Even after almost 13 years of doing this, I often find it very hard to sit down and write a pen-pal ad, asking for people to write me. You want to tell people about yourself, but not bore them. You want to attract serious pen-pals, and not people who will only write for a few months. You don`t want to say too much and seem long-winded, yet you want to find the right words to give people a glimpse of who you are-BUT, where is the balance? I`ve talked about this countless times with the few guys on death row I consider friends and talk to, and we`ve all exchanged our ideas and thoughts and told our "war stories" of past failures... I think that in the end, it all comes down to having a good message, and a little bit of luck!

I can not do much about "LADY LUCK", she has always chosen who she wants to shine her light on, but I can try to put out a message at least a little different then others.
Most guys design their messages, their pen-pal ads, around the "type" of person they hope to find. That is not as simple for me, because I do not have 'one type' of person I am looking for. Some guys look to write someone looking for love. Some guys are only looking for a friend to pass time with as they wait to be executed. Some look for a friend who might oneday visit them, so they can make make new memories to hold dear. Many guys look for a new friend who can help them a little as they struggle financially in a prison system that denies us a way to support ourselves, MAKING us dependend on others for money to buy stamps, commissary food, hygiene, radios, clothes, etc..., etc. While still yet other guys look for help as they fight to save their lives.

Well, I`m not sitting back and waiting to be executed, I`m fighting for my life with all I have, and I`m not really sure if "love" is real. But I would like to make new friends, and I do need your help.

My name is Tony Medina, I`m 34 years old and habe been incarcerated since I was 21 years olf for a crime that evidence proves I did not committ. I place a very high value on friendships, I am sometimes too open and honest, yet I do not believe in being any other way. I love to read books and magazines, and talk about anything in the world. I have been blessed to have a small number of family members who have stayed by my side, as well as some dear friends who have helped support me throughout the years, but even with these great people in my corner, sometimes it`s hard not to feel alone in this fight. I guess that is what the walls of this cage do to you.

You can read more about me at www.tony-medina.info. I can not always answer every letter right away because of postage costs, but I promise to answer every letter when I have the chance to. I`m sorry for making this "ad" so long, but I thank you for giving me a few secounds of your time...

Tony Medina #999204
Polunsky Unit
3872 FM 350 South
Livingston, TX. 77351 USA