Louisville-Based Group Supports Writers of All Levels
Who doesn’t love a good mystery? With so many versions — thrillers, romance suspense or detective fiction — there’s a type to appeal to everyone. Likewise, writers of mystery novels gravitate to the sub-genre that excites and inspires them.
Regardless of whether an author is published or just beginning to think about the possibility of writing, it is helpful to be part of a community that encourages and shares resources. Derby Rotten Scoundrels, a group based in the Louisville area, offers support to authors no matter where they are in their writing journey.
As the Ohio River Valley chapter of the national organization Sisters in Crime, Derby Rotten Scoundrels is for anyone who likes to write mysteries. It’s a community of diverse people who meet once a month in person at the Middletown Library.
Members also have the option to participate via Zoom, and some meetings are Zoom-only depending on a featured speaker’s location. Speakers include authors who share their expertise or specialists in fields such as airplane tragedy investigations or autopsies.
Meetings are open to the public, but if someone finds the group is a good fit and they want to attend more than three meetings per year, they are encouraged to join. Membership is $15. Some members are from Northern Kentucky and Lexington, but the core live in the Louisville area. Men are welcome to join, but all individuals must also be members of Sisters in Crime.
According to co-president Elaine Munsch, the Louisville chapter of Sisters in Crime began in 1992 with the mission to promote the mystery genre and ensure both women and men authors were equally represented. Initially, the group was primarily a book club discussing mystery works, but two years later it took the name Ohio River Valley Chapter and became a resource for writers. Programs were presented to develop skills needed to become published, as well as increasing knowledge of the crime world. In addition, funds were raised for causes such as supplying books to women’s prisons and donating to a women’s shelter.
“Our first short story anthology was published by Silver Dagger Press in 2004,” says co-president Beverle Graves Myers. “The publisher was pressing us for a catchy title. I happened to be browsing a shop that handled only Kentucky products and noticed some towels and napkins that made a play on the word ‘derby’ and ‘dirty.’ ‘Talk Derby to Me,’ for instance. I was inspired to make a list of all the common phrases that contained the word ‘dirty’ and substituted ‘derby.’ At our next meeting, the group went over the list and thought ‘Derby Rotten Scoundrels’ was the winner. A few years later the group was intent on renaming the chapter and decided that the original anthology title would be perfect.”
To help aspiring writers in the membership transition to being published, the group has published three anthologies — collections of short stories. After the success of the first one, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, the second one followed two years later. Like its predecessor, Low Down and Derby features tales of murder and crime centered around the Kentucky Derby. The third anthology, Mystery with a Splash of Bourbon, published in 2020, has outsold the first two. It was marketed to distilleries and is available through booksellers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Walmart. Besides the opportunity to have their work showcased, members benefit from other facets of the group.
“During meetings there has always been a section for critique and discussion of writing, so six members decided to form a feedback group,” says Lynn Slaughter, past president and current secretary. “They submit their work ahead of time so members of the subgroup can read it before meeting twice a month. It turned out to be very successful. I find we learned as much or more from reading others’ work and critiquing it as getting feedback on our own work. Everyone got published and now a second group is starting.
“Another successful subgroup is called Guppies and is for pre-published authors,” Slaughter adds. “The founders of that group went on to be published but have stayed on to offer guidance. We never say ‘unpublished’ but instead say ‘pre-published.’ When a member gets published, it is announced on our Facebook and the Members’ News Page on our website.”
The group also enjoys contributing to the community. Members are available to speak at libraries or bookstores. Slaughter shares that they are delighted when asked to come to meetings, especially when book clubs reach out.
“In the 30-plus years it has existed, the chapter has been blossoming,” Munsch says. “Many of its members have gone on to publish their own books. Our group continues to help pre-published writers attain their goal.”
For more information, visit Derby Rotten Scoundrels on Facebook or at derbyrottenscoundrels.com.
