wine tastings and food pairings for people.

The next RMMWA monthly meeting will be held January 12, 2023 at the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association (290 Speer Boulevard in Denver) and we’ll also broadcast a live, interactive hybrid meeting via Zoom. Please join us in-person or via Zoom for a presentation by author Johnny Worthen on The Faceted Story.

The meeting at CADA will start at 6:15 p.m. (MT) with drinks and networking, and dinner will be served at 6:30. Zoom attendees may sign on shortly before 7:00 for the start of the program. See the full agenda below.

To register to attend in person, please use the link below. Please sign up before Monday, January 9th to reserve your spot.

Zoom attendance is free and there is no need to register. Members will receive the meeting link via email. Non-members, please send an email to chapterpres@rmmwa.org to request access.

Dinner menu:

• Baked Potato Bar
  • Whipped butter and Sour cream
  • Bacon bits
  • Chopped chives
  • Shredded Cheddar
  • Steamed Broccoli
  • Diced Tomatoes
  • Sliced Jalapenos
  • Red Chili
  • Nacho cheese sauce
• Seasonal Greens Salad with choice of 2 dressings
• Tray of Bite sized desserts
• Beverages: Tea, coffee, and water included. Wine and beer are available for a suggested cash donation of $3.00 per drink.

Note: Please contact our Caterer Director directly if you have allergies or specific food issues. We will try to accommodate you if we can. 

Meeting Agenda:

• 6:15 Networking and drinks
• 6:30 Dinner
• 7:00 Introductions and Member News
• 7:30 Mystery Minute
• 7:40 Program

Meeting Program:

The Faceted Story  

by Johnny Worthen

A presentation about those elements of narrative fiction that lend depth, value and resonance to writing. Every story has some, the best have many. We’ll learn how to identify which elements to include in your story. Subplots and multiple stories, arcs, settings, themes, novelties, information and more. A little foresight, a touch of research and a clear goal can nurture the muse to bring out the strength of the form. Writers will be challenged to expand their fiction into elements beyond mere story and character. Emphasis will be placed on theme as well as history, education and entertainment qualities. Examples and techniques will be offered to help shape niches and expand any story into new areas of interest.

Presenter Bio

JOHNNY WORTHEN is an award-winning, multiple-genre, tie-dye-wearing author, voyager, and damn fine human being! Trained in literary criticism and cultural studies, he writes upmarket fiction, long and short, mentors others where he can, and teaches writing at the University of Utah.

Johnny’s endearing comedy mystery sleuth, Tony Flaner, returns in his most recent adventure, The Hermit Of Big Horn County.

Of Civilized, Saved & Savages, book two in The Coronam series, is an epic tale in the vein of Frank Herbert’s DUNE and launches Jan. 10, 2023 from Flame Tree Press. Like Johnny’s many other titles it isvailable wherever better books are sold.

Dancing Dan’s Christmas

Dancing Dan is quite the dapper man. That is until he is wanted for dancing with the wrong doll. Evading his troubles by going to a bar, Dan joins some friends for a night of Tom and Jerry’s. But can Dan escape the villain after him? Will he find his Christmas spirit when he steals Santa’s identity and goes from naughty to nice? Join your fellow members for this fun Christmas play and find out if the ending to Dancing Dan’s Christmas is a stocking full of candy…or coal.

The next RMMWA monthly meeting will be held November 10, 2022 at the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association (290 Speer Boulevard in Denver) and we’ll also broadcast a live, interactive hybrid meeting via Zoom. Please join us in-person or via Zoom for a presentation by Dr. Jennifer Bundrick on Publicity And Marketing In Today’s Publishing World.

The meeting at CADA will start at 6:15 p.m. (MT) with drinks and networking, and dinner will be served at 6:30. Zoom attendees may sign on shortly before 7:00 for the start of the program. See the full agenda below.

To register to attend in person, please use the link below.

Zoom attendance is free and there is no need to register. Members will receive the meeting link via email. Non-members, please send an email to chapterpres@rmmwa.org to request access.

Dinner menu:

• Ultimate meatloaf smothered in mushroom gravy
• Garlic mashed potatoes
• Vegetable of the day.
• Seasonal greens salad
• Baked rolls and butter
• Dessert tray
• Beverages
  • Tea, coffee, and water included. Wine and beer are available for a suggested cash donation of $3.00 per drink.

Meeting Agenda:

• 6:15 Networking and drinks
• 6:30 Dinner
• 7:00 Introductions and Member News
• 7:30 Mystery Minute
• 7:40 Program

Meeting Program:

Publicity And Marketing In Today’s Publishing World  

by Samantha Lien

Securing reviews, interviews, guest articles and features for your book creates an excitement that expands brand awareness to make a positive impression with your readers and lead to the success of you and your book. Join Samantha Lien of Roger Charlie to discuss what makes a successful publicity campaign, current trends in the publishing industry (both COVID and non-COVID related) and how to speak directly to your target audience through both publicity and marketing efforts in today’s literary landscape.

Presenter Bio

Samantha (Sami) Lien is the owner of Roger Charlie, a publicity firm providing support to authors, publishers, boutique publicity firms, musicians and small business professionals. After 15 years in promotions, marketing and business management in a variety of industries, Sami entered into the world of book publicity in 2011 and has found tremendous joy in helping all types of creative souls step into the limelight. Sami has sat shotgun on strategy, booked in-person and virtual events around the country, and works regularly with national media and influencers for reviews, interviews, features to help build and connect with her client’s community.

While Sami loves to travel all over the world, she’s made a nice little home here in Denver with her husband and two children. Find more at rogercharlie.com.

Note: There will be no chapter meeting in September.

The next RMMWA monthly meeting will be held October 13, 2022 at the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association (290 Speer Boulevard in Denver) and we’ll also broadcast a live, interactive hybrid meeting via Zoom. Please join us in-person or via Zoom for a presentation by Dr. Jennifer Bundrick on Competency and Sanity in the Courts.

The meeting at CADA will start at 6:15 p.m. (MT) with drinks and networking, and dinner will be served at 6:30. Zoom attendees may sign on shortly before 7:00 for the start of the program. See the full agenda below.

To register to attend in person, please use the link below.

Zoom attendance is free and there is no need to register. Members will receive the meeting link via email. Non-members, please send an email to chapterpres@rmmwa.org to request access.

Dinner menu:

• Lightly grilled chicken breasts in green chili cream sauce
• Rice pilaf
• Warm corn and sweet pepper salsa
• Seasonal greens salad
• Baked rolls and butter
• Dessert tray

Meeting Agenda:

• 6:15 Networking and drinks
• 6:30 Dinner
• 7:00 Introductions and Member News
• 7:30 Mystery Minute
• 7:40 Program

Meeting Program:

Assessing the Tell-Tale Heart: Competency and Sanity in the Courts  

by Dr. Jennifer Bundrick

Dr. Bundrick will briefly describe the training and role of forensic psychiatry in the criminal justice system. Then, we will examine the approach to assessing competency to proceed in the Colorado court system with historical perspectives. We will explore the difference between assessing competency and assessing legal insanity at the time of the alleged crime, again with the background of historical understanding. We will discuss a few more well-known cases within Colorado, along with some of Dr. Bundrick’s personal experiences over the last five years.

Presenter Bio

Dr. Jennifer Bundrick graduated with a BA from the University of Oklahoma with a major in Sociology/Criminology in May 2006. She completed medical school at the University of Oklahoma in May 2011, and she moved to Shreveport Louisiana for general surgery residency. After two years in the surgery program, she switched paths and completed general psychiatry residency in December 2016. Dr. Bundrick moved to Denver Colorado and completed a one-year forensic psychiatry fellowship with the University of Colorado Denver Medical School. She has been in clinical practice with the Colorado Department of Corrections and as a faculty member of the University of Colorado Denver Medical School since January 2018. Dr. Bundrick has provided private forensic psychiatric consultation and evaluations since May 2018, along with court-ordered competency, mental condition, and sanity evaluations. She was an Associate Program Director for the University of Colorado Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship Program from July 2019 through June 2021 and remains on faculty as a senior instructor. In her spare time, she spends time with her husband and two children.

The next RMMWA monthly meeting will be held August 11, 2022 at the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association (290 Speer Boulevard in Denver) and we’ll also broadcast a live, interactive hybrid meeting via Zoom. Please join us in-person or via Zoom for a presentation by Criminal Defense Investigator and Death Penalty Mitigator Susan Lehmann.

The meeting at CADA will start at 6:15 p.m. (MT) with drinks and networking, and dinner will be served at 6:30. Zoom attendees may sign on shortly before 7:00 for the start of the program. See the full agenda below.

To register to attend in person, please use the link below.

Zoom attendance is free and there is no need to register. Members will receive the meeting link via email. Non-members, please send an email to chapterpres@rmmwa.org to request access.

Dinner menu:

• Thighs and Drumsticks simmered in an herbed tomato sauce
• Creamy mashed potatoes
• Seasonal greens salad
• Baked rolls and butter
• Dessert tray
• Beverages: Tea, coffee, and water included. Wine and beer are available for a suggested cash donation of $3.00 per drink.

Meeting Agenda:

• 6:15 Networking and drinks
• 6:30 Dinner
• 7:00 Introductions and Member News
• 7:30 Mystery Minute
• 7:40 Program

Meeting Program:

On Becoming an Investigator  

by Susan Lehmann, Criminal Defense Investigator and Death Penalty Mitigator

Susan will discuss how her skills as a journalist led her into the profession of private investigation. When Susan entered the field in 1996 there were no books like Investigating for Dummies, and the internet was not the oracle that it is now. She read the Sue Grafton, Dashiell Hammett, and Janet Evanovich books for research, and then talked her way into a job. Susan knew how to interview, she knew how to write, but she didn’t have a clue how to do anything else like collect evidence or conduct surveillance. Over her career, Susan learned the profession one case at a time, beginning with process serving, and, while she had a few situations like those faced by Kinsey, Stephanie and Sam, the work of a real-life private investigator varies wildly from the adventures of our fictional heroes. Susan will discuss those differences and dive further into the work of private investigation that led her to be a criminal defense investigator. She’ll discuss how every task and case, must be conducted with the understanding that the investigator may be called to testify in court.

Presenter Bio

Susan Waller Lehmann hails from Miami, Florida, and discovered writing and journalism while attending Florida State University. In 1981, she declined a job offer with the nascent CNN thinking Who would want to watch a 24-hour news channel? Now that her path in life was determined by the idea that she would be a real journalist instead, she put her interview skills to work as a writer and publisher, all of which was sidelined when she became a mother to three children.

In 1996, inspired by her fictional heroines Kinsey Millhone and Stephanie Plum, she opened a private investigation agency—because there is no better way to distract yourself from the arduous work of writing than by dealing with cheating spouses, tracking down deadbeat parents, and sitting through interminable night-time surveillance operations. She quickly learned that real investigative work is not nearly as exciting as the escapades of fictional detectives. A chance phone call in 2005 led her into the field of criminal defense investigation and capital murder mitigation. To date, she has worked on 37 death penalty cases, and yes, she has made frequent visits to death row prisons.

Her simultaneous professions inform her non-fiction writing, samples of which have earned her a 1996 Eaton Literary Award and a 2016 Utah Original Writing Competition Honorable Mention in Non-Fiction. As a result, she delves into her wide-ranging experiences as a journalist, private investigator, and death penalty mitigation expert. There should be one or two good stories in there somewhere. What’s that old saw? Truth is stranger than fiction.

Perhaps because the temperate climate of the South attracts crazies, her life intersected with two serial killers, and resulted in two true crime books, Visions of Ted Bundy: The Psychic and the Chi Omega Murders and Echoes from the Mind: The Psychic and the Gainesville Student Murders.

In 2021, in response to the never-ending pandemic, she has started to re-explore an old passion as a freelance writer working on stories in and around the Front Range of Colorado and the Rocky Mountain National Park.

She lives with her husband, two well-loved felines, and two cheerful Golden Retrievers, Graham and Gouda. She is currently working on her next book, Southern Lies and Homicides: Tales of Betrayal and Murder. For more information and sample stories check out her website at https://www.whiterhinopress.com/.

There will be no regular monthly chapter meeting of the RMMWA in July.

Please do join us for our Special Event – An Afternoon with James Lee Burke!

