Scarlet Stiletto Bites

Imaginative crime stories with quirky comic moments, deadly characters and a frisson of feminism

We all feel cynical sometimes, don't we? Today on Scarlet's Stiletto Bites, we meet a super cynic. She's seen everything, but her cynicism leads her to discover seriously sinister crimes. Thursday Night at the Opera by Christina Lee, the Scarlett's Stiletto winner in 1998, and warning: there are a few dark themes in this story.About the Author, Christina LeeChristina Lee won the Scarlet Stiletto twice, much to her surprise, in 1992 and 1994, with an Honourable Mention or Third Place or something in between. Under the Sisters in Crime policy, she was not able to enter the competition after that, and was invited to be a judge. Christina has been on the judging panel every year since then, a wonderful experience, she says. She now coordinates the final judging session.Christina has been writing a long time. Decades ago, she co-authored two crime novels, set in a Melbourne tertiary institution (Unable by Reason of Death, 1989; Not In Single Spies, 1992; Penguin Australia). Both sold and reviewed well. The first was an ABC book reading (1990) and optioned for screen. After that, an all-encompassing thirty-year academic career seriously got in the way of writing for about thirty years, but Christina is an Emeritus Professor now and is back, looking for a publisher for her new crime novel.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteAnnouncer: Leigh RedheadProductionManager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Do we really wonder WHY women kill? We watched the TV series of that name… well a lot of us did. Long before Coercive Control was even a thing, women were responding to it, with dreams of their own domestic revenge.In today's Scarlet Stiletto Bite - the character Cyndi, an ordinary suburban woman does a bit more than dream…Back in 2005, a friend suggested to Julie Waight that she enter the Sisters in Crime Short Story Competition. She plucked out one of her many short stories, (Dust Devils) edited, did a rewrite to comply with the competition criteria and entered. She says she was astonished when she won.Julie: "I wish I could say that was the beginning of my published writing career. It wasn't. I'm old-school, I like the smell of a new book and to feel the paper as I turn a page. I'm not on face book, twitter, or Instagram (whatever that is) and not a computer savvy person. There was a close call when a publishing company in the UK wanted to publish my novel Kindred, but the company folded before that happened (something to do with Brexit?)– this opportunity only arose when an interested work student did all the research and sent my novel online – something I can't seem to do myself.Obviously, I require an agent! (Anyone interested?) I've written four novels and over thirty short stories. Thank you to Sisters in Crime, who allowed me to see my work in published form!"CreditsConcept designer, co-producer and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteAnnouncer: Leigh RedheadProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownMusic: sampled and inspired by ProkofievCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia 2023

Sometimes it is hard to look past the “usual suspects” when a crime is investigated. Perhaps it even takes a smidge of “women's intuition...Ruth Wykes is an author and editor who lives and works on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula. Ruth has co-authored two true crime books: Women Who Kill with Lindy Cameron and Invisible Women with Kylie Fox (both Clan Destine Press).Ruth is currently writing her debut crime novel and belongs to a small but passionate writers' group who meet regularly to write and share experiences. She enjoys writing fiction and in 2016 won the coveted Scarlet Stiletto short story competition. She has extensive experience in editing and proofreading and has written book reviews for a number of publications.In recent years Ruth has discovered a love of judging and is currently on the panel of judges for Sisters in Crime's Davitt Awards for best crime books by women. In her free time Ruth enjoys gardening, her friends, AFL football, and attempting the occasional home renovation project.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteAnnouncer: Leigh RedheadProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownMusic: sampled & inspired by ProkofievCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Crime can come close to us in more ways than one. Would you rather have a loved one who is a victim? Or a perpetrator?The Mother in today's story, has both.Eleven years elapsed between Josephine Pennicott's first Scarlet Stiletto shoe for “Birthing the Demons” in 2001 and her second shoe for “Shadows” in 2012. This taught her a lot about tenacity and belief in self. Winning the Scarlet Stiletto helped Josephine gain attention from a major publishing company, which led to her securing a literary agent. Since then, she has had five books published both in Australia and internationally. Her mystery novel Poet's Cottage was a Spiegel bestseller in Germany.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteAnnouncer: Leigh RedheadProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownMusic: sampled & inspired by ProkofievCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia 2023

Sometimes is gets very hard to tell the good guys from the bad guys. And often the good guys can get burnout, like Lizzie in today's story.In 2003, Jacqui Horwood was an emerging writer working at Victoria Police and scratching away at short stories. In 2016 she was an emerging writer who had two draft manuscripts and a number of published short stories under her belt. The shoes have boosted her confidence and remind her that she can do it. She is still an emerging writer. She was a judge for Sisters in Crime's Davitt Awards for best crime books for 10 years.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteAnnouncer: Leigh RedheadProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownMusic: sampled & inspired by ProkofievCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia 2023

Murders happen in the strangest places and for the strangest reasons… as today's story illustrates.When Aoife Clifford won the Scarlet Stiletto in 2007, she was at home with two small children, suffering terrible morning sickness with what was soon to be her third. Now her eldest has left home and her third crime novel is about to come out in hardback in the UK and she is writing her fourth. The Scarlet Stiletto opened publishing doors but just as importantly introduced her to a community of crime writing friends to enjoy the crazy ride with.Aoife Clifford was born in London of Irish parents and now lives in Melbourne. She is the author of best-selling literary crime novels, Second Sight (Highly Commended at the Davitt Awards), and All These Perfect Strangers, (long listed for both the ABIA General Fiction Book of the Year and the Voss Literary Prize). Aoife is a S.D. Harvey award winner, has been shortlisted for the UK Crime Association's Debut Dagger among other prizes. Her award-winning short stories have been published in Australia, UK and US. Her latest novel is When We Fall (Ultimo Press)CreditsConcept designer, co-producer and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteAnnouncer: Leigh RedheadProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownMusic: sampled & inspired by ProkofievCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia 2023

