The Name in the Title

Maureen Faulkner thought she'd done all of the heavy lifting.

She'd spent three years recounting the complete story of her life, the murder of her police officer husband Danny, the trial of the man charged with the killing and the aftermath as the case became the highest profile death-penalty case in the nation.

Still, she faced a dilemma. What to call her book?

As her scribe, the person to whom she had revealed the most personal details, I had a working title: "Sequel: Maureen Faulkner is ready for her close-up!" My idea was to cast her battle as the second in a movie series, her answer to the support Hollywood celebrities had long offered to her husband's killer. At last, it was her time to take center stage.

But the publisher thought it a bit convoluted. I finally agreed. Back to the drawing board.

I knew there was no method to book naming. After a long but fruitless process, the title of my second book, "Muzzled," was the suggestion of a friend, lawyer Tom Kline, during a walk on the beach in Loveladies. I went back to him. Despite being in Australia, he responded to my e-mail within 20 minutes: "Deadly Truth." Simple and catchy, I thought.

The folks at Lyons Press liked (but didn't love) it. Then Robert Draper published Dead Certain, the account of the Bush White House written with the president's cooperation. A good sign, or a potential source of confusion? We weren't sure.

On the west coast, Maureen asked for suggestions. A friend offered "Doing Time Together."

Maureen envisioned a book cover torn down the middle, Danny's friends and family on one side, Abu-Jamal supporters on the other. Her significant other, Paul Palkovic, had a thought: "Life Without Parole."

From Connecticut, the publisher weighed in. "The Murder of Danny Faulkner: How Mumia Abu-Jamal Killed My Husband."

The Rubicon was crossed - the murderer's name was being suggested for the title of the widow's book, something that had occurred to me, but which I was loath to pitch to Maureen. I knew she'd be uncomfortable using Mumia's name or likeness on the cover, despite the potential marketing advantage.

For committing murder, he'd become more famous than the man he killed. If we were to go in that direction, I already had an alternative: "Mumia Murdered My Husband." Maureen was initially against both.

"For years, I have intentionally avoided even saying his name in many of the speeches I have given and articles I have written because I didn't want to tie myself to him or bring him any more notoriety to him than he has already. I don't know that I am ready to change that now."

Even thinking of using Mumia's name meant recognizing the way he'd monopolized the playing field for more than two decades, which made his own name better known than Officer Danny Faulkner's. From jail, Abu-Jamal had written books, offered radio commentaries, spoken at college commencements, become an honorary citizen of Paris and the subject of a teach-in in Oakland public schools.

He was the beneficiary of a sold-out Rage Against the Machine concert, and earned the support of celebrities like Ed Asner, Mike Farrell and Whoopi Goldberg, who linked their names to his in a full-page New York Times ad.

All that was why Maureen had written the book. She wanted to provide a permanent response to those and any future efforts on Mumia's behalf. But did it have to include his name in the title?

While she deliberated, yet another variant came from the publisher: "Murdered by Mumia."

Maureen was still troubled.

"The use of his name . . . may draw attention away from the real intent of the book, which is to show how messed up the legal system is and how hard we have all had to struggle to keep a killer in prison," Maureen told me.

"I still have grave concerns about having to constantly refer to Jamal first, then talk about my struggle and Danny's murder. Having his name in the title opens the door for Jamal's supporters to tell everyone that we, in particular me, couldn't make it without exploiting Jamal and using 'his' fame to sell our book."

I responded that everyone would know that, in fact, she was not accepting a dime for this project, nor am I, despite our three years of labor. All proceeds benefit a not-for-profit she established for the education of Philadelphia children who've lost a parent to murder.

In the end, Maureen Faulkner recognized that there are some people whose heinous acts are forever synonymous with their names. Mark David Chapman. John Wilkes Booth. John Wayne Gacy. Mumia Abu-Jamal.

By using the name as a means of identifying the subject - a murder - she wasn't furthering the myth that surrounds him, but dispelling it in a few short words on a book cover. The case would be immediately recognizable - both to the media and to those searching online. The book would "pop" with the mention of that name.

And it would be read, which is, most of all, what she wants.

Comments

[malloses]

If the intent of the book is to show "how messed up the legal system is," then it should focus on the prison industrial complex that targets young black people and a system that denies due process and proper council based on economics. "How hard it is to keep murderers in prison," really? Did anyone praising this piece pause to ask why someone like Noam Chomsky would state that this case exemplifies the total lack of constutionality apparent in the justice system.

[Libsrule]

So I can only assume by your blog that no one anywhere should EVER question the conviction of anyone anywhere because it might offend some people?

That somehow having an open and free society that allows people to protest either for or against anything is WRONG???

So Michael, using that logic, then anything Bush says and does should NEVER be questioned??

Seems to me Bush has killed a whole lot more people and yet some people consider HIM a hero.

[suki21693]

"...there are some people whose heinous acts are forever synonymous with their names. Mark David Chapman. John Wilkes Booth. John Wayne Gacy. Mumia Abu-Jamal."

hei·nous [háynəss]
adj
utterly evil: shockingly evil or wicked

While I certainly do not condone the murder of anyone, the use of the word heinous in this context to refer to the killing for which Mumia Abu-Jamal was convicted is a stretch. Deranged serial killers commit heinous acts.

Mumia Abu-Jamal is not famous because he committed a heinous act, he is famous because he got a lot of media attention trying to proclaim his innocence. If it weren't for the fact that so many people believed he was innocent, no one beyond the Faulkner family would even know his name at this point.

David Berkowitz. Gary Ridgway. Dennis Rader. Jeffrey Dahmer. Ed Gein. Ted Bundy. Charles Ng. Those people committed heinous acts. Abu-Jamal killed a cop -- not cool, but not heinous.

[Curedlib]

Micheal and Maureen are donating all $170,000 in profits from the book to support the children and families of murder victims in Philadelphia.

This book is a testament to Maureen's love for her husband and family, and Micheal's respect for her, the rule of law, and the brave police officers who protect us every day.

It's also an indightement of those who would put their racist biases and anti-death-penalty ideology ahead of truth and justice.

[clevelandchick]

Mike, I have an idea for a sub-title to your blogpost:

"Four Go-To Topics For Right-wingers When Their Party Has Lost All Credibility On Just About Every Other Issue Known To Man: Mumia, Che, The War On Christmas and The War on Christians"

When can we expect your Che post?

[Idytme]

A link would have been nice. I have no idea who any of these people are or what this case is about.

[FDRbyGodDemocrat]

I never thought I'd say this: I agree with Michael Smerconish. Good work. (The words do burn the tongue a bit, though.)

[Joeseo]

I am with you on this Michael. Just like that other Philadelphia
Commentator, Irv Homer, points out, you cant believe a word unless the brother testifies.

[Kungfublood]

You forgot "Dick" Nixon and
"Dick" Cheney

[sdskelton03]

Michael

Your concern and care for this woman are heartening.

Shame on all of those that support this ruthless killer.

[Aramingo]

Micheal:

You might want to write a little piece detailing the evidence in the case. I live in the Philadelphia area, and if what I read in the Inquirer is true, the people that are trying to free this guy (note I don't use his name) are totally off their rockers. You might also note that the stretch of Route 1 that runs through Philly is named in Daniel Faulkner's honor.

Once again, presenting the evidence would be the best thing you could do to convince people that that guy is a cold blooded murderer.

[jrockbg]

Nice piece, Michael. To be a good wife to a cop is so hard by itself. It is so shameful to see these celebrities blindly champion the cause of a convicted, violent criminal. Hopefully Maureen knows that the average American who doesn't get paid millions of dollars for a month's work stands by her.