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RANCHO SANTA FE NEWS
JULY 27, 2012
Wear white, and an interview with author Joanna Crispi MACHEL PENN SHULL Machel’s Ranch Are you ready to wear white and dress like a character out of a F. Scott Fitzgerald novel? For Karian Forsyth’s birthday party, that is exactly what the attendees on the guest list did. From hundreds of white balloons floating across the teal blue pool to the white roses adorning the tables, there was an air of sophistication and opulence hanging under a sunstreaked sky. Robin and I wore matching white outfits. He found a pair of Dolce & Gabbana jeans that still fit him perfectly. I wore my stiletto heels with silver platforms to match my ivory dress for one of our favorite couples in the Ranch. I have included four photos from that evening. Happy birthday Karian!
Around Town On July 18, the world stopped for Opening Day at the Del Mar Races. Well, at least in San Diego life did. The freeways lulled to a crawl and the surrounding communities near Del Mar found a surge of visitors flooding the streets in hats, heels, Ferragamos, slacks and dresses that trickled in and out of cars onto the dusty parking lots overlooking the ocean sparkling across the horizon. If they were Turf Club members, they paid an exorbitant amount to keep their shoes clean by parking with valet near the entrance. Elaine Gallagher and her friends shined just as bright as the rest in their fancy hats and fabulous dresses. Due to a wisdom tooth battle, my day was spent recovering in bed reading and watching Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts shine in the movie “Notting Hill.” On July 21, I had the
good fortune of interviewing Joanna Crispi the author of “The Guilty Ones” for the Rancho Santa Fe News. Do you remember the movie “Reversal of Fortune” with Jeremy Irons? This film garnered him an Oscar and also epitomized the famous case of Claus von Bulow, who was first sentence for attempting to murder his wife Sunny Bulow. Originally, von Bulow was sentenced to 30 years in prison. However, just like the name of the movie suggests, his fate turned out differently thanks to Harvard professor Alan Dershowitz. The professor also asked some of his former students to help with the appeal. Joanna Crispi just happened to be one of the Harvard graduates that worked the case with Jim Cramer and made history with ‘the reversal of fortune’ Maggie Kasa-Hoeper is a model and works at Maggie B's at the Rancho Santa Fe Plaza. She is with Elaine for Claus von Bulow. Gallagher and Gloria Flores in the Turf Club on Opening Day at the Del Mar Races. Courtesy photo Joanna worked on many the rebellion in the Congo in high profile criminal defense the late ‘90s. cases as a lawyer during I came back to “The 1980s. Now Joanna lives in Guilty Ones” after the Milan, Italy and in New York events of 9/11, which caused City working as a lawyer and me to rethink the story in its writer. She has written three historical context. novels. MP: How do you like writing books versus being a Machel Penn: You worked lawyer? Do you feel your on the Claus von Bulow trial background has given you an ... edge in writing “The Guilty Ones”? Will there be some Joanna Crispi: As a result shocking surprises for the of the von Bulow case, I reader? learned a very important lesson at the outset of my legal JC: In terms of “shocks career: innocent people are and surprises,” I can say a sometimes convicted of consensus seems to have crimes they did not commit. I emerged from readers of also saw firsthand that advance copies who all seem “lawyering” makes a difference. A trial is about what Karian with her beautiful mother and husband, Tom Forsyth celebrating to say they couldn't put the can be proven in court. Guilt in all white for a smashing birthday celebration. Photo by Machel Penn book down. I've had several complaints about being up and innocence remains the Shull too late reading thanks to province of a higher authority. My new novel, “The did you work on writing this was being redefined. Certain me. As for writing novels types of prosecutions were Guilty Ones” (NYQBooks book? becoming “fashionable”— versus practicing as a crimi2012) stems from this premJC: I began working on and I do mean fashionable in nal defense lawyer, both ise. The book draws from involve telling a story, in both sides of the line that “The Guilty Ones” in the a literal sense. I stopped working on short, the creation of a narracriminal defense lawyer’s ‘90s. The idea came to me walk, the line between what based on trends that were “The Guilty Ones” to finish tive. A trial is a true test of constitutes a crime and guilt. beginning to show up in two other novels, “Roxanne narrative because each side, cases I was working on at the and Alexander,” a work of defense and prosecution, is MP: Your book “The time. Prosecutors were focus- historical fiction about the asking the jury to believe its Guilty Ones” is being ing on particular kinds of wife of Alexander the Great, account of events. At the released in August. How long financial transactions; the and “Soldier in the Grass,” end, when both sides are finidea of “white collar” crime also historical fiction, about ished telling their story, the jury renders a verdict for one or the other. For instance, as I began
Machel and Robin Shull at Karian Forysth's birthday part in The Crosby. Courtesy photo
sifting through transcripts and boxes from the first von Bulow trial, a story very different from the one created by the prosecution emerged. The story I gleaned from the evidence could be told in three words: no insulin injection. The difference between the first and second von Bulow trials was that at the second trial we mounted a defense based on testimony and evidence that Sunny, von Bulow's wife, had never been injected with insulin. At the second trial, the jury rejected the prosecution's story and believed ours. What is also interesting is the extent to which a novel, like a trial, requires credibility. A witness must be credible to be believed. The same holds true for a character in a book. Credibility matters. The story must be credible otherwise it will seem inauthentic. I strove very hard for authenticity in “The Guilty Ones.” I would say this is a direct result of my work in court. What I prefer about writing novels is that I am in control of the total picture. A trial on the other hand has many “authors. If you would like to read the longer version of Joanna Crispi’s interview, check machelpenn.com under “Book Reviews.” You can also contact Machel at mpenn@coastnewsgroup.com. If you have a fun event you would like Machel Penn to cover, contact her at mpenn@coastnewsgroup.com.
Three time New York author and lawyer Joanna Crispi is interviewed by Kimberly Running arm and arm with her husband at the "The White" This gorgeous couple are about to embark on a around-the-world hon- Machel Penn regarding her newest book, "The Guilty Ones." Joanna party in The Crosby. Kimberly Running is the manager of Oxygen eymoon, which I will be sharing pictures of very soon. Photo by Machel Crispi worked on the legendary Claus von Bulow case during the eighties. Courtesy photo Medical Spa. Photo by Machel Penn Shull Penn Shull