The outback of Australia can hold many mysteries and secrets. And its vastness can cover a criminal's tracks and a family's hidden past...Hayley Young lives in Canberra with her family and enjoys writing across multiple genres. In 2021, she was at work (sneaking a snack) when she returned a missed call to learn she had won the 28th Sisters in Crime Scarlet Stiletto Award and Scriptworks Award for a Great Film Idea. Winning inspired further dedication to her love of writing, and in 2022 her success was followed by second place as well as Best Thriller in the 29th Scarlet Stiletto Awards. She was also the winner of the inaugural ACWA Louie Award 2022, and Audio Arcadia and MNC Writers' Centre short story competitions in 2021. She has been published in multiple Australian and international works, including four anthologies by Stringybark Publishing, and two shortlisted entries in the Hammond House International Literary Competition (UK). She is currently working on three novels.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteAnnouncer: Leigh RedheadProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownMusic: sampled & inspired by ProkofievCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia 2023

Some crimes are solved by intuition or gut instinct. Others by serendipity. In today's story an OpShop provided clues...Cate Kennedy has been writing short stories for going on 30 years, ever since entering the first Scarlet Stiletto Awards in 1994 and winning two trophies in a row (after which she was invited to become a judge). Cate rapidly became one of Australia's most admired and awarded short-story writers. She's also written and published a novel, a travel memoir, and three collections of poetry. Cate works as a writing teacher and fiction advisor on the faculty of Pacific University's Creative Writing program in Oregon, finally completed her PhD in 2021 and is now trying to clear the decks to finish writing another book.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteAnnouncer: Leigh RedheadProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownMusic: sampled & inspired by ProkofievCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia 2023

Everyone seems to be buying, selling, even collecting online – but scammers are lurking in cyberspace and even hard copy vintage books are targeted, as you'll see in today' s story.When Liz Filleul won the Scarlet Stiletto Award in 2004, she had recently rediscovered the children's books she'd loved growing up in England – books like the Famous Five, the Chalet School, the Lone Piners, and Antonia Forest's Marlows series. This inspired her winning entry, “Brought to Book”.At the time, Liz hoped her Scarlet Stiletto success would be a springboard to a career as a novelist. And it actually did lead to having a detective novel set in the world of vintage children's fiction collectors published by a niche publisher in the UK. But the success she'd dreamed of – having a mainstream novel published – didn't happen, and still hasn't.For over a decade, Liz worked on various novels, periodically taking time out to write short stories. She continued to do well in the Scarlet Stiletto Awards, with the runners-up prize in 2007, 2011 and 2016, and the Cross-Genre Prize in 2011 and the Mystery with History Prize in 2016. Eventually, it dawned on her that maybe her forte was writing short stories. Liz put one of her YA novels on submission and decided to focus on short stories for a while.It was the best writing decision she has ever made. In the past three years, she has had 40 short stories and three serials published in UK magazine The People's Friend, and she has also been published in the USA magazine Woman's World. One of her crime stories in The People's Friend, “Dead Men Tell No Tales”, set in 1830s Van Diemen's Land and featuring a convict constable, was a finalist in the 2023 Derringer Awards, run by the Short Mystery Fiction Society in the USA.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteAnnouncer: Leigh RedheadProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownMusic: sampled & inspired by ProkofievCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia 2023

Bad dreams often come from bad deeds, but who's bad deeds….Janis Spehr lives in northern Victoria. She has published five story collections and a novel with Ginninderra Press. She is currently writing her second novel, The Blue Door. Her writing journey has taken her away from crime fiction but she retains fond memories of the Scarlet Stiletto. She won first prize two years on a trot, 1999 and 2000.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteAnnouncer: Leigh RedheadProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownMusic: sampled & inspired by Prokofiev

Sometimes an investigation on a hot case unearths a revelation about a cold case. In today's story, a rookie Constable must sort through her suspicions to find the prime suspect…Fin J Ross has become a repeat offender, winning several Scarlet Stiletto category prizes in the past ten years. She finally kidnapped the coveted Scarlet Stiletto trophy at the 2022 awards with her entry, “Tuesday Jocks”. She has two published novels, and several short stories published in various anthologies, along with five novels languishing in limbo on her laptop. She has co-written three true crime anthologies with her sister, Sisters in Crime convenor and former president, Lindy Cameron. Aside from last year's winning entry, she's barely written a word for 18 months, since discovering an addiction to mosaics, which she now teaches in her Paynesville studio.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteAnnouncer: Leigh RedheadProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownMusic: sampled & inspired by ProkofievCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia 2023

Angela Savage is an award-winning writer, former CEO of Writers Victoria, and current CEO of Public Libraries Victoria. Her debut novel, Behind the Night Bazaar, featured Jayne Keeney, the Thai-based P I in her story which won third prize in 1998. The book won the Victorian Premier's Literary Award for Unpublished Manuscript, and all three of her Jayne Keeney PI novels were shortlisted for Ned Kelly Awards. Angela's short stories have been published in Australia and the UK and she won the 2011 Scarlet Stiletto Award with “The teardrop tattoos”. Angela holds a PhD in Creative Writing from Monash University, giving her the Bond villain-like name of Doctor Savage. Her latest novel is Mother of Pearl.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteAnnouncer: Leigh RedheadProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownMusic: sampled and inspired by ProkofievCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia 2023

Eleven years elapsed between Josephine Pennicott's first Scarlet Stiletto shoe for “Birthing the Demons” in 2001 and her second shoe for “Shadows” in 2012. This taught her a lot about tenacity and belief in self. Winning the Scarlet Stiletto helped Josephine gain attention from a major publishing company, which led to her securing a literary agent. Since then, she has had five books published both in Australia and internationally. Her mystery novel Poet's Cottagewas a Spiegel bestseller in Germany.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteAnnouncer: Leigh RedheadProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownMusic: sampled and inspired by ProkofievCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia 2023

