One More Reason Why

Lately, my booksigning events have been filled with surprises.  I wrote in January about the unexpected fun I had at my recent grocery store signings.  Saturday at the Sophienburg Museum in New Braunfels, I had another bonus.

My table was across from the entrance to the room circled with authors and their books.  I saw a man walk in who looked familiar.  This was not unusual.  I was in my town and it was still small enough that recognizing a face is a frequent ocurrance. 

I turned away to talk to the author seated beside me.  A moment later, a voice said, "Would you like my autograph?" That voice sounded familiar.  I looked at the speaker and he looked a lot like Les Severance.

Les was the father of Maine native Michael Severance, the Air Force C-130 crew chief stationed in Abilene, Texas, who was murdered at the age of 24 in San Angelo.  His wife, a veterinarian, was convicted of his homicide.

I'd talked to Les a lot on the telephone while writing Michael's story in A POISONED PASSION but we'd never met face-to-face.  But Les lives in Maine--you couldn't get much further from Texas and still be in the United States.  I didn't think the man standing in front of me could possibly be Les.  Then his mouth twitched into a shy smile--the same smile that's in the photograph of him with his son Michael and his newborn grandson Shane. (right)

Certain I was about to embarrass myself,  I asked, "Are you Les?" 

He nodded--but I found it hard to believe.  From behind him, Tom Goff suddenly appeared.  He was Les' attorney in his battle to wrest custody of his grandson from the family of his son's killer.  I'd met with Tom on multiple ocassions and the sight of his face assured me that this was, in fact, for true, the real--the one and only--Les Severance.

Les was in Texas returning his grandson to his legal custodians after a six-week visit in Maine.  It was a sad time for Les--it always was that way when he had to say goodbye to the only child of his deceased son.  I saw the sorrow etched in his face and shimmering in his eyes.  But delight was there as well.  He made the five-hour drive to New Braunfels because he wanted to surprise me and he certainly had.

We hugged, talked and hugged again before he left.

He thanked me for writing about his son, for the difference my book made in his family's life.  As he walked away, my eyes welled with tears.

I have a lump in my throat now just writing about that moment.

It wasn't the first time I was thanked by the family member of a victim in one of my books--but it moves me every time it happens.  It is a precious gift.

It's one of the reasons why I write true crime,

And why I don't know how I could ever stop.

TIMES UP Now

Susan Murphy-Milano's newest book, TIMES UP, A Guide on How to Leave and Survive Abusive and Stalking Relationships, is out today.

TIMES UP is the perfect companion for domestic violence victims, guiding them towards safety by showing them the unseen pitfalls of leaving a violent relationship and how to navigate around them. It contains step-by-step details and instructions how to fill out an “Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit”, one of the unique tools that Murphy-Milano has created and used through the years in high danger cases, saving many lives.  I feel confident that if Susan McFarland, the subject of my book GONE FOREVER, had read TIMES UP, odds are, she'd still be alive today.

As I wrote in my essay and review, "It is all at your fingertips in the pages of this book. If you are a sophisticated, educated, aware woman, you will find things you didn’t know to help yourself and others. If you are a stay-at-home mom who has been controlled since a teenager and doesn't know the first thing about leading an independent life, you’ll find all the details you need to escort you through the risk-filled and often baffling transition ahead.

Anny Jacoby, personal safety expert wrote: Every domestic violence agency, advocate, church, police and sheriff’s departments should have a supply of Susan’s book to share with EVERY victim that they speak to. Time’s Up should be included with every packet of information that is distributed to victims."

Susan Murphy-Milano is more than just my friend, she is also a specialist in family violence and works nationally with domestic violence programs, law enforcement and prosecutors providing technical and consulting services in “high risk” domestic violence and stalking related cases. Her principal objective is to intervene before a victim is seriously injured or killed. In 1999, Susan was inducted into the Women’s Hall of Fame for her work on behalf of Women’s Rights. In 2001, Susan received the Women with Vision Award from the Illinois Bar Association.

Susan is host of The Susan Murphy Milano Show.  Listen this Wednesday at 4 pm Eastern/ 3 pm Central for a discussion of TIMES UP.  She is also one of the women, like myself, who posts on the cooperative blog, Women In Crime Ink. With co-stars, Dennis Griffin and Vito Colucci, Susan will be participating in the new television show, Crime Wire which will examine cases in which the investigations have left questions unanswered and possible criminal activity unexposed.

I'm Not Gone But...

 

This chicken kind of sums it up for me.  I don't know where I am-- I'm not gone but I'm not really here, either.  Unlike the chicken,  I'm not exactly sure if I am where I should be, but I know that I'm definitely where I need to be.

Entering the home stretch of a May 3rd manuscript deadline for the fourth Lucinda Pierce novel, I don't hear most of what is said to me; I don't give sensible answers to most questions asked of me; and I mumble to myself a lot.

 
To add to that typical finishing-a-manuscript chaos, I am trying to squeeze in a bit of publicity for  MISTAKEN IDENTITY, the third Lucinda Pierce book, now popping up in bookstores everywhere.

Right now, almost every waking moment--and sometimes in my sleeping ones--I am residing in the universe of Homicide Detective Lucinda Pierce.  It's a far more exciting place than my world but I miss spending time writing on this blog, battling with 140 characters on Twitter and visiting group sites to chat with readers and friends.  A little temporary internet discipline is probably good for the soul but having to skip my yoga classes might make me crazy. 

Nonetheless, I won't be totally incommunicado for the next month.  You'll find me at these places:

• This Thursday, April 8, I will be Helen Ginger's guest on her blog talking about my not-quite-normal writing life.
• On Saturday, April 17, from 1-4 pm I'll be at Sophienburg Museum, 401 West Coll Street in New Braunfels for their Meet the Author event, a fundraiser for the museum.
• On Saturday, May 1, at 9:10 am I'll be at the Toastmasters District 55 Spring Conference at the YO Ranch Resort in Kerrville, Texas, with fellow authors Ben Rehder and Joan Upton Hall for a panel discussion, "Why We Write?" 

I'll be back here when I can, tweet on occasion and catch up with the real world when possible.

And, Mom, if you miss me too much this month, go to the Reading Room on my website--you can click a cover, read a chapter from any one of my books and pretend I'm reading aloud just to you.