Thanksgiving and Grief

When Liz Ratliff was murdered by Michael Peterson on November 25, 1986, she wasn't the first person whose death cast a pall over holiday celebrations.  But for Liz's sisters, Margaret and Rosemary, that date was already filled with sorrow.  On that date, exactly ten years earlier, their father, Harold McKee passed away.

Under those circumstances, I could understand if Liz's family approached this date every year with superstitious dread.  But neither Margaret or Rosemary seem to do so.  They give thanks for the blessings in their lives and say a prayer for those who are sitting at the table in spirit only.

If you've lost a loved one at Thanksgiving time or at any point in this upcoming holiday season, I send you warmest wishes for healing, beautiful memories and the camraderie of family and friends.

Happy Thanksgiving, one and all!

The murder of Liz Ratliff was recounted in my book, WRITTEN IN BLOOD.

Twisted Reason

Publishers Weekly writes: "Edgar-finalist Fanning skillfully illuminates the heartbreaking challenges facing Alzheimer’s victims and their families in her fourth mystery featuring Virginia homicide detective Lucinda Pierce."

The fourth book in the Detective Lucinda Pierce mystery series, TWISTED REASON, is now available on line and soon in brick and mortar book stores.  The official release date is January 1, 2011, but it's sneaking onto shelves as we speak.


Kirkus Reviews writes: As usual, Fanning poses Lucinda a quirky mystery, this time providing a thoughtful look at the stress of those caring for loved ones with dementia.

I've posted the first chapter of TWISTED REASON, on my website for you're reading pleasure.

The heartbreak for me with this book is the printing error that was made.  In the galley--the final piece I approve, the dedication page was there.  Somehow, in the finished book, it is missing.  Since it is very relevant to the underlying theme of this book, I am including it here so that you know.

In loving memory of two irreplaceable men:

J. Leon Butcher

September 15, 1927 – August 29, 200

William ‘Bill’ Fanning

July 17, 1924 – June 13, 2009

Leon is my dad.  Bill is my father-in-law.  They both died after suffering with progressive dementia for years.  

In other Lucinda Pierce news, MISTAKEN IDENTITY is now available in a trade paperback from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Powell's Books.

Women, Innocence and Inspiration

Last weekend, I flew to Michigan to deliver the keynote address at the first Women and Innocence Conference.  I expected to have an informative learning experience but found I was moved far more than I expected.

It started on my flight.  The thirty-year-old woman who sat next to me had moved to this country from Albania when she was fourteen years old.  She talked to me about the deprivation in her native lands--of the days on end when she went to the grocery store and there was nothing to purchase but spinach and leeks.  She spoke of the overwhelming sensory overload of her first time at a grocery store at this country.  It was too different and there were too many choices.

I did not know it as I spoke with her but her words would be echoed by the women exonorees at the conference.  After the deprivation of an incarcerated life, many of them experience a similar overload when they are finally released from prison for the crimes they did not commit.

There were many terrific presentations and I wouldn't have missed a single one but the most powerful speaker was Joyce Ann Brown.  Joyce (left) is a woman of great dignity and poise. She was wrongfully convicted of an armed robbery and murder she did not commit.  With the help of Centurian Ministries, she was exonerated after serving nine years, five months and twenty-four days of hardship in prison. 

Her electrifying ability as a speaker brought my Baptist upbringing to the forefront.  It was all I could do to stay in my seat and not jump up and shout "Amen, sister!" every time she made a new point.  I haven't read her book, Justice Denied, yet but I am certainly looking forward to it.

There was so much about the weekend that I enjoyed.  I got the chance to visit with three professionals I got to know as I provided assistance in Julie Rea Harper's case: Bill Clutter, investigator with the Downstate Illinois Innocence Project and Karen Daniels and Judith Royal, attorneys with the Center for Wrongful Convictions.  I got to see Jim and Jane Rea, Julie's parents, once again.

I met exonerated womenlike Tabitha Pollack whose stories broke my heart.  I listened to the heart-wrenching stories of the family members and friends of women still behind bars fighting for their innocence including Darlie Kee, the mother of Darlie Routier, who now sits on Death Row in Texas and the family of Raye Dawn Smith whose imprisonment in connection with the death of her daughter is a travesty of justice.  I mentioned her in my keynote address and will blog about her case in more detail in the near future.

The highlight for me was Julie Rea Harper.(photo on left:  Julie with her mother, Jane Rea ) Even though we played an important role in each others' lives, Julie and I had never met before face-to-face.  To me, it felt like finding a lost sister.  I still get tears in my eyes thinking about that first moment.  After the conference we spent some additional time getting to know each other.  Sitting, chatting and sipping tea with Julie felt so comfortable, so natural and so right.

It was a weekend, I will never forget.

Photos by Audrey Dotson