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Karl Introduces Himself
Hello. My name is Karl and I am a condemned man on Texas Death Row. I'm 36 years old, a big guy with blue eyes and a bright smile. I'm the oldest of nine but, sadly, I'm not close to much of my family. I have been on Death Row for over ten years now.
My past is like most men on Death Row - a troubled and abusive childhood - but by the grace of God and with the help of many good friends, I have left that behind me, along with my self-destructive lifestyle. In late 1991 I quit drinking and drugs, and began to change my other habits. I began to live reasonably responsibly, and also happily, for the first time in my life. That was in the last five years of my freedom. In mid 1996 I was arrested for a terrible crime committed years earlier in my past.
Yet the changes I began have grown deeper during the challenging, difficult years of incarceration. There's so much in life I long for: often it seems I miss the simple things most terribly. Still, I try not to be bitter. I live as "free" as I can, and have learned to cherish the joys my life has to offer - most of all writing letters and sharing friendships.
I am always seeking new friendships, and am willing to write anyone. However, if there are people interested in helping raise awareness through collecting writings or artwork, I have some ideas and would love some help. I have been writing for many years now, and have a large collection of poetry, some memoirs, and I've begun a rough "life story". There is also a large collection of memoirs and daily events from life on death row available through my letters. Mostly I need help collecting, editing or presenting these.
A little about myself: I love to read, mostly science fiction, fantasy and some literary classics, but to be honest I'll read just about anything except true crime or romance. I enjoy writing: letters, memoirs and poetry usually. I also love music, rock and roll most of all, but I listen to many kinds. I'm a child of Mother Nature and I miss her dearly. I can vaguely remember the scent and feel of grass, but it seems like another lifetime. I enjoy working with watercolours and drawing to show appreciation and also to fulfil the longing for the natural world. I'm a tech junkie (I worked for Microsoft while free) and am interested in computers and technology. I'm interested in cooking (I collect recipes), and also in diverse social and environmental issues.
I am willing to write to you about almost anything, and am looking for friends with open minds and hearts. Anything you want to know, just ask! Or tell me a little about yourself, after all, what are friends for?!
Karl Chamberlain
Prisoner 999241
"Well I’ve just finished interviewing Mu’ina (Karl's Mother). It went well. These are always heartbreaking interviews of course. Maybe some people are hardened to it, and I guess maybe I am to an extent at this point, but it really does, you know, make me feel and make me ponder what it is to be an American and what it is to be human. The real important thing to me is to make sure people are aware of it, because we as a country or a state are going to put somebody to death. If you’re going to put somebody to death, the people, the public, should really know what they’re doing, and how it’s affecting everybody."
Dave Maas Santa Fe Reporter
January 2008