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What it’s really like writing true crime (Part 1): Kevin Sullivan on Digesting Case Files

 

kentucky bloodbath book

The first person to arrive at the Bauer residence was Officer Jack Kendrick, a nine-year veteran of the Louisville Police Department. As soon as he parked his cruiser in front of the house, he noticed a man walking down the driveway toward him. There were no outside lights turned on, and in the moonlight it appeared that his clothes were wet, as if he’d been splashed with water. But upon closer examination, Kendrick could see that he was covered in blood, and he appeared to be high or intoxicated. Without hesitation, Albert Bauer identified himself and began repeating to Officer Kendrick what he’d told the dispatcher – that his parents had been murdered. This time, however, he became confused as to who had been stabbed and who had been strangled, and it was at this time that Kendrick looked down and noticed the cuts on Bauer’s hands.

As Bauer led the officer to the side door where they entered the house through the kitchen, Kendrick asked if he knew who’d done this, and Bauer said, “No.” Just before stepping inside the home, Kendrick radioed the E.M.S. (Emergency Medical Services) unit, telling them to continue on to this address – code 3 – and that homicide units should be sent as well…Having notified dispatch, Kendrick then drew his weapon and entered a nightmare.

So opens, BLOOD IN THE MOONLIGHT, a chapter from my new book from WildBlue Press, KENTUCKY BLOODBATH; a horrific look at ten strange and bizarre murder tales from the Bluegrass State. If you don’t live in Kentucky, chances are you’ll be unaware of any of these murders, and even those who call the Bluegrass State home, will know very little about these cases. As such, the only folks with a good grasp on the cases are often those who were personally involved in the events. And as a writer, I’m in exactly in the same position per knowledge of the case, until, of course, I delve into myself. And this is what I’d like to share with you today.

The Mechanics of Writing:

No matter what I’m writing about, be it an article, a blog, or a full-length book, the mechanics of the writing process 7K0A0664is pretty much the same: First, there’s the gathering (if possible) of the original police files, which is the heart and soul of the case itself. This (or official documents like court transcripts) must always be the epicenter of the story. It’s the proverbial Holy Grail of the story, and the veracity of all other information that comes to you MUST be judged by what one finds within the case files. Can there be occasional ‘mistakes’ in the official record? Yes, absolutely. But these almost always work themselves out either at other locations within the record, or sometime they’re cleared up by other known and documented facts or by the testimony of others familiar with the situation. These “bugs”, if you will, always seem to get worked out.

As you may imagine, if one wants to be really effective at any of this, one must read all reports very carefully. It is wise to make notes, underline, highlight, and separate meaningless reports from the golden ones. It’s also exceedingly important to track down all involved parties and convince them – if possible – to speak with you. And if you “sell” yourself well, more often than not, they’ll open up to you.

If all is done properly (fingers crossed!), then your story or book may actually surpass your original expectations for the project! I remember speaking with a forensic pathologist about the murder of a cheerleader who, after discussing the case with me for a few minutes, asked if I was at the crime scene that night. When I told him no, he seemed more than a little surprised, and said: “Well, you know so much about it, I just assumed you were there.”

“No,” I replied “I just make it a habit of digesting the case files before calling my contacts; otherwise I won’t be able to keep up with them.” And that’s the truth.

In part 2, I’ll be discussing the emotional aspects of writing true crime.

So stay tuned…

It’s LAUNCH DAY for our latest true crime KENTUCKY BLOODBATH by Kevin Sullivan. Now for just 99 cents on Kindle! But that price won’t last long so get it while it’s hot!

The first ten people who buy the book and email the #Amazon receipt to [email protected], subject line “I Bought Kentucky Bloodbath” will win an eBook copy of any of our other true crime books! https://wildbluepress.com/KBKS

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: best true crime books, KENTUCKY BLOODBATH, Kevin Sullivan, Kevin Sullivan Book, new release, True Crime, WildBlue Press, writing
June 2, 2015 By Kevin Sullivan Leave a Comment

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Sullivan’s WBP Books

TED BUNDY The Yearly Journal Volume One

TED BUNDY The Yearly Journal Volume One

Due to Sullivan’s extensive writing about Ted Bundy (which has produced six books), he’s become a sort of magnet over the years, drawing out many people who were part of the Bundy story, but have otherwise kept a low profile over the decades; and … [Read More...]

Bundy Expert Kevin Sullivan Adds To Series With THE ENIGMA OF TED BUNDY

In this 6th and final book on the Ted Bundy case, I wanted to tackle some questions and legitimate controversies that remain about Ted Bundy, the murders, and his victims. These questions and controversies cover such issues as Bundy’s hunting … [Read More...]

