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MISSION: Sisters in Crime was founded in 1986 to promote the ongoing advancement, recognition, and professional development of women crime writers. Please view our Code of Conduct.
Sisters in Crime Orange County – The Blood Orange welcomes everyone interested in or passionate about the mystery genre, including writers—published, aspiring, or pursuing careers—readers, booksellers, publishers, librarians, editors, agents, promoters, reviewers, and fans.
If you love mystery fiction as much as we do, join us. Mystery lovers of every kind make up our Orange County, California, chapter. We meet on the fourth Sunday of the month (unless otherwise noted) to learn, discuss, and have fun with all things related to crime fiction.
To join The Blood Orange, SISTERS IN CRIME ORANGE COUNTY, visit our Join / Renew Page.
Next Meeting
Sisters in Crime Orange County
The Blood Orange
We’ll See You in September!
Writers’ Survival Camp with Barbara DeMarco-Barrett
Sisters in Crime Orange County – The Blood Orange
28 SEPTEMBER 2025
3:00 p.m. @ Book Carnival in Orange, CA
Writer’s Survival Camp
With a long and dynamic career as a writer, writing instructor, radio-show host, and sought-after speaker, Barbara DeMarco-Barrett brings a wealth of experience to the page and beyond. In this energizing session, she’ll share practical strategies for self-motivation, real-world brand building, and insider tips to keep your writing life thriving. Whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned author, Barbara’s guidance will help you navigate the challenges of the writing journey—and come out stronger, more inspired, and ready to write.
The Details
What: Writer’s Survival Camp with Barbara DeMarco-Barrett
When: Sunday, September 28th, 2025
Time: 3:00 PM
Where: Book Carnival – 348 S. Tustin St., Orange, CA 92866
Bio
Barbara DeMarco-Barrett is the author of Pen on Fire: A Busy Woman’s Guide to Igniting the Writer Within (Harcourt Mifflin Harcourt/Mars Street Press), which was a Los Angeles Times bestseller and winner of the Best Book Award from the American Society of Journalists and Authors. She edited the anthology Palm Springs Noir (Akashic Books), and her short stories have been included in the anthologies Coolest American Stories (Coolest Stories Press), USA Noir: Best of the Akashic Noir Series, and Orange County Noir (both Akashic Books). Her short fiction has appeared in Oyez Review, Literary Hatchet, Broad River Review, Rock and a Hard Place, and Dark City Crime and Mystery Magazine. Her essays and articles have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Inlandia, the Antarctica Review, the Ocotillo Review, the San Jose Mercury News, Orange Coast Magazine, Poets and Writers, Writer’s Digest, and The Writer. She hosts and produces the long-running podcast Writers on Writing, and she was a co-producer and writer of the documentary Not in My Neighborhood. She has taught at Chapman University, the University of California-Irvine, and Saddleback College. Her current release, POOL FISHING, is available at Amazon and where books are sold.
- Sisters in Crime Meetings are open to the public. Your first two meetings are free; subsequent meetings are $5 each. Members are free.
- Donations are graciously accepted! Any amount helps to keep amazing programing, events, and more coming your way.
Please visit the Join/Renew Page for information about Sisters in Crime OC and how to join our chapter.
