The re-launch of Chained Birds: A Crimemoir is an "Author's Cut" edition with 20+ new photos, sketches, and prison artworkThe re-launch of Chained Birds: A Crimemoir contains 20+ new photos, sketches, and prison artwork that appear in black and white in Hardcover and Paperback print editions.The re-launch of Chained Birds: A Crimemoir is an "Author's Cut" edition with 20+ new photos, sketches, and prison artwork AND it offers a sneak peek at Carla's next true crime book, THE JACKLIGHTER, scheduled for release in 2026.

How to order the new Chained Birds edition

Chained Birds Book Trailer

Praise for Chained Birds

Indie Reader calls CHAINED BIRDS "Raw and unflinching ... a gripping exploration of the U.S. prison system's underbelly ... LINGERS LONG AFTER THE FINAL PAGE."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."Best Thrillers Magazine calls CHAINED BIRDS "An emotional, eye-popping, personal expose of the American prison system ... ONE OF THE YEAR'S BEST THRILLERS."How to order the new Chained Birds editionCarla Conti is the author and narrator of CHAINED BIRDS' audiobook. Her performance is praised by AudioReviewer.com or her captivating style. "The dialogue was rich and authentic, allowing the listener to become fully immersed ..."

The latest blog posts

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 prison abuse and why she writes 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

Literary Titan awarded Chained Birds 4/5 stars as a courtroom drams that stands apart from the typical true crime genre.

Chained Birds lauded as courtroom drama exposing harsh reality of prison gangs and corruption

This is a big week for Chained Birds book reviews as they go live on their respective websites ahead of Tuesday’s November 12, 2024 launch. And this 4-star review by Literary Titan is the first in-depth write-up of the book’s “courtroom drama” component. From the second paragraph: This memoir stands apart from the typical true crime genre. It isn’t just

A 2024Debuts Dedication Post

Debut author group has been key to my success

In this final stretch before Chained Birds: A True Crime Memoir launches on Tuesday, I wish to thank a talented, generous group of fellow debut authors who formed an alliance and brought me into their fold. I’m speaking of the 2024Debuts. Long before I joined, some entrepreneurial authors with books coming out this year banded together and created a private,

What will it be like to release my debut book Chained Birds: A True Crime Memoir during Trumpocalypse 2.0?

What’s it like to publish a book during Trumpocalypse 2.0?

Who were we kidding? A woman of color to be the next U.S. President? No can do. That mountain of American racism and misogyny is just too steep. Pundits and others will debate and blame Trump’s assassination attempt, defecting Latinos, or lies about migrants eating cats that stuck and held. But it really just comes down to racism and misogyny

BestThrillers.com 5-star review hints at political backdrop to Chained Birds: A True Crime Memoir

BestThrillers review hints at political backdrop of Chained Birds

Yeah. I’m gonna go there. I need to get this out of the way … In recognition of my wonderful BestThrillers.com book review going live on their website, I’m going to expand on one theme from its critique that no other reviewer has mentioned, and that is politics. But before I dive into that cesspool, I want to highlight some

Chained Birds holds two Amazon #1 New Release spots three weeks from launch

Chained Birds holds two Amazon #1 New Release spots three weeks from launch

In honor of my very first — and first 5-star, no less! — editorial review from Readers’ Favorite going live this week, I’m updating my post from two months ago when it first landed in my inbox and spurred all kinds of delirium. Coincidentally, Chained Birds has held TWO #1 spots on Amazon’s Hot New Releases lists this past week

Pre-order Chained Birds Hardback and Paperback version from ThriftBooks, BooksAMillion, Walmart, and Barnes & Nobel. Pre-order the eBook and Audiobook from Amazon. All four editions will be available from Amazon on pub day 11-12-24.

Chained Birds pre-orders are live!

All print and digital editions of Chained Birds are available for pre-order … but not all in one place! The e-Book and audiobook can be pre-ordered on Amazon for instant delivery to devices on the 11/12/24 publication day! (And the eBook will remain on sale at $2.99 until launch day, when the price will go up!) But I know most of

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