AZ Sleuths Book Discussion Group: The Hidden Staircase

The AZ Sleuths had our 2nd book discussion group meeting today, May 30, at B&N. Our group today included myself, Judy, Leone, Heather, Arlene, and Laura. Next month we go officially on their event calendar so hope to bring in more fans to the fold. And see below for neat pics from our gift exchange! We'll be meeting again in June and then going to every other month. We're also planning a Nancy Drew Halloween party for this fall.

Judy brought her Nancy Drew Scrapbook which covered the PA Sleuths convention in '08 and a little bit from the '07 Pasadena convention. See above and below.

Today we were discussing #2, The Hidden Staircase. Both original and revised and comparing. We also briefly touched on the Girl Detective book #2 A Race Against Time. Most everyone preferred the original to the revised. The story was so much more descriptive, suspenseful, and spooky in the original. More characterization too.

Leone read a passage from The Hidden Staircase, original text.

Here we were posing with our Hidden Staircase books. Leone & Heather.

Laura, Arlene, & Judy

For this meeting we decided to do a fun gift exchange! Just like we do at the Nancy Drew conventions. Shown above is a Hidden Staircase collage. See below for more of the gifts from the exchange!

Nancy Drew paper fold out scrap album

Decoupaged Nancy Drew box

Applique Hidden Staircase/Old Clock Tote --both sides crafty

Nancy Drew Charm Pin

Nancy Drew Hidden Staircase Collage

Jenn:)

May 2009 E-News & Clues

MAY '09 E-NEWS & CLUES

E-mail: sleuths@ndsleuths.com

In this E-News & Clues: Extension on Convention Registration to June 15, The Sleuth Resubs, Series Book Survey, Cafe Press Sleuths Gear, 2010 80th Anniversary Feedback Needed.

2009 CONVENTION REGISTRATION EXTENSION:

I've extended the registration for this year's convention to June 15th. I normally don't do this, but this year's attendance is down and I really need to fill a few more slots. So consider coming to the convention this year! Get all the info/registration info you need at our website.

THE SLEUTH SUBSCRIBERS/SPECIAL:

Reminder: If your subscription expires Mar/Apr, May/Jun, or Jul/Aug of this year, you were sent a resub form with a special to renew by end of this month. Don't forget those:)

SERIES BOOK SURVEY:

We're doing a survey on series books and collecting and preserving them for the 21st Century! If you haven't already filled out the survey, check it out!

CAFE PRESS SLEUTHS GEAR:

Our new spiffy silhouettes have been added to our Cafe Press product line. Check it out! We're working on licensing for Nancy Drew year long as well. More on that in a future Blog update. You can view more images/samples at our website as well.

APRIL 2010 80TH ANNIVERSARY CONVENTION:

Needing feedback from everyone! Could you commit to the cruise portion by this summer with a small deposit/reservation? Are you interested in land and sea or just one or the other? Contact me if you're interested in attending and I'll put you on our e-mail list and you can get our feedback survey to e-mail back to me. April 2010 is the date!

Jenn:)

The Sleuth Subscription Clarification

Hi Sleuths,

We recently started to offer half-subscription rates. A subscription is for 6 issues. Half a subscription is therefore 3 issues. We've got this up on our website--you can pay there, Pay Pal, checks/money orders. I've also made note of this in recent E-News & Clues Blogs:

http://www.ndsleuths.com/thesleuth.html

http://ndsleuths.blogspot.com

I also mentioned it in my editor column in the last issue of The Sleuth. A couple of members had thought I meant that I would give 6 issues for half the rate--19.00. I explained that was not affordable and didn't think much of it further. But today I received a check for only 14.00 for a 1 year subscription and confusion led one to divide by half at 19.00 and then also take advantage of a special we're offering on a 1 year subscription at 5.00 off 38.00=33.00.

