Andrew Vachss's Blog, page 4

SCAM ALERT! Fake FLOOD "casting call"

Some unauthorized fools have issued a "casting call" for their "indie" film of FLOOD. We have NOT authorized this "indie" film, and anyone showing up to "try out" for this "film" could be putting themselves in danger. Click here for full details.

Our apologies, and our thanks

Heart Transplant went on sale yesterday ... and promptly sold out, both online and, from what we're hearing from Zero visitors, at many brick-and-mortar locations, too. We're grateful for all the support, and apologetic for the frustration many are experiencing. To be sure, everyone is working hard to rectify the situation, and we expect the pipeline to reopen in a couple of days. In the meantime, if you're willing to wait until the end of November to read the book, you can get a copy signed by Andrew Vachss for cover price here. Again, our apologies—and our gratitude, for making this book such an overwhelming success. Heart Transplant

The Burkemobile

"Perhaps the baddest car in detective fiction belongs to Andrew Vachss' outlaw protagonist, Burke." Those aren't our words--they belong to Bruce Tierney, from his column on BookPage. Click here to read the whole round-up, and see a picture of Burke's sweet ride.

It doesn't always "get better"

Tyler Clementi killed himself, and now youtube is flooded with "don't do anything drastic, it gets better" videos. Well, sometimes it doesn't get better, and sitting-and-waiting is as useless a strategy as we can imagine. So here's what Andrew Vachss suggests as a strategy.

Heart Transplant

Putting the public back into "public library"

A public library is just that: a collection of books owned by the public. Your tax dollars keep the doors open, the lights on ... and the shelves full. What those shelves are filled with, you get some say in.

We're hoping you'll help us in our mission to recode the cultural software as it pertains to bullies, by telling your local public library you want them to carry HEART TRANSPLANT by Andrew Vachss, Frank Caruso, and Zak Mucha. We've designed a request form you can use for this purpose. Check it out at http://vachss.com/av_novels/heart2.html

Censorship or evidence?

An anonymous blogger is given up by Google for libeling a former model. An 18-year-old woman is jailed in Britain for posting death threats to another young woman on her Facebook page. And a 17-year-old girl is found guilty of aiding and abetting the death of a young man for filming her friend delivering the fatal beating. Cyber-geeks are crying "censorship." But Andrew Vachss responded to that outcry back in 1994.

Why "simple possession" is anything but simple

In a 2006 interview with Protect, Andrew Vachss said, "Why do I feel 'simple possession' [of child pornography:] is so critical? ... [C:]rime chases dollars. Although the huge networks grab all the headlines, without individual customers ... the networks are out of business. They run continuing criminal enterprises which are rooted in the desire of individuals to possess certain images. If those individuals were facing felony convictions, with actual prison time, and were forced to register as sex offenders, some deterrence would immediately ensue. For every 'collector' deterred, less money goes to the syndicates. If we don't stop the buyers, there will always be sellers." One of those buyers—Gerald Aumais—has been stopped. In October 2009, he was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary L. Sharpe to ten years prison. Then, in August 2010, U.S. Magistrate Judge David R. Homer ordered Aumais to pay $48,483 to one of the victims photographed in several of the thousands of images he collected.

Noir verite

Remember "noir verite," from Andrew Vachss' 2002 novel, Only Child? Then you won't be surprised by this article from July 28 of this year: "Three NJ Teens Charged in Immigrant's Videotaped Death."

Signed books by Andrew Vachss

Once again, Ten Angry Pitbulls is making available signed copies of Andrew Vachss' latest releases, at cover price plus shipping. If you're interested in signed copies of The Weight or Heart Transplant, click here.

Sick vs. Evil

Our mission at The Zero is to change behavior that threatens our species. One of the ways we try to do that is by changing the language people use. That can be like planting a firecracker and waiting for it to grow to a bomb. Well, one of those bombs was just harvested. Check out our "Sick vs. Evil" page, and be sure to scroll down to the bottom, to read about how this bomb blew up all over a child rapist named William Irey and U.S. District Judge Gregory A. Presnell.