Ron Franscell's Blog, page 14
July 18, 2018
Dead Man Talking: Killers’ last words can be humorous … and monstrous
As it does fairly regularly, Texas executed a killer on Tuesday. Christopher Young, 34, shot a San Antonio convenience store clerk to death in 2004. The victim’s family had begged Texas—in vain—not to execute Young, so before he lay on the gurney that would be his death bed, Young said he loved his victim’s family…
The post Dead Man Talking: Killers’ last words can be humorous … and monstrous appeared first on Ron Franscell.
June 21, 2018
A father, a son, and the longest day
Excerpted from “The Sourtoe Cocktail Club,” by Ron Franscell (Globe Pequot Press, 2011). While Matt sleeps, I watch the subtly changing sky as the sun circles around to the north on the longest day of the year. The clouds are breaking up and patches of blue are oozing through. The day is warming. I smell…
The post A father, a son, and the longest day appeared first on Ron Franscell.
June 19, 2018
A modest proposal to relieve the burden of immigrant kids
It is a sad thing to those who walk through this great country, when they see the streets crowded with immigrants followed by three, four, or six children. Instead of being able to work for an honest livelihood, they are forced to draw welfare for their helpless infants who, as they grow up, either turn…
The post A modest proposal to relieve the burden of immigrant kids appeared first on Ron Franscell.
June 14, 2018
Is true crime as entertainment morally defensible?
I’ve been writing true crime for 10 years. I confess to occasional pangs that I am reopening wounds for a few people, but the old-school journalist in me rationalizes that these stories can have a universal, positive, human impact to the greater society. Whether they reflect something in us that we should (and don’t want…
The post Is true crime as entertainment morally defensible? appeared first on Ron Franscell.
June 3, 2018
20 years ago today, ‘Angel Fire’ was published
On this day—June 4—in 1998, a tiny publisher in an Alabama small town released a little book, a first novel by an unknown writer in Wyoming. It didn’t change the world but it changed the writer’s life. The little book was titled “Angel Fire.” And the author was me.
The post 20 years ago today, ‘Angel Fire’ was published appeared first on Ron Franscell.
May 30, 2018
Canadian producer developing TV series on MORGUE
Pixcom, an international production company based in Montreal, has optioned our book MORGUE: A LIFE IN DEATH—co-authored with world-renowned medical examiner Dr. Vincent Di Maio—for a true-crime TV series, the company announced today. “Pixcom is growing its true crime offering, and we’re excited to partner with powerhouse talent like Dr. Vincent Di Maio and Ron…
The post Canadian producer developing TV series on MORGUE appeared first on Ron Franscell.
May 18, 2018
Just hanging out at the library
In my hometown of Casper WY, the Natrona County Public Library is celebrating local authors such as CJ Box, Craig Johnson … and me … with colorful banners along the main street through the city. Most writers aren’t comfortable with larger-than-life depictions of themselves—although maybe it’s just me—but this feels like a cool way to…
The post Just hanging out at the library appeared first on Ron Franscell.
April 25, 2018
For writers, endings are beginnings
“I hate writing; I love having written.” —Dorothy Parker Once upon a time, early-day typesetters recognized the end of a newspaper story when they saw “XXX” at the bottom of a reporter’s typed page. Since “XXX” was also Latin for the number 30, the end of a typewritten story came to be signified by “-30-”…
The post For writers, endings are beginnings appeared first on Ron Franscell.
March 13, 2018
DARKEST NIGHT among 10 Most Underrated TC books, says website
A popular crime website and podcast has rated THE DARKEST NIGHT one of the 10 Most Underrated modern true-crime books. TheLineUp.com put the story of the horrendous 1973 abduction, rape, and murder at the Fremont Canyon Bridge near Casper WY among its favorite must-reads. Over the years, sensational court cases that scandalized a community might…
The post DARKEST NIGHT among 10 Most Underrated TC books, says website appeared first on Ron Franscell.
February 24, 2018
Broken Windows: One thing we can do tomorrow about school shootings
We are engaged—again—in a great, uncivil war. Another mass murder, this one a school shooting, fuels a debate that often seems to threaten to rip the fabric of our American life. But in fact, it’s just déjà vu all over again. It’s cold comfort that the very debate is the same one that erupted within…
The post Broken Windows: One thing we can do tomorrow about school shootings appeared first on Ron Franscell.
