Upcoming Author Events

Free events and open to the public.

Author, journalist, and lifelong Chicagoan Daniel P. Smith guides readers into the closed-door society that is the Chicago Police Department in his compelling debut work, On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department. Sharing never-before-told stories of the tolls the job exacts on the officers and their lives while interweaving a discussion of Chicago’s criminal landscape, police department culture, and history, Smith discusses the personal experiences that led him to pen On the Job and the unique perspective he was able to achieve given his background. Includes a question and answer session. Copies of On the Job will be available for the discounted price of $15.

January 6, 2010 @ 7pm

Indian Prairie Public Library

401 Plainfield Road

Darien, IL 60561

http://www.indianprairielibrary.org/

January 18, 2010 @ 7pm

Oak Lawn Public Library

9427 South Raymond Avenue

Oak Lawn, IL 60453

http://www.lib.oak-lawn.il.us/

Lake Claremont Press--and On the Job--at Chicago's Christkindlmarket

For 29 straight days between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, Lake Claremont Press will join German & Austrian vendors in Daley Plaza for the 13th Annual Christkindlmarket. Selling books from their 15-year line up of Chicago nonfiction, including On the Job, Lake Claremont Press has gifts for family and friends. Even more, Lake Claremont Press has some special deals. all books will be reduced AND they will be: Buy 2, get a 3rd free; Buy 3 books, get 2 free; Buy 4 books, get 3 free; and Buy 5 books, get 4 free.

The Christkindlmarket runs 11am to 8pm Sunday thru Thursday and 11am to 9pm Friday and Saturday. Daley Plaza is located on Washington between Clark and Dearborn. Admission to the market is free.

A Black Friday SPECIAL OFFER

A Black Friday SPECIAL OFFER

Buy a copy of On the Job as a holiday gift!

1 copy for $18

2 copies for $34

3 copies for $48

Prices include shipping and can be signed by the author to specific recipients. Checks only.

Send an e-mail to smithwriting@gmail.com for ordering information.

Offer ends at 11:59pm on Friday, November 27.

Prestigious Society of Midland of Midland Authors welcomes Daniel P. Smith

The Society of Midland Authors, a nearly 100-year old organization whose membership has included most of the Midwest's most celebrated authors (such as Jane Addams, Carl Sandburg, and Clarence Darrow), recently welcomed On the Job author Daniel P. Smith into its ranks. Smith joins an accomplished lists of current members, including Scott Turow, Dominic A. Pacyga, Rick Kogan, and Stuart Dybek.

Of the high honor, Smith said: "The Society of Midland Authors has an illustrious history and represents the writing craft well. To be in the company of such accomplished writers is a real honor and a real thrill."

Artist Lindsay Olson captures essence of On the Job

Chicago-based artist Lindsay Olson, the artist-in-residence at the Oak Park Police Department, has been working to produce a series of drawings inspired by On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department. Her first work in the "Tools of the Trade: A Citizen's View of Law Enforcement" series incorporates the list of 911 calls for the 11th District that author Daniel P. Smith weaved into the text. Lindsay discusses the book and the inspiration it gave her artwork at her Tools of the Trade blog.

Lindsay's full line of work is slated to be on display at the Oak Park Public Library in June 2010.

Become a Facebook Fan of On the Job

Author Daniel P. Smith has set up a Facebook Fan site for On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department. If you're on Facebook, join the party and become a fan of On the Job. Then, encourage your friends to enter the foray as well.

Many thanks to the over 600 fans who joined On the Job's Facebook movement in its initial two weeks. Good day to all.

West Chicago Library set to host On the Job author

On the Job author Daniel P. Smith will bring his compelling, story-filled presentation to the West Chicago Public Libary on Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at 7:00pm. The event is free and open to the public.

Weds, Sept 9 @ 7:00pm

West Chicago Public Library

118 W Washington St

West Chicago, IL 60185

(630) 231-1552

http://www.westchicago.lib.il.us/adult-services/programs/the-path-to-on-the-job.aspx

Wisconsin groups welcome On the Job author

Author Daniel P. Smith made the trek to Green Bay, Wisconsin to speak to a number of Citizen Police Academy groups about his work and research in completing On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department. Despite the author's allegiance to the Chicago Bears in the shadow of the Green Bay Packers' Lambeau Field, the exciting event showcased the universal nature of On the Job and the book's ability to transcend longstanding divisions and perceived differences in the hopes of inspiring empathy for law enforcement officers in and out of Chicago.

Many thanks to Ashwaubenon Police Department Investigator Diana Lawler for the invite and welcoming crowd.

