Sunday, April 12, 2015

When Fact Meets Fiction



I think every mystery writer has had this thought: What if someone reads one of my books and decides to copy the murder/s I’ve written about? There were episodes on Castle and Bones, two of my favorite TV shows, where that’s exactly what happened. I can only imagine how horrible that would feel. Of course, we're not responsible for the actions of someone else but still . . . Thankfully, what happened in my case was the exact opposite. Without knowing it, I wrote about murders that had already been committed.
 
You see, I learned something after the publication of Mixed Messages, my first Malone mystery, that actually gave me chills. A friend who had read the book asked me if it was based on the Cincinnati Strangler. I didn’t know what she was talking about so I looked it up online and my mouth fell open. 

From October 1965 to December 1966, a man murdered seven west side Cincinnati women. He strangled them, using either an article of their own clothing or something that was readily available to him. With one exception, the women were attacked in their homes. The media dubbed him “The Cincinnati Strangler.” 

In Mixed Messages and the sequel, Unfinished Business, there is a serial killer on the loose on the west side of Cincinnati and, just like the real Cincinnati Strangler, he attacked and strangled seven women in their homes, using items similar to those used by the Cincinnati Strangler. And, also like the Cincinnati Strangler, he was caught attempting to kill what would have been his eighth victim. 

But, in 1965-1966, my main interests were boys, learning how to drive and school, pretty much in that order. So I paid little attention to the news, never realizing how what was going on then (in my city) would mirror the novel I would write many years later.

Was it merely a coincidence that what I wrote so strongly paralleled what really happened? Or, even though I don’t consciously remember the news stories, did my subconscious retain bits and pieces for all those years?

8 comments:

  1. I've often wondered if some of our writing comes from subconscious memories. Now you've made me wonder even more. As far as people copying ideas, I guess it's to be expected, although I can't say I like the idea. I didn't know about the Cincinnati Strangler, so you stories were new to me, and I loved those books!
    Marja McGraw

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    1. Since I didn't know about the Cincinnati Strangler either, at least not consciously, that makes me wonder what else is hibernating in the back of my mind. :)

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  2. The subconscious is a curious thing. Ever notice that when you're writing, a great idea will suddenly pop into your mind? I often wonder if that's where it came from. Sometimes, through my writing, I think my subconscious is trying to tell me things my conscious mind has blocked out. I don't want to get started on the subject, because I could go on and on. In my thirties, I went through months of hypnotherapy to get rid of a problem I was having, so I'm familiar with how the subconscious mind works.

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    1. I know what you mean, Evelyn, but I still have a hard time believing that knowledge of the Cincinnati Strangler sat in the back of my mind for all of those years. Strange!

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  3. Hard to distinguish where ideas come from, I think. I also kinda remember a saying about nothing new under the sun. Sad, when you're thinking in terms of evil people--always been them I guess. I think bits and pieces of life are for sure floating around in our brains--how they fit together and when they come out is a mystery to me.

    Interesting and thoughtful post, Patricia. Also Marja and Evelyn comments.

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    1. I agree. Writing is a fascinating process, Madeline. We never know where ideas will come from, even our subconscious, until we put our fingers to the keyboard.

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  4. Last year I jotted down ideas for a blog about where ideas come from and last month wrote them for this month's blog--to be promoted tomorrow! How strange that several of us are on the same page regarding our ideas although those ideas are completely different!

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    1. Oh, Pat, wait till you see my post next week. You'll laugh.
      Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment!

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