There’s been speculation in the publishing industry and in the news whether or not Casey Anthony will get a book deal. Bestselling thriller writer, Jason Pinter, (former editor at Grand Central Publishing and St. Martin’s Press) posted his opinion on HuffPost Books on July 6th – Why Casey Anthony Will Not Get A Book Deal. (See his post HERE.) He compares her differing situation to O. J. Simpson and Amy Fisher and makes a compelling argument, but the media is still speculating that there is a deal to be had, even suggesting rumors of an advance of $750,000-$1,000,000.
Whether or not people believe she is innocent or guilty, I can’t imagine a mother who has lost a child seeking financial benefit from the ordeal to rehash the details of such a tragedy. If she is innocent and wants to convey her outrage at being falsely accused, that’s one thing. But if that were the case, why isn’t she crying for justice for her murdered daughter? And why did she not report little Caylee missing for a whole month?
The outcome of this case has angered me on so many levels from the botched prosecution, to the unprofessional behavior in the courtroom (the laughing prosecutor and the finger-shooting defense attorney, Cheney Mason), to the miscarriage of justice when a parent can lie to investigators and only be charged with a misdemeanor. (Not reporting your child missing for a month should fall into a different category of wrong.) And if you’ve been following this case recently, you would hear that her family has been selling family videos to the news media for significant dollars so the news can lace coverage with personal family images.
All I can see is the sweet face of a little girl who died a horrible, frightening death.
Jason Pinter thinks that no publishing house will touch her story. I want to believe he’s right—that the publishing industry has a moral line in the sand they will not cross—but being a cynic, I can’t be sure. (I thought that after the O. J. Simpson trial too.) Maybe it’s not a question of morality, but a business bottom line using the equation of MegaBucksAdvance + BookBoycott = LoserDeal. The editors that I’ve been blessed to work with would be appalled at making money off this tragedy. And I’m sure there have been and will continue to be controversial book deals done where a publisher struggles between their personal feelings and a business decision, but pushes ahead to make the deal anyway.
Casey Anthony’s family has already gained financially and it’s being reported that significant offers are being made for her appearance. Before this case, if I had written this kind of scenario into a fiction book—a mother lying to police, getting away with it with a virtual hand slap, and becoming a millionaire after she’s acquitted—readers might have called it outlandishly contrived. Reality is indeed stranger than fiction.
Now before anyone brings this up, there is a book deal coming. (I’m sure more than one.) Reported by the New York Times (see post HERE), St. Martin’s is pushing to release a book this year—“Inside the Mind of Casey Anthony,” written by forensic psychiatrist and television pundit, Keith Ablow. To clarify for Jason Pinter’s sake, this is a book ABOUT Casey Anthony—NOT a book she has written or benefits from financially. The book’s focus will be on why Caylee Anthony is dead and will be presented as a true crime story.
What do you think? Will Casey Anthony get her own book deal?
I’d file this under, “who gives a yard potato about Casey Anthony. What could she say that would be interesting. “I didn’t do it, I swear.” What else about this vapid, deluded, narcissistic, monochromatic, bat-eared, woman would be in the least bit interesting? It would sell well because a large enough percentage of Americans thrive on the emptier creatures just like this one.
Of course she’ll get a book deal. If not, perhaps she’ll self publish a coloring book of her life so far. I doubt she’d mention that she was once a mother, or was in jail.
Maybe I’m too cynical but let some time go by, let the death threats slow down a bit and yes, she’ll get a book deal. I actually predict that she’ll be on Dancing with The Stars within the next couple of years. Unfortunately that’s just the kind of society we live in. It makes me sick.
I certainly hope she doesn’t, Jordan. But I suspect she will, and if she does, it’ll be one more nail in the coffin of New York’s flimsy pretense that their “gatekeepers” fulfill the important function of only admitting work of high literary content into the Golden Kingdom.
