Author: Eileen Hammond

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Policing Through the Ages

Jonathon Anderson

Join us on Saturday, September 16th from 11 to 12:30 PM for a special Zoom presentation by Police Historian Jonathon Anderson. Jon will give an overview of how policing developed in the U.S., including the unique aspects of policing in slave-holding states vs. abolitionist states. He’ll also touch on early historical influences from the Roman Empire and England as well as policing in the Middle Ages.

Jon is a retired Lieutenant from the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office in New York and has done stints as a crime scene specialist, Internal affairs, and community relations. He’s also been the Historic Site Manager, Onondaga County Parks Dept. Office of Museums and Historic Sites as well as a Board Member of the Onondaga Historical Association.

He’s had fifty articles in publications such as Law and Order Magazine, National Sheriffs’ Magazine, and Police Magazine. In addition, Jon’s debut book, Gannentaha, was published in April this year. This true story focuses on the 1656 French Jesuit mission embassy among the Haudenosaunee-Iroquois. At its heart, it’s an intriguing historical human drama, a hallmark cultural interface event, an inspirational faith journey, and an audacious act of perseverance and courage within a larger historical saga.

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“Three women, two investigators, and one cold case…”

Sara Herchenroether

Great presentation by Sara today. To view the recording, click here: Sara Herchenroether Presentation. (Passcode: 5#0zSW&^

The Night Flowers is local author Sara Herchenroether’s debut novel, which was published in early May by Tin House (small press based in Portland, OR and NYC). The Night Flowers is a May Indie Next Pick.

Sara’s book is a multi point of view literary mystery, partially based on the Bear Brook, Pennsylvania murders, though her book takes place in New Mexico.

Sara will be talking about the idea behind the book, the ethics of basing fiction off of true crime, the book’s structure, and how she writes with four kids.

Sara Herchenroether lives in Powell, Ohio with her husband and four children. Originally from Massachusetts, Sara studied English at Northwestern University and taught high school English in New York City for seven years. Sara is a breast cancer survivor.

Join us on August 19th in Meeting Room 3B at the Columbus Metropolitan Main Library Branch (96 S. Grant) from 11:00-12:30PM. If you can’t be there in person, you can get a Zoom link by sending an RSVP to us: buckeyecrimewriters@gmail.com.

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Self Publishing Soup to Nuts

Jessika did a great job on Saturday. If you missed it, you can view the recording here. Jessika Hazelton Zoom Recording. Passcode: 7HG%xD^!

Also, here is the link to the self-publishing pamphlet she mentioned.

If you’re ready to let your inner book out join Jessika Hazelton of The Troy Book Makers to learn the ins and outs of the self-publishing process. From finding an editor, to designing a beautiful book, to selling online and in bookstores, this presentation will cover all the steps of the publishing journey. With over 15 years of working with authors of all experience levels The Troy Book Makers are in a unique position to speak on publishing in general as well as the specifics of self-publishing and the many avenues available for doing so. 

Jessika Hazelton, book lover and cat enthusiast, is the owner of The Troy Book Makers. She received her BFA in writing and publishing from Emerson College before getting her dream job at The Troy Book Makers. After over a decade as an author liaison and graphic designer, working with hundreds of authors, she still thinks she has the best job there is. 

Join us on Zoom on July 22 from 11:00 AM EST to 12:30 PM for this informative session. To get the link, RSVP to our gmail account.

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From Representation to Resolution: The Work of a Criminal Defense Lawyer

Brad Barbin

Here is the video of Brad Barbin’s presentation: Passcode: u2sXvC1=

https://sistersincrime-org.zoom.us/rec/share/4P_0fbKdBpzSwXRwn4drbA7XikIEHHMznvUiF6yyZUIGsvWVr1X9LJeSvi4LEeej.qRCZoDjTGfqPtgRx Passcode: u2sXvC1=

Please join us Saturday, June 24, as veteran attorney Brad Barbin discusses the ins and outs of criminal defense work.

Barbin, who has practiced in both state and federal court, will explain his role from the day he’s contacted about representing a defendant until the case is resolved either by a conviction or an acquittal. Along the way, Barbin will describe how defense attorneys interact with clients, prosecutors, and judges, and will leave plenty of time for questions.

Brad’s talk begins at 1 p.m. at the Hilltop branch of the Columbus Public Library at 511 S. Hague Ave. on the city’s west side.

