by Toni L.P. Kelner / Leigh Perry
In 1995, Deborah Adams came up with the idea to create a group newsletter. You remember, the printed kind that came in the mail. She invited a diverse group of writers to join with her: Mignon Ballard, Susan Rogers Cooper, Charlaine Harris, D.R. Meredith, Marlys Millhiser, Elizabeth Daniels Squire, and myself. Bookseller and super-fan Megan Bladen-Blinkoff edited the newsletter for us, and I offered to lay it out. I was pregnant at the time, and I remember Deb telling the other Femmes to accept my offer right away before the baby was born and I realized I didn't have time to do such at thing.
We brought out our first issue in Fall of 1995, and kept producing two a year--more or less--until the Spring of 2010. (I never did realize that I didn't have time to lay it out.) In 2010 we moved online, to the blog format, which is where we are today. We also did a couple of mini-book-tours and group panels at conventions. Plus Facebook and Twitter, as we try to keep up with the changing field.
The roster has shifted more times than I can count as writers dropped out for one reason of another. Honestly, I'm not every sure of all the names anymore. I know at some points all of the following were (or are) Femmes: Teri Holbrook, Sujata Massey, Julie Wray Herman, Dean James, Donna Andrews, Meg Chittenden, Mary Saums, Elaine Viets, Kris Neri, Dana Cameron, Hank Phillippi Ryan, Marcia Talley, Alexia Gordon, Aimee Hix, Catriona McPherson, Joanna Cambell Slan, LynDee Walker, and Laura DiSilverio. Sadly, we lost Elizabeth Daniels Squire and years after, when she was no longer a Femme, we lost Marlys Milhiser and Meg Chittenden, too. But we made so many other great friends along the way.
As of today, I'm the final Founding Femme still around, but as of tomorrow, there will be no more. I'm leaving the Femmes.
I've had a great run, but even though that baby I was pregnant with all those years ago is now grown and living on her own, somehow time is tighter than ever. I've got deadlines and commitments looming, and something has to give.
Thanks to all the Femmes over the years, and to the readers who've followed along with us for 22 years. And keep watching this space, because I know our current Femmes -- Donna, Alexia, Aimee, Dean, Kris, Catriona, LynDee, Joanna, Marcia, and Elaine--still have great things to talk about, and I imagine there will be more new Femmes coming. I might just come visit now and then when my schedule permits. Until then, farewell to the Femmes Fatales!ƒ
Oh goodness! Certainly understand--I stepped down from a couple of group blogs myself after much, much less time--but all the same, gonna miss your posts! (I'll just message you more often in other ways....) :-)
Posted by: Art Taylor | February 13, 2019 at 05:32 AM
You will be missed Toni. But I still know where to find you.
Posted by: Kristopher | February 13, 2019 at 06:17 AM
Definitely the end of an era. You will be missed around here.
Posted by: Mark | February 13, 2019 at 08:14 AM
May all your endeavors go well. Live long and prosper. <3
Posted by: Storyteller Mary | February 13, 2019 at 08:32 AM
Thanks, folks. This was a really tough decision for me to make.
Posted by: Toni LP Kelner | February 13, 2019 at 08:59 AM
You started something great and it lives on. Be proud.
Posted by: Clea Simon | February 13, 2019 at 10:25 AM
You've had a great run, and you're leaving behind a going concern. That's a pretty good legacy.
Posted by: Susan Oleksiw | February 13, 2019 at 10:34 AM
The Mars Rover didn't get me yesterday, but this got me today. Thank you, Toni, for all you've done for all these years.
Posted by: catriona | February 13, 2019 at 10:50 AM
You’d certainly better come and visit! I personally need updates on your book publications!
Posted by: Deb Romano | February 13, 2019 at 01:38 PM