I wish you'd written the whole thing. I'll have to get this one!
I'm disappointed along with you too, Steve, that the author didn't have the courtesy to send you a complimentary copy of the book.
That's almost like a nose thumb.
I would think that whomever the publisher is, would be have been savy enough to do it, too, especially since such a significant amount of original material was quoted.
On the other hand, what ever it's worth, congratulations on getting published in a round about way.
Did she write anything in the book or is it a collection of other's bloggings, news tips and information that LE released?
That's a question worth asking. There's a lot of cut & paste, but she wrote the book. It's what some might call a large "clip job" in many respects, but I won't disrespect her that way -- Michele put the narrative together and used her own reportage and others'. She made efforts to correctly cite her sources.
I guess I'm saying that even if it is a clip job, she did it honestly. There are other true crime authors of these quickie books who will re-write news articles and blog posts with abandon and then present it as their own, but I won't put Ms. McPhee in that group. I may change my mind once I'm done reading the whole thing, though.
McPhee hosts a call-in show here in Boston from 7-10PM every night on 96.9 WTKK. It would be amusing if you called in and gave her a piece of your mind.
It occurred to me, Aleph, but that really isn't my style. And I'm not exactly pissed. I did, after all, sign a release.
I guess my view on this sort of thing has changed, and that's not her fault.
Then again, no less than Ann Rule thought I was worth a thank you in the forward to her book about the Corbin case, and Paul La Rosa offered to send me a copy of Nightmare in Napa, a book in which I'm also quoted at length. I could say that much.
Mainly, what hit me was what Laura wrote above -- I probably should be the one writing the books. I've known that for a long time, but for some reason, this was an instance that really brought that home to me.
Hey Steve - (if you can be bothered) any chance you could post what you think of the book overall? I have a long 23.5hr flight to the USA (MASS. actually, hence I asked in a previous post how long the trial is expected to last as I'd like to follow it over there...) and I'm looking for something to read - would make a change from sleeping or annoying the boyfriend.
Steve, do you copyright your web entries? I know nothing about copyright laws but CTV/IS message board is now being a stickler about this issue.
If you cite another source you have to follow certain rules. Check to see if the homepage says copyright, then you can copy a paragraph with the link. If it says copyright all rights reserved you can only post the link, none of the written material.
Might be time to become more of a hardass about this on your blog. I can think of many cases that you have surpassed MSM and could have written your own true crime book.
@Lizzy -- so far, it's better written than these quickie true crime books usually seem to be. Easier to read, flows better. So far.
@Diane -- I'm way ahead of you. There's not an issue of that here -- I signed papers and knew she might use some of my blog entries about the case. All I'm saying about this particular instance is that the courtesy of a book or a heads-up would have been nice, and it made me realize I've been selling myself short in some ways. But otherwise, I'm ahead of you. I've stopped responding to many requests from publicists to review books, for instance, because I feel that's a quick way for them to take advantage of the blogosphere and a decently popular blog like this one -- they want to promo the book, they can go to another crime blogger or pay me to write something up, is my thinking. I never used to look at things that way, and it's probably taken me way too long to come around to that point of view.
Good. You have a keen nose for news making crime, zeroing in on a perp's or victim's traits and I think one of the best writer's I've had the pleasure to read. No one holds a candle to you when it comes to Internet sleuthing and I think that's still an unique ability.
Good posts I enjoy reading them.
Steve, you definitely, absolutely should be the one writing the books.
(Now I've got Barry Manilow stuck in my head...)
It's a rotten book, Steve, you'd have done a brilliant job. I couldn't "feel" any of the characters, and I hate books that end before the trial has begun.
Steve..It's nothing to do with the cost of the book. You were courteous enough to sign a release, she wasn't courteous enough to send a copy of a book you contributed to. NOT classy, and I won't be buying it.Not that I would anyway...the fat lady hasn't sang....YET. 
Shoot, Steve, if you had written the book, I would've bought it.
While my first reaction is that anyone who makes a personal choice to be tied to Pat Brown deserves to be panned just on principle, I have to admit that regardless of how I feel on that particular level I think you're wrong and way off base on this one, Steve.
I hope it's okay to make comments here about the trial.
I was just doing some catching up on the news and read that Neil was looking for flights to the UK on the ninth. Deaths happened on the twentieth. That is so premeditated. And apparently he got off on thinking about it because he kept going to the escort sites, then the how to kill sites back and forth. And, OMG! Did you see the video of him while they were showing the video of the body discovery? He looked like he was trying to stifle a laugh!
Several weeks ago, I read Michelle McPhee's book, and I was utterly disappointed. It was nothing but a rehash of everything we already knew. What was worse is that almost every page in the book contained spelling errors to the point of illiteracy. There were other errors in the book. For instance, there is a picture in the book of Clifford Entwistle with baby Lillian and a woman McPhee claims is Yvonne Entwistle. It was, in fact, Clifford's mother. This book isn't worth the paper it was printed on. I emailed Ms. McPhee and gave her my opinion. For anyone considering buying this book, DON'T!!! Wait until someone with a talent for research and writing decides to write a book on this case. Margrit Dallaire.
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