My name is Valerie Steele, although I usually write as V.E. Steele. I am a former travel agent and freelance writer and live in Austin, Texas. I've lived here for years, since I attended the University of Texas more than twenty years ago. I was arrested many years ago for a traffic violation, and while in the county jail, stumbled onto a huge criminal organization.

When I tried to report some of their activities, which were violent and brutal,I was assaulted while in custody. I nearly died, and after my photograph and an article about the assault, including medical records from the county jail were published, I was arrested again and remanded to prison.

In my opinion, I was sentenced to prison, after my charges were dismissed, in order to silence me. Even though the publication of the article seemed to initially cause the second arrest, it made me realize the power of the press and the written word. I experienced some of the most unbelievable things imaginable while imprisoned, and felt it was my responsibility to publicize what I saw.

I originally tried to use the court system as a forum, and have a federal civil rights case pending now, but soon discovered that the technicalities that one must adhere to in order to properly submit documentation required more legal knowledge and expertise than I had.

Eventually I hope to get a law degree, but since I was repeatedly threatened while trying to publicize what I had witnessed, I wasn't sure that I had time to go to law school before something worse happened, like another retaliatory arrest. So, I'm using the court of public opinion, and hope it grants me the audience I'm trying to reach: the citizens of this country, especially those interested in justice.

My passion is ...

justice and the law

I know too much about ...

the jail and prison system

My parents always told me ...

do the right thing, no matter what..

My childhood ambition ...

to be an actress or school teacher

My favorite memory ...

my daughter's birth and childhood

Why I write ...

it is cathartic and I hope to publicize instances of injustice

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

Alan Parsons, Norah Jones, (listen) House (watch) Herman Hesse (read)

My first job ...

tourguide at the State Capitol building and Governor's mansion

My best moment ...

withstood brutal assault with head held high and reported it

My inspiration ...

Martin Luther King, Kennedy, (both) my previous attorney

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