Elizabeth Sims
Elizabeth Sims (born September 30, 1957) is an American writer, journalist, and contributing editor at "Writer's Digest" magazine. She is a former correspondent for the "Sarasota Herald-Tribune" and author of two series of crime novels, including her Rita Farmer Mystery Series, originally published by St. Martin's Press Minotaur and Lillian Byrd Crime Series, originally published by Alyson Books. She has also published a stand-alone novel, "Crimes in a Second Language", under her personal imprint, Spruce Park Press. "Crimes in a Second Language" was awarded the Silver Medal for General Fiction in the Florida Book  Awards 2017. Her nonfiction works include "You've Got a Book in You: A Stress-Free Guide to Writing the Book of Your Dreams", published by Writer's Digest Books, articles, short stories, poems, and essays for magazines and books. She also serves as a coach and mentor for new and aspiring writers and offers keynote speeches and presents workshops at writer's conferences around North America. Early life. Elizabeth Sims was born on September 30, 1957, in Wyandotte, Michigan. She was raised in Detroit and attended Michigan State University and Wayne State University, graduating with degrees in English and  composition theory. She is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Novelists, Inc., and American Mensa. Professional background. In 1992, Sims began serving a two-year term on the editorial board of "Moving Out" literary journal, in which she also submitted the short story "Beautiful" in 1987, and "Cleva" in 1989. In 2006, she began writing features for "Writer's Digest" magazine. She became a contributing editor in 2009, specializing in the art and craft of fiction. She worked as a freelance correspondent for the "Sarasota Herald-Tribune" in 2011. Also, Sims taught creative writing at Sarasota’s "Ringling  College of Art and Design" in 2017 and 2018. In May 2008, she launched the Rita Farmer Mystery Series with "The Actress". The main character, Rita Farmer, is a single mother and struggling Hollywood actress who is recruited to secretly coach the unsympathetic defendant in a high-profile murder trial. "The Extra", second in the Rita Farmer Mystery Series was published by St. Martin's Press Minotaur in June 2009. Rita, dressed in a police uniform as an extra on a movie shoot, is pulled into a real crime scene. When Rita and her boyfriend, George Rowe, try to help  Amaryllis B. Cubitt, the director of an urban mission, they move deeper into mystery and danger. Sims moves the action from Los Angeles to Washington's Olympic Peninsula in "On Location", published by Minotaur in August 2010. Rita's sister Gina, working as a film location scout in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, goes missing, and Rita has no choice but to follow. Foul weather meets foul play as Rita and her stalwart friends risk their lives for the sake of truth—and love. The Lillian Byrd Crime Series is a six-novel series, originally published by Alyson Books  (New York), beginning with "Holy Hell" in 2002. The series focuses on lesbian culture, mystery, and love. The second book in the series, "Damn Straight", won a 2003 Lambda Literary Award. "Lucky Stiff" and "Easy Street" followed in 2004 and 2005. The main character, Lillian Byrd, is a reporter turned sleuth whose quest for true love takes her into dangerous places. The series, set mostly in the Detroit, Michigan area, is noted for its off-kilter characters and wry humor. The fifth novel in the series, "Left Field", was published in 2014 by Spruce Park Press. It received a Golden  Crown Literary Society award in 2015. The sixth in the series, "Tight Race", was published in 2022 by Spruce Park Press. In 2017, Sims published "Crimes in a Second Language", a departure from her series work. The novel, set in contemporary Los Angeles, features a white retired schoolteacher who befriends a young Mexican-American housecleaner. Their story line intersects with the film business and industrial espionage, and explores questions of friendship and literacy. In April 2018 "Crimes in a Second Language" was awarded the silver medal in the Florida Book Award general fiction category. In addition to her writing, Sims  serves as a keynote speaker and presents workshops at writer's conferences and retreats around North America.