Praise for

WRITING PIs in NOVELS

"Shaun and Colleen are amazing—their course was fun, accessible, and loaded with useable information. So much more than I expected!”
– Maria Faulconer

“Absolutely loved the course!”
– Robena Schaerf

“This was an excellent class and I learned a lot.”
– Maureen Dowling

“An eye-opening class that made my fictional PI come alive.”
– Laura Domino

“…one of the most useful courses I've ever taken.”
– Karen Docter

“Thanks so much for this VERY informative class.”
– Beth Groundwater

“I found Writing PIs in Novels, presented by Colleen Collins and Shaun Kaufman a perfect backdrop for anyone considering establishing a character as a private investigator. The lectures, the links and the question-and-answer sessions covered a broad spectrum of this often stereo-typed career. In this world where research counts and readers are quick to point out an author’s flaws, this course is a must for getting it right. ”
– Donnell Bell

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Writing PIs in Novels
by Colleen Collins and Shaun Kaufman

We’re teaching 2 classes in 2010 (Writing PIs: Making Your Sleuth Real), both in October.  Check out class descriptions, instructor bios, and how to register, below.

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Check out our “sister site” Guns, Gams, and Gumshoes

Class descriptions: At first we weren’t going to offer any classes in 2010 (it’s been a busy year!), but since people kept asking about classes, we decided to combine some of our more popular ones and teach them in the month of October.  Both classes have handy info for writers developing sleuths or villains, and interesting tid-bits for readers who want to better understand some of the tricks of their favorite sleuths in books/movies.  Check out the dates, costs, and registration deadlines below. Questions? Write us.

October 4-11, 2010: Finding People & Chasing Cheaters ($20.00)

Part One: Tips for finding people, from researching the Internet to interviewing witnesses to digging in trash.  Part Two: How PIs investigate cheating spouse cases, from techniques to tools. One week, 4 posted classes, questions answered by email in-between. 

>>Registration deadline: October 1, 2010

October 18-25, 2010: Skiptracing & Surveiling ($20.00)

Part One: An overview of surveillances, from stationary to mobile to electronic, plus pointers on the legalities of surveillance. Part Two: How a sleuth locates people, from electronic techniques to the tried-and-true “gumshoe” tactics (on foot).  One week, 4 posted classes, questions answered by email in-between.

>>Registration deadline: October 14, 2010

Both classes: $30.00

 

Bios:

Colleen Collins is a PI by day, a multi-published author by night. Her articles on private investigations have appeared on various sites on the Internet as well as in PI Magazine, Pursuit Magazine, and other publications. Her accomplishments as a PI include uncovering bogus identities, locating an abducted child, catching cheating spouses, and taking videos of an injury claimant throwing a burning fastball. A member of the Private Eye Writers of America (PWA), Mystery Writers of America (MWA), and Romance Writers of America (RWA), she's written 20 novels for both Harlequin and Dorchester and has spoken at regional and national conferences about writing private eyes in fiction.

Shaun Kaufman has worked in and around the criminal justice field for nearly 30 years, as a former trial attorney and a current investigator. He's published articles in PI Magazine, the Denver Law Review, and authored numerous briefs for the Colorado Court of Appeals, Colorado Supreme Court, and the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Shaun is a popular speaker at conferences, entertaining and educating writers with his insights and expertise about investigations, crime scenes, how PIs effectively testify in trials, and more. His father always told him to be a writer, not a lawyer.

Classes will be conducted via a yahoogroups loop set up for the class.

Click here (or go to "Click to Register") for registration form. All class attendees must submit a completed registration form along with a payment by PayPal * or by check **.

* If paying by PayPal, go to "Pay via PayPal". 

Note: Non-US Residents Must Pay by PayPal (sorry, all non-US checks, money orders, and postal orders will be returned). If you’re paying by PayPal, remember to also send in your registration form via email, fax to 303-532-1053, or by regular mail (address below).

** If paying by check, please mail registration form and check/money order (made out to "WIN, Inc.") to:

Writing PIs in Novels

c/o Colleen Collins
Highlands Investigations
P.O. Box 12159
Denver, CO 80212 - USA
Pay Via Paypal