Forensic University

[Lee Lofland]

This year, in addition to my normal conference schedule (which is really full this year), I'm pleased to be a part of Sister's in Crime's Forensic University. Jan Burke, Dr. D.P. Lyle, Eileen Dreyer, and I have been asked to help put together a star-studded program and from what I've seen so far the program is outstanding.

The event is going to be held in St. Louis and features workshops presented by some of the country's leading forensic experts. So for you crime/mystery writers who have always wanted to see how it's really done (not like on TV) this is the place to go. I believe there's even going to be time on a firing range for you shooters. Who knows, we may even find a body or two lying around. With D.P. Lyle hanging around I'm sure he'll have everyone plotting the perfect murder.

I hope to see some of you there.

http://www.sistersincrime.org/ForensicU/

Lee Lofland
www.leelofland.com

[Libby Hellmann]

Thanks for mentioning this, Lee. SINC isexcited about the conference... it's the first of its kind... at least that we know about. It's the first weekend in November. Check it out at www.sistersincrime.org/forensicu/

[Lee Lofland]

Hi Libby. Yes, it's the first of it's kind. I'm really excited about the Forensic University
because it will give writers real, first-hand knowledge about how the world of investigators and scientists really works.

Death investigation is very much like a jigsaw puzzle. The only difference is that it's worked in reverse. We start with the completed puzzle and then take it apart, piece-by-piece until the last piece we hold in our hands is the name of the killer. During the conference we're going to devote a session to each of those puzzle pieces.

[Mark Troy]

With those stars putting the program together, who could pass it up? On top of that, it occurs about a week after the Redbirds bring another World Series title to the best baseball city in the world. Will those bars be humming? Oh yeah! My chance of getting World Series tickets might be slim to none, but there's no better place to watch the series than any St. Louis watering hole you can name. I'm spending all my vacation hours in the Gateway to the West for the series and then cashing in some sick leave for the univeristy. What an autumn this is going to be!

[Karyn J. Powers]

My husband just "gave" me the conference as a birthday present. I can't wait. Libby, I'm one of the 200 or so people who introduced themselves to you at the 17th Annual Writer's Institute in Madison, WI in 2006.
(I had a lap top in search of electricity and you had a cell phone in search of connecting with your daughter.) Now I'll be celebrating my birthday on Nov. 1 in St Louis! What a gift! What a guy!