So, I decided I would make a posting to all members to clear up any further confusion and before any other checks get mailed out:)

14.00 wouldn't even cover 3 issues with our color printing/postage/etc.. So, unless I wanted to go in the hole big time I can't offer that rate to you all:)

The Sleuth is not a tax write off, so I have to charge rates that cover all printing costs, envelopes, labels/ink, and postage. When you consider that I don't factor in greatly the cost of advertising, my time in putting it together 6 times a year (I'm the only one who's doing it) and managing it, time/gas to the p.o. to get stamps, to the supply store to get labels/envelopes, to the printer to take in the issue, back to the printer to proof and or pick up the issues, stuffing envelopes/taping/labeling, and back to the p.o. to mail the issues, we don't really make much at all on the zine to warrant the time I spend on it.

I'm not complaining here--absolutely not! Just explaining. I wouldn't do it all if it wasn't a huge labor of love! And I feel like the time and effort has paid off in a really nice zine for Nancy Fans and we've gotten so much praise for it that I'm very pleased everyone's enjoying it so much!

I apologize if I've created any problems or confusion over the subscription rates! I was just trying to offer a half rate of 3 issues for those that wanted to try us but not commit to 6 issues at once or those who wanted to pay as they go so to speak and just do 3 issues at a time and not have to pay so much at once.

If you haven't subscribed, resubscribed, or want to check us out, you can order back issues, try us at a 3 issue rate or subscribe for 1 or 2 years. All the info is on our website:

http://www.ndsleuths.com/thesleuth.html

Any further q's, e-mail me:)

Jenn:)

AZ Sleuths Book Discussion Group Meets!

Our first meeting (Sat. Apr. 25) of the AZ Sleuths was a lot of fun! We had 9 people attend the first book discussion group session at Barnes & Noble--myself, my mom Linda, Dede, Judy, Gail, Laura, Arlene, Sharon, and Leone.

We met for lunch before the book discussion at the Cheesecake Factory. Over a delicious lunch worthy of Hannah Gruen, we chatted about Nancy Drew, the Sleuths group and our upcoming convention in Las Vegas. I passed out goody bags with Nancy Drew pins and magnifying glasses inside.

Barnes & Noble set us up next to their Cafe area with tables and chairs and we were all set. We passed around some items that several of us had brought--scrapbooks (Dede's is shown below) from past conventions, a Nancy Drew paper bag album I made, and photos of my collection. I passed around the Collectors News article from this past February which featured my collection and talked about the Sleuths and our conventions.

Then we delved into the book discussion featuring the first book in the series, The Secret of the Old Clock, and we compared the original to the revision. We briefly talked about the first book in the Girl Detective series--Without a Trace.

We also chatted more indepth about Nancy Drew news, the Sleuths group, and what we do at the conventions--with highlights to come from this year's Las Vegas convention. And we discussed planning a party for later this summer or fall.

We plan on getting together in May and June and then going to every other month after that. We are planning on doing a Nancy Drew gift exchange at our next meeting for fun! All in all, it was a really pleasant day and it was a lot of fun to get together with other collectors and meet new members!

On a related note, our Carolina Sleuths met this same day and hopefully they'll share news of their adventures. So if you want to get together with Sleuths in your area and form a book discussion group, contact me for information! I'll help you get set up with other interested Sleuths in your area and also you can help recruit more members!

Jenn:)

March/April 2009 Issue of The Sleuth

Issue Contents:

Calling All Sleuths: Editor's Note By Jennifer Fisher

The Clue Conundrum: Togo Trivia

Togo Or Not Togo By Jennifer Fisher

The Nancy Drew Crookbook Part IV By Caroline Stellings

The Nancy Drew Lecture Series By Danielle Weingarten

Deconstructing The Digests - Debunking The Misconceptions Surrounding The Nancy Drew Paperbacks#82 - The Clue in the Camera By Todd H. Latoski

From The Series Book Blogosphere A Blog Reprint By Jennifer White

The Series Auction Sleuth: Tandy & Nappi Paintings For Auction By Jennifer Fisher

A Book's Life: Nancy's Mysterious Letter By Pamela J. Horack

Crazy Eights with Michael G. Cornelius - Danger on the Great Lakes: PT 1 By Michael G. Cornelius

Series Spotlight: Getting to Know Judy Bolton By J.K.

