Virginia Crime Stoppers Association Newsletter
June 2002
Written by Thomas C. Kifer

“What would you do if you had information about a crime?”

The title is an eye-catching question that is currently catching the eyes of folks throughout the state. The Virginia Crime Stoppers Association has partnered with crime novelist P.M. Terrell of Chesterfield to answer the title question.

P.M. “Trish” Terrell is a longtime supporter of Crime Stoppers and is an active board member of the Chesterfield County / Colonial Heights Crime Solvers. Trish’s devotion to Crime Stoppers and her love of writing make her the ideal partner for the VCSA.

P.M. Terrell launched her first novel “Kickback” (Chicago Spectrum Press) at a signing and party in Chesterfield County on June 15, 2002 and VCSA was there! The VCSA has been invited to attend all signings to answer the question “What would you do if you had information about a crime?”. Trish has adopted the title question as her theme. The question, along with the VCSA logo and phrase “Support you local Crime Stoppers, Crime Solvers and Crime Line programs” appear on the author’s table signs and hand-outs. “Kickback” bookmarks, distributed before and after the signing events, all have the VCSA logo. To top things off, recently developed VCSA brochures are distributed at the signings and have been well received by store owners as customer hand-outs after the events have concluded!

A partnership must be advertised so the author and the VCSA have issued a joint media release announcing the pairing. Joint media opportunities, including morning talk shows and radio appearances are in the works. Trish and VCSA Vice President Tom Kifer will share the airwaves to spread the Crime Stoppers message throughout the state and beyond. National signings are being scheduled and the VCSA will assist by notifying sister programs of partnering opportunities with P.M. Terrell.

Getting out the Crime Stoppers message and enhanced media attention alone would make this partnership a great success; however, it does not stop there! The author is providing fund raising opportunities for the VCSA and local programs by offering portions of her book sales as a donation. Local programs that arrange a book signing at non-book seller locations such as public libraries or local events, will receive forty to fifty percent of the novels $9.95 sale price. The percentage of the sale price donated to the local program depends upon the volume of books sold. At the events, local programs will have an opportunity to share their message with attendees and take advantage of media coverage. The VCSA will assist the local programs by honoring its commitment to attend the author’s events throughout Virginia.

The partnership between P.M. Terrell and the VCSA does not stop after “Kickback” signings have been completed. The author currently has a three- book deal with her publisher and discussions are underway to add a fourth book. The New York Post and New York Times have taken an interest in the author, shouldn’t your local program?

The VCSA Fall 2002 Conference will be a great opportunity to meet P.M. Terrell, as she will present an instructional session on web-site development and provide a private book signing for VCSA conference attendees. Don’t wait until the conference to plan a book signing and / or fundraiser in your area! If you are interested in receiving more information, you can contact VCSA Vice President Tom Kifer via email at kifert@colonial-heights.com. P.M. Terrell can be reached via email at author@pmterrell.com.

More information about the author and the VCSA partnership, including joint media releases, can be viewed at www.pmterrell.com. So, “What would you do if you had information about a crime?”