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I'm eager to check out some of your recommendations, especially Murley's book.

I'm writing a book proposal now for my own investigative memoir, which has a true crime component (my late father was the criminal.) I feel conflicted about it because the cynic in me is certain that playing up the "true crime" aspect will attract more interest -- but the rest of me knows there is so much more nuance and depth to the story than just the crime.

Wish I could take your class!

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I know exactly what you mean about true crime vs nuance and depth. If you don’t already know it, Mikal Gilmore’s memoir Shot In the Heart is a great example of a similar situation to yours (and a favorite book of mine). Good luck with your proposal!

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I wish I could take your class! Your memoir, “Son of a Gun,” was suggested reading for a memoir class I took at Grub Street in Boston several years ago. The way you wove the history of Tombstone with the story of your mother’s death and its impact on you inspired me to write a memoir about my own father’s death in a drag racing accident in the 1960s. Many believed it was not an accident. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to obtain hard evidence like accident reports, and many of the people involved have passed away, so no one was charged with a crime. One of the main themes of my story is my attempt to uncover what really happened on the night of my father’s death.

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I'm a big fan of Grub Street—it's nice of them to have suggested my book. Thanks for reading it, and good luck with your memoir.

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Thank you Justin!

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