Introduction

I was on duty in Garreg Fawr, that’s Welsh for Big Rock by the way. I unlocked the heavy, metal studded door of the sixteenth century farmhouse and opened the wooden shutters to let in the light. The sunbeams hit the dark oak table standing in the middle of the large panelled room. It was a beautiful morning much too nice to stay inside and with the warm weather I decided not to light a fire, instead I thought I’d sit outside on the nearby bench in the bright sunshine. The museum wouldn’t open for another half hour and once it did, it would take a while before any visitors reached me. The air was filled with birdsong as I opened my handbag and taking out my pad and pen I paused for a few seconds to gather my thoughts, “Dear Jerry”, I wrote.

“Sharon” I looked up and there stood Jimmy, a fellow workmate. “What are you doing?” he asked. “You’ll never believe this, I’m writing to a prisoner in America”, I said.
“Hey, you’d better be careful, or you could end up falling in love” he replied. I laughed out loud at such an absurd idea. “Why are you writing to him then?” he continued. Screwing my eyes against the sun I squinted up at him not knowing what to say.

This encounter took place in August 2002, a lifetime away, well that’s what it feels like. So much has happened since then, so much in fact that I’ve ended up writing this book. I believe I’m correct when I say that of its kind it’s unique. Oh, there’s hundreds, probably thousands of books about prisons and prisoners in the United States, it’s a huge subject, but I bet none of them are like this one. Of course, I’m not asking you to take my word for it, but I am inviting you to read our story and see for yourself.