Text by Bob Shell, Copyright 2023
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My Continuing Publishing Saga
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My book ‘Heaven and Hell on the Road to Reno was just disapproved at the top level of the Virginia Department of Corrections. They said:
“‘Material that contains solicitations for or promotes activities that are in violation of state or federal law including the abuse or sexual exploitation of children or contains nude depictions of children in the context of sexual activity.’ Heaven and Hell on the Road to Reno contains material that abuses and exploits a child. There is no criterion exception for such material.”
Either they didn’t actually read the book, are taking hallucinogenic drugs, or just made up an excuse so they could disapprove the book because I wrote it.
Needless to say, they didn’t cite where this incident of abuse and exploitation of a child appears in the book for a damned good reason; it isn’t in there! Yes, there is sex in the book, perhaps more than some readers would be comfortable with, but it’s all adult sex. I could list dozens of books in our institutional library with similar sex scenes, some that go beyond what I’d be comfortable writing.
There is absolutely nothing even remotely like what they claim that in the book! Period! Full stop! There aren’t even any child characters! I’ve never written anything like their slanderous accusation and never would! I consider child abuse disgusting. Not only are they guilty of serious constitutional violations, they’ve slandered me.
The book they confiscated is a prepublication author’s uncorrected proof. By confiscating it and refusing to return it for false reasons, they’re preventing me from revising, correcting, and publishing it. They’re depriving me of income.
And, perhaps most importantly, they’re violating Article One, Section Twelve, of the Virginia Constitution, which says “any citizen” may “write and publish … on all subjects.”
Of course, they’re also trampling on the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
At the request of the Warden here, the Virginia Attorney General’s office already told them that I have the right to write and publish. But, they’re simply ignoring the Attorney General’s opinion and interfering with my right to publish, anyway. The Virginia Department of Corrections believes it is above the law.
But to stop them and get my proof book back, I’ll have to sue them. That takes a lot of time and effort.
I’ll keep my readers updated on this sad saga.
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About The Author: Bob Shell is a professional photographer, author, former editor in chief of Shutterbug Magazine and veteran contributor to this blog. He is currently serving a 35 year sentence for involuntary manslaughter for the death of Marion Franklin, one of his former models. He is serving the 15th year of his sentence at Pocahontas State Correctional Facility, Virginia. To read additional articles by Bob Shell, click here: https://tonywardstudio.com/blog/eve-of-an-election/