I've been on lots of author's panels, but this is the first time I'll be a panel member discussing "Tricks of the Trade," followed by acting as moderator for "How Female Authors Treat Their Men." I've been having fun researching authors on the panel I'm moderating and developing questions. I found out that being a moderator isn't as easy as it seems when you're the one answering the questions.

I found that once I visited websites of the authors and read reviews of some of their books, I really had a wide choice of things we could discuss. There are so many ways to create characters you love, hate, laugh at, envy, desire-- the list goes on and on. But then you have the question of whether a woman can think like a man while developing their characters. A whole bunch of authors have sold lots of books discussing the difference between the way the genders think.

The event is being held in Henderson NV, which is almost like an extension of Las Vegas. If you live in Henderson, I didn't say that. I just want to give people who don't know the city an idea of where it is. Henderson is east of the 15 freeway.

This is an all day event featuring twelve authors who are members of Sisters in Crime in other cities. Why? Because up until now, Nevada was one of the few states that didn't have a chapter. I teamed up with Pamela Main and Debbie Mitsch of a very cool bookstore named Cheesecake & Crime and the three of us got the ball rolling to establish the soon-to-be-launched Southern Nevada Sisters in Crime chapter. If you aren't familiar with Sisters in Crime, it's a international organization of mystery and crime writers, wannabe writers, booksellers, publishers, agents and reader/mystery fans. So you don't have to lock the doors and hide the jewels. We're just in pursuit of our first love --- mysteries.

If you're in the area it's on Saturday, November 8 from 9 am to 4 pm at Cheesecake & Crime, 10545 Eastern Ave., Henderson NV. Details are on their website, www.cheesecakeandcrime.com or mine, www.silversistersmysteries.com. Also check it out if you're interested in finding out about becoming a member.