Drewggle: Cats Pt II Compiled By Amriel Simpson

The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries: A Look Back at TV's First Nancy Drew: Episode 1.14 -Mystery Of The Solid Gold KickerBy Todd H. Latoski

The Dean's List By Dean Burcham

The Sleuth LettersSleuths Chat About Their Nancy Drew Cover Art Painting Wish Lists

Nancy Drew NewsNancy Drew's Survival Guide: Sleuth Lesson #16

The Scoop on Upcoming Issues, Clue Conundrum Answers

Classic Nancy Drew Book Illustrations Series #4: The Mystery At Lilac Inn

Jenn:)

April 2009 E-News & Clues

APRIL 2009 E-NEWS:

E-mail: sleuths@ndsleuths.com

In this E-News & Clues: Sleuth News/Happenings/Book Sales, '09 Convention Reminders, 2010 80th Anniversary Feedback Needed, Nancy Drew News, Mar./Apr. '09 The Sleuth + Half Subscription Rates Available.

SLEUTH NEWS/HAPPENINGS/BOOK SALES

Sleuth Todd will be on Wheel of Fortune! His air date is July 15, so don't miss it!

Series book collector and children's author Linda Joy Singleton will be putting together a program in June at the Rio Linda Library in the Sacramento area. If you are interested in attending, please contact her at her website.

I will be speaking about Nancy Drew to a reading council in Phoenix on April 22nd for those you in the area! Also, we'll be having our first meeting of AZ Sleuths at a Barnes & Noble in Chandler on April 25 and will discuss the books and other fun topics! If any of you want to get together to have book discussions, book hunt, etc., contact me and I can help you facilitate meetings with nearby Sleuths!

We have a new style of silhouettes to add to our mix and our website has been updated to reflect these and more. Check it out!

Many of us have started checking out Bonanzle. It's an alternative to eBay with free listing! And it's growing nicely. Check it out! I've got a booth under the id: NancyDrewSleuth. I'm also offering all official Sleuth members 25% off sales from my website: The Sleuth Shop through April 15. You can e-mail me your orders and send a check/Pay Pal or you can purchase at the website and I will process you a 25% refund.

2009 SLEUTH CONVENTION REMINDERS

Just a reminder, about a month until our May 15 registration deadline for the Nancy Drew Sleuths 2009 convention in Las Vegas! To view information about this year's convention and registration info, visit our website!

If you're planning on attending, e-mail me and give me a heads up! We also have an e-mail list for those planning to attend for updates and changes, so if you want to be on that, let me know.

Anyone wishing to sell/display books, make a presentation, or volunteer to help out at the convention, contact me by May 15!
2010 80TH NANCY DREW CONVENTION FEEDBACK

If you are interested in attending our 2010 convention, we'd like your feedback! Contact me to be placed on our e-mail list and we'll send you a short survey as to your interests in attending the whole week or just the land portion or cruise portion.

Our convention dated will be around the 28th of April to coincide with the date the series debuted in 1930 to give you an idea. More on our 2010 convention in our next E-News!

NANCY DREW NEWS

No Tonner classic Nancy Drew doll after all. Bummer!

No April book releases. And that's no April Fools:) Keep looking for 2010 to be interesting since it's the 80th anniversary!

MAR/APR 2009 THE SLEUTH

Our March/April 2009 issue of The Sleuth will be mailed out on Monday, April 13 so look for your issue shortly! Those of you with subscriptions expiring in the next 2 or 3 issues, have been mailed a resub form. With a special to resubscribe! So, look for that. We're also offering half subscription rates for those of you who want to try us out but not commit to a whole year. Also we have back issues in stock to try. Visit our website to check The Sleuth out!

Jenn:)

1/2 Subscription Rates for The Sleuth!

I'm now offering half a year subscription rates for The Sleuth (3 issues) for anyone wanting to try us out but not commit to a whole year. We also have back issues for sale individually too!

Rates can be found on our zine's webpage: The Sleuth.

Jenn:)