In 2013, Candice Graham was studying her Masters in Clinical Neuropsychology when she won the Scarlett Stiletto Award. Just one year prior, she won the Catherine Leppert Best Environmental Theme Award with her first ever Scarlet Stiletto entry. Candice reportedly remembers thinking at that time (surrounded by such talented ladies) that first prize was probably out of her reach. Above all else, Candice believes the Scarlet Stiletto Awards teach us what we're capable of – both in writing and murderous intent! Candice set out to create something memorable and unique with her winning entry, “The Bunyip's Last Wish”. She hopes that everyone enjoys this story, which was itself a joy to create. Since then, Candice has spent many rewarding years working as a psychologist, primarily with children and young adults. Candice and her husband share two wonderful young children of their own. Candice reports that their lives have pivoted in unexpected directions over the past year, impacted by storm damage, moving house, and winning some battles to become financially stable. Sadly, Candice has stepped back from her work as a psychologist due to severe pain from endometriosis. She believes the time feels right, however, to start writing the multitude of novels brimming in her mind…CreditsConcept designer, co-producer and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteAnnouncer: Leigh RedheadProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownMusic: sampled and inspired by ProkofievCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia 2023

When Judith won the trophy in2014, she had sold a few stories to That's Life and been published in a few obscurejournals with three readers. Flying to Melbourne and attending the event made her feel recognised as a writer. When she returned to Perth, there was a work thang summing up the year so far and the University Librarian said “and now we have an award-winning writer”, which was terribly exciting, she says. Since then, she has been published in a lot of anthologies and her flash fiction has been read live, recorded, translated and made into tiny films. Her creative urge at the moment is best satisfied recording songs with her duo The Additives.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteAnnouncer: Leigh RedheadProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownMusic: sampled & inspired by ProkofievCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

TJ Hamilton is a retired police officer, a criminologist, a published author, a one-time crime reporter, and now TV screenwriter. With a deep understanding of the crime genre, TJ is one of Australia's most sought-after technical consultants and story producers for scripted dramas, having worked across various productions in both Australia and the U.S.Winning the shoe in 2015 was a huge turning point in her career. Shortly after, she moved back to Sydney from Hervey Bay with her family and worked as a print journalist for 3 years while she studied screenwriting at AFTRS. Meeting Danielle Cormack on the awards night proved to be a fruitful pathway into writers' rooms when she introduced TJ to other screenwriters.In the eight years since, she has worked in various script departments across a wide variety of Australian dramas, including a couple of years stint at Home and Away during the Covid pandemic. This year, Hollywood came knocking, and she is beyond thrilled to be on the development team in Los Angeles for a new TV show with one of Australia's most successful industry exports.None of this would've been possible if she had not taken the plunge and sent in her short story for the Scarlet Stiletto, for which she is eternally grateful.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteAnnouncer: Leigh RedheadProductionManager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

In 2003, when Jacqui won the Scarlet Stiletto Award, she was an emerging writer working at Victoria Police and scratching away at short stories. In 2016, when she won the special Silver Stiletto at Sisters in Crime convention, SheKilda 3, she was an emerging writer who had two draft manuscripts and a number of published short stories under her belt. The shoes have boosted her confidence and remind her that she can do it. She is still an emerging writer. She was a judge for Sisters in Crime's Davitt Awards for best crime books for 10 years.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteAnnouncer: Leigh RedheadProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownMusic: sampled & inspired by ProkofievCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Rowena is a cross-genre writer with a preference for writing crime. She has been publishing short stories, creative non-fiction and articles since 1994 in various magazines including Southerly and Island. In 2017 she won six awards for her short stories and creative non-fiction, of which the most thrilling was the Scarlet Stiletto Award. Winning the Stiletto, and gazing on the shoe every day – it lives in her loungeroom – gave her the courage to write a novel. Since then, she's continued to write and sell short stories but she's also written two (unpublished) thrillers and has embarked on a third, which she now feels confident enough to attempt to sell. Her work has been featured on the ABC Radio National's Book Show, Earshot and most recently on Radio ABC Melbourne.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteAnnouncer: Leigh RedheadProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownMusic: sampled & inspired by ProkofievCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

In 2018 Philomena's dear friend and co-founder of Sisters in Crime, Mary-Ann Metcalf, died unexpectedly. After the funeral, Philomena was prompted to enter the Scarlet Stilettos for the first time – and won! She entered again the following year and came runner-up. Naturally, a life of crime writing beckoned. To better study the craft, in 2020 Philomena joined the Davitt Judges panel as its Coordinator. The role continued to expose her to a vast and diverse range of great Australian crime and mystery writing for people of all ages. In early 2023 she began submitting her draft novel -The Death Cycle – to publishers. Its main character, Finn, is based in the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, a place Philomena had visited during her PhD research on autopsies ten years earlier. In May an excerpt from her book was short-listed for the Geelong Writers Prize…CreditsConcept designer, co-producer and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteAnnouncer: Leigh RedheadProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownMusic: sampled and inspired by ProkofievCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia 2023

Journalist and award-winning short story writer Blanche Clark hails from Melbourne/Naarm. After seven years as the Herald Sun's Books Editor, she became an uber-mature, part-time creative writing student at Swinburne University. When she is not working, studying, writing or reading, Blanche traverses Melbourne hunting for the best coffee and pastries, and making time-wasting reels featuring food, animals and the built environment. CreditsConcept designer, co-producer and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteAnnouncer: Leigh RedheadProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownMusic: sampled & inspired by ProkofievCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia 2023

