Harry N. MacLean's Blog, page 11
August 10, 2012
Repressed Memories Dealt a Serious Blow
The “memory wars” continue with unabated ferocity. Almost twenty years ago I wrote a book entitled “Once Upon A Time: A True Story of Memory, Murder and the Law.” It told the story of Eileen Franklin’s “repressed memory” of her father murdering her playmate twenty years earlier. The jury convicted the father based solely on Eileen’s uncorroborated “recovered memory,” although the federal courts later reversed the conviction on other evidentiary grounds.
At the time the conversation between the...
August 4, 2012
An Evangelist Rises From the Ashes
Last Sunday I went to the church attended by theater shooting victim Pierce O’Farrill. You’ve probably seen him clips of him in the hospital – in his twenties, good looking with a thick head of dark hair, wearing a shoulder/arm sling. He was shot times in the arm, leg and foot.
The service, held in the gym of an Aurora High School, opened with a six-piece rock band—four guitars, a drummer and a young blonde singer in heels—playing songs the words of which were shown on screens around the room....
August 3, 2012
July 28, 2012
James Holmes — Schizophrenia Could Be A Game Changer
Prior to yesterday’s revelation that Holmes was in treatment with a psychiatrist specializing in schizophrenia, the common wisdom on the case was that Holmes would have to plead not guilty by reason of insanity and that the plea would have little chance of success.
That was because under Colorado law a person is legally insane if the person suffers from a mental disease or defect that makes the person incapable of distinguishing right from wrong. The legal and mental health experts opined that...
July 25, 2012
Visit To Aurora.
I arose before dawn to visit the site in Aurora. Fewer people, more dramatic light, I thought. I set about methodically taking pictures, the first few in the dark, then as the sun rose, through the crosses, amazed at the hundred of teddy bears and stuffed animals, the flowers, flags, books, letters, photographs, and candles burning everywhere. As the sun hit the clouds, the the entire scene was illuminated. Another fellow with a long lens said to me, “How’re you holding up?” “Fine,” I told hi...
July 23, 2012
Holmes Court Appearance
Attached photo is of Arapahoe County DA Chambers after her press conference on Holmes first appearance in court. I was late for the hearing–went to the wrong courthouse! The national media was of course there in force, along with the locals. Those inside the courtroom talked wide-eyed about Holmes bizarre behavior; head swaying, eyes closing, snapping open. Prelude to a claim that he is incompetent to stand trial? Several of the families were there. Journalists had to work through the victim...
July 19, 2012
Amazon–The New Godzilla of the Book Business
Amazon – the new Godzilla. The hostility in the book world to Amazon is bordering on the irrational. One week ago I released my first book, In Broad Daylight, as an e-book on Amazon. I sent notices to a long e-mail list of friends and acquaintances in the writing world. I made one mistake: I sent the notice to an owner of a very successful independent bookstore. The owner had been very helpful in the promotion of my last book, and I had developed great admiration and respect for him and the r...
July 10, 2012
31st Anniversary of Killing of Ken Rex McElroy — In Broad Daylight –E-book
Thirty-one years ago today Ken Rex McElroy was shot to death on the mainstreet of Skidmore, Missouri, as he sat in his truck. In Broad Daylight was published seven years later. Today it has been released as an e-book on Amazon.com. Among other things, this release guarantees that the story will imbed itself even deeper in the American psyche. “About In Broad Daylight,” the story behind the story, will be released in a few months.http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008J7CNGU
July 9, 2012
In Broad Daylight–Anniversary Release
If all goes as planned, and there might be a glitch or two, the e-book version of In Broad Daylight will go up on Amazon tomorrow. A lot of activity has been stirred up by it, as well as the possibilities of a new full length feature movie. Meanwhile, I’ve been scouring my files and I’ve come up with some new photos. This is one of a few locals inspecting the engine of the Silverado after the ambulance has left the scene with the body.
You can see the tow truck off to the left. It gives you a...
July 4, 2012
In Broad Daylight –E-book on July 10
In Broad Daylight will finally go up as an e-book on July 10, the anniversary of Ken McElroy’s death. It be published by crimerant.com, Gregg Olsen’s imprint, exclusively on Kindle for several months. The book is current as of 2007. I am launching a social media campaign to get the word out, so I would invite you to my Facebook Author’s page:www.Facebook.com/HarryNMacLean, which you can like if you so choose, and to my twitter account,www.Twitter.com/HarryNMacLean, where you can follow if you...
