August 2022 Dear Librarians and SinC Members, In this issue of We Love Libraries News, bestselling and award-winning author Gigi Pandian describes how libraries and library materials spark her creative process. I am also pleased to announce the August We Love Libraries winner is The Whittier Public Library in Whittier, California. |
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Libraries for Book Research by Gigi Pandian As I sat down to write this essay, I realized I could easily write thousands of words about my love of libraries and how they’ve been a big part of my life as an author. Since I’m confined to only a few hundred words, I’ll focus on a few ways libraries have been indispensable in my book research. I write mystery novels set in the present day but steeped in history. Luckily, I adore research. Luckier still, I have library resources at my disposal. Here are three ways I’ve used libraries to help me with my research. Exploring historical documents Oh, how I love archives of all kinds! Primary documents answer questions I never knew I had and lead to more interesting storytelling. I’ve explored physical archives at libraries from the San Francisco Public Library to the British Library in London. Lately, I’ve spent even more time with online resources, and librarians from the California Historical Society and my local public library system have generously answered my numerous questions to help me find what I’m after in their online collections. Reading books without going broke or needing a bigger house Book deadlines are the only reason I pull myself out of research mode. Which is a good thing, since I already have too many piles of books and papers that don’t fit on my numerous bookshelves. I can’t resist books, articles, and documents that spark my curiosity. Without a bottomless bank account or larger house, it’s libraries to the rescue. The Libby app is on the home screen of my phone, so I can easily look up if my local library has a book that looks interesting. Knowing I don’t personally own a book also has the benefit of forcing me to take much better notes as I read. The library setting itself As much as I love the breadth of online resources that are now available, there’s nothing like setting foot in a physical library. I wrote my first published short story at the San Francisco Public Library, scribbling longhand in a paper notebook, so I know the magic of the library setting. When I was awarded a Malice Domestic Grant for unpublished traditional mystery writers for my debut novel, I used the award money to travel to the British Library in London. The physical details of the library were as much a part of my research as the documents I examined with my reader pass. Thank you to the generous librarians who’ve helped me explore and write better books! |
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Gigi Pandian is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning mystery author, breast cancer survivor, and locked-room mystery enthusiast. The child of cultural anthropologists from New Mexico and the southern tip of India, she spent her childhood being dragged around the world on their research trips and now lives outside San Francisco. She's the author of more than a dozen mystery novels. The latest is Under Lock & Skeleton Key, which the New York Times called "wildly entertaining." She’s been awarded Agatha, Anthony, Lefty, and Derringer awards, was a finalist for the Edgar Award, and is a co-founder of Crime Writers of Color. |
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August We Love Libraries Winner: Whittier Public Library! |
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Former library staff member, Taylor Ytuarte is pictured with books by Sisters in Crime member authors: I Know a Secret by Tess Gerritsen; The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny; The Last Place You Look by Kristen Lepionka; and The Murder List by Hank Phillippi Ryan |
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In addition to traditional library services, Whittier Public Library supports the community by partnering during the summer months with the local school district to provide free lunches for children and teens through the USDA Summer Food Service Program. Another community resource described in the WLL application is the library’s “Dedicated group of Veterans Resource Center volunteers that help veterans and their families understand their benefits.” The library will use the We Love Libraries grant to purchase library materials and create new library programs. Congratulations Whittier Public Library! |
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How Can Your Library Win a We Love Libraries Grant? Does your library need materials? Do you have a great idea for a library program? Apply for the We Love Libraries award! Find grant details and the brief grant application on our website. A WLL winner of $500 is selected every other month. |
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Write for We Love Libraries News! Do you have a great idea for an article in We Love Libraries News? Did your library put together an excellent display of mysteries that you would like to share? Submit your ideas and suggestions to Susan Hammerman, Library Liaison at |
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To find out more about all SinC offers, including live webinars, please visit our website. Thank you for all you do for your communities. Sisters in Crime loves libraries. Best wishes and happy reading! Susan Hammerman
Library Liaison Susan Hammerman, a former rare book librarian, is the Library Liaison and coordinator of the We Love Libraries program. Susan writes crime and neo-noir short stories. Her stories have been published by Mystery Magazine, Dark City Mystery Magazine, Blood and Bourbon, Mondays are Murder, and Retreats From Oblivion. Website, Twitter |
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WLL and WLB News Editor: Gail Lukasik’s latest book, White Like Her: My Family’s Story of Race and Racial Passing, was named one of the most inspiring stories of the year by The Washington Post. She is also the author of the Leigh Girard Mystery series and the stand-alone mystery, The Lost Artist. Her writing has appeared in numerous publications, such as The Washington Post, The Daily Beast, and The Georgia Review. Gail appeared in the documentary, History of Memory, which is available on Amazon Prime. |
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Here's a spreadsheet with our members' 2022 books. This month's releases are in a separate worksheet. Sort the spreadsheet by author name, location, title, or release date. |
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Sisters in Crime hosts LIVE webinars each month. Webinars last 60-90 minutes depending on the topic and the audience questions! These webinars are open to all. |
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Looking for diverse books? For many years, SINC has curated Frankie’s List, an extensive list of crime novels by people of color and other marginalized groups. Frankie Y. Bailey, building on work by the late Eleanor Taylor Bland, began to compile a list of published Black crime writers over a decade ago. Frankie has expanded the list to include other WOC and LGBTQ+ authors. Here’s a link: https://www.sistersincrime.org/page/FrankiesList |
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Sisters in Crime is the premier crime writing association focused on equity and inclusion in our community and in publishing. Our 4,500+ members enjoy access to tools to help them learn, grow, improve, thrive, and reinvent if necessary. They also gain a community of supportive fellow writers and readers, both peers to share the peaks and valleys of writing, and mentors to model the way forward. |
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