Evelyn Tsitas is writer, artist, and curator. Her published and performed works range across fiction, nonfiction, stage, and journalism. Evelyn's short story “Undeceive” won the first prize trophy and Innovation Prize in the 2008 Scarlet Stiletto Awards and while it piqued the interest of publishers it was deemed too innovative – as it was in verse! By that stage, however, Evelyn was on a path to academic research, thanks to her short story “Xenos” which won the Scarlet Stiletto Innovation prize in 2007 and became the basis for Evelyn's PhD research into speculative fiction and hybridity.“Xenos” featured a female protagonist on the wrong side of the law who may or may not be quite human, and was written while Evelyn was at a Bioethics conference listening to a presentation about the transplantation of animal parts into humans. Evelyn went on to curate three large-scale thematic exhibitions anchored in her scholarship: Future U (2022), Pleasure (2019) and My Monster: The Human Animal Hybrid (2018) at RMIT Gallery. She currently works at Heide Museum of Modern Art, and is also writing a non-fiction book based on her research, as well as a speculative art-crime novel inspired by her short story Stealing Back the Relics, about regenerated body parts and ancient reliquaries, published in And Then... The Great Big Book of Awesome Adventure Tales! Vol 1 (Clan Destine Press). Evelyn says that there is no doubt that winning the coveted red shoe opened doors within the crime writing sisterhood, and gave her the confidence to stamp herself with the ‘crime writing' brand – even though her work will always be oddly hybrid and speculative, image-based and narrative.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteAnnouncer: Leigh RedheadProductionManager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Cate Kennedy has been writing short stories for going on 30 years, ever since entering the first Scarlet Stiletto Awards in 1994 and winning two trophies in a row (after which she was invited to become a judge). Cate rapidly became one of Australia's most admired and awarded short-story writers. She's also written and published a novel, a travel memoir, and three collections of poetry. Cate works as a writing teacher and fiction advisor on the faculty of Pacific University's Creative Writing program in Oregon, finally completed her PhD in 2021 and is now trying to clear the decks to finish writing another book.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteAnnouncer: Leigh RedheadProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownMusic: sampled and inspired by ProkofievCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia 2023

Roxxy Bent is a founder of Vitalstatisix Theatre Company. She wrote award winning plays for Vitals and other companies; several of which have been published in anthologies. She has also written for the screen.She has worked as an actor and writer on multiple community projects.Winning two Scarlet Stilettos, for best short crime fiction in 2002 and 2006, inspired Roxxy to complete a Masters in Creative Writing. She has continued with the long-form, earning her a Varuna Scholarship and a Text Publishing Fellowship for her novel, The Pear Tree.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteAnnouncer: Leigh RedheadProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownMusic: sampled & inspired by ProkofievCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Siobhan Mullany won the Scarlet Stiletto in 1997. She is a current NSW Convenor of Sisters in Crime. She worked as a criminal defence lawyer. Her non-fiction has been published in legal journals and short stories published by Sisters in Crime. She has also reviewed TV crime shows for Sisters in Crime.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteAnnouncer: Leigh RedheadProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownMusic: sampled & inspired by ProkofievCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia 2023

“Tallow” by Ellie Marney won the 2010 Scarlet Stiletto Award catapulting her into a publishing contract, a debut novel, and what has turned into a long-term career. Ellie is now a New York Times bestselling and multi-award-winning author of crime thrillers. Her eleven titles include smash hit None Shall Sleep and its Kirkus-starred sequel Some Shall Break, as well as The Killing Code, the Every series, and White Night. She has spent a lifetime researching in mortuaries, interviewing autopsy specialists and law enforcement officers, and asking former spies how to make explosives from household items, and now she lives quite sedately north of Melbourne, Australia, with her family. You can find out more about Ellie at www.elliemarney.comCreditsConcept designer, co-producer and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteAnnouncer: Leigh RedheadProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownMusic: sampled & inspired by ProkofievCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia 2023

Janis Spehr lives in northern Victoria. She has published five story collections and a novel with Ginninderra Press. She is currently writing her second novel. THE BLUE DOOR. Her writing journey has taken her away from crime fiction, but she retains fond memories of the Scarlet Stiletto. She won the first prize two years on the trot, in 1999 and 2000.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteAnnouncer: Leigh RedheadProductionManager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Back in 2009, when Amanda won the Scarlet Stiletto with her story, “Persia Bloom”, the ex-hairdresser was busy being mum to three young boys and helping to care for her terminally ill father. Winning the award on her first attempt gave Amanda the courage to continue writing, going on to be short-listed in the Stilettos a further three times, participate on the judging panel for two years and co-write a novel with Kylie Fox – another Scarlet Stiletto frequent flyer – which was published by Clan Destine Press in 2010, along with a number of other short stories in various anthologies over the years. She also wrote for online magazines, worked as a book reviewer and participated in Sisters in Crime 20th anniversary convention SheKilda, as both a panellist and conducting a workshop on 'How to win the Scarlet Stiletto'.These days, Amanda works full-time in a primary school, encouraging creative young minds and taking on artwork commissions, while also studying to become a counsellor. However, her hairdressing alter-ego, Persia Bloom, is still knocking around, nagging for her chance to be a fully-fledged novel sometime soon.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteAnnouncer: Leigh RedheadProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownMusic: sampled and inspired by ProkofievCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia 2023

