Posted on July 16, 2019 at 3:54 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Participants in Wally Lamb’s prison writing program have filed a lawsuit against the bestselling author.

Lamb has previously published two anthologies of the work his students at Connecticut’s York Correctional Institution and was intending to release a third volume this fall.

Instead, the Hartford Courant reports, two participants have filed a suit against Lamb over payment disputes and alleged bullying, leading prison officials to suspend the program in the meantime.

In light of that, the Connecticut Department of Correction has put the program on hold while an internal investigation takes place.

Lamb, through his lawyer, pushes back against the claims; though he didn’t speak to reporters, the paper published excerpts from his emails to plaintiffs and more details about their complaints.

That said, the suspension could be a moot point — Lamb said in an interview months earlier that he was looking at wrapping up his involvement with the workshops he’s held for two decades now.

The author has written six New York Times bestsellers, including I Know This Much is True and She’s Come Undone, and has been selected for Oprah’s Book Club twice.

Categories: Today in Books

Tagged As: Lawsuit

Comments
These women speak the truth. I was in the first book, I Couldn't Keep it to Myself. I was harassed and maligned by Mr. Lamb and his York Correctional protege Dale Griffith. The only inmates they cared about were those with sensational crimes. They didn't care if you were a good writer.. The gave a$20,000 Pen Award to Dale Griffith's best friend, I was never asked to participate in any book signings or promotions, Mr. Lamb edited my story and wrote lies. I ended up in a psychiatric hospital because of his and Dale Griffith's actions. I moved on, got my degrees d have recently finished s novel. However, do not disclaim these women. I willtestify on their behalf, if need be. The entire experience was a horror story. It would and probably will make a great book. What a manipulative, awful man he is. He needs to write his own book and stop exploiting vulnerable inmates. In fact I myself am considering.a lawsuit for what I wS put through. He needs to be stopped.
Carolyn Adams | 8/8/19 at 4:59 PM
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