Writing the True Crime Story




The Writing Show 2005 Archives show

Summary: Investigative journalist Mark Horner is a nationally recognized expert on the sensational and tragic Hossencofft murder case. As an Albuquerque TV reporter, he started pursuing this fascinating story in September, 1999. His must-read book on the still-evolving case, September Sacrifice, lays out the twisted and often complicated story of domestic violence, con artists, bloodthirsty shape-shifting reptilian space aliens, and the perils of Internet flirting. In this compelling interview, Mark summarizes the case and tells: * How he received a death threat (and a visit from a mysterious intruder) as a result of his involvement * How he gained the trust of sources and witnesses involved in the case * How he successfully organized a massive amount of research and documentation * Why he was able to get inside his characters' heads so completely * Why he wasn't able to write everything he knows on the subject