2025 Capitol Crimes Board

Karen Phillips, President

Karen A. Phillips writes humorous, fun, action-packed mysteries. Her characters are engaging and fearless. She writes the Rocky Nelson Boxing mystery series . . . and yes, she does take boxing lessons. Visit her at KarenAPhillips.com.

Facebook: KarenAPhillips/Author

Instagram: kannphillips

Richard Meredith, Vice President

Rick’s novel Maskirovka—The Russian Science of Deception, was a finalist for the Readers’ Choice Award at the 2023 Killer Nashville Conference and a finalist in the Best Thrillers Book Awards in 2023. The Crow’s Nest won the Silver Falchion Award for the Best Action-Adventure novel at Killer Nashville 2021. The Double Cross of Brigid, was a finalist in the Action-Adventure category for the Claymore Award at Killer Nashville 2023. The Terminal Haul, was a finalist for a Claymore Award for Best Investigator at Killer Nashville 2024. Learn more at RichardMeredith.com.

Jessica Cline, Secretary

Jessica Cline is an author, educator, and tarot enthusiast with a passion for community and stories. This year she’ll continue serving as Capitol Crimes’ Secretary. Her latest book is Tarot for Fiction Writers, a guide designed to help writers incorporate tarot prompts into their creative process. Jessica also writes paranormal cozy mysteries and romances as Jessica Arden. Her short fiction has been featured in Woman’s World as well as several anthologies.

Learn more at JessicaArden.com.

Harriet Fox, Treasurer

Harriet Fox is a true crime author working on her first fictional mystery novel. Harriet is a retired law enforcement professional with twenty-four years of experience working in many positions, most of her years as a correctional officer. She is a bibliophile who loves traveling, spending time with family and friends, and anything involving true crime.

Learn more about Harriet at AuthorHarrietFox.com.

Chris Dreith, Member-at-Large

Chris Dreith got hooked on writing mysteries while creating plays for her local Carnegie Library’s fundraiser, Mystery in the Library. While running her design/remodel business, she wrote several short stories, including “Old Soles” in the Bouchercon 2020 anthology, “Unknown Male and Parts of Two Others” in Cemetery Plots of Northern California, the Capitol Crimes 2021 anthology and “The Road To Limerick” in Mystery Most International, presented by the Mystery Patrons. Recently retired, she is working on her first thriller novel.

Myra Jolivet, Member-at-Large

Myra created Emmy Award-winning special reports and told stories of true crime during her years in television news. But traditional mysteries motivated her to write the Sarah Doucette Jean-Louis series. Like Myra, Sarah is a San Francisco Bay Area native with mystical Louisiana Creole roots. She leans into Louisiana spiritualism to help her solve crimes. Sarah’s story is in the U.C. Berkeley Bancroft Library. And Myra has frequently appeared on true crime shows. Visit her at MyraJolivet.com.

John Rosskopf, Member-at-Large

John Rosskopf is a Sacramento writer, lecturer and attorney. He practiced law for the state of California for 32 years and taught political science at Sacramento State University for 12 years. When John’s not writing, feeling guilty about not writing, or playing golf, you can find him reading. John has a butt-kicking PI series featuring Sacramento PI Jake Powers. John’s books can be found on Amazon, and his website is JohnRosskopf.com.

Paula Benson, Member-at-Large

Paula Gail Benson, from Columbia, S.C., has thirty plus short stories published online and in anthologies, and regularly blogs at The Stiletto Gang and Writers Who Kill. She appreciates the friendships and associations she’s developed since joining the Capitol Crimes board; has helped in organizing the virtual Killer Workshop and Yasmin Angoe’s retreat; and would love to continue as a board member to foster the east-west Sisters in Crime connection. Find out more at PaulaGailBenson.com.

Claire Booth, President Emeritus

Claire Booth spent more than a decade as a journalist, much of it covering crimes so strange and convoluted they seemed more like fiction than reality. Eventually, she had enough of the real world and decided to write novels instead. Her Sheriff Hank Worth mysteries take place in Branson, Missouri, where small-town politics and big-city country music tourism clash in – yes – strange, convoluted ways. Find out more at ClaireBooth.com.

Find Us

Email us at capitolcrimes@gmail.com

Mission Statement

We are the Sacramento, California chapter of Sisters in Crime. We promote the ongoing advancement, recognition and professional development of women crime writers.