Interview With Ann Rule, Author Of Too Late To Say Goodbye - Page 5

What is the biggest misconception about you?

I don't think it exists so much anymore, but in the beginning I ran into people who expected me to be a tough, news hen who was not touched or saddened about what I wrote about. And I'm just the opposite. Sometimes people write me mean letters saying I'm just writing what I do to make money — and why don't I share my "great wealth" with victims and their families? The fact is that I have shared my profits with many, many victims — particularly children who survive — for 20 years. I have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to them over the years, and I support victims' groups and battered women's shelters financially whenever I am able. I just don't care to talk about it.

Do some of the criminals in your books, especially serial killers, ever try to contact you?

Ann: No, not really. Bundy wrote to me, but then we were friends, so I have about 30-40 witty letters from him, and a few where he was depressed and angry. Most of them have moved on without contacting me. A few have sued me from prison — which surprises some people — but anyone can attempt to sue anyone, even if they are bringing suit from prison, saying their reputations have been damaged. Two convicted killers threatened my life, and I heard about that from inside sources. A lot of convicts write to me, but I can't answer back. I'd prefer not to have my personal information circulated in prisons, although my books are quite popular there. Most of my prison mail is from men who want me to investigate their cases and prove them innocent. I am not in a position to do that — I'm not an investigator.

Oh that reminds me of another misconception about me. A lot of people picture me as Jessica Fletcher, Angela Lansbury's character in "Murder She Wrote." I don't solve murders the way she did. I often wondered how she ever found time to write!

Lastly what are you working on next?

Ann: I spent today — Sunday before the 4th of July — working on my next book: Smoke Mirrors and Murder: Ann Rule's True Crime Files #12. It will be published at Christmas time by Pocket Books. And I'm looking for the subject of my next hard cover book for Free Press/Simon & Schuster. I have a half dozen cases in mind.
 

Thanks again to Ms. Rule and Ms. Amon.

Article Author: Scott Butki

Scott Butki was a newspaper reporter for more than 10 years before making a career change into education... then into special education.

He reads at least 50 books a year and has about the same number of author interviews each year and, …

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