Posted on 09/02/2003 7:42:46 AM PDT by kattracks
NEW YORK (AP) — Jessica Lynch, the former prisoner of war whose capture and rescue from an Iraqi hospital made her a national hero, has agreed to a $1 million book deal with publisher Alfred A. Knopf."Many folks have written, expressing their support for me and for the thousands of other soldiers who serve their country," Lynch said in a statement issued Tuesday by Knopf.
"I feel I owe them all this story, which will be about more than a girl going off to war and fighting alongside her fellow soldiers. It will be a story about growing up in America."
"I Am a Soldier, Too: The Jessica Lynch Story," co-written by Pulitzer Prize winner Rick Bragg, is scheduled to come out in mid-November with a first printing of around 500,000 copies, Knopf spokesman Paul Bogaards said.
Financial terms were not disclosed, but a source close to the negotiations said Lynch and Bragg will divide a $1 million advance. The source spoke on condition of anonymity.
"I feel a kinship with Jessica and her family, and am thrilled at the prospect of bringing this story to the wider world," Bragg said in the statement issued by Knopf. He has been granted exclusive access to Lynch and her family.
Lynch received a medical discharge last week from the Army, making her eligible to pursue book or movie deals.
Lynch, 20, suffered multiple broken bones and other injuries when her 507th Maintenance Company was ambushed in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah on March 23.
Her rescue on April 1 made her a celebrity. She joined the Army to get an education and become a kindergarten teacher.
She returned home to Palestine, W.Va., in July to a hero's welcome after a long stay at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
"I am feeling better every day, and all the good wishes of the many who have written have certainly kept my spirits up," Lynch said. "I am walking with crutches, but my doctors tell me that as I gain strength I will be able to walk on my own again soon. I am looking forward to those first steps."
Bragg has written several books, including the memoir "All Over but the Shoutin'," and won the feature-writing Pulitzer in 1996, two years after he began working for The New York Times. He resigned from the Times in May after the newspaper suspended him over a story that carried his byline but was reported largely by a freelancer.
I don't know, is she? If you recall she had amnesia, and likely wouldn't remember squat about her traumatic experience. Suddenly, a million dollars later kaching, she remembers! I don't see the word's "she's a liar" in my post, nice try though! I'll leave that conclusion up to her adoring fan's, #3 or otherwise! Blackbird.
So you believe profits should always go to the common? Are you a socialist?
You asign far more to those questions than I ever intended. They are meant to be read literally, they were not asked rhetorically.
- If you were in her position, would you share it?
-What do you think she will do?
I'm curious about how people will answer those questions. So, how would you answer them?
Kinship? Yeah, it's called split the purse.
This doesn't sound right for some reason. What about her amnesia?
Fighting?? What fighting was that??
Ah Yes! I had forgotten that!
(I wonder what my forgetfullness is worth to some publisher? ... I can forget other stuff - really good stuff, too!)
Will you please stop twisting and spinning my words to suit your needs
I do not speak for every freeper on this site .. nor do I comment on every freepers posts.
As for this book of Lynch's .. this is america and she has every right to have her story published.
But that does not mean I will buy it
From what I can tell of this article .. she isn't going to write about that time .. it's about her growing up and becoming a soldier
Time will tell when the book actually comes out what is really in it
This is what I was commenting on from your post .. sorry about that
This doesn't sound right for some reason. What about her amnesia?
Your screenname is a bit of a clue.
And, what's your global experience, hmm? Couple a trips to the International House of Pancakes?
I've been everywhere, man. (Apologies to Johnny Cash)
Specifically?
And further, you made no substantive response to my objection/clarification to your original comments.
What? Post #95 was your first to me.
You strike me as intellectually dishonest, stretching what others say, creating straw men, and quite willing to run when confronted or challenged specifically.
Run?
Their language is telling. :^)
Geologically speaking, yes.
Didn't Reagan get paid for making speeches after he left the presidency?
For asserting that, like WWI's Corporal Treptoe quoted in his First Inaugural in 1981, service to country, not selfishness & making a quick buck for ones ownself is what makes a true American Heroe. I and many others stand by our principles and hope the former Pvt. does the honorable and admirable thing.
Contributing to the economy would be the honorable thing. Her community could use it.
Please don't, like #3, foolishly attempt cloud the central issue here with Marxist rhetoric. Not germain.
You're the one that wants a common pool.
Ever consider that the army told to keep quiet until they could get everything cleared?
Depends on the circumstances of the others. Should a person be a slave to someone for the rest of their life for just doing the same job that you had to do? I don't think so. If someone was down on their luck through no fault of their own, I'd consider that though.
-What do you think she will do?
Don't know.
I'm curious about how people will answer those questions. So, how would you answer them?
With freedom in mind.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.