Following his author program in Ashwaubenon, WI, On the Job author Daniel P. Smith poses with members of the Marinette, WI Citizens Police Academy alumni group.

Beverly Library to host On the Job author

On the Job author Daniel P. Smith is slated to present his author program, "The Path to On the Job," at Chicago's Beverly Library on August 25 at 7pm. The recently remodeled library in Chicago's historic Beverly neighborhood stands a fitting backdrop for Smith's discussion of Chicago's unique character and law enforcement realities. The program is FREE and open to the public.

Tuesday, August 25 @ 7pm

Beverly Library

1962 W. 95th Street (Chicago)
(312) 747-9673

Stop by the Edison Park Fest

For the second consecutive year, On the Job author Daniel P. Smith will have a tent space at the Edison Park Fest on Chicago's northwest side. The 2009 edition of the fest will take place on August 15 and 16.

In addition to selling and signing copies of On the Job, his debut work, Smith will also have available a complete line of books from Chicago-based publisher Lake Claremont Press, including Rick Kogan's ode to the famed Billy Goat Tavern, Andy Austin's memoir of life as a courtroom sketch artist, and Sharon Shea Bossard's helpful guidebook, Finding Your Chicago Irish.

For additional information on the Edison Park Fest, including location and hours, please visit the Edison Park Chamber of Commerce.

For additional information on Lake Claremont Press and its many Chicago-focused titles, please visit www.lakeclaremont.com.

Edison Park Fest

Saturday, August 15--9am to 7pm

Sunday, August 16--10am to 7pm

Smith appears on CAN-TV's "Avila Fine Arts Show"

On the Job author Daniel P. Smith recently appeared on the CAN-TV's "Avila Fine Arts Show." The Chicago-based program, hosted by attorney Frank Avila, explores Chicago's cultural, political, and historical scene. To view the program, visit: http://blip.tv/file/2429096.

Many thanks to program host Frank Avila for guiding an honest discussion and program producer Tony Joyce for coordinating the appearance.

On the Job author set to appear at Brookfield Public Library

Join journalist and On the Job author Daniel P. Smith at the Brookfield Public Library on Thursday, June 18 for his presentation--"The Path to On the Job: Murder, Reflection, and Where TV Cop Shows Fail." The FREE presentation begins at 7pm.

Thursday, June 18 @ 7pm

Brookfield Public Library

3609 Grand Boulevard

Brookfield, IL 60513

http://www.brookfieldpubliclibrary.info/calendar

Ask the Author: Who inspires you?

Answer: I could go on for quite a while listing a number of authors, thinkers, and notable individuals I’ve known personally who’ve moved me in some way to push along this path. Rather than bore you with that, however, I’ll settle with these two:

1.) I’ve long been inspired by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, author of The Little Prince, who showed how complex and philosophical and real even a simple story and its characters could be. In all of my work, I seek to find the extraordinary in the ordinary much like Saint-Exupery.

2.) On a wider scale, I’m inspired by anyone who wants to share their story in a sincere, honest way. I love people who accept the vulnerability that comes with sharing a piece of their life so that I may take up the challenge of crafting a story around their words and experiences. It’s such people who guide On the Job and will continue to blanket my work.

Ask the Author is a running series of live audience or reader questions directed at On the Job author Daniel P. Smith. The series, which appears each Monday, is aimed at providing greater insight into Smith’s work in researching and writing On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department as well as the book’s content. A speaker noted for his energy and engaging style, Smith is available for presentations at a wide range of events, including private book clubs, Citizen Police Academy meetings, libraries, senior centers, and schools. Please contact him directly at smithwriting@gmail.com to schedule an event.

Are you a reader with a question for On the Job author Daniel P. Smith? Send it to smithwriting@gmail.com.

Ask the Author: How did you get started as a writer?

(Note from the author: Many thanks to the good folks at Ebinger School on Chicago's northwest side for inviting me to attend their annual Career Day. This question arrives from one of the school's eighth-grade students.)

Answer: I came from a blue-collar area of Chicago, a neighborhood filled with cops, firemen, electricians, and other laborers, so the thought of becoming a writer never occurred to me. The only people I knew growing up who worked for the Chicago Tribune or the Chicago Sun-Times delivered or sold the newspapers, my grandfather included. Growing up, I never knew writing was a realistic option.

At the University of Illinois at Chicago, I began writing sports for the college newspaper. I then became the sports editor and, later, an editorial columnist. That work gave me a practical grounding in the craft and inspired me to do more. I began do freelance work for one of Chicago’s daily newspapers and a few magazines. And so my career as a writer began, even as I continued to think I might become a high school teacher and coach.

