Re: Frank Cascio "My Friend Michael" book release date Nov 15 ,2011
Ivy, THANK YOU! I (finally!) understand why you are taking this position. I really appreciate your explaining, because it actually hasn't been very comprehensible to me, until now. (I just hope you can understand my position now, too?) I hope everyone who has contributed to this very long thread, will take the time to read this, and understand? It's IMPORTANT to me. Because Ivy has shared something so personal, I will share my "story," as well. . . . and it's highly personal! There is a back-story to my sentiments, and I'll tell it, now.
I do believe that it's important to evaluate fairly -- anyone. To me, the PRIMARY problem is the statement Frank made, ("situational addict") on national tv, at the exact time that the jury was in deliberations. (human-nature being what it is, it's entirely possible that some jurors did, in fact, switch on the tv at that time). I understand that there may be a lot of positive content in the book. But that ONE statement finished it for me, and I think for a lot of people here. Personally, I do NOT hate Frank. I don't know him. He's not even on my radar, particularly. But, I, and many of us have been so sensitized to negativity about Michael, and are so incredibly tired of him being maligned, betrayed, and. . shit upon, that for me (and so many) that ONE statement was enough to turn us away from the book. (I don't really care about the "music fiasco." Water under the bridge. That isn't part of my stance for not buying the book, at all.)
To continue. . . .Michael has a history of being BETRAYED. By Bashir (the worst of them all), by Schmuley Boteach, and so many others, AND, by Conrad Murray. To say "situational addict" at that exact time, actually WAS a deal-breaker for the reading the rest of the book. Damage was done, and that's really enough -- for, apparently, MOST of us. We have no allegiance to Frank (why would we?), but to Michael.
So here's MY story. . . .I've been fighting for justice for Michael. . . since 2004. I'm a writer, and I put myself OUT there in a very public way, including not only my writing, but radio and tv interviews on behalf of justice for Michael, and in doing that, I took upon a certain risk. (you have NO idea!)
In 2004/5, I had a literary agent who was trying to market a novel I'd written (fiction, nothing to do with Michael). This manuscript won a major award in my state. But then, my agent found out that I was writing articles (online, alternative news site) about Michael's trial (balanced, positive articles), and she basically blew a fuse! She said, "This could make "us" RICH! You must do a BOOK about Michael Jackson, and the trial." And, I COULD have. But then she said, "But, of course for this to sell, it has to include a lot of DIRT on Michael Jackson." I said, "NO." She pressured me, and kept pressuring me. She basically backed off marketing my novel. It went on and on, and I FIRED her! I must be just about the first (only?) writer to have fired a literary agent! Those are SO hard to get. I shot myself in the foot, financially. My life might have turned out differently, if I'd not fired her, but I did have a bottom-line. I simply REFUSED to write ONE. NEGATIVE. WORD. about Michael. And, I never have, and I cannot support those "other" writers, who do. I simply can't. . . .
So I take this book from Frank a bit personally. I took a TREMENDOUS financial hit, but my integrity is fully and forever intact. I think Frank came under the same pressure that I did, and it can be seductive, and I think he crumbled. But, I truly love Michael, and could not write ANYTHING that could make its way to major media, could be misconstrued, or could have HURT him. And, I think Frank did hurt him.
Not sure if anyone cares, about my personal story? but my novel -- same one - - is finally being published. Publish-on-Demand, Lulu press, bypassing agents, publishing conglomerates, and advertising agencies. I do hope some people will want to read it? Hopefully? I think it's a very good book. I do hope people understand what I'm saying, here? (and yeah, "buy my book," which should be online next week. Has nothing to do with Michael. It's just very, very good fiction -- even though I did have to fire my agent.)
Yeah. I said "no," and Frank said "yes," about dirt on Michael. Not sure what else I could say, to explain?
