Cyntoia Brown-Long comes to Atlanta for Nov. 11 book signing
Cyntoia Brown-Long, who spent 15 years in prison for murder, will be in Atlanta Nov. 11 to sign copies of her book, “Free Cyntoia: My Search for Redemption in the American Prison System.”
Brown-Long was convicted of the 2004 murder of Johnny Allen, a Nashville real estate agent who picked her up to have sex.
Brown-Long, who was 16 when she was sentenced, told police she shot the 43-year-old Allen in self defense, fearing he was reaching for a gun.
She had been forced into sex trafficking as a child.
At 31, she was granted clemency by then-Gov. Bill Haslam, who cited her age at the time of the shooting and her rehabilitation while in prison. She was released this summer.
She has said she hopes her experience will help young people.
The discussion and book signing will be held at 6 p.m. Nov. 11 at Clark Atlanta University’s Juanita P. Baranco Multipurpose Room at the Bishop Cornelius L. Henderson Student Center, 223 James P. Brawley Drive S.W.
The book was written with Bethany Mauger.
Brown-Long's case drew international attention and trended on social media under the hashtag #FreeCyntoiaBrown. Celebrities such as Rihanna and Kim Kardashian West called for her release.
After being freed, Brown-Long announced her marriage to Christian performer Jamie Long .
About the Author
Shelia has worked at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for more than 30 years. Previously, she worked at The Lexington Herald-Leader and The Louisville Defender. Her beat is a bit of a mixed bag that includes religion and spirituality, culture and trends, race and aging. She earned degrees from Spelman College and Northwestern University.
