7.9.6.3 Wickens, Maclean's 1995/03/27.

Haunted by homicide
by Barbara Wickens

Maclean's, March 27, 1995. p. 61.
[jp]

The article (in the "Books" section) contains a number of factual errors, but there are some new quotes from Anne Perry and one new fact: Walter Perry was originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Anne Perry also refers to him as "Bill Perry." [jp]

Quotes and extracts from the article:

"It was just six years ago that I made enough money from my writing to finally pay income tax."

Anne Perry says that her 83-year-old mother, who lives near her, "has suffered very much."

Her publishers offered to release her from the book promotion tour. "I very nearly stayed home, but I've got to either stay in hiding for the rest of my life, or go through this and come out the other side."

She seems mystified by the interest in her past: "I thought, 'After 40 years, who cares?' The Berlin Wall has come down, Communism has fallen, the whole world has changed since then."

Her voice becomes edgier when she notes that because she was a minor, she was not allowed to testify at the trial. Adding to her frustration is the fact that the prosecution's case (like the movie) was based largely on the diaries of Pauline. "I don't know how you can use one person's diary as evidence of another person's behaviour." She added that such scribblings are wide open to misinterpretation. For instance, she said that Pauline referred to seeing "'George in the night.' I believe that in North America the equivalent is 'the john,' but the prosecution tried to make out that she had a lover."

Her greatest scorn is reserved for those who insist she has shown no remorse. A proper, almost brusque, Englishwoman, she is indeed no meek penitent. But she insists "the misrepresentation is pretty high--I always expressed remorse."

Perry writes in longhand and works six days a week. She plans to publish historical fiction in addition to her mysteries, including a novel set during the French Revolution.