The next RMMWA monthly meeting will be held June 9, 2022 at the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association (290 Speer Boulevard in Denver) and we’ll also broadcast a live, interactive hybrid meeting via Zoom. Please join us in-person or via Zoom for a presentation by former Grand Rapids, Wisconsin police chief Dave Lewandowski.

The meeting at CADA will start at 6:15 p.m. (MT) with drinks and networking, and dinner will be served at 6:30. Zoom attendees may sign on shortly before 7:00 for the start of the program. See the full agenda below.

To register to attend in person, please use the link below.

Zoom attendance is free and there is no need to register. Members will receive the meeting link via email. Non-members, please send an email to chapterpres@rmmwa.org to request access.

Dinner menu:

• Sautéed chicken breast in apricot-ginger sauce
• Fragrant basmati rice
• Vegetable of the day
• Dinner rolls
• Selection of bite-sized deserts
• Beverages: Tea, coffee, and water included. Wine and beer are available for a suggested cash donation of $3.00 per drink.

Meeting Agenda:

• 6:15 Networking and drinks
• 6:30 Dinner
• 7:00 Introductions and Member News
• 7:30 Mystery Minute
• 7:40 Program

Meeting Program:

Behind the Badge—The Challenges of a Police Chief  

by Dave Lewandowski

What is a typical day like for a chief of police? Often, the average citizen doesn’t know about or understand what obstacles a chief of police faces running a department. From patrol on up the ranks, the chief deals with many challenges including working with other agencies in the state, county, and city and then of course, there’s the politicians.

Chiefs must also be aware of “code blue” and how that code could be affecting their department. Code blue can range from a young officer wanting acceptance by other officers in the department to a seasoned officer knowing if they don’t play by the rules and stick together, then they will be shunned.

Dave will discuss how he dealt with code blue in his department as the chief as well as other parts of the job. He’ll also talk about being a police chief in the town where he grew up. Dave quickly discovered everyone expected something, especially the politicians. Dave found his personal life being affected and that even a simple night out at a restaurant with his wife could turn into a question-and-answer interview.

Dave worked hard to make a difference in how people viewed his department. He often felt like it was three steps forward and two steps back. Through his work, Dave discovered the key to keeping everything in balance. It’s something most people wouldn’t think of…or would they? Join us to find out more about the life behind the badge.

Presenter Bio

Dave Lewandowski grew up in Wisconsin. After high school he entered the U.S. Army, where he was an Airborne Ranger and an MP. Upon leaving the military, he started a career in law enforcement that spanned 28 years. Dave worked as a patrol officer, shift commander, investigator, active shooter instructor, department liaison for the community and media, undercover drug investigator, major crime investigator, burglary investigator, suicide investigator, firearms instructor, and fatality crash investigator. He was involved with many community programs including Mother’s Against Drunk Driving. Eventually, Dave had the opportunity to become the chief of police in the hometown where he grew up. He took on the job and faced many challenges. Despite the challenges, he rebuilt the department and worked to reconnect the department with the community including an open-door policy. Dave also started a K-9 program, police officer bike patrol, police auxiliary and a neighborhood watch. After 35 years in law enforcement, Dave decided to retire. Dave and his wife love the mountains and spending time with family.

The next RMMWA monthly meeting will be held May 12, 2022 at the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association (290 Speer Blvd. in Denver) and we’ll also broadcast a live, interactive hybrid meeting via Zoom. Please join us in-person or via Zoom for a presentation by mystery writer and RMMWA board member Jeffrey Lockwood.

The meeting at CADA will start at 6:15 p.m. (MT) with drinks and networking, and dinner will be served at 6:30. Zoom attendees may sign on shortly before 7:00 for the start of the program. See the full agenda below.

To register to attend in person, please use the link below.

Zoom attendance is free and there is no need to register. Members will receive the meeting link via email. Non-members, please send an email to chapterpres@rmmwa.org to request access.

The menu for the meeting at CADA is:

• Goat Cheese and Spinach-Stuffed Chicken Breast.
• Strawberry Delight Salad. Mixed greens with candied walnuts, local chevre goat cheese, sliced strawberries, and balsamic vinaigrette.
• Balsamic Roasted Vegetable Medley. Roasted broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, red onions and zucchini.
• Dessert. Fresh strawberries swirled with two chocolates.
• Beverages: Tea, coffee, and water are provided. Wine and beer are available for a suggested cash donation of $3.00 per drink.

Meeting Agenda:

• 6:15 Networking and drinks
• 6:30 Dinner
• 7:00 Introductions and Member News
• 7:30 Mystery Minute
• 7:40 Program

Meeting Program:

Solving the Mystery of the Immortal Detective  

by Jeffrey Lockwood

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle published the first Sherlock Holmes story in 1887. Holmes was instantly popular and went on to appear as the main character in 56 short stories and 4 novellas over the next 40 years.  Each of the stories involves a mystery, but perhaps the biggest mystery is one that the master sleuth will never get to solve: Why is Sherlock Holmes still alive in the minds of readers, 133 years after he graced the pages of the Strand Magazine?  Why do these stories continue to resonate with today’s readers?  And what might we learn as writers about crafting enduring tales?

Presenter Bio

Jeffrey Lockwood spent youthful afternoons darkly enchanted by feeding grasshoppers to black widow spiders in his New Mexican backyard, which accounts for his scientific and literary affinities. He earned a doctorate in entomology and worked as an ecologist at the University of Wyoming before metamorphosing into a Professor of Natural Sciences & Humanities in the departments of philosophy and creative writing. He considers Sherlock Holmes a model of scientific prowess, integrating exquisite observational skills with incisive abductive (not deductive) reasoning. As such, the scientific researcher is oddly preadapted to loving and writing literary mysteries.

The next RMMWA monthly meeting will be held April 14, 2022 at the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association (290 Speer Blvd. in Denver) and we’ll also broadcast a live, interactive hybrid meeting via Zoom. Please join us in-person or via Zoom for a presentation by mystery writer and RMMWA board member Craig Kingsman.

The meeting at CADA will start at 6:15 p.m. (MT) with drinks and networking, and dinner will be served at 6:30. Zoom attendees may sign on shortly before 7:00 for the start of the program. See the full agenda below.

To register to attend in person, please use the link below.

SPECIAL NOTICE: Do not sign up for the April 14 meeting here if you registered or purchased dinner for our cancelled February OR March meeting. Instead please email the Caterer Director (Brooke Terpening) and she will credit the March meal to you. You can also reach Brooke using our contact page; select “Caterer Director” in the first dropdown menu.

Zoom attendance is free and there is no need to register. Members will receive the meeting link via email. Non-members, please send an email to chapterpres@rmmwa.org to request access.

The menu for the meeting at CADA is:

• Taco Bar. Everything you need to make your own tacos, including your choice of grilled chicken or roasted portobello filling, flour tortillas, corn tortillas, sour cream, shredded romaine, guacamole, shredded cheese, house salsa, diced onion and cilantro, lime wedges and housemade tortilla chips.
• Desserts. Churros to accompany the taco bar.
• Beverages: Tea, coffee, and water are provided. Wine and beer are available for a suggested cash donation of $3.00 per drink.

Meeting Agenda:

• 6:15 Networking and drinks
• 6:30 Dinner
• 7:00 Introductions and Member News
• 7:30 Mystery Minute
• 7:40 Program

Meeting Program:

Write Crime Right

by Craig Kingsman

Movies and television are rarely accurate when depicting crime investigations. As authors, we owe it to our readers to get the facts straight. In this presentation, you’ll learn how to keep things accurate, but still allow for some literary creativity. Topics covered include: weapons, police department organization, medical examiner vs. coroner, forensics, SWAT, and more.

Presenter Bio

Craig Kingsman writes about murders because committing them would be a real bummer for the victim. He discovered his joy of murder mysteries at a teen and always thought it would be fun to write them.

A long career in computer programming got in his way of writing fiction. But he did learn about murder by executing programs and killing bugs. He authored or co-authored two books and dozens of magazine articles that have been read by programmers all over the world. He’s also worked as a radio disk jockey and once worked for the circus.

Craig runs the Utah Mystery Writers Facebook group, is on the board of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of Mystery Writers of America, and is a member of Sisters in Crime and Private Eye Writers of America. He has also presented at writer conferences and events. Craig lives in beautiful Wasatch mountains of Utah with his wife, award winning writer Laurie Heath.

The next RMMWA monthly meeting will be held March 10, 2022 at the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association (290 Speer Blvd. in Denver) and we’ll also broadcast a live, interactive hybrid meeting via Zoom. Please join us in-person or via Zoom for a presentation by forensic artist Cynthia Marsh.

The meeting at CADA will start at 6:15 p.m. (MT) with drinks and networking, and dinner will be served at 6:30. Zoom attendees may sign on shortly before 7:00 for the start of the program. See the full agenda below.

To register to attend in person, please use the link below.

Note: Do not sign up for the March meal here if you purchased dinner for our cancelled February meeting. Instead please email the Caterer Director (Brooke Terpening) and she will credit the March meal to you. You can also reach Brooke using our contact page; select “Caterer Director” in the first dropdown menu.

Zoom attendance is free and there is no need to register. Members will receive the meeting link via email. Non-members, please send an email to chapterpres@rmmwa.org to request access.

The menu for the meeting at CADA is:

• Fish Tacos Bar. Cornmeal tossed tilapia, pan fried, accompanied with cilantro-lime rice or spanish rice, taco shells, flour tortillas, shredded cheese, cajun slaw and pineapple salsa
  add diced tomatoes/onion/black olive.
  
• Mexican Vegetable Salad. Corn, zucchini, jalapeno, bell pepper, scallion, avocado, salsa, tortilla strips atop a bed of orzo pasta with cilantro lemon vinaigrette.
• Desserts.
• Beverages: Tea, coffee, and water are provided. Wine and beer are available for a suggested cash donation of $3.00 per drink.

Meeting Agenda:

• 6:15 Networking and drinks
• 6:30 Dinner
• 7:00 Introductions and Member News
• 7:30 Mystery Minute
• 7:40 Program

Meeting Program:

Copyright:
Historical Perspective; Ownership and Rights Lineage; and Fair Use

by Jon Tandler

This month’s program will discuss the history and development of U.S. Copyright Law; copyright ownership and exclusive authorial rights from author to agent to publisher; and how exclusivity relates to fair use laws.

Presenter Bio

Jon Tandler works with clients in many industries on developing, maintaining, and monetizing intellectual property assets. His work includes copyright and publishing, and rights counseling, preparing contracts and IP licenses, and providing legal support on a wide variety of projects centric to books and magazines. Jon also practices software and information technology law. Trained in corporate finance, Jon also provides commercial law services to small and medium-sized businesses. Jon provides legal services to companies, individuals, and tax-exempt organizations. Jon is a Member of Sherman & Howard L.L.C., a regional law firm based in Denver, Colorado.

The next RMMWA monthly meeting will be held February 10, 2022 at the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association (290 Speer Blvd. in Denver) and we’ll also broadcast a live, interactive hybrid meeting via Zoom. Please join us in-person or via Zoom for a presentation by forensic artist Cynthia Marsh.

The meeting at CADA will start at 6:15 p.m. (MT) with drinks and networking, and dinner will be served at 6:30. Zoom attendees may sign on shortly before 7:00 for the start of the program. See the full agenda below.

To register to attend in person, please use the link below.

Zoom attendance is free and there is no need to register. Members will receive the meeting link via email. Non-members, please send an email to chapterpres@rmmwa.org to request access.

The menu for the meeting at CADA is:

• Fish Tacos Bar. Cornmeal tossed tilapia, pan fried, accompanied with cilantro-lime rice or spanish rice, taco shells, flour tortillas, shredded cheese, cajun slaw and pineapple salsa
  add diced tomatoes/onion/black olive.
  
• Mexican Vegetable Salad. Corn, zucchini, jalapeno, bell pepper, scallion, avocado, salsa, tortilla strips atop a bed of orzo pasta with cilantro lemon vinaigrette.
• Desserts.
• Beverages: Tea, coffee, and water are provided. Wine and beer are available for a suggested cash donation of $3.00 per drink.

Meeting Agenda:

• 6:15 Networking and drinks
• 6:30 Dinner
• 7:00 Introductions and Member News
• 7:30 Mystery Minute
• 7:40 Program

Meeting Program:

The Case for Forensic Art

by Cynthia Marsh

“There is no landscape that we know as well as the human face. Twenty-five odd square inches containing the features is the most intimately scrutinized piece of territory in existence, examined constantly, and carefully, with far more than an intellectual interest. Every detail of nose, eyes, and mouth, every regularity in proportion, every variation from one individual to the next, are matters about which we are all authorities.”                   

