I spent a delightful hour or so this week talking writing with the amazing Julie Hennrikus, executive director of Sisters in Crime and the host of its terrific podcast.

Julie’s a wonderful interviewer who drew me into discussions of my early writing efforts, my current project and the most helpful advice I’ve had along the way. I’m grateful to her and to Sisters in Crime for inviting me to participate in this long-running series. I believe our discussion will be up on the podcast page in six or eight weeks (by then it will be spring!) but in the meantime, you can listen to past interviews with our own Kate Flora and Barbara Ross among many other remarkable writers.  Here’s the link: https://www.sistersincrime.org/page/podcast

For those unfamiliar with Sisters in Crime it is a rockin’ organization with a rich history, now celebrating its 35^th year. From the SinC website: Founded in 1986 to represent and advocate for women crime writers, we celebrate and honor this history with our name while we continue to work for all who share our commitment to and love for a vibrant, inclusive community. Our 4,500+ members enjoy access to tools to help them learn, grow, improve, thrive, reinvent if necessary. They also gain a community of supportive fellow writers and readers, both peers to share the peaks and valleys of writing, and mentors to model the way forward.

I’ve been an active member of Sisters in Crime for many years and cannot say enough about its good and essential work. For more information, check out the website, which is chock-full of resources:  https://www.sistersincrime.org/  Note also that SinC welcomes readers as well as writers as members.

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Back to podcasts. I’ve been a bit slow to catch up with the podcasting phenomenon, but during the pandemic times I’ve become a convert. MCW’s own Maureen Milliken and her sister Rebecca produce a consistently interesting podcast called Crime and Stuff, which has the self-effacing tagline “the podcast you would do if you had nothing else to do.” Maureen has written about Crime and Stuff here a time or two, but she’s far too modest about the quality of their work. She and Becky cover the figurative waterfront, a heavy dose of true crime (which comes naturally to longtime journalist Mo) but also favorite songs about crime, book recommendations and reviews of favorite (or not) TV shows and programs you’ll find streaming on Netflix. The sisters are smart, incisive and always leaven the program with humor.  Here’s the link:  http://crimeandstuffonline.com/subscribe-to-podcast/

Other podcasts I recommend, in no particular order:

#SistersInLaw features four brilliant lawyers talking about current legal issues. Joyce Vance (a Bates College alum), Kimberly Atkins Stohr, Jill Wine-Banks and Barb McQuade have deep experience that gives them valuable perspective—Joyce and Barb are former U.S. Attorneys, Kim is a lawyer and journalist who has covered the U.S. Supreme Court and Jill was a member of the Watergate(!) prosecution team. #SistersinLaw is a must-listen for us every Saturday for their keen insight and thoughtful arguments.  It’s free and you’ll thank me for turning you on to it.  Here’s the link: https://politicon.com/podcast-title/sisters-in-law/

Murder She Told, is a fascinating podcast where host and native Mainer Krisen Seavey “explores the dark underbelly of the safest places in America, where everybody knows everyone, and bad things never happen. . . Here’s where you can find it: https://www.murdershetold.com/

Over The Monster has been a bit quiet of late, what with the Major League baseball lockout, but just as spring will return, so will the Red Sox and this will be a good place to get your preseason fix. Go here: https://www.overthemonster.com/red-sox-podcasts

Do you like to cook?  To contemplate food-related issues? If so, tune it to Keep Calm and Cook On with Julia Turshen (who, like me, is a big fan of King Arthur flour). Among other topics, her five-part series on baking, featuring a stellar cast of special guests, is not to be missed.  Here’s the link:  https://www.juliaturshen.com/podcast

Finally, with March right around the corner it’s a good time to tune in to some Celtic music.  You can’t go wrong with the Irish-Celtic Music Podcast hosted by Marc Gunn.  Tunes a-plenty will get you tapping your feet. Here you go: https://marcgunn.com/irish-celtic-music-podcast-466-step-it-out-mary/

That’s it for this month. Now go forth and listen. And sing. And bake. And dance.

But keep reading too, of course.

Brenda Buchanan is the author of the Joe Gale Mystery Series, featuring a diehard Maine newspaper reporter who covers the crime and courts beat. Her short story, MEANS, MOTIVE, AND OPPORTUNITY appears in BLOODROOT: BEST NEW ENGLAND CRIME STORIES 2021. Her three Joe Gale books—QUICK PIVOT, COVER STORY and TRUTH BEAT—are available everywhere e-books are sold.