Message to readers

Goodbye Natalie Goodbye Splendour is a different type of book. I had no clue exactly what genres it would fall into after it was accepted for publication. It is not a biography. I did not consider it a true crime book because no arrest or legal suspicion had ever been involved in the official case. And I certainly did not consider it a book for the "Entertainment" genre. But, it fell into all three of those genres, and that's where Amazon presents it because those three categories are where its sales stem from. I accept and appreciate that people (readers) have defined GNGS.

I was so relieved that the truth of Natalie Wood's death would be available that I didn't think much beyond that ultimate accomplishment. To be honest, I didn't write GNGS with hopes of it helping to get the case reopened. It was when I emailed Dr. Lyndon Taylor to let him know it was picked-up by a publisher that he wrote back, "That's not our final goal, you know? We need to have the authorities reopen this case." I immediately agreed with him, although I thought the chances were slim of that happening. But I never underestimate anything Dr. Taylor has to say. He's an achiever. Also an achiever is the person who started the petition to have the Wood case reopened. I appreciate that emensely helpful effort and am grateful for it as the petition will add tremendous importance to the mission.

What motivated Dennis was for his truth to be told, too. When we were interviewed last year by EXTRA, it was a very intense interview. We were asked, "Do you want the case reopened?" Dennis said that he didn't. I said that I did. We were asked to explain. Dennis beleived it would hurt too many innocent people, that the truth being told may be enough. I explained that it wasn't about "other people" -- that this was about Natalie Wood and that she deserves the truth attached to her death, thus I would like to see the case reoepened. Then, Dennis was asked if he would cooperate if the authorities reoepened the case and he answered that he would, that he would polygraph for authorities, he would testify, whatever it would take, he would cooperate.

After that interview, Dennis told me that if I wanted to crusade for a reopeneing of the case, he was 100% behind me and that he had no qualms cooperating fully with the law. He said he would like to see Natalie's documented death history corrected, but he didn't think it was possible.

After I acquired Coast Guard Roger Smith's account, I felt I could never rest unless Natalie's case was reopened. After talking with Marilyn Wayne, and appreciating her frustration all over again, I realized I would pursue the reopening of the Natalie Wood case.

On Dennis's account alone, yes, there is enough evidence to reopen the case, but Dennis has had nothing to do with talking with Marilyn Wayne, Roger Smith, Detective Rasure, and many others I've interviewed. It is the side information I gathered to substantiate Dennis's claims that have motivated and driven me to not give up on this case. The Natalie Wood case is truly a travesty of justice.

I have tried to stay active with the case so that interest in it doesn't wane again, but upon its hugest spark last March (CNN's involvement) our publisher closed. The obstacles and hurdles involved in this case have been astronomical, but here I am, still at my blog, attempting to stress the importance of reopening this high-profile, bungled case.

In GNGS, I had mentioned the Natalie Wood death forum only because while I was finishing up the manuscript in 2008, I Googled Natalie Wood's name and was astounded at the debates over her death still going on after 26 years. I used that site as an example and nothing more. Since then, many of the forum's contributors have become GNGS's consistent circle of critics and many have become far too personal about GNGS's authors. That comes with the territory with virtually every controversial book. Write on . . . 

Constant bickering, however, on the topic and details of Natalie Wood's death is not how to ultimately help either side of the case. It gets as intense as it gets ridiculous (example: Jill is prettier than Natalie). I prefer those type of debates to remain elsewhere and not at my blog. If you want to talk about why Wagner waited over two hours to place a radio call, and over four hours to allow the Coast Guard to become involved, this is the place. If you want to talk about why Wagner opened his home to Dennis after Natalie died, this is the place. If you really want to know how close Dennis was to the Wagner family, this is the place. In fact, all of this information is included in GNGS, so even this blog is nothing more than a redundancy of the information already presented. But, for those with questions and afterthoughts, I maintain this blog, but no facts will be twisted here, no name-calling, and no insinuations of my truest motive which is only to see the Natalie Wood case reoepend in hopes she may acquire the justice she deserves. In the end, facts stand alone.

I condone none of the bickering over this story, none of the name-calling, and none of the nonsense. I wrote an honest, fact-filled book and I respect all reader input. I have not dictated any comments or reviews of GNGS. I will answer your questions HONESTLY, and will appreciate the courtesy to accept the honesty of my responses.  Please loan your books out, ask others to read about Natalie's ordeal, and ask them to sign the petition. That's how you can really help a case you feel strongly about, on either side of it.  Thank you.