– Gary Faigin, Facial Expression, Watson & Guptil Publications, New York, 1990

“It is the responsibility of the investigating officer to pursue every investigative lead. Where one or more witness or victims are available to provide descriptions of an unidentified subject, a forensic/composite artist should be able to advise the investigating officer of the forensic art applications that would best contribute to the case..”

-Standards and Guidelines for Forensic Art and Facial Identification, International Association for Identification

So what exactly is a Forensic Artist?

A forensic artist is a person who assists law enforcement by combining artistic skills with scientific information to aid in criminal investigations and case prosecutions.

Certified by the International Association of Identification and the composite sketch artist for Denver Police Department and other Departments throughout the Front Range, Cynthia Marsh will explain the four categories of Forensic Art and share some behind the scene insight into the work of a forensic artist.

Presenter Bio

A lifelong artist, muralist and educator (originally from NY), Cynthia Marsh has lived in Colorado since 2010. Since becoming a Forensic Artist in 2012 Cynthia and has worked on cases for over a dozen law enforcement agencies, and is certified by the International Association for Identification. She has been a presenter at the Denver Museum of Art, The Denver Museum of Nature and Science, The Denver Botanic Gardens, CU Boulder, and at many forensic conferences, schools and law enforcement agencies. Her skills as a forensic sketch artist have also been applied in documenting the memories of contactees and near death experiencers.

Cynthia’s current work began years ago when symbols and sacred geometries were shown to her in dreams. These are now the main focus of her art. This evolving body of work represents Cynthia’s best effort at stepping out of the way, and allowing the dreams to come through without judgment, much like the role she plays as a forensic artist who documents the memories of others.

The next RMMWA monthly meeting will be held January 13, 2022 at the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association (290 Speer Blvd. in Denver) and we’ll also broadcast a live, interactive hybrid meeting via Zoom. Please join us in-person or via Zoom for a presentation by K9 handler Kathleen Donnelly and a demonstration by her narcotics detection dog Boomer.

The meeting at CADA will start at 6:15 p.m. (MT) with drinks and networking, and dinner will be served at 6:30. Zoom attendees may sign on shortly before 7:00 for the start of the program. See the full agenda below.

To register to attend in person, please use the link below.

Zoom attendance is free and no need to register. Members will receive the meeting link via email. Non-members, please send an email to chapterpres@rmmwa.org to request access.

The menu for the meeting at CADA is:

• Mile High White Chicken Chili. Tender chunks of chicken, navy beans, and corn served with steamed rice, fresh rolls or corn bread
• The Mega Cobb Salad. Mixed field greens, turkey, bacon, eggs, tomatoes, avocados, green onions, blue cheese, and cheddar cheese served with walnut raspberry vinaigrette
• Beverages: Tea, coffee, and water are provided. Wine and beer are available for a suggested cash donation of $3.00 per drink.

Meeting Agenda:

• 6:15 Networking and drinks
• 6:30 Dinner
• 7:00 Introductions and Member News
• 7:30 Mystery Minute
• 7:40 Program

Meeting Program:

The Crime Fighting Nose

by Kathleen Donnelly

K-9s. We see them on television, read about them in books, and see them in action at airports or traffic stops. These dogs work in many different capacities, from police and military work to search and rescue and much more. Ever wonder about their training? What is it like living with a K-9? What does it look like when a dog alerts? This is your chance to see a narcotics K-9 in action and get your questions answered.

Kathleen will present with K-9 Boomer, one of her Sherlock Hounds partners. During the presentation Kathleen will describe how she and her dogs go into schools and private businesses to help keep them safe. She’ll discuss the differences and similarities between her dogs and police K-9s, and have Boomer give a demonstration to show how well his crime fighting nose works.

For more information on Sherlock Hounds, visit www.sherlockhoundsdetectioncanines.com

Presenter Bios:

Kathleen Donnelly is a K-9 handler for Sherlock Hounds Detection Canines and enjoys using her experience to craft realism into her mysteries. She has been a handler since 2005 and has over 300 hours of narcotics certification with her dogs. On the writing side, Kathleen was a Killer Nashville Claymore Top 20 Finalist and placed second in the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Colorado Gold Contest. Kathleen’s debut K-9 mystery, CHASING JUSTICE, will be released May 24, 2022. She lives in Berthoud, CO with her husband and her four-legged co-workers. For more information, visit her website at www.kathleendonnellyauthor.com.

Boomer joined the Sherlock Hounds team in 2019. A rescue from Oklahoma, he loves keeping schools safe by sniffing out drugs, alcohol, and gunpowder. Boomer’s other passions include sitting by Kathleen’s desk, taking long walks, and eating things he shouldn’t. He lives in Berthoud, Colorado with his fellow drug dogs Willow, Gracie, and retiree Sparky.

Come one, come all, to our holiday party, Mystery and Mistletoe, on December 9^th!

The in-person party will be held at the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association (at 290 Speer Blvd. in Denver) and we’ll also broadcast a live, interactive hybrid meeting via Zoom. Please join us in-person or online for the big reveal of the finalists and winners of our Fifth Annual Six-Word Mystery Contest and a skit featuring the RMMWA Players.

The meeting at CADA will start at 6:15 p.m. (MST) with drinks and networking, and dinner will be served at 6:30. Zoom attendees may sign on shortly before 7:15 for the start of the program. See the full agenda below.

To attend in person, please register using the link below.

PLEASE NOTE: On November 24, Denver County initiated a mask mandate in all indoor spaces. So please bring a mask if you’re attending at in person at CADA. Masks will be required unless eating or drinking.

Zoom attendance is free, and there is no need to register in advance. Members will receive the meeting link via email; non-members, please send an email to chapterpres@rmmwa.org to request access.

The menu for the meeting at CADA is:

• Steamed honey ginger salmon with pineapple salsa
• Grilled asparagus with asiago and balsamic reduction
• Roasted red potatoes with tarragon
• Cherry fig salad featuring mixed greens, romaine, colby jack cheese, dried cherries, figs, roasted tomatoes, cherry peppers and roasted spiced almonds with honey-mustard dressing and avocado ranch dressing served with rémoulade sauce
• Beverages. Tea, coffee, and water are provided. Wine and beer are available for a suggested cash donation of $3.00 per drink.

Meeting Agenda:

• 6:15 Networking and drinks
• 6:30 Dinner
• 7:15 Program: A holiday skit followed by the Six-Word Mystery Contest Awards

Meeting Program:

The People v. Santa Clause

Is Santa Claus naughty, or nice? 
We’re putting him on trial! Maybe he ran a sweatshop…maybe he committed the crime of breaking and entering via the chimney…maybe he just got his lists confused and delivered the wrong presents…or possibly PETA is after him for reindeer abuse? 
At RMMWA’s annual holiday party, you’re the jury! Join us at CADA for drinking, dining, mingling, and (yes) judging a Christmas icon!

On November 11, the RMMWA monthly meeting will be held at the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association (at 290 Speer Blvd. in Denver), and we’ll also broadcast a live, interactive hybrid meeting via Zoom. Please join us in person or via Zoom while we welcome our speaker, USA Today bestselling author Carter Wilson, who will share his publication journey and critical dos and don’ts he’s learned along the way.

The meeting at CADA will start at 6:15 p.m. (MT) with drinks and networking, and dinner will be served at 6:30. Zoom attendees may sign on shortly before 7:00, which is when we’ll begin Introductions and Member News. See the full agenda below.

To register to attend in person, please use the link below.

Zoom attendance is free and no need to register. Members will receive the meeting link via email; non-members, please send an email to chapterpres@rmmwa.org to request access.

The menu for the meeting at CADA is:

• Herb rubbed roasted turkey breast. Juicy tender turkey breast served traditional style with mashed potatoes, pan gravy and green bean casserole.
• Cranberry Waldorf salad. Cranberries, apples, pineapple, grapes and walnuts mixed with mini marshmallows and blended with whipped cream..
• Beverages: Tea, coffee, and water are provided. Wine and beer are available for a suggested cash donation of $3.00 per drink.

Meeting Agenda:

• 6:15 Networking and drinks
• 6:30 Dinner
• 7:00 Introductions and Member News—Zoom attendees may sign on shortly before
• 7:30 Mystery Minute
• 7:40 Program

Meeting Program:

The Accidental Writer

by Carter Wilson

Carter Wilson began writing one day nineteen years ago and hasn’t looked back. With no prior experience in fiction writing nor any understanding of the publishing industry, Carter had to learn everything from scratch. He will share his publication journey along with critical writer dos and don’ts he’s learned along the way.

Speaker Bio:

USA Today and #1 Denver Post bestselling author Carter Wilson has written seven critically acclaimed, standalone psychological thrillers, as well as numerous short stories. He is an ITW Thriller Award finalist, a four-time winner of the Colorado Book Award, and his novels have received multiple starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and Library Journal. Carter lives in Erie, Colorado in a Victorian house that is spooky but isn’t haunted…yet.

We’re planning another in person meeting at the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association (at 290 Speer Blvd. in Denver) on October 14, and we’ll also broadcast a live, interactive hybrid meeting via Zoom. Please join us in person or via Zoom while we welcome Jason Cirbo, Senior Criminal Investigator with the Denver District Attorney’s office, as our guest speaker. Jason will talk about his job and some cases he’s worked as a D.A.’s investigator and detective.

The meeting at CADA will start at 6:15 p.m. (MT) with drinks and networking, and dinner will be served at 6:30. Zoom attendees may sign on shortly before 7:00, which is when we’ll begin Introductions and Member News. See the full agenda below.

To register to attend in person, please use the link below.

Zoom attendance is free and no need to register. Members will receive the meeting link via email; non-members, please send an email to chapterpres@rmmwa.org to request access.

The menu for the meeting at CADA is:

• Maple mustard chicken: fried onion encrusted chicken breast with a creamy maple syrup poured over the top served with honey glazed carrots and creamy garlic mashed potatoes.
• Grilled apple salad: grilled apples, walnuts, brie cheese, dried cranberries atop mixed greens, with walnut raspberry vinaigrette.
• Beverages: Tea, coffee, and water are provided. Wine and beer are available for a suggested cash donation of $3.00 per drink.

Meeting Agenda:

• 6:15 Networking and drinks
• 6:30 Dinner
• 7:00 Introductions and Member News—Zoom attendees may sign on shortly before
• 7:30 Mystery Minute
• 7:40 Program

Meeting Program:

The Work of a DA Investigator

by Jason Cirbo

Jason Cirbo, Senior Criminal Investigator for the Denver District Attorney’s Office, will talk about his job, the duties involved, and some fascinating cases with which he’s been involved including cold cases that he worked as a detective with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

Speaker Bio:

Jason Cirbo was born in Kansas City, Kansas but is a semi-native of Colorado as his mother moved here when he was 4 years old. He is currently a senior criminal investigator with the Denver District Attorney’s Office where he has been since 2019. Prior to that he was a Detective with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office where he worked as a property detective, then the criminal intelligence officer, followed by the Cold Case Unit Corporal. Prior to the 14 years he spent at the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Jason had an additional eight years’ experience as a patrol officer at several agencies in Colorado and Kansas. Prior to his paid law enforcement career, he was a police explorer in high school and a police intern while in college.

TOGETHER AGAIN!

Yes, we plan to resume in-person monthly meetings in September. RMMWA will host its first hybrid chapter meeting on September 9—in-person at the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) at 290 Speer Blvd in Denver, and via Zoom at your place. Our guest speaker will be award-winning author, Fleur Bradley, who will present Kidlit 101.

To attend in person, please see the link below for payment.

To accommodate our Zoom attendees, we’ve rearranged our typical schedule. The meeting at CADA will start at 6:15 p.m. (MT) with drinks and networking, and dinner will be served at 6:30. Zoom attendees may sign on shortly before 7:00, which is when we’ll begin Introductions and Member News. Members will receive the link and password by email, groups.io, and our newsletter. Non-members, please send an email to chapterpres@rmmwa.org to request access.

Meeting Agenda:

• 6:15 Networking and drinks
• 6:30 Dinner
• 7:00 Introductions and Member News—Zoom attendees may sign on shortly before
• 7:30 Mystery Minute
• 7:40 Program

Program:

Kidlit 101

by Fleur Bradley

read more…

Our August meeting will feature past Edgar nominee Edwin Hill, speaking on the topic on Writing a Novel like an Eight-Part TV Series. Please join us for networking, education, and inspiration via Zoom on August 12th, starting at 6:30 p.m. (MST). Members will receive the link and password by email, groups.io, and our newsletter. Non-members, please send an email to chapterpres@rmmwa.org to request access.

