I’m excited to announce the launch of my own imprints, Crimemoir Press & Crimemoir Audio, created to re-launch Chained Birds: A Crimemoir and publish my future books. Fun fact: In the summer of 2025, I got the rights back from the book’s original publisher, WildBlue Press, which means I’ve gone from trad-pub to indie-pub, and I couldn’t be happier.
My amicable split with WildBlue has given me control of my award-winning debut, Chained Birds, so I could re-launch it with a new subtitle, book cover, and nearly two dozen new images. This “Author’s Cut” third edition contains 20+ never-before-seen photos, sketches, and prison artwork, and will be published “wide,” unlike my previous editions.
At the time of this post, on Aug. 6, 2025, the re-launch is still in progress, but at least one platform has all available editions for sale. Ordering info is on this landing page.
Only the new “Author’s Cut” eBook edition shows the images in color. (Both the paperback and hardcover print editions show the images in black and white.) The eBook color images can be seen on a Kindle Colorsoft eReader and Kindle Fire tablets, or on any iPad, tablet, or smartphone via a Kindle app.
Not only does my “Author’s Cut” edition contain nearly two dozen new images, but at the end of each version, there’s a sneak peek of my next true crime book, The Jacklighter, scheduled for release in 2026. Curious minds can also read that teaser by signing up for my free Substack newsletter.
So, please, come join me on Substack as a Friend of the Flock, where you’ll get a front-row seat to my true crime world, including book exclusives, new release info, and newsy bits about the publishing industry. Substack is where I’ll be sharing my rights-revision journey and entry into indie-pub territory … Spoiler: publishing is a shitshow 😱
Carla Conti is a true crime journalist, storyteller, and prison reform advocate. Her debut book, Chained Birds: A True Crime Memoir of Justice, Survival and Redemption Behind Bars, is out now with WildBlue Press.
