Praise for Chained Birds

Best Thrillers Magazine calls CHAINED BIRDS "An emotional, eye-popping, personal expose of the American prison system ... ONE OF THE YEAR'S BEST THRILLERS."

Independent Book Review calls CHAINED BIRDS "A captivating true crime story ... and engrossing memoir of a journalist making a difference ... ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS WE READ IN 2024."

Manhattan Book Reviews says CHAINED BIRDS is "Gripping ... from frustration to sadness and even awe at the events that transpired ... DESTINED TO BE A TRUE CRIME CLASSIC."

Order CHAINED BIRDS in Hardcover, Paperback, eBook and Audiobook from Amazon

Carla Conti is the author and narrator of CHAINED BIRDS' audiobook. Her performance is praised for bringing "a passion in a way an outside reader simply couldn't ... her performance is exceptional."

Carla Conti is the author and narrator of CHAINED BIRDS' audiobook. Her performance is praised for her captivating style. "The dialogue was rich and authentic, allowing the listener to become fully immersed ..."

Order the CHAINED BIRDS author-narrated Audiobook from Amazon or Audible
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The latest blog posts

Joe Dimino discusses Chained Birds with author Carla Conti on his podcast Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino

Podcaster explores author’s inspiration for journalism and Chained Birds

This was a big week for me in podcasting with three shows recorded, including a really fun, birdseye view talk with Joe Dimino on his YouTube podcast FAMOUS INTERVIEWS WITH JOE DIMINO. We covered a lot of ground outside my book Chained Birds and in particular, what inspired me to become a journalist in the first place. (The interview can

Ed Opperman discusses Chained Birds with author Carla Conti on his podcast THE OPPERMAN REPORT

The OPPERMAN REPORT digs into Chained Birds prison exposé and author risk

This is my second shout-out this week to Ed Opperman and my appearance on his talk radio show the OPPERMAN REPORT, which appeared on a handful of radio stations (KCAA AM/FM- WWPR AM- WWNN AM/FM- WHSP AM- KYAH AM) and now has episode links on Spotify and Patreon. Ed was kind enough to invite me on his show to talk

Burl Barer, grandfather of true crime radio and podcasting, talks all things Chained Birds with Carla Conti

Grandfather of true crime podcasting, Burl Barer, talks all things Chained Birds

It was my pleasure to call into an old-timey radio station and chat it up with the grandfather of true crime radio and podcasting Burl Barer on his show TRUE CRIME UNCENSORED WITH BURL BARER. And when I say old-timey, my instructions were to call in on a landline if I could manage it — sorry, Burl, I haven’t had

"Little Scandinavia," a good experimental prison program at Chester SCI, PA, is featured in the November 2024 issue of Philadelphia Magazine

Shout-out to Philly Mag’s profile of “Little Scandinavia” prison program

This week a friend shared a link to a Philadelphia Magazine story about the “Little Scandinavia” prison program in Chester … and boy, was that alert timely because I then got to mention the article and the program while appearing on THE OPPERMAN REPORT radio show with Ed Opperman. (I’ll link to that episode when it drops.) I’ve recorded half

Dan Zupansky interviews Carla Conti about her book Chained Birds for his True Murder podcast

TRUE MURDER podcast uncovers Chained Birds’ trial drama, character motivations

Last week I talked with journalist and author Dan Zupansky for his TRUE MURDER podcast, and it was the longest, most in-depth interview to date on all things Chained Birds. Dan covered the entire book from start to finish and just released the almost 90-minute interview on all his platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. There was much I didn’t know about Dan

Indian journalist Khudania Ajay discusses Chained Birds by Author Carla Conti on his daily YouTube show KAJ Masterclass LIVE!

Indian journalist brings Chained Birds to international audience

Today’s log in the promotional tour for Chained Birds: A True Crime Memoir brings two firsts — a sit-down with an international journalist and a live YouTube recording. I enjoyed a 30-minute chat this morning with journalist Khudania Ajay for his daily live show KAJ Masterclass LIVE! Ajay, who’s had media roles with CNBC (India), Reuters, and PTI, brings live

Instagram Reel for Chained Birds created for WildBlue Press by Kapp Co Digital

Kapp Co Digital helps WildBlue Press launch Chained Birds

I’m enjoying watching the marketing rollout this week for Chained Birds, including this 19-second Instagram reel created by Kapp Co Digital. My publisher, WildBlue Press, has just onboarded with the marketing firm, and my book is its first beneficiary. Candice Kapp, the firm’s founder and marketing specialist, has been delightful to work with and has embraced all the book’s core

Literary Titan Q-A highlights horrific experimental prison program and author safety in Chained Birds

Author Q-A covers abusive prison and why I write under a pen name

Literary Titan has posted an author Q-A on their home page, which sheds light on the Lewisburg, PA, experimental prison program at the heart of Chained Birds and the safety issues I faced while writing it. Here’s a sample of the interview: What is one thing you found in your research that surprised you? I mentioned NPR and The Marshall

Author Carla Conti discusses prison abuse and corruption revelations found Chained Birds with Jim Harold on his CRIME SCENE podcast

CRIME SCENE podcast dives into Chained Birds’ prison gangs, violence and corruption

Episode 214 of Jim Harold’s CRIME SCENE podcast dropped today, and I’m delighted to share it with true crime fans and potential readers of Chained Birds. Jim is an experienced, top-notch interviewer, and his probing questions centered on the prison abuses and corruption I reveal in the book, as well as the failings in our criminal justice system. CRIME SCENE,

Busy launch day incudes more Chained Birds reviews, shoutouts, and a box of books

Busy launch day incudes more Chained Birds reviews, shoutouts, and a box of books

It was a busy launch day at Chained Birds HQ in Philadelphia yesterday, and I’m grateful to all my well-wishers—virtual and in-person—for making my book launch so special 🥹 Yesterday morning, my wonderful write-up from Independent Book Review went live on their site, and I’m happy to post the review’s permanent link. IBR also named Chained Birds as one of their

Midwest Book Review calls Chained Birds riveting that reads like the drama of fiction but is delivered with the one-two punch of reality.

Chained Birds earns glowing write-up by Midwest Book Review

I’ve been waiting for publication week to post (and boast) about my glowing Midwest Book Review write-up, which just went live on the review site’s Bookwatch page. MBR Senior Reviewer D. Donovan highlights the snowball at the book’s beginning, which was the nexus that led to my involvement in a federal prison case and eventually to my book Chained Birds:

Chained Birds Glossary of Acronyms and Prison Lingo is a point of reference for audiobook listeners

Chained Birds glossary of acronyms and prison lingo

This supplement appears at the end of Chained Birds: A True Crime Memoir in the print and eBook editions, but I am giving it a permanent place on my blog as a point of reference, especially for audiobook listeners. My sound engineer, who guided me through the audiobook narration process in the summer of 2024, said listeners would not want to hear

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