auria “Hussein” cortes

John Grisham wrote a non-fiction book, The Innocent Man. The book deals with two men wrongly convicted of a murder. One was sentenced to life in prison and the other to death.  

Here’s the book description of The Innocent Man. 

In the town of Ada, Oklahoma, Ron Williamson was going to be the next Mickey Mantle. But on his way to the Big Leagues, Ron stumbled, his dreams broken by drinking, drugs, and women. Then, on a winter night in 1982, not far from Ron’s home, a young cocktail waitress named Debra Sue Carter was savagely murdered. The investigation led nowhere. Until, on the flimsiest evidence, it led to Ron Williamson. The washed-up small-town hero was charged, tried, and sentenced to death—in a trial littered with lying witnesses and tainted evidence that would shatter a man’s already broken life…and let a true killer go free. Impeccably researched, grippingly told, filled with eleventh-hour drama, John Grisham’s first work of nonfiction reads like a page-turning legal thriller. It is a book that will terrify anyone who believes in the presumption of innocence—a book no American can afford to miss. 

Since this book is about the death penalty and the acquittal of an innocent man, I will read it. I have written over 50,000 for 30 Days to Justice and I’m curious to see Grisham’s take on the death penalty

The premise of 30 Days to Justice, the 50k novel I wrote for NaNoWriMo, is controversial. I didn’t mean for the book to make a political statement, but in the end that is exactly what happened.

The book begins like this: a woman in her early 30’s is moving back home to find herself. When she hits the state line, she hears on the radio that a man who committed a murder twenty years earlier had just been executed that morning.

The execution of his accomplice is schedule within thirty days. Through a series of events, she finds herself investigating the murder and putting into question the legal and moral issues of the death penalty.  I’m sure that once I complete The Devil’s Playground that I will revisit 30 Days to Justice. In the meantime, there are real life heroes that are putting their names on the line to seek the truth. 

 Natalie Maines from the Dixie Chicks has written an open letter that calls attention to a case where three men are wrongly convicted (can we expect anything else from her except courage?).

Her missive begins: “I’m writing this letter today because I believe that three men have spend the past 13 years in prison for crimes they didn’t commit. On May 5th, 1993 in West Memphis, Arkansa three 8 eight-year (sic) boys, Steve Branch, Christopher Byers, and Michael Moore were murdered.

Three teenage boys, Damien Echols, Jesse Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin were convicted of murders in 1994. Jason Baldwin and Jesse Misskelley received life sentences without parole, and Damine Echols sits on death row.” 

To read the rest of her letter and plea for financial donations, click here.

I’m going to hold judgment on this matter until I see the two documentaries she mentions, Paradise Lost and Paradise Lost 2. At that time, I will blog about this case again.

During the month of November I participated in Nanowrimo. For those of you who aren’t familiar, Nanowrimo it is a contest where participants are challenged to write a 50,000-word novel within thirty days. Those who reach the word count receive a certificate of participation.

When November 1^st rolled around, I began the novel sans title and storyline. All I knew was how the first scene would unfold. By the third day of writing the title came to me (30 Days to Justice) and the plot was unfolding nicely.  

Before the month was over, I reached the goal of 50K. I was amazed that I was able to write so many words in less than thirty days. With The Devil’s Playground, I’ve only written 4,281 words since August. The average novel is 90,000 words. I have a long way to go. 

 For the next three months, I’m committing to write 5,000 words per week towards The Devil’s Playground. The first draft is set to be complete on March 31, 2008.

Every Monday, I will provide a word count so all of you can take note of my progress. Back in 1999, Caroll O’Connor of Archie Bunker fame, wrote a book called I’m Outta Here. In it, he made a point that has stayed with me for all these years. O’Connor theorized that the reason most people don’t achieve their goals is because when they hit an obstacle or something else seems easier to accomplish they change their goals midstream (I’m paraphrasing).

 That’s exactly what I have been doing. I’ve had The Devil’s Playground formulating in my mind since I was fourteen years old. At the age of 21, I sat down to write the book, but didn’t write a word because the blank page paralyzed me. Instead of working through it, I moved on to something less labor intensive…like going to the movies with my friends.

4281 / 90000 words. 5% done!