WRITERS' LEAGUE OF TEXAS
formerly the Austin Writers' League
February's
Program
2004
February 2004 MONTHLY MEETING
February 19, Thursday 7pm
The Writers’ League of Texas November Program Meeting at Barnes
and Noble Westlake:
February's Meeting features crime author
Gary M. Lavergne
The
Writers’ League of Texas February program meeting features true
crime author Gary M. Lavergne. Lavergne is the author of several books
including A Sniper in the Tower: The Charles Whitman Murders
and Worse than Death, a book about the largest mass murder in
Dallas, Texas history. He will be one of six authors featured this February
on cable TV’s History Channel’s special mystery series entitled
"True Crime Authors."
Many commentators have complimented Gary on the technical aspects of his writing, the passion of his prose, and his detailed yet delicate descriptions of crime scenes and graveyards. Lavergne, the son of a law enforcement official, will share how he appreciates the perspective of law enforcement as well as the sensitivity needed when interviewing survivors and the victim’s family. Lavergne will take the audience on his adventures in crime writing and emphasize the importance of maintaining objectivity in the process. He will discuss his experiences interviewing mass murder survivors and investigating police officers.
He is currently the Director of Admissions Research and Policy Analysis for The University of Texas at Austin. In that capacity he researches and writes admissions reports for the University. Lavergne received international attention with his New York Times Op-Ed piece entitled "Is This the End of the SAT?" Paradoxically, as he accepted a position at the University, he researched in his spare time the Charles Whitman tower murders, which led to his first book.
Lavergne continued his study of mass murder by writing Bad Boy From Rosebud about the infamous serial killer Kenneth Allen McDuff. CBS’ anchor Dan Rather described this book as "classic crime reporting." Lavergne’s book was used as the basis of two documentaries, one for the Discovery Channel and one for A&E network.
Lavergne has supported the Writers’ League of Texas by contributing to the Austin Writer, with his article, "The Burdens of Writing History: Without History, Folklore Will Create Heroes Out of Criminals." He states the responsibility as an investigator/historian quite succinctly by saying "History must insure that the gunned down will be remembered as having been attacked by a murderer, not a legend."
A professional motivation speaker and university guest lecturer who has even done stand-up comedy on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Lavergne shares his author perspective with Writers’ League members and guests February 19 at Barnes and Noble Westlake at 7 pm. The meeting is free and open to the public.
To read more about Gary Lavergne, visit his website at http://www.garylavergne.com.
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