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Ohioana is Back

The Ohioana Book Festival is returning to the Columbus Metropolitan Main Library ( 96 S. Grant Ave. Columbus, OH 43215) on Saturday, April 22. There will be book signings from 10:30-5:00 PM as well as author panels and readings from 10:45-4:30. Our own Eileen Curley Hammond and Kandy Williams (moderator) will be part of the Cozy Mystery Panel from 2:30-3:15 PM in the Auditorium, and Andrew Welsh-Huggins will be giving a reading at 2:00 PM in room 2A. We’ll have a table there, so stop by and catch-up. For more information, click here. http://www.ohioana.org/programs/ohioana-book-festival/schedule/

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Coming Soon: BCW Writing Critique

Working on that mystery novel? If your fingers are now bloody nubs after the last couple of years in solitude, you’ve probably got a good start on a rough draft or a manuscript of something promising.  So now’s the perfect time for a critique/review by your peers.  For those unfamiliar, it works like this: submit your first chapter / first few pages / opening scene (up to 10 or so pages) by Monday, 3/13 (even sooner is better) to buckeyecrimewriters@gmail.com.  And note:  this is a communal event so as ye submit, ye must also critique. 

  • Meeting date: 3/18/23 (Saturday), Noon – 2 p.m., Upper Arlington Main Library, 2800 Tremont Road, Meeting Room B.
  • Due date: 3/13/20 (Monday), midnight.
  • Send manuscripts to buckeyecrimewriters@gmail.com. Note: if you submit, you’ll also need to participate as a reviewer.
  • What to send: manuscripts should be 10 pages, maximum (if not starting at the beginning, try to provide a few sentences for context). Manuscripts can be from a budding novel, novella, short story, etc.. Since these are partials, please do not send your entire work.
  • Manuscripts: double-spaced, 1” margins, 12 pt. font (no fancy/cursive fonts please). For simplicity, all submissions should be in the form of Word documents (no PDFs . . . otherwise we can’t return manuscripts with comments). Also, please include your name and email address (necessary for reviewers to email back comments).
  • All reviews will be sent back to the authors so please make any changes/comments using the ‘Track Changes’ and ‘Comments’ feature in Word.
  • If you don’t want to send anything but are happy to be a reviewer, please contact us for copies of submissions.
  • After the meeting, please email your comments of each manuscript back to the author.
  • Please give constructive feedback and remember to be kind.

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Sad News From Buckeye Crime Writers

Jim Sabin

Our friend, treasurer, and webmaster, Jim Sabin, died on Friday, January 27th. We will miss his laughter, his dedication, and his love of writing.

Here is his obituary and information about the visitation and service, which will take place on Tuesday, February 7th:

Jim Sabin, age 49, of Canal Winchester, died peacefully on Friday, January 27, 2023, at the OSU Wexner Medical Center after a two-year courageous battle against cancer.
            Jim was born April 24, 1973, in Oregon, Ohio, to Jeanne (Faylor) Sparks and James Sabin. He graduated from Whitmer High School in 1991 and then attended Ohio University, Athens, where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in Journalism, graduating in 1995. He worked in newspaper journalism for decades, both reporting on various local beats and editing local newspapers. In 2017, he returned to his alma mater, Ohio University, to work in Media Relations.
            Jim was an avid reader and a talented writer, and this writing talent was no more obvious than when documenting his battle against cancer. Music was also one of his passions, and going to concerts with friends or his sons gave him great joy. He loved sports, particularly baseball and his Detroit Tigers – a love he passed on to his younger son, Alex, and shared with the children he coached over the past few years. Family time was important to Jim. He was so proud of his sons, and devoted to his wife, whom he described as his rock. He was a caring, generous, and kind husband and father.
            Jim leaves behind his loving wife of eleven years, Lucy Sabin; sons, Chris and Alex Sabin; mother, Jeanne Sparks; dad, Steve Sparks; siblings, Bill (Megan) and Joe (Coty) Sparks; and various cousins, nieces, nephews, and other loved ones.
            Jim was preceded in death by his grandparents, Richard and Carol Faylor and Joanne and Eldon Dolby; his aunt, Connie Phillips; and his cousin, Christopher Phillips.
            Family and friends are welcome to visit Tuesday, February 7, 2023, from 12 to 2PM at the Dwayne R Spence Funeral Home, Canal Winchester, with a service starting immediately at 2PM. A live streaming of the service will also be available, with a link provided closer to the service date.

There was a lovely tribute to him from the Lancaster Eagle Gazette, which can be found here.