Program:

Writing a Novel Like an Eight-Part TV Series

by Edwin Hill

Writing a first draft can be a daunting task! This hands-on session will help you break up your novel into eight discreet, manageable (and much less intimidating) parts.

Speaker Bio:

Edwin Hill’s critically-acclaimed crime novels include Watch Her, The Missing Ones, and Little Comfort. He has been nominated for Edgar and Agatha Awards, featured in Us Magazine, received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and Library Journal, and was recognized as one of “Six Crime Writers to Watch” in Mystery Scene magazine. His latest novel, The Secrets We Share, will be available in April of 2022. He lives in Roslindale, Massachusetts with his partner Michael and his favorite reviewer, their lab Edith Ann, who likes his first drafts enough to eat them.

Meeting Agenda:
6:30-7:00 Networking, Introductions, and Member News
7:00-7:15 Mystery Minute by ZJ Czupor
7:15-8:15 or so: Program featuring our guest speaker
After Party: Stay after the program to mingle and visit.

Murder Mystery Online!

RMMWA July Meeting: July 8, 2021; 6:00 to 8:00 PM MDT

(Note early start, 6:00 PM)

Join us for a fun virtual murder mystery hosted by Kerry Hammond. You’ll hear witness testimony and get to ask questions. Whether a participant or voyeur, you’ll have a great time at this event.

Flapper murder at the 1920’s speakeasy

The Roaring 20’s are in full swing, giving birth to the rise of jazz music, flappers and, with the end of the war, a renewed feeling of hope and joviality. It’s the era of prohibition, and organized crime is at an all-time high. The Half Moon Club is one of just two speakeasys in town, fighting prohibition by serving alcohol illegally and offering patrons the type of fun that can’t be had when the sun is up. Despite the constant threat of a raid, business at The Half Moon Club is lucrative, as men and women stream through the doors each night. When a flapper is found shot to death outside the club, the management and loyal patrons of The Half Moon Club scramble to identify the killer before the police catch wind of the killing and shut down the juice joint for good!

Members will receive the Zoom link and password by email, groups.io, and our newsletter. Non-members, please send an email to chapterpres@rmmwa.org to request access.

Volunteer!

Want to participate in our July Murder Mystery? We need 10 women and 5 men to read various characters in our virtual game “A Flapper Murder at the 1920’s Speakeasy” to be held Thursday, July 8th on Zoom from 6-8 p.m. (Please note the earlier than normal start time!) Participants MUST be able to attend that night as any one of the characters could be the murderer, and really, what fun would it be if the murderer decided to bail on us?!

If you can read/play a character, please email Lori Lacefield at writer@lorilacefield.com and Kerry Hammond at girlygirl415@yahoo.com and note whether you’re volunteering for a male or female role (or either). Once we have enough volunteers, we will be assigning the roles and providing additional details.

Sergeant Amy Wheeler, Professional Standards Sergeant at the Loveland Police Department, will be our guest speaker this month, presenting the program titled Officer Involved Shootings: Crime Scene Case Study and Human Performance/Memory of Critical Incidents. Please join us for networking, education, and inspiration via Zoom on June 10, starting at 6:30 p.m. (MST). Members will receive the link and password by email, groups.io, and our newsletter. Non-members, please send an email to chapterpres@rmmwa.org to request access.

Program:

Officer Involved Shootings:
Crime Scene Case Study and Human Performance/Memory of Critical Incidents

by Sgt Amy Wheeler, Loveland Police Department

Sgt. Wheeler will take you through an officer involved shooting reconstruction where specific questions were answered with forensic examinations. She will also present information on how the study of human beings aids in investigations on critical incidents. This research-based information provides context to media narratives seen after these incidents occur.

Speaker Bio:

Sgt. Amy Wheeler is a 20 year veteran of law enforcement with extensive training in communications, crime scene investigation, crisis negotiations, internal affairs, and leadership.

Meeting Agenda:
6:30-7:00 Networking, Introductions, and News
7:00-7:15 Mystery Minute by ZJ Czupor
7:15-8:15 or so: Program featuring our guest speaker
After Party: Stay after the program to mingle and visit.

We have another terrific program lined up for our May meeting. Dr. Diane France from the Human ID Lab of Colorado will present the program, Determining the Circumstances Surrounding Death. Please join us for networking, education, and inspiration via Zoom on May 13, starting at 6:30 p.m. (MST). Members will receive the link and password by email, groups.io, and our newsletter. Non-members, please send an email to chapterpres@rmmwa.org to request access.

Program:

Determining the Circumstances Surrounding Death

by Dr. Diane France, Human ID Lab of Colorado

Do you want to know how to write about the circumstances surrounding death, from sharp force trauma to blunt trauma to gunshot wounds? A forensic anthropologist is often called to determine the circumstances surrounding death of a body, and the key to successfully diagnosing trauma means that we have to understand how bone reacts to force. After this talk, you will understand, as well!

Speaker Bio:

Dr. Diane France received her Ph.D. in Anthropology at the University of Colorado, Boulder in 1983 with an emphasis on forensic anthropology and osteology. In 1989 the American Board of Forensic Anthropology certified her as an expert in forensic anthropology. She has been recognized as an expert by multiple Colorado district courts as well as in Wisconsin. She is an adjunct faculty member of CSU, and is the owner and director of the Human Identification Laboratory of Colorado, an independent laboratory.

Dr. France has experience in archaeological techniques, particularly as they relate to recovery of human remains and evidence from outdoor scenes. She is a member (since 1989) and past president of NecroSearch International, a volunteer multidisciplinary organization that assists law enforcement in the location of clandestine graves and the recovery of remains and evidence from outdoor scenes.

She has served almost 18 years on the Board of Directors of the American Board of Forensic Anthropology and served for five years as its president. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) and served as vice chairman and chairman of the Physical Anthropology Section of the AAFS. In 2010 she was awarded the T. Dale Stewart Award (the highest award given by the section). Dr. France served eight years on the Board of Trustees of the Forensic Science Foundation and served four of those years as its Vice Chairman. She also served as Chairman of the Research Committee for three years and has participated in the Research Committee for many years outside member since leaving the Board of Trustees in 2003.  Dr. France is the chair of the Anthropology subcommittee of the Organization of Scientific Area Committees, and has been a member since 2014.

Dr. France is also the author of five professional books and numerous other publications and is under contract for additional books.

Meeting Agenda:
6:30-7:00 Networking, Introductions, and News
7:00-7:15 Mystery Minute by ZJ Czupor
7:15-8:15 or so: Program featuring our guest speaker
After Party: Stay after the program to mingle and visit.

New York Times bestselling author Mark Sullivan will present a program titled My Secret Weapon at our next meeting. Please join us for networking, fun, education, and inspiration via Zoom on April 8, starting at 6:30 p.m. (MST). Members will receive the link and password by email, groups.io, and our newsletter. Non-members, please send an email to chapterpres@rmmwa.org to request access.

Program:

My Secret Weapon

by author Mark Sullivan

How cultivating a creative mindset gave me a long and rewarding writing career and how you can do the same in just a few minutes a day.

Speaker Bio:

Mark Sullivan is the author of eighteen novels, including the #1 bestselling Beneath a Scarlet Sky which has been published in 37 languages and is being made into a limited series starring Tom Holland. Mark has also worked extensively with James Patterson, with whom he wrote five #1 New York Times bestsellers in the Private series.

Before turning to fiction, Mark worked as an investigative journalist. Mark lives in southwest Montana, where he remains grateful for the miracle of every moment.

Meeting Agenda:
6:30-7:00 Networking, Introductions, and News
7:00-7:15 Mystery Minute by ZJ Czupor
7:15-8:15 or so: Program featuring our guest speaker
After Party: Stay after the program to mingle and visit.

The March meeting of the Rocky Mountain MWA will feature a program presented by award winning author DP Lyle, MD. Please join us for networking, fun, education, and inspiration via Zoom on March 11, starting at 6:30 p.m. MST. Members will receive the link and password by email, groups.io, and our newsletter. Non-members, please send an email to chapterpres@rmmwa.org to request access.

Program:

Poison—The Perfect Murder Weapon?

Let’s talk about poisons, toxins, and drugs.

• What is a poison?
• Are medical drugs good and poisons bad? Or are they one and the same?
• How are poisons delivered to avoid detection?
• How do a medical examiner and a toxicologist determine if a poison is involved in a suspicious death?
• Did a poison or drug cause or contribute to the death? Is it always clear?
• What are some common poisons, and how do they work?

Speaker Bio:

DP Lyle is an Amazon #1 Bestselling author whose 22 books include the Samantha Cody mystery series, multiple thriller series featuring Dub Walker, Jake Longly, and Cain/Harper, and the Royal Pains media tie-in series. Lyle has also written nonfiction books on forensic science and mystery writing, and has served as story consultant to fellow novelists and to screenwriters for television series including Law & Order, CSI: Miami, Diagnosis Murder, Monk, Judging Amy, Cold Case, House, Pretty Little Liars, and more.

Lyle has won both the Macavity and Benjamin Franklin awards, and has been nominated for the Edgar, Agatha, Anthony, Shamus, Scribe, and USA Today Best Book awards.

With Jan Burke, Lyle was the co-host of Crime and Science Radio, and hosts the podcast series Criminal Mischief.

For more information visit http://www.dplylemd.com.

Meeting Agenda:
6:30-7:00 Networking, Introductions, and News
7:00-7:15 Mystery Minute by ZJ Czupor
7:15-8:15 or so: Program featuring our guest speaker
After Party: Stay after the program to mingle and visit.

Please join us at the Rocky Mountain MWA monthly meeting, which will be held via Zoom on February 11th, starting at 6:30 p.m. Members will receive the link and password by email, groups.io, and our newsletter. Non-members may send an email to chapterpres@rmmwa.org to request access.

Program:

The New Wave of Diverse Voices in Crime Fiction

In the last several years, established and emerging crime writers of color have become increasingly visible in the publishing world.  Novels such as Blacktop Wasteland and Your House Will Pay have received critical acclaim and excellent sales. This presentation will discuss some of these voices and the ways in which mystery and suspense fiction is changing as a result of this new wave.

Speaker Bio:

David Heska Wanbli Weiden, an enrolled citizen of the Sicangu Lakota Nation, is the author of the novel Winter Counts (Ecco/HarperCollins, 2020), a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice and Indie Next pick. Winter Counts was named a Best Book of 2020 by Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Amazon, and NPR, a notable selection by CrimeReads, and was a main selection of the Book of the Month Club.

David’s work has appeared in the New York Times, Shenandoah, Yellow Medicine Review, Transmotion, and other magazines, and he a professor of Native American studies at Metropolitan State University of Denver.

Photo by by Aslan Chalom

Meeting Agenda:
6:30-7:00 Networking, Introductions, and News
7:00-7:15 Mystery Minute by ZJ Czupor
7:15-8:15 or so: Program featuring our guest speaker
After Party: Stay after the program to mingle and visit.

Please join us at the Rocky Mountain MWA monthly meeting, which will be held via Zoom on January 14, starting at 6:30 p.m. Members will receive the link and password by email, groups.io, and our newsletter. Non-members may send an email to chapterpres@rmmwa.org to request access.

Program:

Watching the (Legal) Detectives

Colleen Collins and Shaun Kaufman, a married private eye team, have been “legal investigators” (working exclusively with law firms) for over two decades. Their presentation will cover criminal cases from misdemeanor to murder, as well as civil cases such as personal injury, auto accidents, and premise liability. They’ll discuss the inner-workings of high-stakes homicide cases, finding people who don’t want to be found, interviewing difficult witnesses, premise liability cases, and more. They have taught courses on private investigations to regional and national writers organizations, as well as co-authored several nonfiction books on legal investigations.

Speaker Bios:

Colleen Collins sold her first novel in 1996, and has since had 30 more books published in the romance, mystery, and nonfiction genres. Her noir short story “Look Your Last” is in the September 2020 anthology Coast to Coast Noir published by Down & Out Books.