We all feel cynical sometimes, don't we? Today on Scarlet's Stiletto Bites, we meet a super cynic. She's seen everything, but her cynicism leads her to discover seriously sinister crimes. Louisa by Christina Lee, the Scarlett's Stiletto winner in 1996.Christina Lee won the Scarlet Stiletto twice, much to her surprise, in 1992 and 1994, with an Honourable Mention or Third Place or something in between. Under the Sisters in Crime policy, she was not able to enter the competition after that, and was invited to be a judge. Christina has been on the judging panel every year since then, a wonderful experience, she says. She now coordinates the final judging session.Christina has been writing a long time. Decades ago, she co-authored two crime novels, set in a Melbourne tertiary institution (Unable by Reason of Death, 1989; Not In Single Spies, 1992; Penguin Australia). Both sold and reviewed well. The first was an ABC book reading (1990) and optioned for screen. After that, an all-encompassing thirty-year academic career seriously got in the way of writing for about thirty years, but Christina is an Emeritus Professor now and is back, looking for a publisher for her new crime novel.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteAnnouncer: Leigh RedheadProductionManager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Roxxy Bent is a founder of Vitalstatisix Theatre Company. She wrote award winning plays for Vitals and other companies; several of which have been published in anthologies. She has also written for the screen.She has worked as an actor and writer on multiple community projects.Winning two Scarlet Stilettos, for best short crime fiction in 2002 and 2006, inspired Roxxy to complete a Masters in Creative Writing. She has continued with the long-form, earning her a Varuna Scholarship and a Text Publishing Fellowship for her novel, The Pear Tree.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteAnnouncer: Leigh RedheadProductionManager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Romany won the Scarlet Stiletto Award for short crime fiction and also the Art and Crime Category for 2023.By day Romany helps organisations share their true stories; by night she writes no-quite-so-true stories which have been published in places like The Canberra Times and the Newcastle Short Story Awards. She is also a winner of Furious Fiction.She lives on the land of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteAnnouncer: Leigh RedheadProductionManager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Liz Filleul won the Scarlet Stiletto Award in 2004 and in 2011 she came close to doing it again, with her story “Crime Traveller”, taking out both second prize and the Cross-Genre Award.Liz hoped her Scarlet Stiletto success would be a springboard to a career as a novelist. And it did actually lead to having a detective novel, set in the world of vintage children's fiction collectors,published by a niche publisher in the UK.For over a decade, Liz worked on various novels, periodically taking time out to write short stories. She continued her success in the Scarlet Stiletto Awards, as runner up in 2007 and 2016, ad well as 2011, and the Mystery with History Prize in 2016. Eventually, it dawned on her that maybe her forte was writing short crime stories, Liz put one of her YA novels on submission and decided to focus on short stories for a while.It was the best writing decision she has ever made! In the past few years , she has had 40 short stories and three serials published in UK magazine, The People's Friend, and she has also been published in the USA magazine Woman's World. One of her crime stories in that American magazine, “Dead Men Tell No Tales”, set in 1830's Van Diemen's Land and featuring a convict constable, was a finalist ion the 2023 Derringer Awards, run by the Short Mystery Fiction Society in the USACreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProductionManager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Author of Death in the Skies, 2020 winner of Scarlet Stiletto Award & Mystery with History Award..Jessica has always been able to put a string of words together. Throughout school, she won quite a few small writing competitions and she always knew that regardless of what else she did, she wanted writing to be a part of her future in some way, shape or form.She moved to the UK in search of adventure and travelled the world for several years before Covid clipped her wings. But being back in Australia gave Jessica the chance to have her first flying lesson, which led to “Death in the Skies”, the Scarlet Stiletto winning entry.Had anybody told Jessica that she would write a crimes story, let alone win a crime-writing competition, she would have laughed in their faces. But being stuck at home in a world of lockdown will do strange things to a person. The Scarlet Stiletto win has given her the confidence to pursue a career in writing. Since the win, she has expanded this short story into a full length novel and is in the final editing stages.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProductionManager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Cock-a-Hoop was inspired by a true story told to sarah Evans at a rural community event celebrating women where she was a speaker. At the time she was home schooling my children and attempting to live a sustainable lifestyle. Between teaching, growing and harvesting produce, she was also writing short stories for competitions and novels for publication. Winning the prize for the Scarlet Stiletto funniest crime story in 2011 was a welcome and much needed enthusiasm boost. She has since had many short stories and novels published both in Australia and overseas. Last year her crime series was optioned for TV. More info here:https://sarah-evans-author.com/CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProductionManager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Fiona Drury is a corporate writer and editor and an international exhibition agent for major museums. She is originally from the UK and has lived in Melbourne for over 34 years.An avid reader and writer of crime fiction, Fiona is a long-time member of Sisters in Crime. CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProductionManager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

2011, the year Kim won the Scarlet Stiletto Judges' Prize was the year her second novel, The Courier's New Bicycle, was published. Being a creature of many colours, the novel was shortlisted for two crime fiction awards (Ned Kelly, Davitt) as well as making the Tiptree Honor Book list and winning two speculative fiction awards (Aurealis, Ditmar). Until that year, she really didn't know if she could pull together a crime-themed short story or novel. The Stilettos gave her a shot in the arm, she says. she still has the commemorative bottle of wine, vintage 2010, called ‘The Killer'CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProductionManager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Mary Evans wrote Stage Fright while she was being homeschooled by her mother, crime writer Sarah Evans, who encouraged Mary to write and submit her works into competitions from an early age. Winning Scarlet Stiletto was a great boost to her confidence and encouraged her to continue scribbling. Mary wrote short stories, poetry and, eventually, songs. She's now a singer-songwriter and performs her whimsical songs and murder ballads under her professional stage name Mary MyfanwyCreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProductionManager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

When Sarah won the Scarlet Stiletto Award for the Best Young Writer in 2011, she was in Year 7 at Caulfield Grammar School. Though she had been passionate about writing since she was young, winning the award boosted her confidence and inspired her to pursue a career in the literary industry. Sarah has since hosted author events, run a successful YA book club, interned for the Melbourne Writers Festival, Writers Victoria, Hardie Grant Egmont and Penguin, and worked as a bookseller. Her story "A Little Overboard" was included in the anthology "This Fresh Hell", published by Clandestine Press last year. Sarah is currently working on a YA sci-fi novel set in Melbourne.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProductionManager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

THIS STORY CONTAINS DETAILS OF CRUELTY TO A CHILD AND MAY BE TRIGGERING. Marguerite Johnson is Honorary Professor of Classics and Ancient History at the University of Queensland. She began creative writing, literary essays, and public opinion pieces in 2010, following a break from academia as a result of cancer. She continues to combine research with other writing practices. She is a contributor to The Conversation and a regular guest on radio and podcasts. In 2017 she was named the Australian Book Review inaugural Gender Fellow winner for her essay on Picnic at Hanging Rock. Some of her creative writing, inspired by Greek mythology, appear in the journal, Arion. She currently lives on the Greek island of Lesvos.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProductionManager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime AustraliaIF THIS STORY HAS RAISED ANY ISSUES FOR YOU AS A LISTENER - YOU MAY WISH TO CONTACT LIFELINE on 13 11 14.