The Encyclopedia Of The Ted Bundy Murders

The Encyclopedia Of The Ted Bundy Murders

The Encyclopedia of the Ted Bundy Murders lists the names of hundreds of people involved in the case as well as dozens of locations where significant events occurred. Being the final installment in a five-volume series, this veritable “Who’s Who” of … [Read More...]

New From Bundy Expert Kevin Sullivan TED BUNDY’S MURDEROUS MYSTERIES

Ted Bundy's Murderous Mysteries is a deep-dive into the archival record of the America’s most notorious serial killer. It’s a veritable goldmine of information on Bundy, his victims, and this very voluminous case. Written by the foremost authority … [Read More...]

THE BUNDY SECRETS: Third Book In Bundy Trilogy Brings Readers The Unedited Case Files

'Hidden Files on America's Worst Serial Killer' Completes Sullivan's Opus Rare Revelations Of A Murderous Rampage Within the pages of THE BUNDY SECRETS: Hidden Files Of America's Worst Serial Killer is a unique, never-before-published look at the … [Read More...]

Kevin’s Other Books

Nonfiction

True Crime Classics

Buy Kevin Sullivan's The Bundy Murders: A Comprehensive HistoryThe Bundy Murders: A Comprehensive History
"Despite the multitude of books about Bundy, The Bundy Murders offers fresh material and ideas about Bundy's predatory movements. Well researched and highly recommended, for Bundy scholars and true crime fans alike."--Katherine Ramsland, author of The Human Predator and The Devil's Dozen.

Buy Kevin Sullivan's Death of a Cheerleader (coauthored with Gregg Olsen)Death of a Cheerleader (coauthored with Gregg Olsen)
In this Notorious USA collection, Death of a Cheerleader, New York Times bestselling author Gregg Olsen and true crime journalist Kevin M. Sullivan write about notorious crimes in the Bluegrass State. In a scene right out of Hitchcock’s “Rear Window,” a young woman vanishes from a beach on a summer day and a neighbor views the abduction through his telescope. A newlywed disposes of his bride but doesn’t know what to do with her head. Selling tickets at a drive-in movie theater proves deadly. And a parent’s worst nightmare becomes reality – their young daughter disappears from a sleepover.

Buy Kevin Sullivan's Custer’s Road to Disaster: The Path to Little BighornCuster’s Road to Disaster: The Path to Little Bighorn
"He rose to the Army's pinnacles at age 23, earning him the endearing title "boy general". But Mr. Sullivan says there's more to it than high rank at young age. George Armstrong Custer's boyhood - impetuous, rash, carefree, even rebellious - never disappeared, molding the icon's battle successes and failures, most notably his last hurrah at the Little Big Horn. Was it all foreordained? A provocative read, this road to disaster invites you to be the judge."
Richard Allan Fox, author, Archaeology, History, and Custer's Last Battle

Buy Kevin Sullivan's The Amish Schoolhouse Murders (coauthored with Gregg Olsen)The Amish Schoolhouse Murders (coauthored with Gregg Olsen)
New York Times bestselling author Gregg Olsen and true crime journalist Kevin M. Sullivan travel down a bizarre trail of murder into notorious Pennsylvania. A seemingly normal husband father of two decides to kill young girls after storming an Amish schoolhouse, and sex many have been the prime motivator. A young high school student has a secret desire for murder, and decides a middle of the night visit to his best friend’s house will do nicely to satiate his hunger to kill. A seedy individual living in an even seedier part of Philadelphia decides to populate his basement with kidnapped women for sex and the bearing of children, and it is death to those who do not submit.

Buy Kevin Sullivan's Unnatural Causes (coauthored with Gregg Olsen)Unnatural Causes (coauthored with Gregg Olsen)
From the dark and bloody ground of Kentucky, to the peaceful Amish communities of Pennsylvania, to the cities and towns crisscrossing Ohio, murder and mayhem has been a part of it all. Within the pages of this latest volume in Notorious USA's New York Times bestselling series you'll discover how the unsuspecting succumbed to the evil that caught them by surprise, and what the authorities had to do to stop the madness.

Buy Kevin Sullivan's Angel of Death (coauthored with Gregg Olsen)Angel of Death (coauthored with Gregg Olsen)
New York Times bestselling author Gregg Olsen and true crime journalist Kevin M. Sullivan travel down a bizarre trail of murder into notorious Pennsylvania. A seemingly normal husband father of two decides to kill young girls after storming an Amish schoolhouse, and sex many have been the prime motivator. A young high school student has a secret desire for murder, and decides a middle of the night visit to his best friend’s house will do nicely to satiate his hunger to kill. A seedy individual living in an even seedier part of Philadelphia decides to populate his basement with kidnapped women for sex and the bearing of children, and it is death to those who do not submit.

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What it’s really like writing true crime (Part 1): Kevin Sullivan on Digesting Case Files