Author sued by ex-inmates over prison writings

Two former prison inmates whose writings were included in an upcoming anthology by best-selling author Wally Lamb, are suing Lamb for alleged fraud and emotional distress over the way they were treated during negotiations to include their work in the book.

The action was initiated by Chandra Bozelko of Orange, who participated in Lamb’s writing class at the York Correctional Center in Niantic, and claims that she was promised a contract and payment, but has seen neither while review copies of the anthology have been released throughout the country by a California publisher.

Her 15-page lawsuit, filed in state Superior Court in Milford, is seeking more than $15,000 from Lamb; the publisher Counterpoint LLC of Berkeley, Calif.; and talent agency Anonymous Content LLC of Culver City, Calif. In particular, she alleges, the lack of a written agreement for the anthology put her in violation of an agreement with her former publishing syndicate.

Bozelko, 46, who served more than six years in prison for misuse of a credit card and jury tampering, is a freelance writer and vice president of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists.

Reluctant at first to participate in the anthology — a collection of writing from a variety of inmates at the state’s only female prison — Bozelko finally agreed, in September, 2017 to provide a chapter on prison food, the lawsuit says.

Another plaintiff in the case was added this week when Tracie Bernardi of New Britain joined in the action. Bernardi was incarcerated at York CI from 1993 until 2015 and claims similar treatment for her work in the pending anthology.

Lamb, 68, of Mansfield, is the author of the novels “She's Come Undone” and “I Know This Much Is True,” and has taught creative writing at prison, located in the Niantic section of East Lyme, since 1999. The upcoming book will be the third anthology from the prison.

Lamb’s lawyer, Joette Katz, a former state Supreme Court justice and Department of Children and Families commissioner, declined comment Wednesday.

Gale Zucker / Contributed photo In a 2003 photo, author Wally Lamb is shown with six of the 10 women inmates whose stories were told in “Couldn't Keep It to Myself”: Brenda Medina (clockwise from lower left), Diane Bartholomew, Robin Cullen, Tabatha Rowley, Carolyn Adams and Michelle Jessamy.