Shaun Kaufman is a retired trial attorney with nearly four decades experience in criminal justice. He’s the co-author of How to Write a Dick and A Lawyer’s Primer for Writers: from Crimes to Courtrooms. He’s learned that one’s case is only as good as the evidence a PI gathers.

Meeting Agenda:
6:30-7:00 Announcements, Introductions, and News
7:00-7:15 Mystery Minute by ZJ Czupor
7:15-8:15 or so: Program featuring our guest speaker
After Party: Stay after the program to mingle and visit.

Please join us at the Rocky Mountain MWA monthly meeting, which will be held via Zoom on November 12, starting at 6:30 p.m.

Program:

Forensic Documentation Examination and Case Study

Mark Songer will present on the various techniques forensic examiners use to authenticate or debunk signatures and documents in civil and criminal matters, and lead us through a fascinating case study based on a now notorious case you won’t want to miss!

Speaker Bio:

Mark Songer

Mark Songer is a court qualified expert in Forensic Document Examinations. He provides investigations, reports, and testimony towards the resolution of matters involving disputed documents or signatures, including: wills, checks, contracts, deeds, account ledgers, medical records, and autograph authentication. His other areas of expertise include employment background screening, casino and hotel surveillance systems and operation, proper procedure and protocol in the handling and destruction of classified materials, and the collection, storage and retention of biometric information.

Mark is a former FBI Special Agent and FBI Document Analyst, and was the designated handwriting expert for the Evidence Response Team-Los Angeles. During his tenure in the FBI, Mr. Songer instructed numerous law enforcement officers and examiners in handwriting identification, crime scene investigations and the proper collection of writing samples. He has also developed and implemented Criminal Justice and Forensic Science programs at several institutions of higher learning, including the University of California and La Sierra University. In addition, Mark is a former Adjunct Professor of Forensic Science at National University, San Diego, California and is currently an Adjunct Professor with Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona Beach, Florida. Mark is also a life-time member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).

Meeting Agenda:
6:30-7:00 Announcements, Introductions, and News
7:00-7:15 Mystery Minute by ZJ Czupor
7:15-8:15 or so: Program featuring our guest speaker
After Party: Stay after the program to mingle and visit.

The Rocky Mountain MWA monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on October 8th starting at 6:30 p.m. Mountain time, and will feature award-winning author Judge Debra H. Goldstein. Members will receive the link and password by email, groups.io, and our newsletter. Non-members may send an email to chapterpres@rmmwa.org to request access. Hope to see you September 10th!

Program:

FOLLOWING THE PATH TO PASSION

Agatha, Anthony, Derringer, and Silver Falchion Finalist Judge Debra H. Goldstein discusses the path to her passion, with an emphasis on the road she almost didn’t take.

Speaker Bio:

Debra Goldstein

Judge Debra H. Goldstein writes Kensington’s Sarah Blair mystery series (Three Treats Too Many, Two Bites Too Many, One Taste Too Many). She also authored Should Have Played Poker and IPPY Award winning Maze in Blue. Her short stories, which have been named Agatha, Anthony, Derringer finalists, have appeared in numerous periodicals and anthologies including Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Black Cat Mystery Magazine, and Mystery Weekly. Debra serves on the national boards of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America and is president of SEMWA and past president of SinC’s Guppy Chapter. Find out more about Debra at DebraHGoldstein.com

Meeting Agenda:
6:30-7:00 Announcements, Introductions, and News
7:00-7:15 Mystery Minute by ZJ Czupor
7:15-8:15 or so: Program featuring our guest speaker
After Party: Stay after the program to mingle and visit.

The Rocky Mountain MWA monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on September 10th starting at 6:30 p.m. Mountain time, and will feature bestselling crime fiction author and veteran crime scene investigator Lisa Black . Members will receive the link and password by email, groups.io, and our newsletter. Non-members may send an email to chapterpres@rmmwa.org to request access. Hope to see you September 10th!

Program:

FACTS VS. FICTION: My life as both a crime fiction writer and real-life CSI

NYT bestselling author Lisa Black will discuss her distinctly nonlinear path to publication and how her work as a forensic specialist has been pivotal in bringing her characters to life. She will talk about her cases, agents, pitfalls and publishers.

Speaker Bio:

  Lisa Black

Lisa Black is the NYT bestselling author of 14 suspense novels, with works that have been translated into six languages, optioned for film, and shortlisted for the inaugural Sue Grafton Memorial Award. She is also a certified Crime Scene Analyst and certified Latent Print Examiner, having begun her forensics career at the Coroner’s office in Cleveland Ohio and continued it with the police department in Cape Coral, Florida. Lisa has spoken to readers and writers at numerous conferences and will be a Guest of Honor at 2021 Killer Nashville.

Meeting Agenda:
6:30-7:00 Announcements, Introductions, and News
7:00-7:15 Mystery Minute by ZJ Czupor
7:15-8:15 or so: Program featuring our guest speaker
After Party: Stay after the program to mingle and visit.

The Rocky Mountain MWA monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on August 13th starting at 6:30 p.m. Mountain time, and will feature DNA evidence pioneer and former Denver D.A. Mitch Morrissey. Members will receive the link and password by email, groups.io, and our newsletter. Non-members may send an email to chapterpres@rmmwa.org to request access. Hope to see you August 13th!

Program:

After years of prosecuting criminals, former Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey turned to solving cold cases using cutting edge DNA technology through his company United Data Connect.

For example, take the 1996 murder of Tangie Sims in Aurora. Sims was found fatally stabbed, and during their investigation detectives discovered that her attacker had cut himself. Later, through genetic analysis of this evidence, UDC was able to provide investigators information that lead to the identification of the murderer.

Or, take the case of Charles Banister, a serial rapist in Wisconsin. Banister was not in the official DNA database, but connecting the genetic dots from this database to genealogical search software to a Banister family member lead to a guilty plea and a fifty-year prison term for sexual assault.

Join us for a fascinating discussion of how DNA is used to ID perpetrators of violent crimes, and how that evidence is used in courtrooms across America to put violent felons in prison or bring closure to families who have spent years wondering if their cases would ever be solved.

Speaker Bio:

Mitch Morrissey

A career prosecutor for 33 years, Mitch Morrissey was elected District Attorney of Denver, Colorado for three terms from 2004-2017. Morrissey introduced the first DNA evidence used in a criminal trial in Denver, and is internationally recognized for his expertise in DNA technology and its application in criminal prosecutions. He has trained law enforcement officers, prosecutors and judges throughout the United States, the Middle East, Central America and Canada.

Morrissey also has shared his knowledge beyond the legal and law enforcement communities. He hosted the television program Dialogue Denver DA, and continues to be interviewed frequently for television, radio and print media. His support for familial DNA searching was the topic of a report by 60 Minutes.

Prior to leaving the D.A.’s office, Morrissey spearheaded the Denver Cold Case Project, which reviewed over 4,200 unsolved sexual assaults and murders to use DNA technologies to solve these old cases. In addition, he and the Denver Police Crime Lab introduced the use of DNA to solve burglary cases and other property crimes. During his tenure as Denver District Attorney, Morrissey became the leading proponent in the United States of using Familial DNA Database Searches to solve violent crime.

After leaving the Denver D.A.’s office in 2017, Morrissey co-founded United Data Connect to continue his work in applying advanced technology to the field of investigation.

RSVP by Monday, December 10

Price: $10. Includes dinner and presentation
CADA, 290 E. Speer Blvd., Denver

Mystery & Mistletoe is back for another round of holiday cheer and delicious food.

The night will also include member readings as well as voting for and announcements of winners in the RMMWA’s Six-Word Mystery Contest!

RSVP by Monday, September 10

Price: RMMWA members $20, guests $25 Includes dinner and presentation
CADA, 290 E. Speer Blvd., Denver
As a consultant to films, authors, historians, and genealogy researchers, Police Sgt. Dean Christopherson will demystify the real grind and nitty gritty of real police work. In addition, Sgt. Christopherson will give us a history of law enforcement, procedures, and technology. He promises to answer as many questions as time allows.

“Much of the critical work to solve crimes is still done at an initial scene, just not so much by a patrol officer, but by a crew of highly trained specialists and detectives,” he said.

Sgt. Dean Christopherson has been with the Denver Police Department for 18+ years and has been the director of citizen police academies, founder of the Denver Police Museum, a patrol officer, field training officer, and community relations officer.

He worked as a narcotics agent for the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, where he was on the drug task force, worked as a K-9 handler and weapons instructor, and was involved in undercover investigations, the Special Response Unit, and assisting local agencies in criminal investigations.

He also has several years’ experience as a firefighter and arson investigator, and has moved into restaurant and nightclub operations, owning and operating two locations and developing several more.

A Literary Agent and Two Writers Offer Insights on the Topsy-Turvy World of Books and Writing

With Chris Goff, Kevin Wolf & Terrie Wolf
Location: Private Home in Colorado Springs (address and direction will be emailed to attendees).
Time: Thursday, August 9, 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Cost: $10

Includes a light meal.

Chris Goff is an award-winning author of six novels based on environmental themes and two international thrillers. Her most recent book, Red Sky was a 2018 Colorado Book Award Finalist. Set in Ukraine and Asia, Agent Raisa Jordan must test the boundaries of diplomacy as she races to prevent the start of a new Cold War. Catherine Coulter had this to say: “Breathtaking suspense, do not miss Red Sky.” Goff’s series debut, Dark Waters, was dubbed “a sure bet for fans of international thrillers” by Booklist. Dark Waters was a finalist for the 2016 Colorado Book Award, 2016 Colorado Authors’ League, Genre Award, and the 2016 Anthony Award for Best Crime Fiction Audiobook.

Named the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’ 2002 Writer of the year, Goff’s bestselling Birdwatcher’s Mystery series was nominated for two WILLA Literary Awards, a Colorado Author’s League Award, and was published in the UK and Japan. Her latest, A Parliament of Owls, came out in May 2016.

A long-standing member of multiple writing organizations, Goff has served on several local, regional and national boards, including Mystery Writers of America. She began serving a four year term on the Executive Council of International Crime Writers Association in October 2017, and current serves on the Education Committee of Sisters in Crime.

Kevin Wolf is a member of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and Crested Butte Writers. The great-grandson of Colorado homesteaders, he enjoys fly fishing, old Winchesters and 1950s Western movies. He lives in Estes Park, Colorado, with his wife and two beagles. He is the author of A Town Called Vengeance, Brokeheart, and The Homeplace.

Terrie Wolf, a full member of AAR (Association of Authors’ Representatives) and founder of AKA Literary Management, is a literary agent and foreign rights manager with a background in publishing, international media and criminal investigations. This fourth-generation Colorado ranch kid has built a solid reputation working with authors and entertainers across the globe and has literally traveled the world in search of real answers and unforgettable stories, but she might tell you the skills she developed as a member of The Greatest Show on Earth helped best prepare her – and her clients, no doubt – for the topsy-turvy, ever-changing, literary industry.

Location: Colorado Auto Dealers Association, 290 E. Speer Blvd., Denver, 80203
Cocktail hour: 6:30, dinner 7 p.m. Program follows.

Panelists: Becker Parkhurst-Strout, Amy Hall, Jennifer Hendzlik
Program: Get Your Book in the Library

What will make your book stand out so that librarians say “Gotta buy that!?”  Which reviews do we pay attention to?  Which indie-published books do we buy? How important are the title, cover art, and blurbs from published authors?  What does the library purchasing process look like? Join us as we share insights about how librarians make purchasing decisions. Get perspective from collections librarians from different sized systems with varied approaches. Questions encouraged.

Panel Biographies:

Amy Hall has been the Collection Development Librarian for Adult Materials at Jefferson County Public Library for (roughly) the last two and a half years. She has also been a backlist buyer for both general and genre fiction at the Tattered Cover Book Store, and worked for a few years at the University of Denver’s Publishing Institute.

Becker Parkhurst-Strout has worked for the Denver Public Library for 17 years, the past 5 in Collection Development. She is passionate about books, the outdoors, social justice, and her family and pets.

Jennifer Hendzlik is a buyer with Anythink Libraries and sees herself as part fiction guru, part educator and part musician. She also teaches readers’ advisory at the University of Arizona and has presented for a variety of organizations including PLA, MLA, MALA and CAL. She received her MLS from Syracuse University.

A full dinner is served at our evening meetings including non-alcoholic beverages, coffee and dessert. Beer and wine are available for sale.

