Bad stories make good Christmas gifts

There’s a new book on the market, and everyone should read it. 

I must admit that there’s a selfish goal as I write this column…I want to promote an old book, as well. It’s gift-giving time, so please think about these books. 

The new book is called FRAMED, and its co-authors are John Grisham and Jim McCloskey. Grisham has written numerous legal fiction novels. He also published an outstanding book in 2006 that tells a true story: THE INNOCENT MAN. McCloskey is the founder of a fine, faith-based innocence project called Centurion Ministries. As of today, some 70 wrongly convicted people are free, thanks to their excellent work. 

The new book tells ten dramatic stories, and it’s a must read! 

In the book’s preface, Grisham says: …every wrongful conviction deserves its own book. He goes on to say: Our goal with this book is to raise awareness of wrongful convictions and in some way help to prevent more of them. 

That is exactly the position I took some 15 years ago when I wrote SWEET FREEDOM. And, that’s the second book I want to talk about today. I’ll quickly concede that my writing does not match that of John Grisham. As a broadcast journalist, I wrote radio news copy for nearly 30 years. I wrote for the ear, not the eye, and I can’t change my style now. This book will read like I’m talking to you. 

SWEET FREEDOM strives for the same goals as those established by Grisham. I tell the story of Maurice Carter, who served 29 years for a crime he did not commit, and my decade-long efforts to prove his innocence. As proof that the story deserved its own book, you should know that it became the subject of a fine stage play created by award-winning Toronto playwrights Donald Molnar and Alicia Payne entitled JUSTICE FOR MAURICE HENRY CARTER. And, more recently, it became the topic of a fine documentary produced by award-winning Grand Rapids filmmaker Nate Roels entitled: WRONGED---THE MAURICE CARTER STORY. 

So, there you have it: two books that you should read, and two books that would be perfect as Christmas gifts. Both on the important topic of wrongful convictions. Both can be ordered online. 

In conclusion, I’ll echo these words from John Grisham: 

If we as a society had the political gumption to change unfair laws, practices and procedures, we could avoid virtually all wrongful convictions! 

Amen and Amen!

 

 

 

 

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