Benefits of KOD Membership
Kiss of Death offers the following programs, events, and services as well as support to all its members.
CRIMSON QUILLS CRITIQUE GROUP
Need feedback on the chapters of your work in progress? Consider joining KOD’s online critique group. Imagine having access to a group of supportive writers who are serious about their work and eager to help other writers. Crimson Quills is that group. You critique chapter submissions of group members and the group critiques yours on a 1:1 basis. Prior critiquing experience is not required. Improve your work, expand your craft, and form friendships by joining an enthusiastic group of writers. Contact CrimsonQuills144@gmail.com
CRITIQUE PARTNER MATCH UP
Starting September 27th, 2021! All members have access to this groups.io. Just check for “Invitation” and to find it. Have a completed manuscript and the critique group format does not appeal to you? The Critique Partner Match-up is just what you need. Critique Partner Match Up is a forum exclusive for the purpose of helping members connect and form a partnership for one-on-one constructive feedback on each other’s completed manuscript. Lifelong friendships have been known to have started with connecting with a critique partner. More information here. Contact PresidentKOD@gmail.com if you’re interested in this benefit.
THE DAPHNE DU MAURIER AWARD
Named for the woman credited as writing the first romantic suspense novel, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. The writing contest for both published and unpublished authors of romance mystery and suspense is one of the most prestigious and well-known writing contests in this genre. Though winning or placing in this competition adds a tremendous boost to our entrants’ writing careers, each participant is a winner in her/his own right based on the substantive, helpful feedback received from our trained judges. Check out the “Contest” tab for more information.
THE COLLEGE OF FELONY AND INTRIGUE (COFFIN)
KOD offers monthly online learning opportunities at discounted rates to our members. Not only was this educational wing of the chapter one of the first of its kind in the country, it remains one of the most respected. Our Murder One instructors are experts in technical fields of interest to writers of mystery and suspense, or murder and mayhem. Our Killer Instinct instructors cover topics of the craft of writing, publishing and marketing. Check out the COFFIN tab for more information. Have questions? Contact our COFFIN chairperson at KODCOFFIN144@gmail.com.
INVISIBLE WORDS
Like improv and want to stretch your writing muscles with prompts? Need to brainstorm? Invisible Words is intended to be a platform for prewriting, brainstorming, and journal exercises– all the preliminary work that’s “invisible” in the finished work. It’s the words one must put on paper before a synopsis is written, beginning the first draft, or working through edits of a draft. Join the Groups.io. Contact InvisibleWords144@gmail.com for more information.
BOOK-IN-A-WEEK 2.0
Is offered four times a year March, June, September and December. The premise of BIAW is to provide you with opportunities, writing sprints, and resources to get a solid storyline down, or write a rough draft of your beginning, middle and ending, or an in-depth idea of your main characters. Do you need a little motivation to get back to that manuscript you cannot seem to find the time to get to? Participants set their own goals for the week and write as fast as they can with no editing, no revising and no looking back. For more information contact BIAWChair@gmail.com
Q&A with EXPERTS or AUTHORS
Is offered four times a year. This online KOD service provides access to authors and experts in various fields of interest to writers of mystery and suspense. Members asks questions; sometimes questions they have been unable to find answers for anywhere else. It’s part of our CluesNNews groups.io. If you’re a member and not part of CluesNNews, contact KODmembership@gmail.com
KOD PITCHFEST
KOD Pitchfest is a members only event that is offered once a year in the Fall. For one day, members have exclusive access to pitch completed manuscripts to agents and editors who specialize in romance mystery and suspense stories. A list of participating agents and editors coming soon. Contact PresidentKOD@gmail.com for more info.
KOD at the RWA® ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Each year, when possible KOD holds an in-person meeting of the membership, where they can meet, network, and learn from each other. This meeting may include: An Annual General Meeting, Workshop/Tour, The Daphne du Maurier Awards, and Death By Chocolate. Past tours have included visits with firefighters, explosive experts, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army and U.S. Coast Guard facilities. Though totally separate, the KOD Annual Conference usually takes place just prior to the RWA Annual Conference in the same host city and host hotel. The 2022 Conference, on July 27, 2022, will include The International Spy Museum, and a 30th Anniversary Gala. Contact kod144treasurer@gmail.com with your questions.
INDUSTRY LIAISON:
The Industry Liaison is a monthly announcement with relevant news about the publishing industry as it relates to the mystery and/or romantic suspense genres. Prior to RWA National Conference, bios on agents and editors who will be attending the conference and are looking for mystery/suspense material will be presented to the membership. This position is vacant. If you’re a member and would love to keep the members in the loop, please contact PresidentKOD@gmail.com
Use this email address as the contact for KOD’s committees 🡪 kissofdeathcommittees@gmail.com
In order to join Kiss of Death you must be a national member of Romance Writers of America, which comes with even more benefits!