Menu: Traditional chicken Marsala, pan seared chicken with sautéed mushrooms, Marsala sauce and  fettuccine pasta accompanied by a grilled vegetable salad – seasonal vegetables and feta cheese, atop a bed of spring greens with sun dried tomato vinaigrette. All meals are served with assorted desserts. Iced tea, water and coffee are included, beer and wine are available for sale. Vegetarian meal available upon request.

Location: Colorado Auto Dealers Association, 290 E. Speer Blvd., Denver, 80203
Cocktail hour: 6:30, dinner 7 p.m. Program follows.

Speaker: Kathleen Donnelly
Program: The Crime Fighting Nose

Menu: Elements signature lasagna with salad & garlic bread. All meals are served with assorted desserts. Iced tea, water and coffee are included, beer and wine are available for sale. Vegetarian meal available upon request.

Presentation description: We see them on television, read about them in books and see them in action at airports or traffic stops—the amazing K-9s. These dogs work in many different capacities from police and military work to finding cadavers to search and rescue and much more. Ever wonder about their training? What is it like living with a K-9 as a roommate? What does it look like when a dog alerts? This is your chance to see a narcotics K-9 in action and get your questions answered.

Kathleen will present with Willow, one of her Sherlock Hounds partners. During the presentation Kathleen will explain and demonstrate how she and her dogs go into schools and private businesses to help keep them safe. She’ll explain how the dogs are trained to detect illegal drugs in schools which include: marijuana, meth, heroin, cocaine and ecstasy, gunpowder and alcohol. Kathleen will discuss the differences and similarities between her dogs and police K-9s, the ongoing Colorado state level rulings regarding dogs continuing to alert on marijuana and will answer any burning questions you have about K-9s. Willow will give a demonstration and show how well her crime fighting nose works.

Click for more information on Sherlock Hounds.

Kathleen Donnelly Bio: Passionate about animals and the outdoors, all of Kathleen’s interests end up in written form, one way or another. Her experiences being a part-owner and K-9 handler for Sherlock Hounds Detection Canines over the past 12 years play a major role in much of her writing. She is currently working on a mystery featuring a female protagonist who’s a K-9 handler for the National Forest Service, a manuscript that was named a finalist for a 2017 Claymore Award. Kathleen lives in Berthoud, Colorado with her husband and all their four-legged friends.

Willow Bio: Willow has been a K-9 for Sherlock Hounds Detection Canines the past two years. A rescue from Oklahoma, she loves keeping schools safe by sniffing out drugs, alcohol and gunpowder. Willow’s other passion is sitting by Kathleen’s desk and consulting on anything K-9 related Kathleen is writing. She lives in Berthoud, Colorado with her fellow drug dogs DJ, Gracie and retiree Sparky.

Location: Colorado Auto Dealers Association, 290 E. Speer Blvd., Denver, 80203
Cocktail hour: 6:30, dinner 7 p.m. Program follows.

MENU: Grilled top sirloin, mushroom demi-glace and garlic roasted potatoes with a classic Caesar salad. All meals are served with assorted desserts. Iced tea, water and coffee are included, beer and wine are available for sale. Vegetarian meal available upon request.

Presentation: Forensic DNA
Presenter: Chief Deputy District Attorney John Kellner

The presentation will focus on Forensic DNA in the courtroom from a prosecutor’s perspective and how it has been used it to achieve murder convictions in a variety of cold cases. John Kellner will provide an overview of the common sources of DNA, including some surprising items that prosecutors have been able to pull DNA from in real life. The presentation will cover some different types of DNA analysis including mitochondrial, YSTR, and familial, with real-life examples of how it helped solve crimes or gain convictions.He will also discuss a cold case murder from 1994 in Boulder and the subsequent trial of Michael Clark in 2012, and the 2015 trial of Jon David Harrington for the murder of Carolyn Jansen in 2002. Finally, he will discuss some recent advances in DNA analysis such as rapid DNA testing for use in the field, and phenotyping to generate a composite sketch of a suspect.

John Kellner is a Chief Deputy District Attorney in the Eighteenth Judicial District Attorney’s Office, the largest and most populated jurisdiction in the state of Colorado. In his most recent assignment he served as the senior deputy for the Cold Case Unit and focused solely on solving and prosecuting murder cases. Some of those cases include the 1996 disappearance of Kimberly Medina and the 2013 trial of Michael Medina in a “no body” homicide case; the 2010 murder of a Sudanese refugee that resulted in three separate murder trials and convictions of gang members in 2015/2016; and the 2015 trial of a man convicted of murdering and hiding the body of Carolyn Jansen in a Rubbermaid container in 2002. In 2016, John was recognized as the Prosecutor of the Year for the entire state by the Colorado District Attorney’s Council.

John also serves as a Major in the United States Marine Corps Reserves. He served on active duty for five years and deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan where he assisted local prosecutors with cases against insurgents in the city of Marjah. As a reservist he has travelled across the country supporting military prosecutors in high-profile courts-martials. He is currently assigned to the Staff Judge Advocate’s Office for NORAD-USNORTHCOM as an Operational Law attorney.

Program:  The Spy-Catcher Who Came In From a Real-World FBI Office

Presenter: Jerry Ackerman

Spies have shaped and influenced the course of history from the shadows since ancient times, and continue to do so today, undermining national and economic security. Special Agent Jerry Ackerman worked foreign counterintelligence and counterespionage for 15 years out of Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Denver. He’ll discuss past FBI espionage investigations as well as the methodology and tradecraft used by spies and how the FBI counters them. The FBI, spies, and tradecraft are portrayed often in film, television, and books, but the portrayals are not often accurate. He’ll discuss the day-to-day investigative duties and terminology to add the required touch of realism to characters and plots involving the FBI as well as espionage stories.

BIO:

Jerry Ackerman is a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation where he has worked matters such as foreign counterintelligence, counterespionage, and crimes against children. He is a team leader on Denver’s Evidence Response Team, processing crime scenes. He served in the U.S. Navy, where he dangled from helicopters while performing search & rescue operations as well as mission support for NASA projects such as the Mars Pathfinder, space shuttle recoveries at Edwards AFB, and X projects like the X-36 tailless fighter. As Alistair Kimble, Jerry co-wrote Iron Angels, an FBI procedural with urban fantasy underpinnings. Iron Angels was chosen by Publishers Weekly as one of its top 10 science fiction, fantasy & horror picks for the fall of 2017 and was released on September 5, 2017 from Baen Books.

$10 for both members and non-members

The event begins at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 13 at the Colorado Automobile Dealers Assn. headquarters at 290 East Speer Blvd. in downtown Denver. Tickets are $10. The Tattered Cover will be on hand to help those shopping for holiday gifts. The public is welcome. Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.rmmwa.org.

Mystery Writers of America members scheduled to read excerpts of their works include Carter Wilson, Catherine Dilts, Shannon Baker, co-authors Carl and Jane Bock, Christine Goff, Jennifer Kincheloe, Kevin Wolf. Francine Mathews, Margaret Mizushima, Sue Hinkin, Jeffrey Alan Lockwood, Barbara Nickless, Charlotte Hinger,

Twist Phelan, J.L. Abramo and Cynthia Kuhn.

In addition, the winners of the Six-Word Mystery Contest will be announced. The contest opened October 1 with final deadline to enter at midnight, November 26. Six-word “novels” can be entered in one or all five of the following categories: Hard Boiled or Noir; Cozy Mystery; Thriller Mystery; Police Procedural Mystery; and/or Romance and Lust.

Cost to enter the contest is $6 per entry (just $1 per word); or $10 to enter six-word mysteries in all five categories. The grand prize winner will receive $100 in cash.

Finalists in other categories will receive valuable gift cards to Tattered Cover and will be featured on the RMMWA website. The Six-Word Mystery Contest is open to all adults 18 and over. No residency requirements.

Judging entries in the contest will be The Denver Post’s Features Editor Jenn Fields; New York Times best-selling author Anne Hillerman; award-winning author, lawyer and activist Manuel Ramos; Tattered Cover Book Store owner and author Len Vlahos; and literary agent Terrie Wolf, owner of the AKA Literary Management agency.

Judges will select finalists in each category and winners will be chosen by those attending “Mystery & Mistletoe.”

Presenter George Gill

Host Jeffrey Lockwood

Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers & Rocky Mountain Mystery Writers of America present:

Bone Stories: Forensic Anthropology for Mystery Writers

Presenter: George Gill

Host: Jeffrey Lockwood

Date: Saturday, September 23

Time: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Location: Sam Gary Branch Library, 2961 Roslyn St., Denver

This workshop will draw the participants into the field of osteology as it pertains to inferring the identity of the victim (age, stature, gender and ancestry), time/cause of death and other features of interest to mystery writers (e.g., did you know that it is possible to deduce the gender of a person from cremated remains—with a bit of luck?).

In addition to fascinating tales by one of the nation’s leading forensic anthropologists, there will be opportunities for hands-on experience with bones.

Details

A light lunch and snacks will be provided.  Program will begin at 9:15 a.m.

Cost:

$20. Reserve your spot by clicking the button below  or email Susan Paturzo at spat87506@gmail.com to reserve your spot and pay at the door. Space is limited.

Bios:

George W. Gill received B.A. with Honors in zoology from the University of Kansas in 1963, at which time he entered military service as a U.S. Army Combat Ranger. After receiving his honorable discharge in 1967 at the rank of Captain, he returned to Kansas with a fellowship in anthropology, completed his Ph.D. in 1971, and accepted a position that year at the University of Wyoming, where he is still active in teaching and research. Dr. Gill has excavated and studied several hundred human skeletons from tropical west Mexico, Easter Island, and the Great Plains of North America. His travels have carried him to 45 countries and all 50 states, where he has been able to develop notes and slides on many peoples and cultures. Dr. Gill has developed osteological collections which form parts of the national museum collections of Mexico and Chile, served as scientific leader of National Geographic Society’s 1981 Easter Island Anthropological Expedition, and has been active in skeletal identification for law enforcement agencies as a Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. He has served as Secretary and Chairman of the Physical Anthropological Section of the AAFS and as a member of the Board of Directors of the national certification board for forensic anthropologists.

Jeffrey Lockwood is an unusual fellow. He grew up in New Mexico and spent youthful afternoons enchanted by feeding grasshoppers to black widows in his backyard.  This might account for both his scientific and literary affinities. He earned a doctorate in entomology from Louisiana State University and worked for 15 years as an insect ecologist at the University of Wyoming.  He became a world-renowned assassin, developing a method for efficiently killing billions of insects (mostly pests but there’s always the innocent bystander during a hit).  This contact with death drew him into questions of justice, violence, and evil. He metamorphosed into an appointment in the department of philosophy and the program in creative writing.  Unable to escape his childhood, he’s written several award-winning, non-fiction books about the devastation of the West by locust swarms, the use of insects to wage biological warfare, and the terror humans experience when six-legged creatures invade their lives. Pondering the dark side of humanity led him to the realm of the murder mystery.  These days, he explores how the anti-hero of crime noir sheds existentialist light on the human condition: In the end, there are no excuses-we are ultimately responsible for our actions.  The first of his three-book noir mystery series featuring an ex-cop-turned-exterminator is titled: Poisoned Justice (Pen-L, 2016). Look for Murder on the Fly to be released later this year. Jeff is a member of the board for the Rocky Mountain chapter of Mystery Writers of America.

Brief But Deadly

with Catherine Dilts, R.T. Lawton, Shannon Lawrence, and Steve Pease
RMMWA Panel Thursday, July 13, 2017

6:30 PM social
7:00 PM dinner and program
Location: Home of Catherine Dilts (address will be emailed to you after your Paypal payment has been received)
Cost: $10 includes light supper, beer and wine

Please RSVP by Monday, July 10.

All about the benefits of writing short—writing short stories to drum up readers for your novels, writing short fiction for the sake of the story, awards, and visibility.

• Writing to a theme versus writing what strikes your fancy.  Is it worth writing to an anthology theme, especially if it’s a very specific theme they might not be able to place elsewhere if rejected?
• Do you need to market short stories? (Posting to social media, participating in blog cover reveals/advertising hops, featuring on your website).
• What happens when you try to write a short story, but it turns into a novel?
• What does “short” mean? Definitions of flash, short, long, novella.
• Favorite short story authors and magazines.
• “The return of the short story,” with efforts by groups like SMFS and Sisters in Crime to encourage reading and writing short.
• No one reviews short fiction – wrong! Mystery Scene Magazine, blogs.
• Anthologies – and where to find calls for submissions.
• Magazines vs. anthologies – The benefits of both.

