Joanne’s Comments (group member since Jun 09, 2009)

Joanne’s comments from the Q&A with Dave Cullen group.

Your book is still haunting me even though I finished reading it several weeks ago. My oldest son was in high school in 1999, so the shooting was very real to me. I reluctantly returned the book to the library today as there are many more people on the waiting list in this small county. My 16 year old son also eagerly read the book, and we had several interesting discussions on it.

I have some comments about the carpenter who made the crosses. He comes across very negatively in your book, especially in the footnotes. In 1999 I lived in suburban Chicago, one suburb over from where the carpenter lived. I first became aware of him when he made crosses for 4 teenage girls who were killed by a drunk driver, around 1997. At that time, the newspaper said he often made crosses for accident vicitms. Although I was aware of the controversy his crosses caused in Colorado, I never thought of him as a publicity hound & did not see him in the news very much. He came across to me as a eccentric character with a strange hobby. I find it interesting how differently he is viewed in Jeffco.

Dave, the information on how the book evolved and the financial info is very interesting. Do you know what percentage of your sales are to libraries versus bookstore sales? Also, I think I understand that Eric's parents have never talked openly, but Dylan's parents have been slightly more open. Who have Dylan's parents talked to?

Dave, I just finished your book. Do you know if one of the boys did most of the shootings that resulted in injuries or deaths or was it basically 50-50?