Online for Authors Episode 3-15-25

​Shadows of Injustice: A Reporter’s Tale from America's Prisons with Author Carla Conti

Today on the Online for Authors podcast, guest-host Carole O’Neill is chatting with Carla Conti, author of the book Chained Birds. Carla is a former journalist and author of the award-winning true crime memoir CHAINED BIRDS, a prison abuse exposé about justice and survival in federal prison. It took her ten years to write as she balanced the safety of the story participants (including herself) in this tell-all thriller of prison gang hit orders and corrupt officials.

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Guest-host Carole O'Neill is still reeling from her incredible conversation with Carla Jean Conti about her jaw-dropping true crime book, Chained Birds.

Most books start with a plot twist - but this one started with an actual snowball. Literally. In 2011, an inmate at Lewisburg federal prison threw a snowball at a correctional officer, which triggered a chain of events that would consume a decade of Carla's life.

What fascinated Carole most about Chained Birds wasn't just the legal drama, but the human story underneath. Carla spent ten years advocating for Kevin Sanders, documenting his journey through a complex and often brutal prison system. Her commitment went far beyond journalism - she became part of his defense team, maintaining friendship and hope even when prison gangs issued hit orders against her subject.

Key Takeaways from Chained Birds:

• Sometimes justice looks nothing like we expect
• True advocacy means staying committed, even when it's scary
• Every story has multiple perspectives

Carla's already working on her next true crime story - a 1970s love triangle murder case. Stay tuned!

Want to win a digital copy of Chained Birds? Head over to the Novels M Latte Book Club on Facebook and enter the giveaway!

Purchase Chained Birds on Amazon:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/3D8jvmI
Ebook: https://amzn.to/3D8jvmI
 
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