Presenter biographies:

Shannon Lawrence

A fan of all things fantastical and frightening, Shannon Lawrence writes primarily horror and fantasy. Her short stories can be found in nearly twenty anthologies and magazines, including Space and Time Magazine, Dark Moon Digest, and The Deep Dark Woods. When she’s not writing, she’s hiking through the wilds of Colorado and photographing her magnificent surroundings, where, coincidentally, there’s always a place to hide a body or birth a monster. Find her at www.thewarriormuse.com.

RT. Lawton

R.T. Lawton is a retired federal law enforcement agent, a past member of the Mystery Writers of America board of directors and a three-time Derringer nominee with over 110 short stories in various publications, to include Blood on the Bayou(2016 Bouchercon anthology),The Mystery Box ( 2013 MWA anthology), And All Our Yesterdays anthology,Who Died in Here? anthology, the West Coast Crime Wave anthology, Deadwood Magazine, Easyriders, Outlaw Biker, Woman’s World magazine, and 37 sold to Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine. He also has four e-collections at Amazon.com and at Smashwords for other e-readers. You may have attended one of his Surveillance Workshops at various writers conferences.

Steve Pease aka Michael Chandros

Steve writes fiction under the name of Michael Chandos. He is a retired career Intelligence Officer and he teaches an occasional course in the writer’s dual approach to writing with Intelligence. He has placed mystery short stories online (SHOTGUN HONEY) and in themed anthologies (BLACK COFFEE), and science fiction also online and in themed anthologies (ALIENS). He has at least three short stories in submission at all times and several novels in the plotting and free-writing process.

Catherine Dilts

Catherine Dilts is the author of the Rock Shop Mystery series, while her short stories appear regularly in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine. With a day job as an environmental regulatory technician, Catherine’s stories often have environmental or factory-based themes. Others reflect her love of the Colorado mountains, fishing, and running. Her story The Chemistry of Heroes was a 2017 Derringer finalist. This fall, she takes a turn in the cozy mystery series Secrets of the Castleton Manor Library. You can learn more about Catherine’s fiction at http://www.catherinedilts.com/

In words and vintage photographs, Rich People Behaving Badly exposes the scandals, murders, infidelities, financial misdeeds, and just plain misbehavior from Colorado’s past. Dick will also tie this talk into Murder at the Brown Palace, a related topic. His talk will focus on research, particiularly the benefits of the Denver Public Library.

Dick Kreck Bio: Born in San Francisco. Grew up in Glendale, California. Wrote and published his first newspaper at age 10.

Obtained BA in Journalism from San Francisco State College. Worked as a copy editor at the San Francisco Examiner and the Los Angeles Times. Joined The Denver Post in 1968 and held various editing jobs there, including a turn as editor of Roundup magazine. He wrote a city column for The Post for 18 years and covered local television and radio before he retired from the paper in June 2007.

In 2010, he was inducted into the Denver Press Club Hall of Fame.

Reflecting his passion for local history, his books include Colorado’s Scenic Railroa

The Rocky Mountain Chapter of Mystery Writers of America  holiday showcase  featured a tribute to the long, successful and ongoing career of mystery writer Margaret Coel.

Margaret Coel is the New York Times best-selling author of the acclaimed Wind River mystery series set among the Arapahos on Wyoming’s Wind River Reservation and featuring Jesuit priest Father John O’Malley and Arapaho attorney Vicky Holden. Margaret published the 20^th novel in that series, Winter’s Child, earlier this year and announced at the time the Wind River series was complete.

Five of Coel’s novels have received the Colorado Book Award. The Spirit Woman received the Willa Cather Award for Best Novel of the West and was a finalist for the Western Writers of America’s Spur Award for Best Novel.

Margaret Coel is also the author of five non-fiction books including the award-winning Chief Left Hand, published by the University of Oklahoma Press. This biography of an Arapaho chief and history of the Arapahos in Colorado has never gone out of print. The Colorado Historical Society has included both Chief Left Hand and Margaret’s memoir-history of railroading in Colorado, Goin’ Railroading (which she wrote with her father, Samuel F. Speas) among the best 100 books on Colorado history.

The guest emcee for the evening was Francine Mathews, author of 10 mysteries and spy thrillers, including the recent Too Bad to Die. Writing as Stephanie Barron, she is also the author of 13 novels in the Jane Austen Mystery Series and two additional works of historical fiction.

The showcase also included readings by Jane Bock, Chris Goff, Karen Graffenberger (writing as Karalee Long), Christine Jorgensen, Jennifer Kincheloe, Jeffrey Lockwood, Bruce Most, Barbara Nickless, Manuel Ramos, Carter Wilson, and Kevin Wolf.

Kristen Gilligan and Len Vlahos: “We Just Bought America’s Most Iconic Indie Bookstore…Now What Do We Do?”

What: November RMMWA meeting
Where: Historic Denver Press Club
When: Thursday, November 10, 2016
6:30 p.m. socialization and cash bar
7:00 p.m. dinner
8:00 p.m. presentation

MENU: Balsamic marinated London broil served on a bed of caramelized red onions and mushrooms with garlic mashed potatoes and a grilled vegetable salad ~ marinated and grilled seasonal vegetables and feta cheese, atop a bed of organic spring greens with sun dried tomato vinaigrette.

COST: Via Paypal, cost for the meeting with meal is $20 for members; $23 for non-members. Payment at door for meeting with meal is $25 for everyone! Attending the meeting without meal is $5 through PayPal and at the door.
RSVPs are necessary. Please email our Caterer Director, spat87506@gmail.com Susan Paturzo by Monday, November 7th, to ensure your reservation or simply RSVP and pay via PayPal. To pay for more than one reservation, click the “Continue Shopping” button once you are routed to PayPal. Walk-ins are welcome if space and food allows. RSVP by Monday, November 7^th.

PROGRAM:  Kristen Gilligan and Len Vlahos: “We Just Bought America’s Most Iconic Indie Bookstore…Now What Do We Do?”

Psst—the bookstore in question is the Tattered Cover, in case you couldn’t guess. Kristen and Len’s presentation will cover things of great interest to authors, including how they came to buy Tattered Cover, trends they’re seeing and their plan for the future, their personal histories working with books, and a brief history of disruption in the book industry. And of course, any questions MWA members might have.

With four locations in and around Denver, and three branded locations at Denver International Airport, Tattered Cover is an iconic brand not only in Colorado, but nationally. Built over four decades by current owner, the legendary Joyce Meskis, the stores are known for an inviting atmosphere, a large and well-curated selection of books, a robust schedule of author events, full service coffee shops, and legendary customer service.

Before joining Tattered Cover, Len was the Executive Director of the Book Industry Study Group, a national not-for-profit trade association doing standards, research, and education on behalf of the entire book industry. Prior to that, Len spent nearly twenty years at the American Booksellers Association (ABA) where he served a variety of roles, including overseeing ABA’s e-commerce and education programs, leaving in 2011 as Chief Operating Officer. In his early career Len worked in indie, chain, and university bookstores. He has also served on the boards of directors for EDItEUR, the International Digital Publishing Forum, and as a citizen’s advisor to the Stamford Public Library. Len is also the author of *The Scar Boys* (Lerner), a critically acclaimed young adult novel published in January 2014 and its sequel, *Scar Girl* (Lerner. He is under contract with Bloomsbury Kids USA to publish to new YA novels in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

Kristen also worked at ABA, where, for a decade, she held a variety of positions, including Director of Meetings and Events. As a member of the ABA’s senior staff, Kristen was privy to and participated in strategic discussions on the current state and future of the book industry with many of the industry’s leaders. She was also directly involved in the creation of ABA’s education program; assisted and counseled potential members on opening a bookstore; managed ABA’s public relations and publicity; and advocated on behalf of independent booksellers on First Amendment issues, Internet sales tax, and the development of sustainable local economies. During her tenure at ABA, Kristen was a member of the American Society of Association Executives and sat on the Children’s Booksellers & Publishers Committee, a joint group of ABA, the Association of American Publishers, and the Children’s Book Council. Before joining ABA, Kristen managed an independent bookstore in her hometown of Chappaqua, New York.

Kristen and Len are actively involved in the education of their two sons, Charlie (age seven) and Luke (age five). They live in Littleton, Colorado with one very large cat.

WHERE: The Historic Denver Press Club, 1330 Glenarm Place, Denver, second floor.

WHEN: Thursday, October 13th. 6:30 p.m. conversation and cash bar; 7:00 p.m. Dinner; and 8:00 p.m. Program

COST: Via Paypal, cost for the meeting with meal is $20 for members; $23 for non-members. Payment at door for meeting with meal is $25 for everyone!
Attending the meeting without meal is $5 through PayPal and at the door.
RSVPs are necessary. Please email our Caterer Director, spat87506@gmail.com Susan Paturzo by Monday, October 10th, to ensure your reservation or simply RSVP and pay via PayPal on the https://staging1.rmmwa.org/ website! Walk-ins are welcome if space and food allows.

MENU: Herb-crusted pork loin ~ tender pork loin drizzled with an herbed demi-glace with roasted garlic mashed potatoes. Served with a grilled vegetable salad ~ marinated and grilled seasonal vegetables and feta cheese, atop a bed of spring greens with sun dried tomato vinaigrette.

With Gary Dawson, Senior Deputy, 18^th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

Gary will cover:

• Pardon me Stewardess, I speak Geek·
• Evidence is Everywhere Online·
• Online Luring
• Identification Through the Internet
• Exploitation
• Now How Did That Get There? Common Defenses to Incriminating Evidence Found on a Computer
• P2P Networks
• Cellphones/ The Cloud

Gary Dawson has been a prosecutor his entire legal career.  From 1996 through 2008 he was a prosecutor in the St. Lawrence County (Canton, NY) and the Onondaga County (Syracuse, NY) District Attorney’s Office.  He became a member of the Onondaga County DA’s Office Special Victims Bureau in 2001.   He was promoted to Deputy Bureau Chief of Special Victims in 2006, and then Bureau Chief in 2008.   This bureau specialized in prosecuting some of the most sensitive of all crimes –those involving children, child and adult sexual assaults, and domestic violence.  He has also handled numerous computer-related cases against children and was appointed a Special United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York for prosecutions of child pornography.   He joined the 18^th Judicial District DA’s Office in October of 2008, and was a Senior Deputy in the Special Victims Unit from April 2009 through December 2015.  He now is a Senior Deputy in the general felony docket.

He has spoken to numerous public, service, and law enforcement agencies on issues of domestic violence, sexual assault and criminal law.  Over his career, in addition to SVU cases, he has prosecuted cases covering virtually all facets of criminal law, including homicides, narcotics, fraud, DUI, and arson.

Gary created the RISK program while in Syracuse and it has gone on to educate over 11,000 parents and kids in New York.   The program was highlighted on a December 2007 Fox News segment on internet safety.  Since 2009, RISK has already succeeded in reaching over 14,000 parents and students in Colorado.

A native of Southern California, he tries to cope with the lack of gridlock traffic (which he misses so very much), and the lack of smog, earthquakes, mudslides, Kardashians, and the astronomical cost of housing in Los Angeles by downhill skiing, following the Yankees, hiking,  drawing cartoons, being one of those insufferable CrossFit people, and keeping up with his three dogs.

What: September RMMWA meeting
When: Thursday, September 8, 2016
6:30 p.m. socialization and cash bar
7:00 p.m. dinner
8:00 p.m. presentation
Where: Historic Denver Press Club
Menu: Jack Daniels-marinated chicken breast baked with sautéed seasonal vegetables with garlic mashed potatoes.  Served with a classic Caesar salad (rough chopped romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese, garlic croutons, and fresh cracked black pepper) with garlic Caesar dressing.

Cost: If paying via Paypal cost is $20 for members; $23 for non-members, $5 for non-meal. Choose the option you want from the drop-down menu (Member, Non-Member, or Non-Meal), and then click the Add to Cart button. Note: if you want to sign up both a member and guest, you must pay for each with a separate Add to Cart transaction. Payment at door is $25 for everyone! RSVPs are necessary. Please email our Caterer Director, Susan Paturzo to insure your reservation! The reservation deadline is Monday, September 5th.

Computers are a fact of life in the 21^st century, and they are fascinating to mystery writers as vehicles for criminal activity as well as vehicles for sleuthing out criminal activity or other interesting facts. We all know the internet is a big weird place. How much can we learn about it in an hour? Come to the September 8 RMMWA meeting and find out!