Ask the Author is a running series of live audience or reader questions directed at On the Job author Daniel P. Smith. The series, which appears each Monday, is aimed at providing greater insight into Smith’s work in researching and writing On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department as well as the book’s content. A speaker noted for his energy and engaging style, Smith is available for presentations at a wide range of events, including private book clubs, Citizen Police Academy meetings, libraries, senior centers, and schools. Please contact him directly at smithwriting@gmail.com to schedule an event.

Are you a reader with a question for On the Job author Daniel P. Smith? Send it to smithwriting@gmail.com.

On the Job author slated to appear on Fox Chicago News

On the Job author Daniel P. Smith was interviewed by Fox Chicago News recently for a story on the nearing trial of former Chicago Police Officer Anthony Abbate. The story is (tentatively) slated to run on the 9pm newscast on Friday, May 29, just days before the start of Abbate's criminal trial.

Check it out:

Fox Chicago News

Friday, May 29 @ 9pm

Author Daniel P. Smith discusses the trial of ex-Chicago cop Anthony Abbate and the CPD's subsequent battle with public perception.

Update: Fox Chicago has posted the 3-minute special report online.

Ask the Author: How do you think the Chicago Police Department perceives On the Job?

Answer: Many Chicago officers I've met perceive the book in a positive light. I'm quick to say, however, that appeasing the police or city brass was not my goal; On the Job was not intended to be a civic booster project. The book has over 70,000 words, so I cannot expect that every word will please everyone. Some CPD may not like it, some average readers, too.


In my mind, I accomplished my objective—to encourage empathy for Chicago’s officers and show them as human beings rather than a uniform—and I need to be at peace with my work and know I wrote the best book I could. I would hope officers would look upon such honesty and sincerity in a positive way, particularly as most media stories about them generally reinforce some nasty stereotypes. Are all Chicago officers these wonderful human beings we should blindly praise? Absolutely not and it's naive to think so. Yet, they are not the unthinking, prejudiced, trigger-happy, etc, people we so often view them as. They have fears, emotions, ambitions. They are our neighbors, our friends, our family, our fellow Chicagoans. On the Job, I believe, sheds the uniform and reveals the soul—as best as my twentysomething mind could portray it. I would hope any reader, cop or civilian, would appreciate my sincere effort.

Ask the Author is a running series of live audience or reader questions directed at On the Job author Daniel P. Smith. The series, which appears each Monday, is aimed at providing greater insight into Smith’s work in researching and writing On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department as well as the book’s content. A speaker noted for his energy and engaging style, Smith is available for presentations at a wide range of events, including private book clubs, Citizen Police Academy meetings, libraries, senior centers, and schools. Please contact him directly at smithwriting@gmail.com to schedule an event.

Are you a reader with a question for On the Job author Daniel P. Smith? Send it to smithwriting@gmail.com.

10 Questions for On the Job author

Accomplished author and freelance writer Wendy Burt-Thomas recently interviewed On the Job author Daniel P. Smith for her "10 Questions" blog feature. The site, geared at providing advice and insight for all writers, asks Smith to describe his work space, his career trajectory, and the best and worst parts about being a writer.

To read Wendy's full interview with Danny, click here.

Ask the Author: Is there a way for cops to balance their work lives

Answer: Of course. I think reflection is a key component. I think a sound family life can help. I think a realistic perception of their individual lives is important. My two great uncles who were Chicago cops did a marvelous job of balancing work and life. They were tremendous fathers, decorated officers, and sincere men. I believe both of them did that by keeping those worlds separate as best they could, yet recognizing just how difficult a challenge that task would be. Ultimately, they challenged themselves to put their best effort forward each day and acknowledging that they would make their mistakes as both parents and officers. They put each role in its proper context and, more than anything, noted the carry over from one world to the other. For example, these are two men who realized that compassion was just as important as a father as it was an officer.

My biggest concern, however, is how so few officers take advantage of counseling or learn positive coping mechanisms to deal with the job's inherent stress. The cop culture has a general resistance to such help and that scares me because there are so many who need to discover positive outlets for the troubles of each day. The “macho” culture prevalent in so many departments restricts too many officers from accepting help.

Ask the Author is a running series of live audience or reader questions directed at On the Job author Daniel P. Smith. The series, which appears each Monday, is aimed at providing greater insight into Smith’s work in researching and writing On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department as well as the book’s content. A speaker noted for his energy and engaging style, Smith is available for presentations at a wide range of events, including private book clubs, Citizen Police Academy meetings, libraries, senior centers, and schools. Please contact him directly at smithwriting@gmail.com to schedule an event.

Are you a reader with a question for On the Job author Daniel P. Smith? Send it to smithwriting@gmail.com.