Since completing this short story, Mel Salomon completed her PhD, and moved to the United States where she now works as a medical writer. She has 2 children, a great husband and a newfound passion for long distance running. In her spare time she still enjoys writing poetry. CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProductionManager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Vicky Daddo lives in Hazelwood South, Victoria and is President of the Gippsland Writers Network and a Regional Ambassador for Writers Victoria. Her stories have appeared in The Big Issue, Award Winning Australian Writing and other anthologies. She has placed in competitions including the Rachel Funari Prize for Fiction, the Hope Prize, the Scarlet Stilettos and the FAW National Literary Awards.Her unpublished novels have been selected for QWC/Hachette Manuscript Development, and long-listed for Adaptable and MsLexia Novel Competition. She is currently doing the Faber Academy Writing a Novel program.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProductionManager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Apart from writing humorous family poetry, Anne had little writing experience. She won awards for two short stories at U3A and joined a creative writing group with Fin Ross who suggested her students enter a Scarlet Stiletto short story competition. She was fortunate to win two categories with her story Out of the Dark in 2011. One of these prizes was a mentorship at Olvar Wood Writers Retreat and these inspired her to write two young adult stories and an illustrated children's book. Recently Anne has been dealing with sickness in her family and writing has been put on the back burner for a while. She hopes to return to it soon.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProductionManager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Sarah Evans is a seasoned writer of crime and her stories are usually inspired by true events. “The Bodyguard” and “Cold Comfort” are no exception. The idea for “The Bodyguard” materialized after Sarah read a magazine piece on a forensic scientist and “Cold Comfort” was based on a curmudgeonly farmer from the back blocks of WA. The Scarlet Stiletto Award has been an integral part of Sarah's writing journey and her stories and novels have been published in Australia and overseas. Last year her Eve Rock crime series was optioned for TV.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProductionManager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Aoife Clifford is the author of the best-selling literary crime novels, Second Sight, highly commended in the Davitt Awards, All These Perfect Strangers, longlisted for both the ABIA General Fiction Book of the Year and the Voss Literary Prize; and When We Fall which was shortlisted for best crime novel in both the Ned Kelly Awards and the Davitt Awards. She has been shortlisted for the UK Crime Association's Debut Dagger and has won the Scarlet Stiletto and the S.D. Harvey Award among other prizes. Her latest novel is It Takes a Town.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProductionManager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Vikki Petraitis has written 18 books, including her best-selling book The Frankston Murders about serial killer Paul Denyer. In 2023, she released a podcast of the same name which topped charts around the world and helped change the law to keep Denyer in prison. Vikki's first fiction, The Unbelieved, won the inaugural Allen & Unwin Crime Fiction Prize and the Readers' Choice Davitt Award. The sequel is on the way. Vikki's Casefile Presents podcasts have been downloaded millions of times. Her next podcast is called The Unthinkable and is due for release in 2024.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProductionManager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Margaret Bevege's PhD thesis was published as Behind Barbed Wire by UQP in 1993. She had articles in Women, Class and History and Worth Her Salt, which she co-edited. Turning to fiction. she won the 2001 Malice Domestic prize, reprinted in Scarlet Stiletto- The First Cut in 2007. Two other stories were printed in the NSW Queen of Crime Anthologies and from one of these she developed the main character of the three-volume Detective Ludowski's Casebook (2001-03) which enjoyed modest.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProductionManager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Evelyn Tsitas is writer, artist, and curator. Her published and performed works range across fiction, nonfiction, stage, and journalism. Evelyn's short story “Xenos” which won the Scarlet Stiletto Innovation prize in 2007 and became the basis for Evelyn's PhD research into speculative fiction and hybridity.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProductionManager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Liz Filleul won the Scarlet Stiletto Award in 2004, and naturally wanted to win a second shoe. In 2007, she almost did so with “The Write Place”, which finished second. Two more second-placed stories followed in 2011 and 2016. That second shoe remains elusive, but Liz has had dozens of short crime stories published, including in UK magazine The People's Friend, and in US magazine, Woman's World. In 2023, she was shortlisted for a Derringer Award, given by the Short Mystery Fiction Society in the US, for a short story featuring a convict constable in 1830s Van Diemen's Land, originally published by The People's Friend.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProductionManager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Linda was inspired to weave her wildlife rescue activities into a crime story and showcase the amazing, and mostly unsung, work of the volunteer networks. The Scarlet Stiletto award boosted her confidence in telling stories and she was chuffed to be rubbing shoulders with so many talented women writers. Since then, she has won an award in the Waterline Writing Competition and is always looking out for a spark to kick off more stories.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Kerry James was a lapsed professional and full-time carer for a loved one in decline when she wrote “Bucket Time”. She was considering people's control over their inevitable death and imagined options that were kind and quick; she was strictly a non-mess murderer. “Bucket Time's” win awarded her a mentorship with past Stiletto winner Inga Simpson! Those lessons were invaluable. The win thus gave Kerry zest to keep on and improved skills to do so: a real turning point. She thanks her Sisters in Crime for this and all the other great times over the years.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Inga Simpson entered the Scarlet Stiletto while living in Brisbane during her second year of studying creative writing. Two prizes for one story and the publication of “Operation Bluewater” in Scarlet Stiletto Uncut, gave her the (somewhat misguided) belief that she could shift careers, from government researcher to writer. It was nearly a decade before she made another cent from writing, but Inga has gone on to publish six novels and a nature-memoir, all of which have been short or long-listed for literary awards, including the Miles Franklin and Stella Prize. Her latest.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Kylie had always wanted to be a writer, but it wasn't until winning the Dorothy Porter Award for her story in verse, “Poppies”, that she realised it was something she could actually pursue. Since then, along with working full time and raising five children, Kylie has had success with several short stories, and had two books published. Kylie is currently working on a new novel and a new true crime book.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Louise Connor's story, “Divine Intervention”, won third prize in the 2nd Scarlet Stiletto Awards in 1995. A founding member of Sisters in Crime, Louise has twice won 3rd prize in the Scarlet Stiletto awards. Her working life was mostly spent as a ratbag, rabble-rouser in the union movement, working mostly for the MEAA, which represents workers in the media, film and television, theatre workers and events staff. Now she's retired, she really has no excuse for not writing more crime fiction (apart from doting grandmother duties). CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Her story in verse - Froth and Trouble or Sun Hill Blues -was entered in the Scarlet Stiletto competition back in the days when everyone watched the same TV shows because streaming services and ‘catch-up ‘ did not yet exist. When the plots of a popular prime time series called The Bill began to focus on the private lives of the characters instead of crime many fans were annoyed and Margaret's story is a comment on this.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

