I feel honored to have received a book blurb from Pete Earley, best selling author and mental health advocate. Earley has penned 17 books including 4 New York Times best sellers. My excitement drove me to share this with my friends. Check out Earley’s link — http://www.peteearley.com/ *** Supermax Prison is so vivid that readers willContinue reading “A Book Blurb from one of the best.”
Tag Archives: creative nonfiction writing
An imaginary prison of the future
The ebook for Supermax Prison: Controlling the most dangerous criminals is available. The paperback will be released in late September 2017. Below is one of my favorite excerpts describing our imaginary prison of the future. *** While science tells us how to operate the prison of the future, we still lack the will, the inner forceContinue reading “An imaginary prison of the future”
Book Review — “Supermax Prison: Controlling the most dangerous criminals”
A Review of the Book, “Supermax Prison: Controlling the Most Dangerous Criminals” by Larry L Franklin and Rakesh Chandra, MD, JD This book provides a frank and fascinating look at life in maximum security prisons. It is both uplifting and depressing reading, and some parts are even quite difficult to read, especially those with graphicContinue reading “Book Review — “Supermax Prison: Controlling the most dangerous criminals””
From hairy legs to nose hairs.
I’m sitting in my office listening to Eric Clapton belt out some cool sounds. Steady rain outside. Springtime trying to make its way into summer; that’s what is happening in southern Illinois. I’m drinking some wine, looking at my legs while I sport a pair of summer shorts, and evaluating my body’s transition into oldContinue reading “From hairy legs to nose hairs.”
Count to ten before you speak — please.
It was the fall of 2002, the exact date I cannot recall, when I arrived at the Dwight Correctional Center for women. I had spent months interviewing Rita Nitz, an inmate convicted of first degree murder for her alleged participation in the shooting and decapitation of Michael Miley, a young gay man. I was neverContinue reading “Count to ten before you speak — please.”
Facebook World — Heroin in a Mousetrap
It was another session with Olivia, the therapist who brought me back from the dark side of childhood sexual abuse. Although I am in a relatively good place, a little tuneup is needed now and then. “I noticed a significant decrease in the number of blogs that you have written,” Olivia said. “How do youContinue reading “Facebook World — Heroin in a Mousetrap”
How to write a “kick-ass” sentence
It’s interesting how skills acquired during one occupation are applied to a future endeavor. I’m thinking about the connection between music and writing: how to perform or write the perfect phrase. I have my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music, played first trumpet in the US Navy Band in Washington, D.C., and taught trumpet atContinue reading “How to write a “kick-ass” sentence”
A soul-sucking depression
It was a cold, fall day. Red weathered Maple leaves were on the ground. Becca and I were sitting in the visit room at the Dwight Correctional Center where she was serving a sixty-year sentence for allegedly killing her five-year-old step-daughter. Becca still does not remember committing the crime, but believes that she did becauseContinue reading “A soul-sucking depression”