When crime and mystery novels get the facts about firearms wrong, readers notice, and their trust in the author can vanish faster than a puff of gun smoke. Many fans of the genre know their way around weapons, and even a small error can be enough to close the book on your story.
At the September meeting of Northeast Florida Sisters in Crime, weapons expert and firearms instructor Marcus Melnick will share the details every crime writer should understand how guns are used, stored and identified; the difference between a revolver and a Glock; and how such choices shape a character and a plot.
With firearms experience since 1980 and a public safety career since 1988 — including safety and security, law enforcement and firefighting — Melnick is a published author, an NRA-certified firearms instructor, and a court-recognized expert witness.
On Saturday, Sept. 6, Melnick will present “What Crime Writers Need to Know about Firearms” at the local monthly meeting of Sisters in Crime. Because of library renovations to the usual meeting space, the meeting will be conducted by Zoom only at 10:15 a.m.
This event is free and open to all writers and readers interested in crime fiction. For information on how to register for the event, go to nefloridasistersincrime.org.
Northeast Florida Sisters in Crime is a chapter of the national organization, supporting writers and fans of mystery, crime and thriller fiction. Programs feature experts in forensics, psychology and law-enforcement fields.
For more information, contact floridasistersincrime@gmail.com.
