On Sunday, 6 September, the New York Times published an op-ed by Kenneth E. Hartman. He’s a California prisoner who serves a life sentence in a maximum-security prison. He’s also an excellent writer, and the author of a forthcoming book entitled Mother California: A Story of Redemption Behind Bars.
Mr. Hartman’s article describes how the recession influences life in prison. He tells of fewer packages from home, smaller food portions, and broken air conditioners that remain broken. I admire him for his success in securing a publishing agreement, and for his accomplishment of publishing an op-ed in one of the world’s most influential newspapers. I’m curious as to how this exposure will influence his book sales.
I’ve noticed recent press clippings on two other prison authors who have books out. One author, whose last name is Betts, I think, went to prison for a carjacking conviction when he was 16. He served seven or eight years, educated himself, and wrote a memoir about his experiences. I also read a small review announcing another prisoner who wrote a memoir while awaiting execution on death row somewhere. I suppose in a country of 2.3 million prisoners, it’s inevitable that some authors will emerge to memorialize this experience through the written word.
This coming week I expect to finish a first draft of Earning Freedom, my own memoir. This morning I made more progress on chapter twelve, and wrote through page 555. I still expect to finish the manuscript at around 575 pages. I ran 10 miles this morning, boosting my consecutive tally to 2,430 miles over the past 274 days.
Saturday, 12 September 2009
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