Author Archives: Joan Treppa

New Edition…New Perspectives…New Look…

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Hello fellow supporters of Six Innocent Men –

For the majority of the winter, I’ve intensely focused on a 3rd edition of my book, Reclaiming Lives. I’m especially proud of this version and am excited to share the following information.

With merely weeks to go before publication, (approximately 4-6 weeks) this leg of the journey is getting real! Preorders are now available!!

Here’s a recap of the many steps that have been taken to ensure that this edition is top-notch.

New content crucial to this story which I believe will give readers much to think about regarding the merits of this case has been added.

The guys themselves once again contributed content which adds yet another layer to this story that will provide invaluable insight to all who read this book.

I am for the first time revealing the exciting new cover image!

Image of the Brown County Courthouse in Green Bay, WI

This version will have an entirely new look, complete with color photos. It will also have a Table of Contents and a listing of key characters to lessen the confusion about who is who.

The 4 beta-readers did an amazing job of scrutinizing and providing feedback for the manuscript. What they found truly makes this edition shine! The professional editor (through my publisher), upon completing their final round of edits for the manuscript, had this to say:

“A fascinating story and really well told. I like the narration style and content and the writing was quite good throughout.”  

I specifically asked my good friend Vicki to be a beta-reader because she reads a lot and has a good feel for what makes a good book stand out. She shared that my book is every bit as worthy of being on best seller lists. However, the fact that I’m not a well-known author per se makes it difficult to get there. So…I truly need your help.

A great way to start is by sharing the link below with friends, family, colleagues, anyone you can think of who might be interested. I’d also appreciate it if some of you took the initiative to reach out to media outlets, news organizations, libraries, book stores, etc… The more exposure this book gets the better chance it has of receiving recognition.

Let’s hit the ground running and get this important story out there and into as many hands as possible. These six men and their families deserve that much.

Preorder through this link:

https://www.kirkhousepublishers.com/product-page/reclaiming-lives-third-edition-by-joan-treppa

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Joan

Happy Holidays!

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What’s in store for Reclaiming Lives in the New Year…?

Hi everyone. I’ve been absent for what seems like eternity but I wanted to share some exciting updates regarding my book. I’ve been diligently working on a third and final edition. There’s plenty yet to be done but much progress is being made. So….what will be included in this latest version?

Banner courtesy of StoryFirst Media in Madison, WI

In 2023, the Beyond Human Nature documentary premiered at the Green Bay Film Festival to a sold out crowd. Many supporters of the project were in attendance including our exoneree, Michael “Pie” Piaskowski. He, of course, had plenty to say about the endless barrage of false claims made throughout the film by the former Brown County DA, John Zakowski and the former detective, Randy Winkler. I dedicated a chapter to highlight Pie’s rebuttals.

(LtoR) Professor Nolan Bennett, Joan Treppa, and Keith Kutska during a visit to UWGB on February 29, 2023.

A chapter about Keith Kutska’s release in August 2023 has also been added.

Now that all of the men are free and have been for some time, I’ve asked each of them to provide insights into how life is going for them now.  You’ll be amazed at what they’re up to!

At the suggestion of an attorney whom I chatted with at a 2023 book fair – and due to a number of readers expressing difficulty with keeping the extensive cast of characters in the book straight – I’ve compiled a listing that will appear in the front of the book to be used as a quick reference that will include those names which cause the most confusion.

Exoneree Amanda Knox and Joan Treppa at the 2024 Great North Innocence Benefit.

Throughout this process amazing connections are being made which could lead to exciting developments that, for now, are too premature and too uncertain to share. Please send your happy vibes for the best outcomes in each of them. I’ve always believed that timing is key in this journey for justice. I believe that it will continue to be so moving forward. We have always been on the side of true justice. AND WE STILL ARE!

Talented ‘beta’ readers have lent their time and have provided valuable feedback that is transforming this version into the best one yet! The book will also have an entirely new look with a fabulous new cover design I cannot wait to share with you! Rest assured, the book’s important story and message will remain the same.

At this time, I’m refraining from giving a timeline for its completion. So stay tuned…

Okay…time to get back to work. My list of tasks continues to grow. But so does my enthusiasm for this blockbuster edition!

As always, thank you for your amazing support.

During this busy time, make sure to take time for YOU.

From our hearth to yours, have a wonderful holiday season! I’ll see you next year!

Joan

An Evening at the Weidner…

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This posting, which is long overdue, has the link to an important panel discussion that took place on March 26, 2024. The event was held at The Weidner; a performing arts center on the University of Wisconsin’s Green Bay (UWGB) campus. It was attended by nearly 200 people.

A special thank you to Nolan Bennett, Professor of Democracy&Justice Studies and Political Science at UWGB who so graciously dedicated the Spring semester to educating his students on the Monfils case. Throughout the semester, Bennett coordinated a screening of the Beyond Human Nature documentary and diligently orchestrated many visits with those of us heavily involved in the case to share our knowledge and advocacy with his students.

Joan and Keith’s visit to Nolan Bennett’s class on February 29, 2024.

Keith Kutska and I spoke to one of Bennett’s classes on Thursday, February 29, 2024. It was Keith’s first public appearance since his release on Wednesday, August 30, 2023. Like his codefendants prior to their public appearances, Keith was nervous about how the students would react to him. Based on my past experiences with students, I reassured him that this visit would likely be positive.

In fact, Keith was delighted by how welcoming, engaging, and inquisitive the students were. And when asked a thought-provoking 2-part question, Keith answered as honestly and sincerely as he could. The student wanted to know if, in hindsight, Keith would have acted differently in confronting Monfils, and if he regretted his actions on that day. “Yes, I regret what happened after I confronted Tom. If I knew how badly things were going to get I would have done it in private.”

Keith was gracious and thoughtful in his interactions with the students. Afterwards some of them came up to him to shake his hand and thank him for sharing his experience. I could see how deeply his presence had impacted them.

The panel discussion at the Weidner was the finale for the semester. Following opening remarks by Dean Ryan Martin and Professor Bennett, I recited a thorough summary of the case to the audience. Bennett then conducted a two-hour Q&A with seven of us; codefendants in the case: Michael Piaskowski, Michael Hirn, and Michael Johnson, retired Attorney Steve Kaplan, Cal Monfils (brother of Tom Monfils), author Denis Gullickson, and myself. The feedback we all received following the discussion was gratifying. In our ongoing mission to educate the public on the merits of this case, we had once again succeeded in sharing crucial facts that had been blatantly ignored for decades; facts that could have determined a much different outcome in this case.

(L to R) Joan Treppa, Michael Johnson, Michael Piaskowski, Steve Kaplan, Denis Gullickson, Cal Monfils, Michael Hirn. At the podium, Professor Nolan Bennett.

And now…here is the discussion in its entirety. Please note that the actual discussion begins at the eleven minute mark:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2ikedSyLGI