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Member News – July 2026

Beverle Graves Myers

Beverle Graves Myers’ latest short story, Three Fingers of Fate, appears in Detectives, Sleuths & Nosy Neighbors III from Inkd Publishing.

Set during an elegant gala brimming with ambition and secrets, her story offers a reminder that even the most polished appearances can be dangerously misleading.

Lynn Slaughter

Lynn’s novel, Missing Mom, was named the third place finalist in the National Excellence in Storytelling Contest. Lynn is “Feeling very grateful!”

Lynn’s newest novel for children, The Big Switch, received a great Readers Review (Readers’ Favorite web site):

“a remarkable novel for children”

https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/the-big-switch

Per Lynn: “This has definitely been my lucky day!”

Lynn’s short fiction piece, “Betrayal,” appeared in the Spring 2026 issue of the Louisville Review.

https://louisvillereview.org/tlr-98

Congratulations!

Member News – June 2026

Jeanette Pope

Double Triangles book cover

Jeanette participated at the Romance in Bloom Book Fair in May. The book fair was held at City Place Pavilion in LaGrange.

Lynn Slaughter

Lynn is excited announce the official release of Death in the End Zone, a sequel to Missed Cue featuring the same detective, Caitlin O’Connor, who navigates the investigation of another puzzling case while dealing with continuing changes and challenges in her personal life.

Lynn says “This is the first time I’ve ever written a novel which was not a stand-alone, so it’s been a whole new experience for me!”

Lynn is delighted to share  that her novel, Leisha’s Song, is the 2026 Maxy Award winner in the middle grade and young adult category:

https://www.maxyawards.com/2026

Lynn also had the following articles published in May:

Chapter Anthologies

Derby Rotten Scoundrels has published three anthologies between 2004 and 2020:

  • Derby Rotten Scoundrels a Silver Dagger Mystery (2004)
  • Low Down and Derby a Silver Dagger Anthology (2006)
  • Mystery with a Splash of Borubon (2020)

These anthologies got a shout out by the blog post Mystery Fanfare, a daily blog on mystery authors and stories run by Janet A. Rudolph. Her May 2 blog included the listing of our three anthologies (shown in the image), and we are grateful for the notice!

Send your news items to the following address: news@derbyrottenscoundrels.com

We will post on our Facebook page weekly and do a monthly round-up of news on the website.

Congratulations!

Video Recording: Virginia Smith – Treat Your Writing Like a Business

We were delighted to host Virginia Smith’s presentation:  Treat Your Writing Like a Business. In today’s competitive publishing landscape, creative talent is only half the equation; the most successful writers are those who approach their craft with the precision of an entrepreneur.

In this presentation, bestselling author Virginia Smith provides tips to help boost your writing productivity and gain an understanding of transitioning your writing from hobby to a business framework that can sustain a long-term career.

 

Virginia Smith is the USA Today bestselling author of 50+ books with more than 1.5 million copies sold worldwide. A multi-award winner with two Holt Medallion Awards of Merit and a Library Journal top pick, Ginny was delighted (and surprised!) when her novel made the leap to the silver screen (catch The Lies We Bury on Amazon Prime and other streaming channels). Central Kentucky is home, where she lives with her husband, a lively flock of chickens, and one very vocal Maltese named Max. Get to know her better at virginiasmith.org

Virginia Smith – Treat Your Writing Like a Business

Join the Derby Rotten Scoundrels on May 9 for a fabulous presentation: Treat Your Writing Like a Business.

In today’s competitive publishing landscape, creative talent is only half the equation; the most successful writers are those who approach their craft with the precision of an entrepreneur. In this session, bestselling author Virginia Smith will provide tips to help boost your writing productivity and gain an understanding of transitioning your writing from hobby to a business framework that can sustain a long-term career.

Virginia Smith is the USA Today bestselling author of 50+ books with more than 1.5 million copies sold worldwide. A multi-award winner with two Holt Medallion Awards of Merit and a Library Journal top pick, Ginny was delighted (and surprised!) when her novel made the leap to the silver screen (catch The Lies We Bury on Amazon Prime and other streaming channels). Central Kentucky is home, where she lives with her husband, a lively flock of chickens, and one very vocal Maltese named Max. Get to know her better at  virginiasmith.org

Business meeting starts at 11:30am

Guest speaker begins at Noon.

This meeting will be zoom only. Please use the following link to register. 

Zoom Registration Link

 

 

Member News – May 2026

Lynn Slaughter

Lynn will be signing her new middle grade novel, The Big Switch: Varney and Cedric, an identity-swapping tale.
When:  May 16
Time:  2-4 PM
Where:  Paddock Shops’ Barnes and Noble, 4330 Summit Plaza Drive
The Big Switch was named a starred “notable book” by Blue Ink Review who described the story as “bursting with charm and wit” and called it “a delight-fully entertaining novel—one that grasps the importance of feeling accepted and underscores the possibility of positive change.”

Lynn just learned that one of her all-time favorite novels, Leisha’s Song, was named a Maxi Awards finalist in the middle grade/young adult category.

Lynn says “Feeling very grateful!”

https://www.maxyawards.com/2026

 

On April 9th, Lynn participated in a Local Authors panel sponsored by the Highlands-Shelby Park Public Library.

Jenise Hale

Jenise represented the Derby Rotten Scoundrels at the Imagined Stanzas & Local Lit Book Fest. The event was held at the Bluegrass Vineyard in Smiths Grove, KY on April 18.

Our chapter anthology, Mystery with a Splash of Bourbon, was a big hit and sold out quickly.

Jenise’s book, Gossamer Key, also sold well.

It was a great opportunity to meet other local authors and visit a destination winery.

Frances Gossen

Frannie’s poem, Sestina, will be published in The Rush Magazine under the title New England’s Wrong Seasons.

The poem will be available on their website — https://www.therushmagazine.com/ — May 20th.

“Yay!”
–  Frannie

Eileen Trauth

Two of Eileen Trauth’s poems,

Passe Blanc

and

April 1968

appear in the April 2026 issue of  Verse-Virtual at:

Verse Virtual

 

 

Send your news items to the following address: news@derbyrottenscoundrels.com

We will post on our Facebook page weekly and do a monthly round-up of news on the website.

 

Congratulations!