Cilla McCain's Blog, page 2

American Snippets: Cilla McCain, Baker Company and a World of Military Homicide

Cilla McCain is a sassy Southern beauty with a deceivingly genteel exterior. Her sweet drawl and full smile belie the formidable opponent she makes when challenged. Once upon a time she worked in the land of fiction writing, creating characters and charting their destinies as she saw fit. It’s fun to be in that zone, to feel the characters come to life as their stories pour through you and become words on a page. “I liked it there,” Cilla laughs, still seemingly surprised at the shift in her trajectory – and for good reason, because the world she inhabits now could not be more different.

Nelle Harper Lee: I thought she would live forever

I never met Miss Lee. But then, that was how she wanted it. For decades, many people tried to meet her, and many failed. Fans hoping for an autograph, would knock on her front door, only to be told to go away. Actresses who portrayed her in various movies tried to meet her in an effort to portray her accurately. She told them to go away too.     I guess she felt she had given as much of herself as she could within the pages of To Kill a Mockingbird.    Many nights, after a stressful day, I curl

CRACKED.COM: 7 Unexplained Deaths That Will Shake Your Faith In Reason

  Writer Robin Warder recently compiled a list of murders with  investigative outcomes that make no sense. Sadly, Colonel Philip Shue's is #1 on the list. After all of these years, people are amazed at the injustice surrounding Philip's murder. It has reached legendary proportions.   On another note, Tracy and I are constantly asked when the book will be ready. We are immensely grateful for the interest and support, but please know that a book of this magnitude takes a long time to pull

The Widow's War by Suzanna Andrews

    The Widow's War, written by Suzanna Andrews for MORE Magazine is finally on newstands everywhere! I personally want to thank Suzanna for tackling such a huge issue in a fair, unbiased manner. I didn't envy her the task of putting such a complex subject in article form, but she did a fantastic job! The book I'm writing about the same case is still in progress due to ongoing litigation.  It's tentatively titled "A Non Hostile Incident," and additional information will be provided when it's

Showtime Doc: "Listen to Me Marlon"

  I have just watched the Showtime Documentary "Listen to Me Marlon." I must  say that it is absolutely the most artistic, haunting documentary I've ever seen. I've always known that Brando was a phenomenal actor, but I had no idea how deep his soul ran. It was a real learning experience, not just about the actor, but about life. If you haven't seen it, you must!    http://www.listentomemarlon.com/

FROM MORE MAGAZINE: THE WIDOW'S WAR

  Please be on the look out for "The Widow's War" in the upcoming issue of MORE Magazine. It explores the campaign by Kimberly Stahlman and the many people helping her to re-open the investigation into the shooting death of Colonel Michael Stahlman,USMC. This powerful piece also shines a light on the all too often ignored plight of bereaved military families who dare to challenge mistakes made during death investigations. Available at newsstands 11/24/15! ‪‬   SUBSCRIBE TO RECEIVE THE LATEST

Inhabiting a Story

  I love this quote from To Kill a Mockingbird. Anytime I feel like I'm bogged down with the inevitable muck of writing, I try to remind myself that it is not my desire to churn out book after book. It is my desire to tell stories whether fiction or non-fiction with brutal honesty that reveals all the nooks and crannies of the human soul. I will not cut corners for the sake of speed. As a writer, I do my best to inhabit the characters and walk around in their individual circumstances so I can

George Brown: The Mighty Oak Has Fallen, But His Message Lives On

 Waking up on October 28, 2015, I felt an unexplained apprehension in the pit of my stomach; the kind that lets you know your day is probably going to be one that makes you wish you’d stayed in bed. As I headed out to my car, it was drizzling rain and the moist air cut through my clothes. I hate that feeling.   Looking around, I noticed that the soggy Fall leaves were wildly tossed all over the property as if a storm had passed through. As I drove toward the gate, I suddenly had to slam on the

Coming Soon!

   

Tracking a Murderer Amid Bricks of Cash in Iraq

  Stuart Bowen is a good friend and wonderful ally. His work to recover money taken from American taxpayers and go missing in Iraq was a gargantuan task. This piece by James Risen in the Boston Globe demonstrates the deep level of deceit perpetuated during and after the Iraq war. In it, Stuart reveals the long held secret that his office actually found some of the missing money inside of a bunker in rural Lebanon. American officials refused to go after it because they considered it "Iraq's money