“After Azaria” was Ann's first ever crime story. Receiving a Scarlet Stiletto, Best Procedural award for it was a fantastic motivator for writing more short crime and for Dangerous Devotions, a novel, published by Clan Destine Press in 2023. Ann has recently founded Rocking Boat Books – which runs creative writing workshops for, and publishes children's books authored by, people with neurodiversity and other literacy and social challenges.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Bronwyn Blake was a new writer when “Dead Water” won an award for Best Lesbian Protagonist in the 1995 Scarlet Stiletto Awards . . . an exciting boost for an unconfident beginner. She has since had 13 books published in hard copy and as e-books, including Nick Riley's Ninth Life for Lothian's Crime Waves Series, which won the Sister's Davitt Award for Junior Crime, 2002. A number of her books have been chosen by CBCA as Notable Books, and are used as texts in schools Australia wide. She writes for Adults and Young Adults, fiction and non-fiction, with her books primarily about people living in rural or remote setting.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

“Shifty Business” by the late Liz Cameron took out 3rd Prize in the 2002 Scarlet Stiletto Awards and was selected for inclusion in Scarlet Stiletto: The First Cut, a selection of stories from the first thirteen years of the competition, published in 2007 by Mira and launched by Sigrid Thornton.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

“Still Life” won Dianne Gray the second prize in the 2000 Scarlet Stiletto Awards. She has taken out several category awards. She has since published four novels and a book of award-winning short stories. She has won numerous national and international writing awards and loves nothing better than a good old-fashioned murder mystery. She lives in peaceful bliss on a sugar cane farm in regional Queensland where she tests out new stories on baby goats, kookaburras, old dogs, and chickens. When she's not writing or endlessly procrastinating, she can be found renovating her 140-year-old farmhouse.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Lesley Truffle won 3rd prize in the Scarlet Stiletto Awards in 2010 for “A Man of Fashion”. She was then an aspiring novelist, then walking the beach at 3am plotting a story about women behaving badly. Two of her novels, Hotel du Barry and The Scandalous Life of Sasha Torte, have been published by Harper Collins in Australia and also in Spain, Italy and Germany. Lesley was born in London but came out to Australia when young. She has worked as a teacher, photographer, hotel maid, fringe actor and in art galleries, nightclubs and minimal wage jobs too ghastly to mention. She is currently living on an island and working on a new manuscript.­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

At the time of winning the Scarlet Stiletto Young Writers' Award in 2007, Jane Blechynden was a ten-year-old schoolgirl whose biggest concern was whether she should experiment with a side fringe. The Sisters in Crime award inspired Jane to continue writing, and she went on to win the Tim Winton award in 2009. Although Jane is still an avid reader, her literary career is now focused on writing exemplary patient notes in her role as a doctor.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Aoife Clifford's story, “Quit”, took out the award for funniest short story in the 2012 Scarlet Stiletto Awards and was runner up in the Body in the Library Award. When Aoife won the Scarlet Stiletto in 2007, she was at home with two small children, suffering terrible morning sickness with what was to be her third. Now her eldest has left home and her fourth crime novel came out in 2024.­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

“Fish for Freedom” won the Malice Domestic prize in the 2012 Scarlet Stiletto Awards for WA author Sarah Evans. She has since had many short stories and novels published both in Australia and overseas. Last year her crime series was optioned for TV.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Much Ado About Nunning” by Western Australian author, Helen Iles, won the prize for Best Film Idea in 2012. Helen writes crime fiction, adult fiction, young adult fiction, textbooks, poetry, and children's picture books.Helen has been published locally and internationally. Her novel, Dark Secrets was long-listed for the Davitt Award 2019. She has won the Bronze Quill three times, the National Horror Writers Award, the Best Film Script Idea in the Scarlet Stiletto competition, and numerous other national awards. Helen is also an Editor, teaches Creative Writing, manages Linellen Press, a small publishing house south of Perth, and is a children's book illustrator. CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

“Brought to Book” won Kath Harper the Body in the Library First Prize in 2012. Kath grew up in a family of word nerds, and worked as a nanny/housemaid, fruit packer, customer service officer and school teacher before finding her niche as an editor, indexer and proofreader. She has won or been highly commended in a number of story-writing competitions, including the Body in the Library and Malice Domestic categories of the Scarlet Stiletto Awards. The isolation of freelance work drew her to community theatre; she has written and/or performed in several plays. Now retired, she continues to write short stories, and during COVID lockdowns entertained her grandsons with a fantasy adventure serial.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

