![]() I have two cats, though, who are always underfoot. I live in the mountains and thrive in the peace and quiet. Pettem: I write at home, usually in my home office. SunLit: Walk us through your writing process: Where and how do you write? The real Eleanor survived her fugitive years because she blended into society as an ordinary woman. She was not “the most dangerous woman in America,” but the hype sold a lot of newspapers. Pettem: I hope readers will look beyond the “blonde tigress” sensationalism and journey back in time with me to the primary sources (such as witness testimonies in her court trial) that unearth Eleanor’s true story. SunLit: the most important thing – a theme, lesson, emotion or realization - that readers should take from this book? Since exhumation is unlikely, my hope is that someone will come forward who knew “Marie” and can provide first-hand information and/or a physical description. Pettem: My biggest challenge is being unable (at least at this time) to prove that Eleanor’s remains lie in “Marie’s” grave. SunLit: What were the biggest challenges you faced in writing this book? ![]() Both the research and the writing became a journey that I’m itching to embark on again. I focused on the characters, and the storyline took care of itself. I found the actual writing to be a rather lonely, but extremely satisfying, process. The other surprise was the believed location of Eleanor/Marie’s grave. We learned how the police investigated crimes, at the time, the details of high-profile court trials, and prison procedures and reform.Ī surprise was the discovery of a previously unknown, but major, character whom we believed helped Eleanor after her escape. Each of them, in different parts of the country, emailed me almost daily for more than two years as we shared our individual skills and resources in fleshing out Eleanor’s story.Īll three of us learned a lot about the Great Depression and the prohibition and gangster eras in early 1930s Chicago. What made it even more fun was that I had two fellow researchers who helped me. Pettem: The research was riveting and all-consuming. I like period pieces and am a big fan of film noir. My husband and I watch a lot of old movies. And in writing about historical figures, I believe it’s vitally important to depict them within the context of their times. Pettem: I have always loved historical research - it’s like going back in time. What influences and/or experiences informed the project before you sat down to write? SunLit: Tell us about creating this book. She’s buried in Denver’s Fairmount Cemetery. Denver probate records reveal that “Marie” died intestate, in 1980, and had no known heirs. One of the restaurants where she worked was Pete’s Kitchen (formerly The Kitchen), still in business at 1962 East Colfax. Only one “Marie Millman” was left - a waitress who worked on East Colfax Avenue from 1951 to 1974. Then I eliminated all who (according to census records and obituaries) had parents, siblings, and/or children. I started with genealogical databases and found numerous women named “Marie Millman” who fit into Eleanor’s time span. The story’s conclusion picks up where the family left off.Īs a Colorado author, what I uncovered came as a complete surprise. More than a half-century after Eleanor’s escape, her family involved the press in its search for the wanted woman. The book is part biography and part detective story, drawn from long-ignored primary source documents that include police, court, and prison records. That name -”Marie Millman” - was released by one of Eleanor’s descendants, in 1994. Born in 1901, and now obviously deceased, she’s believed to have been buried under the name of an alias. ![]() Here’s what I inserted between the excerpts:Ībove is Chapter 1 of “In Search of the Blonde Tigress.” Eleanor’s claim to fame is that she, most likely, was the longest-running female fugitive in America. The second excerpt consists of the concluding paragraphs in the final chapter. ![]() The first is the opening chapter on Eleanor’s escape. Pettem: Actually I’ve provided two excerpts. How does it fit into the book as a whole? Why did you select it? I thought, too, that I would take up the challenge of trying to figure out what happened to her. When I realized that there were no books about her - only sensationalized newspaper articles - I decided to research primary source materials to find out who she was as a woman. Explore the SunLit archives at /sunlit.Įleanor Jarman (involved in crime in the early 1930s in Chicago) was on the FBI’s Wanted List but was never found. Meet Colorado’s Congressional delegationĮach week, The Colorado Sun and Colorado Humanities & Center For The Book feature an excerpt from a Colorado book and an interview with the author.Cemetery reenactment hooked Silvia Pettem on tracking the lost Close
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