First Things First: An Acknowledgement

My father taught his sons and his daughter to follow a prescribed, well-planned order. Always, he counseled, do the first things first; and also, he counseled, always acknowledge the assistance of and the work performed by the other individuals who helped you to successfully accomplish your desired end, to reach your desired goals. Therefore, with that decree in mind, first things first.

Even though the text that follows hereafter is but a revision, this revision would not have been possible without the considerable assistance furnished and the considerable information generously provided by Donna Morel; she also endured and answered my frequent emails. Her incredible research into the fraudulent literary practices of C. David Heymann places her at the tiptop: she knows more than any other person on the planet about the author’s propensity to deviate from the truth, meaning to outright lie. Thus, she is the world’s Heymann expert. Additionally, she knows more about the publishing industry’s nonchalant indifference to the corruption of history perpetrated by many, if not most, of the biographers whose words they print, and in so printing, afford those corruptive words the overpowering force of facts. I know that Donna’s main and expressed goal is to effect a systemic change within the publishing industry, to encourage the institution of a vigorous fact checking policy that today does not exist. In that endeavor, I wish her luck; and I will help her wherever and whenever I can.

I also want to thank several of my friends in the Marilyn Monroe Community, and in other communities, who have provided assistance, valuable information and spoken some undeserving words of kindness; they have also endured and even answered my frequent emails. Gary Vitacco-Robles, Jim DiEugenio, Nina Boski, Lisa Pease, Sean Kean and Bill Raider. Several times, Sean and Bill have even allowed me to appear on their podcast, That’s Enough Outta You. As Marilyn most certainly would say to each of them: Thank you ever so.

Clem Heymann Briefly