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A Conversation With Clay Stafford

Don’t miss the Derby Rotten Scoundrels gathering on April 11 with Clay Stafford.

We’re excited about the discussion and Q&A on his creative journey, productivity, and getting the most out of Killer Nashville, the premier forum for all genres incorporating mystery, thriller, suspense, action, or romance elements.

Clay Stafford has had an eclectic career as an author, filmmaker, story and creative consultant, actor, composer, educator, public speaker, and business leader. He has sold nearly four million copies of his works in over sixteen languages. He is founder and CEO of the annual Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference and a contributor to Writer’s Digest magazine with his monthly online column, “Killer Writer”. In addition, Clay is the founder of Killer Nashville University, a creative learning platform for writers.

For more information, visit ClayStafford.com.

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

Zoom Registration Link

 

A Conversation With Clay Stafford

Don’t miss the Derby Rotten Scoundrels gathering on April 11 with Clay Stafford.

We’re excited about the discussion and Q&A on his creative journey, productivity, and getting the most out of Killer Nashville, the premier forum for all genres incorporating mystery, thriller, suspense, action, or romance elements.

Clay Stafford has had an eclectic career as an author, filmmaker, story and creative consultant, actor, composer, educator, public speaker, and business leader. He has sold nearly four million copies of his works in over sixteen languages. He is founder and CEO of the annual Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference and a contributor to Writer’s Digest magazine with his monthly online column, “Killer Writer”. In addition, Clay is the founder of Killer Nashville University, a creative learning platform for writers. For more information, visit ClayStafford.com.

 

Meeting Details

DateApril 11, 2026

Time12:00 PM (eastern standard time)

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

Zoom Registration Link

 

 NOTE TO DRS CHAPTER MEMBERS:  We will have a chapter meeting the same day as Clay’s presentation, between 11am and 11:50am. This will be on Zoom, but using a different zoom link than the Clay Stafford meeting. That zoom link will go out under a different announcement. This is to avoid confusion for the non-members attending Clay’s Zoom talk.

Member News – February 2026

Lynn Slaughter

Lynn is excited to share that Missing Mom is a finalist for the Imadjinn Award in the young adult category. Lynn tells us that she is “Feeling very grateful.”

 

 

 

book cover of Missing Mom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Jeanette Pope

Jeanette had a successful book launch for her new novel, Throwaway Kids. The event was held at the University of Louisville Alumni Club.

Stay in touch with Jeanette via her website: https://popeauthor.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


DRS received another order for our Bourbon Anthology, Murder, With a Splash of Bourbon, from Heaven Hill Distillery. Susan trucked them down where they will adorn the book section in their lovely gift shop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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!

DRS Chapter Meeting – February 14

 


DRS President Miki Reilly-Howe speaks on:

 

The Business of Publishing: Author Newsletters

 

 

 

 

 

 


DRS Program Chair Pam Hirschler presents:

To Prologue or Not to Prologue, So Many Questions

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don’t miss this great opportunity for actionable content and group discussion.


Chapter Meeting Details

  • DateFebruary 14, 2026
  • Time11:30AM to 1PM  EST

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

Zoom Registration Link

 

 

 

Member News – January 2026

Lynn Slaughter

Lynn is excited to share the following news for her novel, Missing Mom:

  • Missing Mom was named the 2026 Independent Press Award winner in the young adult fiction category!
  • Missing Mom has been nominated for an Agatha in the juvenile/young adult category. 
  • Missing Mom has been named a finalist for the Dante Rossetti Award (CIBA) for Young Adult Fiction.
You can visit Lynn’s blog at www.lynnslaughter.com

 


Beverle Graves Myers

Noncorporeal IV: Phantom Dusk, the latest annual anthology of ghostly tales from Inkd Publishing, launched this January. Beverle Graves Myers is proud to have her spooky story, Late for the Reunion, join 18 other strong author voices.

 

 

 

 

 

 


Leanne Edelen

Leanne’s short story, Myrtle’s Way, is a winner in the Fiction category of Kentucky Monthly’s Penned Literary Contest.

It will appear in the upcoming February 2026 issue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Jeanette Pope

Jeanette will have a book signing event for the launch of her new novel, Throwaway Kids:

When: Feb 21, 2026 from 2PM – 5PM

Where:

University of Louisville Alumni Club

200 E Brandeis Ave, Louisville, KY 40208

Signing is in the Library at the Club

Stay in touch with Jeanette via her website: https://popeauthor.com/

 


Our Next Chapter Meeting will be February 14 at 11:30 am, EST. A separate post will go out next weekend with program details.

 


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!