True Crime Writing

If anyone watched 20/20 last night, you saw true crime writer Diane Fanning. She played a significant role in the story they were reporting. In the process of writing a book about a completely different murder, Tommy Lynn Sells confessed to the murder that no one suspected him of doing. Diane wrote about the confession and, as a result, broke open the other case. Kudos to her.

I know Diane, but have no idea what it would be like to be a true crime writer. Mystery, thriller, and suspense writers get into the mind of their antagonists, which are often killers or really bad sorts. But that’s different from sitting across from an actual serial killer, of talking to one for hours, establishing enough of a rapport that he/she will open up to you. Diane even gets letters from some of her subjects long after the books are done. And when the book is done, she can’t just set aside the case and move on. She has to keep up with new developments so she can write updates in future editions of her books.

And despite that, Diane is a warm, funny, beautiful person. Go figure.

On a personal note, I’m o.d.ing on paint fumes. The only room left in our house re-painting, at least the downstairs, is the closet in my office. We started on it today. Took everything out, ripped out the shelves and clothes rods, measured and marked for the new shelves, then did some sanding and started painting. I’m doing it all in yellow, except the shelves and trim will be a cream/beige color. I’m on a break now because we ran out of paint. But my husband’s on a Lowe’s run, so it’s a short break. I’ll have floor to ceiling shelves along the back wall for books. Yea.

Silly husband thinks we might be done by the end of the weekend.