Water for Elephants author article

[tacokick]

I had not read her book but I read this article today and it is fascinating. A prisoner writes to her about his grandmother who she had actually researched as backstory for her book. She decides to work with him to get him released and it takes over her life.

Thought it might be of interest

www.themarshallproject.org/2021/03/24/a-bestselling-author-became-obsessed-with-freeing-a-man-from-prison-it-nearly-ruined-her-life

[meowmaps]

Good grief! What a saga.

[ufcasey]

WOW! I was not expecting all of that!! I feel very badly for Sara Gruen as it seems she perhaps might have some mental health issues going on along with all her other health ailments. And to invest so much time and money into something that still hasn't gotten anywhere is it's own kind of awful, no matter how well intended. And of course the case about Charles Murdoch is equally upsetting - a letter at the time of the trial from the guy who blamed him saying he was coerced by the police to blame him? And the only other witness wasn't reliable either? And no physical evidence tying him to the scene? Definitely a travesty of justice.

Thanks so much for sharing this!

[tacokick]

Mar 24, 2021 17:22:54 GMT -5 ufcasey said:

WOW! I was not expecting all of that!! I feel very badly for Sara Gruen as it seems she perhaps might have some mental health issues going on along with all her other health ailments. And to invest so much time and money into something that still hasn't gotten anywhere is it's own kind of awful, no matter how well intended. And of course the case about Charles Murdoch is equally upsetting - a letter at the time of the trial from the guy who blamed him saying he was coerced by the police to blame him? And the only other witness wasn't reliable either? And no physical evidence tying him to the scene? Definitely a travesty of justice.

Thanks so much for sharing this!

It is a wild ride! Just when I thought it was the end, cat scratch fever and witness tampering made an appearance. If it was a movie, it would seem far fetched.

[ufcasey]

Mar 24, 2021 20:36:10 GMT -5 tacokick said:

Mar 24, 2021 17:22:54 GMT -5 ufcasey said:

WOW! I was not expecting all of that!! I feel very badly for Sara Gruen as it seems she perhaps might have some mental health issues going on along with all her other health ailments. And to invest so much time and money into something that still hasn't gotten anywhere is it's own kind of awful, no matter how well intended. And of course the case about Charles Murdoch is equally upsetting - a letter at the time of the trial from the guy who blamed him saying he was coerced by the police to blame him? And the only other witness wasn't reliable either? And no physical evidence tying him to the scene? Definitely a travesty of justice.

Thanks so much for sharing this!

It is a wild ride! Just when I thought it was the end, cat scratch fever and witness tampering made an appearance. If it was a movie, it would seem far fetched.

Someone really should turn it into a book, ironically!

[tacokick]

Mar 25, 2021 9:06:08 GMT -5 ufcasey said:

Mar 24, 2021 20:36:10 GMT -5 tacokick said:

It is a wild ride! Just when I thought it was the end, cat scratch fever and witness tampering made an appearance. If it was a movie, it would seem far fetched.

Someone really should turn it into a book, ironically!

She really could turn it into a very compelling memoir if she was up for it!