September’s program, presented by Dylan Proulx, will include a 50-cent tour of the web, address how search engines work, the surface web, the Deep Web, the Dark Web, how to find stuff, and how to cover your tracks. He’ll talk about how the internet can be used for nefarious purposes, how to use the internet safely and how to know you’re using it safely. And what on earth is cryptocurrency, and can you use it to pay for it all? In other words, everything you wanted to know about the internet but were afraid to Google.

Dylan Proulx: Dylan started programming at the age of 6, on the day that his mother made scones. His brother showed him BASIC programming on the ancient family Kaypro 1. While Dylan hasn’t had a decent scone since then, the programming stuck. He started professional programming in the late ‘90s working on Y2K projects for CARL corporation, a library-automation company. He has since worked for Amazon.com, ESPN, a bank, and most recently ADT. Although he bills himself as a general-purpose software engineer, he has a slight inclination towards information security. He has taught company-wide web-security classes at Amazon.com, and once was given a parking spot for “dedication to security” (where he was promptly ticketed for parking in a reserved spot).

Where: The Historic Denver Press Club,
1330 Glenarm Pl., Denver CO

When: Thursday Night, May 12th.
6:30 p.m. conversation and cash bar; 7:00 p.m. dinner; and 8:00 p.m. program

Menu:  Cranberry apricot chicken ~ slow roasted chicken breast topped with a cranberry-apricot relish with herbed rice pilaf served with a caprese salad ~ mixed greens, tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil and croutons with balsamic vinaigrette. Vegetarian option available, just note the request when you RSVP.

Cost: If paying via Paypal cost is $20 for members; $23 for non-members, $5 for non-meal. Choose the option you want from the drop-down menu (Member, Non-Member, or Non-Meal), and then click the Add to Cart button. Note: if you want to sign up both a member and guest, you must pay for each with a separate Add to Cart transaction. Payment at door is $25 for everyone! RSVPs are necessary. Please email our Caterer Director, Susan Paturzo to insure your reservation! The reservation deadline is Monday, May 9th.

Amelia Norfleet Dorn of IMPACT will discuss the foundations of self defense and the current move to an “Empowered Self Defense Model” (trauma informed, non-victim-blaming, non-prescriptive).  Amelia and one of IMPACT’s famed “Suited Instructors” will demonstrate a dynamic and diverse sampling of personal safety skills, including; verbal boundary setting, awareness strategies and physical techniques.  She’ll describe a typical IMPACT class and even get you up on your feet to learn some skills yourself!

Amelia Norfleet Dorn has more than 20 years of experience in the fields of self defense and empowerment.  Through IMPACT International, she has taught personal safety skills to thousands of men, women and children. She founded IMPACT Personal Safety of Colorado (IPSCO) in 2005 and currently serves as its Program Director.  Her greatest passion lies in primary-prevention programming like IPSCO’s EMPOWERED Family courses and rehabilitation programs for convicts in several Federal and local Correctional Facilities. Amelia also facilitates Our Whole Lives (O.W.L.), a comprehensive and values-based sexuality education program for all ages and is the proud mama of two very EMPOWERED children.

(NOTE: No shows and anyone not cancelling their reservation 72 hours in advance will be expected to pay since RMMWA will be billed for their reservation.)

Cost: If paying via Paypal cost is $20 for members; $23 for non-members, $5 for non-meal. Choose the option you want from the drop-down menu (Member, Non-Member, or Non-Meal), and then click the Add to Cart button. Note: if you want to sign up both a member and guest, you must pay for each with a separate Add to Cart transaction. Payment at door is $25 for everyone! RSVPs are necessary. Please email our Caterer Director, Susan Paturzo to insure your reservation! The reservation deadline is Monday, April 11th.

Menu: Asian beef kabobs – soy marinated and grilled beef sirloin, skewers with cherry tomatoes, peppers and onions, atop steamed jasmine rice served with a grilled vegetable salad – marinated and grilled seasonal vegetables and feta cheese, atop a bed of spring greens with sun-dried tomato vinaigrette.

(NOTE: No shows and anyone not cancelling their reservation 72 hours in advance will be expected to pay since RMMWA will be billed for their reservation.)

Program: Brent Lounsbury, a Ranger with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, will be talking about natural resources law enforcement.  Brent has been a certified peace officer for 13 years and a supervisor for 10 years.  He is a law enforcement handgun and patrol rifle instructor, snowmobile and survival instructor, CPR / First Aid instructor, former EMT, and is SWAT certified.

Brent will talk about what it’s like to respond to a threat in the wilderness, knowing backup is hours away, and often that the individuals you’re about to “contact” are well armed.  Managing acreage is very different than city blocks and creates its own special set of issues, including patrolling on ATVs, snowmobiles, and boats.  Sometimes the wilderness brings out the best in people and sometimes people do silly—and downright dangerous—activities.

Brent will talk about his approach to mindset, preparedness and tactics, as well as how different agencies’ jurisdictions and roles intermingle.  He will answer questions about firearms, kinds of injuries, law enforcement policies, and anything else that comes to mind.

Is your writing career all that you want it to be? Do people in the biz know you? Are you connected with the readers you want? A solid author platform from which to launch your writing aspirations is a must for today’s writers and published authors.

Liesa Malik, RMMWA member and long time marketing consultant will approach author platform from the perspective of actions you can take now to enhance your career in the writing and publishing industry. Together we’ll discuss the five portions of a solid platform cycle including visions, lists, actions, results, and marking success. We’ll also cover the concepts of long tail marketing and how understanding this concept can lead to the 1,000 true fans needed for a successful writing career.

Liesa is a freelance marketing consultant with a degree in Mass Communications from the University of South Florida. She has started or co-founded four businesses in her career and has extensive experience in corporate branding and communications. A cozy mystery novelist who currently lives in Littleton, CO, Liesa is a long-standing member of Rocky Mountain Mystery Writers of America and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. For more information, please visit her website at www.liesamalik.com.

Cost: If paying via Paypal cost is $20 for members; $23 for non-members. Choose the option you want from the drop-down menu (Member, Non-Member, or Non-Meal), and then click the Add to Cart button. Note: if you want to sign up both a member and guest, you must pay for each with a separate Add to Cart transaction. Payment at door is $25 for everyone! RSVPs are necessary. Please email our Caterer Director, Susan Paturzo, to insure your reservation! The reservation deadline is Monday, January 11th.

(Parking at the Denver Press Club usually runs $5 after 6 p.m., but sometimes if there are special events in town, the rate will bump higher.)

Thursday Night, December 10th @ 7:30 p.m. Cost| Free. Cash Bar.

This year our holiday party will coincide with NOIR AT THE BAR. Join eight talented writers for readings. There will be drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Participating RMMWA members include Mario Acevedo, Jennifer Kincheloe, and Mark Stevens. Hope to see all of you there so we can raise a glass to success for all RMMWA members in 2016.

Details

Date: December 10, 2015
Time: 7:30 pm
Cost: Free! Cash Bar.
Contact:  Shannon Baker

Venue

The Denver Book Bar
1330 Glenarm Pl, Denver, CO 80204
Phone: 720-443-2227
Website: http://www.denverpressclub.org

First Hand Perspectives from a CDC Emergency Responder during Five Extraordinary Emergency Response Operations

Thursday Night, November 12th  @ 6:30pm – 11:00pm Cost| $20/member

Program

The four pillars of emergency response operations (typically for natural disasters) include: mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. When the unprecedented incident or disaster occurs, decision making in the face of uncertainty becomes a mandate for the responder. The presenter will discuss his experiences responding to five exceptional emergency response operations: the 2001 World Trade Center disaster, the anthrax attack at the U.S. Capitol, the 2003 SARS pandemic in Taiwan, the 2004 southeast Asian tsunami in Thailand, the 2014 Texas hospital-acquired Ebola infections, and in 2015 a month-long assignment in Liberia for the ongoing Ebola infections in W. Africa.

Eric Esswein is a Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Public Health Service where he holds the rank of Captain. He has 27 years’ experience in the field of investigating and controlling novel occupational and public health threats assigned to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). A scientist, inventor and emergency responder, Eric responded to the New York, World Trade Center disaster, the anthrax attack on the Capitol Hill, the SARS pandemic in Taiwan and the aftermath of the south east Asian tsunami in Thailand. In 2014 he was a member of the CDC team response to the 2014 Dallas, Texas hospital Ebola infections and in 2015 was assigned as an infection prevention and control team lead for a month Liberia, W. Africa.

Eric holds bachelor and master’s degrees in environmental health/toxicology and public health/industrial hygiene. He is board certified in the comprehensive practice of industrial hygiene and is the first named inventor for two patents in the area of chemical detection and decontamination, and first named inventor for a patent pending engineering control technology to reduce silica dust emissions on hydraulic fracking sites. He is the author or co-author for more than 30 CDC/NIOSH technical publications, 16 peer-reviewed articles and is a referee for several scientific journals. He was recently appointed as Honorary Lecturer in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Witswatersrand, School of Public Health, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Details

Date: November 20, 2015
Time: 6:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Cost: $20 member, $23 non-member, $25 at the door
Contact:  Shannon Baker

Venue

The Historic Denver Press Club
1330 Glenarm Pl, Denver, CO 80204
Phone: 303-571-5260
Website: http://www.denverpressclub.org

NOTE: No shows and anyone not cancelling their reservation 72 hours in advance will be expected to pay since RMMWA will be billed for their reservation.

June 21 @ 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm | $20

Writers, readers, editors, photographers, book buyers and booksellers will gather at Aspen’s Doerr-Hosier to honor some of Colorado’s finest literary professionals. Everyone is welcome to attend! Tickets are $20 in advance, and $25 at the door.

Details

Date: June 21, 2015
Time: 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Cost: $20

Venue

Doerr-Hosier Center at the Aspen Meadows
845 Meadows Road, Aspen, CO United States

August 21 @ 6:00 pm – August 22 @ 6:00, 2015 | $20

The Mystery Roundup begins with an evening get-together, a full day of panels on Saturday and ends with a Ghost Tour of Old Town on Saturday Night.

The program schedule will be announced ASAP, meanwhile, don’t miss out. Please print out this form, fill it in and send your check today!

Meals and drinks are own your own. Early bird program registration: $20 by July 3rd. Hotel price has been negotiated at $109/night. Just tell them you’re with the Croak & Dagger/RMMWA group.

Details

Date:  August 21 @ 6:00 pm — August 22 @ 6:00 pm, 2015
Cost:  $20

Venue

Marriott Pyramid Hotel
5151 San Francisco Rd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109

September 10, 2015 @ 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm Cost | $20

Have you ever wondered what happens in a crisis negotiation? Wonder no more. Our September meeting will feature crisis negotiator, Special Agent Matt from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who will discuss what happens in a crisis negotiation, what kind of characteristics a negotiator should have, and how negotiators strive for a peaceful resolution. Among other things, he teaches classes to certify negotiators and also responds to state and local as well as international incidents, which may or may not involve hostages.

If paying via Paypal cost is $20 for members; $23 for non-members. Note: if you want to sign up both a member and guest, you must pay for each with a separate Add to Cart transaction. Payment at door is $25 for everyone! RSVPs are necessary. Please email our Caterer Director, Shannon Baker to insure your reservation! The reservation deadline is Monday, September 7th.

Details

Date: September 10, 2015
Time: 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Cost: $20
Contact:  Shannon Baker

Venue

The Historic Denver Press Club
1330 Glenarm Pl, Denver, CO 80204
Phone: 303-571-5260
Website: http://www.denverpressclub.org

NOTE: No shows and anyone not cancelling their reservation 72 hours in advance will be expected to pay since RMMWA will be billed for their reservation.

October 8, 2015 @ 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm | $20

Join us at 6:30 p.m. for conversation and cash bar; 7:00 p.m. for dinner; and 8:00 p.m. for the program.

If paying via Paypal cost is $20 for members; $23 for non-members. Payment at door is $25 for everyone! RSVPs are necessary. Please email our Caterer Director, Shannon Baker to insure your reservation! The reservation deadline is Monday, October 5th. Program: t.b.a.

Details

Date:  October 8, 2015
Time:  6:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Cost:  $20
Contact: Shannon Baker

Venue

The Historic Denver Press Club
1330 Glenarm Pl, Denver, CO 80204 United States
Phone:  303-571-5260
Website:  http://www.denverpressclub.org