Becky: Letter August 1, 2001

ALL RIGHT!!! I received my copy of the book today!!! I went back to Mr. Henson (head of R and D in the mail room). I asked him yesterday what was going on with it, that I needed a formal answer to whether they were rejecting it. He said I needed to speak with Mr. Carroway, the Assistant Warden. Well, Mr. Carroway didn't come to Main Line so I went back to Mr. Henson. Mr. Henson said to get back with him tomorrow (which was today).

So I caught Mr. Henson at Main Line today. I told him Mr. Carroway wasn't here again today. He said, "Well, let's go and call him." He got on the phone, and I heard him say, "What about The Tallahassee Project?" (I could only hear one side of the conversation.) Then he said, "She's standing right here in front of me." Then he said, "All right." He gets off the phone, and says, "He's sending the book up to you." So I said that means I'm getting it.

I waited and waited and watched everyone coming down the center of the institution. I saw the warden, who a lot of inmates were stopping to speak with half way down. Then I saw Mr. Toosit (the head of UNICOR) come down the stairs and I thought it looked like he had an envelope in his hands. As he was coming towards the warden, he stopped next to her and spoke to her. I saw him show something to her, then he continued his walk up to Main Line. When he got to Main Line, he walked up to Mr. Henson. By then I could tell the envelope he had in his hands had my name on it. He gave it to Mr. Henson and said something I could not quite understand. I heard Mr. Henson tell him no. I got the impression he was saying the book wasn't sent properly because it did not have the label "Book" on the outside. But Mr. Henson took the book from him and handed it to me.

I think the book is FANTASTIC!!! Everyone that has seen it thinks so too! Everyone is saying CONGRATULATIONS! I in turn say, congratulations to everyone that participated and especially to you for making it all come about. I haven't even at this point got to read it thoroughly, because everyone is wanting to glance at it. I will read it thoroughly tonight. But I really think it looks great. The few that have glanced through it, their faces just light up, even the women who aren't actually in it. Everyone is wanting to know how to order it now, and I am giving them all the information. I really hadn't said a lot about it before now because I didn't think it was going to be allowed in.

I feel this is a victory for all of us. Everyone is impressed because it is in color. The few that got to read some of the stories say it gives them goose bumps. They are glad it is selling at an affordable price. Everyone is requesting how to order. I don't believe there will be any problem in the others getting copies now that I have gotten mine. Everybody loves it!

The book is definitely a hit. The women think it is simply amazing, and of course they're all asking if ya'll going to do another book. Everyone wants to contribute.

:Love, Becky