![tonydwicahyanto[dot]com](http://tonydwicahyanto.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/cosmosource11.jpg)
Steve Jackson Talks About His New True Crime Book
NOT LOST FOREVER is the story of Carmina Salcido, the heroine of the book and my co-author. I think it’s a truly remarkable story of survival and healing following the 1989 murderous rampage by her father, Ramon Salcido in the wine country of Sonoma Valley, California. Left for dead at three years old in the county dump her throat brutally slashed—Carmina miraculously survived what is widely considered one of California’s most notorious crimes: the savage murder of seven innocent lives, including Carmina’s entire family.
However, Carmina’s troubles didn’t end there as she was kept in virtual seclusion in the rural Midwest by her adoptive family who belonged to an ultra-conservative Catholic sect, which she eventually escaped only by joining a Carmelite nunnery. Her road takes her to a work camp for troubled girls and finally back to Sonoma looking for the truth about what happened to her family and to confront the man who took away everything she loved. Her story is one of perseverance, courage and hope.
The book is something of a hybrid as far as writing styles. We wanted to capture Carmina’s voice–she has a remarkable recall of the horrible events that forever changed the rest of her life, as well as a unique perspective on what happened before and since. So much of the book is in first-person, or “through the eyes of.” However, the crimes occurred when she was three and hardly aware of what was going on around her in the search for and apprehension of her father, as well as his trial and sentencing to San Quentin’s Death Row (where he remains). So there are times when the book dives into dramatic narrative and “as told to.”
Carmina will be the subject of an hour-long ABC 20/20 program on Friday, Oct. 16 (check your local listings). I’ll be talking about the book on True Crime Radio (outlawcrime.com will take you to the link to listen via internet) Saturday, Oct. 17, 2 p.m. Pacific Time.
Crime Rant Note: You can read more about Steve and his books by visiting his web site.