How do you follow a response like John’s? He’s right of course. Not sure about the bat-eared part – never paid any mind.
Since she’s a proven liar – wouldn’t it be considered fiction?
If she doesn’t do it, someone will still choose to make a movie of the week about it.
I read somewhere that all she wanted to do was change her name and get on. That was far wiser than I would have given her credit for.
Now Miller, I thought you’d be the first one in line.
It shocks me when certain book deals are made. I’m still reeling that Snooki is getting a 2nd book deal.
OMG Lisa–Dancing with the Stars? That’s an image I didnt want to see. Oy!
There was a rumor that Jerry Springer had offered big bucks to have her appear on his show, but I think that has been squelched.
Hey Mike–Thanks for weighing in. Jason Pinter made good points about comparing her situation to OJ and Amy Fisher, but I sure would like to believe there’s a line a publisher shouldn’t cross. Who knows?
Hey David–Like your pic. Aren’t you usually Mr Anonymous?
I’m with Miller and you on this one. What could she possibly say? But then again, I thought the same thing about Justin Bieber.
Hey Chaco–Great to see you here. There will definitely be movies made. The thing I find mosty appalling is the media’s willingness to pay her big bucks. Any mother who can delay reporting her little daughter missing for a whole month is capable of anything. And money waved under her nose won’t mean she suddenly gets smart, sad to say.
I know there are new laws being crafted to give courts more of a hammer, but how could this fall through the crack? She apparently lied to stall the investigation so evidence gets lost. What kind of message does that send about our courts and justice?
Anne Rule is one of my favorite true crime authors. Her book – SMALL SACRIFICES – got made into a movie starring Farah Fawcett. It focused on the case of Diane Downs who murdered her kids to be with her boyfriend. A shocking crime.
Two of her kids survived the shootings and Downs later had a baby while she was in prison. There was a TV show on how that little girl is doing today. Imagine being adopted but later to find out that your biological mother is a psychopath. And her adoptive parents–imagine how they held their breath, waiting to see if she had any of her mother’s mental illness. Fortunately, the girl did not and has grown into a loving mother.
BTW, David. Miller is right about the bat ears.
I was hoping the only kind of ‘deal’ she’d get would be the proper punishment for her crime. Surely little Caylee Anthony won’t have to be further dishonored by her mother getting rich off her death. Unfortunately, nothing in this world we live in surprises me anymore. HER OWN defense attorney said that Caylee drowned and Casey and the father tossed her body away like trash. That sounds like a punishable crime to me and that’s the best we can hope for in terms of her innocence. If I log onto the internet one more time and see that she-devil’s smiling face one more time….
Anyway, yes, I actually believe she’ll get a book deal. Let’s hope not.
Miller, do you realize you just insulted all the bat-eared people of the world? I hope you’re happy.
We can only hope she doesn’t but the better thing might be for her to get one and for the book to sink like a stone. That would send a message to the publishers but sadly there are always people willing to buy those kind of books…sigh…and so the cycle continues.
Ugh…me hates stuff like this. I don’t know the lady to make judgment, only God knows the full truth and He will decide her fate and all involved good or bad. They’ll all be rewarded for their deeds, just like the lot of us.
That being said, I am luckily a cross between Gorilla and Leprechaun eared, a Gorillaprechaun if you will, and therefore not related to the party in question.
Hey Alicia–Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I hope you will follow this blog. I’ve learned so much here.
Like you, I have a hard time accepting the outcome of this case.
Not to mention the entire bat population, Joe.
Hey there, Clare–Thanks for your comment. I can’t even imagine how the conversation would go when a publishing house considers buying a book like this. Gives me shivers.
Hi Basil–Thanks for stopping by. I sincerely hope there will one day be a reckoning for this poor little girl.
And with your gorillaprechaun ears, maybe you’ll be the first one of us to hear about it.
Criminals morphing into celebrities—again? Is this world sick or what?????
That’s all I have to say.