Early this morning I finished reading When Prisoners Come Home a book by Professor Joan Petersilia, who teaches at Stanford Law. With the heavy writing schedule I now have, my time for reading has diminshed. Early this year I set a goal of reading 25 books during 2009. Thus far I’ve only read seven books, and if I were on schedule, I would have read ten. I will have to find time to catch up.
When Prisoners Come Home is a scholarly book that has significant meaning to me for obvious reasons. I feel as if I am well prepared for the challenges that await my release, though reading the stark realities that Professor Petersilia described motivates me to work harder through these remaining months that I must serve.
I expect to face high hurdles. For many years I’ve written about those expectations. This book confirms that employers reject consideration of people who have been released from prison, as do lenders, landlords, and other citizens in society. I must have a strategy in place to triumph over these hurdles.
Today I made good progress on this second version of the sample chapter for the manuscript proposal. I am enthusiastic about this version, as it feels better to write in the first person, present tense. I expect to finish drafting this new chapter by Sunday.
Certainly, I will finish writing at least one book before my release. My hopes are to finish two manuscripts and to have publishing arrangements in place for both. If I succeed, those projects will open speaking and consulting opportunities sufficient to overcome the employment hurdles that confront other long-term prisoners. I am grateful to have mentors who will assist my transition.
I ran 10 miles today and followed with 250 pushups. Then I returned to write. I now have run 1,273 miles over the past 144 consecutive days. I feel good about setting and achieving these goals. I intend to exercise every remaining day that I serve in prison, as emerging physically fit is an essential component of my release preparations.
Tuesday, 5 May 2009
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