Hi! I wanted to write down everything while it is fresh in my mind.

Here's what happened.

On Tuesday, I asked one of the R and D (the mail room Receiving and Departing) officers if they had seen a book that was mailed to me over three weeks ago. He said he didn't know about it, but to give him a cop-out and he would give it to other personnel.

Well, on Wednesday as I was going into the Chow Hall, I saw the head of R and D standing at Main Line. So I stopped and asked Mr. Henson (that's his name) if he had seen a book that was sent to me. I said the book had been sent to me over three weeks ago and I never received it. He said as far as he knew, he didn't know anything about it. Then he said, would there be any reason for the book not to be allowed into the prison? I said, not that I know of. It is a book about the Drug War and the name is "The Tallahassee Project."

Mr. Henson said: "Oh, you mean the book that you and Karen wrote?"

I said: "Well, yes, so you do have my book?"

Mr. H. said: "Well, I don't think it's your book, but I read it. Reuben has a copy of it that he purchased."

I said: "Reuben, who is Reuben?" (I am not sure if he said Reuben or what the first name was. I know I wasn't familiar with it.)

Mr. H: "Mr. Tooset." (Mr. Tooset is the head man over the UNICOR factory. I am not sure if I'm spelling Mr. Tooset's name right either.)

I said: "So Mr. Tooset has my book?"

Mr. H: "No, I believe he bought the book."

I said: "Well, that sounds a little funny to me, as there were only 50 copies of the book that were airmailed from the printer in Hong Kong. We are currently waiting for the other copies to come by boat. One of the 50 copies was being sent to me for review."

Mr. H: "Well, I'll have to check on it."

I said: "So you have read the book. What did you think?"

Mr. H: "Well, you pissed some people off."

I said: "What do you mean?"

Mr. H: "Mr. Tooset didn't like what you said about UNICOR being a slave labor camp and you wrote the names of those companies that have an interest in UNICOR."

I said: "Well, those statistics came off the Internet and there was a reference to where they were taken off of."

Mr. H: "Well, the book has been sent to Washington for review to see if it will be allowed to come into the prison."

I said: "Is there a reason for it not to, as similar books have been allowed in, such as 'Shattered Lives'? What was your opinion of the book?"

Mr. H: "I see no reason why the book wouldn't be allowed to come in."

Me: "So when should I check back with you?"

Mr. H: "Tomorrow."

Me: "I'm not in any kind of trouble, am I?"

Mr. H: "Not that I know of."

Me: "The other women in the book will want to be receiving their copies, but we want to be sure there is no problem with it coming in."

Me: What do you mean, that big?"

Mr. H: "Well, you gathering all the stories and all those photos. We normally would have realized something was going on."

Mr. H: "Well, normally we catch mail that is being mailed to one address when there is so many letters going to the same address."

Me: "No one was trying to hide anything. This was originally meant for the United Nations meeting back in 1998. Everyone was very open about it."

Mr. H: "Well, normally we would have caught it."

Me: "So I am not in any trouble, am I? As far as I know, I haven't broken any rules, nor have the other women."

Mr. H: "No, I don't see that you're in trouble."

Me: "So, I should be getting the book soon then."

Mr. H: "Well, let me check and see where this book came from. Check with me tomorrow."

So the next day (which was yesterday), I had to go to the Mail Room (R and D) to weigh something, and I saw Mr. Henson coming out of his office. He said he hadn't found anything. He had to talk to someone at the main line, and for me to get back to him. So I went to the main line, and saw him having a conversation with someone. Then I approached him after it had ended.

Me: "Mr. Henson, you said for me to get back with you after you spoke to Ms. Gracen."

Mr. H: "Yes, I've spoken with her, and it appears that the book will be rejected from the institution. Mr. Carroway the Assistant Warden has the book and is reviewing it, and has indicated that it was to be rejected."

Me: "I thought you said yesterday that the book had gone to Washington."

Mr. H: "I was wrong about that. It was Mr. Carroway that had it and was reviewing it."

Me: "Well, why is he thinking about rejecting it? This is a book about the Drug War and shouldn't be taken so personally by B.O.P."

Mr. H: "Well, I personally don't see anything wrong with it, but they make the decisions."

Me: "Well, I'll be able to appeal their decision, right? By doing my BP-9, BP-10, BP-11, and then a law suit, right?"

Mr. H: "Yes, you will, and the person that sent it to you can appeal to the Regional Office."

Me: "Yes, we certainly will be doing that, as there is really no reason for the book not to come in. Could you please remind them if you speak with them again that the book 'Shattered Lives' is not banned from prisons and that this book is along the same lines as that one."

Mr. H: "Yes, I've indicated that I saw nothing wrong with it, but they are the ones who make the decisions."

Me: "When can I expect the rejection notice? I will need it to start my remedies."

Mr. H: "I will get it for you by next week, and will be sure there is a sufficient statement on it for why it is being rejected."

Me: "I appreciate that, and I will be calling the editor and publisher to let them know what is happening."