Chapter 12 - My first mistake
My biggest mistake came three days after the gala.
A reporter called.
I should have said:
“No comment.”
Instead, I was angry.
I told her:
“Victor stole everything Daniel wrote.”
False.
Too broad.
Victor had not stolen everything.
Some works were legitimate commissions.
Some were collaborative.
Some were clearly Victor’s melodies with Daniel’s orchestration.
I knew that.
But anger likes total language.
The quote appeared online.
VICTOR BLACKWOOD “STOLE EVERYTHING,” DEAD COMPOSER’S WIDOW CLAIMS.
Victor’s lawyers sent a demand for retraction.
Leah called me.
“Did you say it?”
“Yes.”
“Was it true?”
“Not literally.”
“Then we correct it.”
I hated the idea.
“It makes me look weak.”
“It makes you look accurate.”
There.
We issued:
My statement that Mr. Blackwood “stole everything” my husband wrote was an emotional overstatement. My concern relates specifically to The Lantern Sea, portions of Ashes Above the River, and associated authorship representations.
Less dramatic.
Stronger.
Victor’s people used my original quote to argue I was unreliable.
Fair.
May you like
Evidence had to do more work because I had given them noise.
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