Extra Credit Questions

[Laurie Verge]

What amazes me with O'Reilly as an author is the fact that he and his "co-author(s)" can put together such a book in six months' time! And, have it published by a reputable firm such as Henry Holt Publications! Even Killing Kennedy is out there now - just a few months after it was announced that it would be O'Reilly's next book.

In my 37 years at Surratt House, I have come in contact with quite a few published authors. It takes most reputable scholars years and years to conduct research, analyze it, write, undergo peer review, and find a publisher. This team spits out books faster than pregnancies and gets heaps of publicity.

When it was announced that they would be writing Killing Lincoln, it was right on the heels of The Conspirator movie. I told my staff that I bet they were riding Redford's coat tails and also to expect Mary Surratt's picture to be on the cover. How many books on the assassination do you see Mary featured on the cover -- I can only think of three right off the bat (Trindal, Larson, and Steers). Sure enough, there she was on Killing Lincoln.

Now Killing Kennedy is out about six months after the announcement that it was being worked on. I'm just surprised that they didn't wait to release it until November of 2013 in order to get publicity from the 50th anniversity observances of the President's death. If nothing else, you have to give O'Reilly, Dugard, and the Holt Company credit for knowing how to work the publicity system.