In a world where the neutralisation of emotions is compulsory, an enforcement officer risks everything when she starts to succumb to her feelings.2nd Prize Scarlet Stiletto Award and Cross Genre AwardCreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Best Investigative story, 2013Sandi Wallace dreamed of being a crime writer from around the age of six. Her first big win for a crime story was for “Silk Versus Sierra” in 2013, and on the Awards night, she landed a publisher for her debut crime novel… the beginning of her dream come true.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Claire McKenna won 3rd prize in the 2012 Scarlet Stiletto Awards in “The Autumn Dog Cannot Live to Spring”. Hailing from the remote outer suburban wilderness of Melbourne, Claire is a short story writer, novelist, adventurer and urban explorer up to no good. She is currently writing a follow-up fantasy series that aims to be more confusing and confronting than her last. Send your feedback to admin@sistersincrime.org.au More info here: https://www.clairemckenna.net/CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Candice Graham won the Best Environmental Story in the 2012 Scarlet Stiletto Awards with “Fallen Angel”. Back then, she was studying her Masters in Clinical Neuropsychology. The following year she took out First Prize, Since then, Candice has spent many rewarding years working as a psychologist, primarily with children and young adults. Sadly, Candice has stepped back from her work as a psychologist due to severe pain from endometriosis. She believes the time feels right, however, to start writing the multitude of novels brimming in her mind… Send your feedback to admin@sistersincrime.org.au.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Nikki Lee Taylor won the 31st Scarlet Stiletto Award for “Lilly Pilly, Don't Be Silly.” She is a former journalist, whose work around PTSD was recognised by the Journalism Media & Storytelling Awards panel. She is currently on a hiatus from work to pursue her goal of becoming a full-time author. Her novels include two set in Philadelphia, The Secrets We Keep and The Truth We Tell. She describes her latest, The Alibi set in Newcastle, as “a murderous love letter to my home town.” When Nikki is not writing, she is an avid photographer and competes in various disciplines of canine sports with her cocker spaniel Saxon.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Robyn McWilliam had been writing crime short stories for years, placing in Queen of Crime Awards and being published in anthologies. Winning a Scarlet Stiletto Award in 2012 for “Nursing a Suspicion” for Best Investigative Story was the pinnacle of her success in stories. She went on to publish a crime novel, Malevolent Desire, on Amazon in 2015.Send your feedback to admin@sistersincrime.org.auCreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Emilie Collyer's story, “Service with a Smile", took out the Scarlet Stiletto Cross Genre award in 2013. Emilie writes poetry, plays and prose. She has publicised and produced widely in Australia and internationally. He poetry collection, “Do you have anything less domestic?” ( Vagabond Press 2022) won the inaugural Five Islands Press Prize for a first book. Clan Destine Press published her collection, “A Clean Job and Other Stories”, in 2014. More info here: www.emiliecollyer.comCreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

The Body in the Library' won the eponymous prize in the 2013 Scarlet Stiletto awards for WA author Dawn Farnham. She has published numerous short stories and historical novels and recently received a starred review by US Publisher's Weekly for her 2023 historical detective novel, Tokyo Time.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Aoife [Ee-fa] Clifford won the Scarlet Stiletto Award in 2007 and then continued to take out numerous category awards, including the runner-up prize for The Body in the Library Award in 2013. To hear Susanna Lobez's superlative narration go to Apple https://buff.ly/3oCL93T; Spotify: https://buff.ly/3ozTzZO; Google https://buff.ly/3BY8qk1; or Amazon https://buff.ly/3oCLa7X. Aoife is now the author of the best-selling literary crime novels, Second Sight, highly commended in the Davitt Awards, All These Perfect Strangers, longlisted for both the ABIA General Fiction Book of the Year and the Voss Literary Prize; and When We Fall which was shortlisted for best crime novel in both the Ned Kelly Awards and the Davitt Awards. Her latest novel is It Takes a Town. She has been shortlisted for the UK Crime Association's Debut Dagger and has won the S.D. Harvey Award among other prizes.CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Vicky Daddo won 2nd prize in Sisters in Crime's Scarlet Stiletto Awards in 2013 for her short story, “Mary's Colours”. Vicky writes long and short fiction. She enters the Scarlet Stiletto awards every year and her 2013 second place, was the second time she had been among the prize-winners, cementing her love of writing crime. She is currently writing a cosy mystery novel. Send your feedback to admin@sistersincrime.org.au More info here. https://vickydaddo.com/ CreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

Moraig Kisler took out the prize for Best New Talent in Sisters in Crime's Scarlet Stiletto Awards in 2013 for her short story, “Milko”. Moraig is a retired law clerk and a convenor of Sisters in Crime Australia. While studying an Associate Degree in Professional Writing and Editing at RMIT, Moraig began writing a crime novel The Saltworks. She dabbles in short stories and micro fiction but is always drawn to the dark side. Send your feedback to admin@sistersincrime.org.auCreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia

“Check-Out Time”, the short story by Sydneysider, Rowena Helston, won the prize for Best Investigation in Sisters in Crime's 2009 Scarlet Stiletto Awards. Rowena trained as a criminal lawyer and currently works in legal research. After winning the Scarlet Stiletto award, she studied at the Faber Academy at Allen & Unwin and completed a novel, Bellwater Proof. She publishes her creative writing and artistic work on her website at www.rowenahelston.com . Send your feedback to admin@sistersincrime.org.auCreditsConcept designer, co-producer, and narrator: Susanna LobezCo-producer: Carmel ShuteProduction Manager: Tim CoyGraphic Designer: Caz BrownCopyright Sisters in Crime Australia