Woodridge Citizens Police Academy Class welcomes On the Job author

On April 29, the Woodridge Citizens Police Academy (CPA) class earned their degrees of completion, but not before hearing On the Job author Daniel P. Smith present on police department culture and life. Filled with stories and insightful audience questions, the characteristic of nearly all CPAs, Smith's presentation added an extra layer of insight to the class members' growing understanding of the law enforcement world.

Many thanks to Woodridge Police Officer Kevin Lindblom for inviting Mr. Smith and his colleague, Frank Jackowiak, for the photos.

Ask the Author: How did your family react to you not wanting to be a cop?

Answer: Being a police officer has been the vocation of many in my family, but that’s simply not where my heart rests. I feel called to do other things in life. My mother may have breathed a sigh of relief, happy that both of her sons weren’t in such a dangerous profession. I fear my brother, however, may have been quietly disappointed. I think he wanted me at his side wearing the Chicago Police star.

Ask the Author is a running series of live audience or reader questions directed at On the Job author Daniel P. Smith. The series, which appears each Monday, is aimed at providing greater insight into Smith’s work in researching and writing On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department as well as the book’s content. A speaker noted for his energy and engaging style, Smith is available for presentations at a wide range of events, including private book clubs, Citizen Police Academy meetings, libraries, senior centers, and schools. Please contact him directly at smithwriting@gmail.com to schedule an event.

Are you a reader with a question for On the Job author Daniel P. Smith? Send it to smithwriting@gmail.com.

Celebrate--and Visit--Independent Booksellers on May 1, 2009

The good folks over at The Outfit Collective, an oft-visited, celebrated blog examining life and crime in Chicago, will be celebrating BUY INDIE DAY in style on Friday, May 1, 2009. Various Chicago authors will be scattered about the Chicago area at independent bookstores to invite readers into these worthy establishments and highlight the importance of these independent outposts. Check out The Outfit's posting here: http://theoutfitcollective.blogspot.com/2009/04/take-break-shake-that-frown-reassess.html.

A few of Daniel P. Smith's favorite spots: Centuries and Sleuths in Forest Park and The Frugal Muse in Darien.

Independent booksellers are a vital cog in Chicago's literary scene. Please support these businesses on Friday, May 1 and throughout the year.

Ask the Author: There are many stereotypes out there about cops and their lives. Do

Answer: I’ve always believed that stereotypes have some basis in reality. For instance, divorce and alcoholism appear far too often in the ranks of the Chicago Police Department and really law enforcement agencies throughout the country. To characterize all cops as womanizing drunks, however, is as narrow-minded as turning a blind eye to the presence, however slim or great, of that reality. So are there stereotypes out there about cops that have validity? You bet. But I’d warn of putting every officer you meet in that basket, which is of course the danger of any stereotype. One of the refreshing things I learned myself in conducting these private interviews was how many officers broke some of the most common stereotypes associated with Chicago officers. I found men and women with reflective minds, advanced degrees, spiritual grounding, and without a trace of the tough-guy, cynical attitude.

I’ll add this, though. I believe that many of the negative stereotypes we hold of cops (prejudiced and cynical, for instance) are based in all human psyches. Yet, being police officers, seeing what they do on a daily basis, accelerates and heightens those traits. The intense environment in which so many officers work brings some of those human flaws to the surface at a rapid pace for so many, but being a cop does not alone activate those flaws. I think that’s an important distinction we all need to realize. These cops are just like us. They sat next to us in grade school, stand behind us in grocery lines, and pray next to us in church pews. They are among us, not distinct from us.

Ask the Author is a running series of live audience or reader questions directed at On the Job author Daniel P. Smith. The series, which appears each Monday, is aimed at providing greater insight into Smith’s work in researching and writing On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department as well as the book’s content. A speaker noted for his energy and engaging style, Smith is available for presentations at a wide range of events, including private book clubs, Citizen Police Academy meetings, libraries, senior centers, and schools.

Please contact him directly at smithwriting@gmail.com to schedule an event. Are you a reader with a question for On the Job author Daniel P. Smith? Send it to smithwriting@gmail.com.

Chicago Magazine asks Can Cameras Replace Cops? On the Job author responds

In the March 2009 edition of Chicago Magazine, a cover story asked "Can Cameras Replace Cops?" In a detailed story exploring the skyrocketing use of technology in the police world, reporter Noah Isackson mixed diverse perspectives, factual details, and identifiable trends to examine the issue and impact of cameras and police work in Chicago.

In response to Isackson's report, On the Job author Daniel P. Smith penned a Letter to the Editor, which appeared in the May 2009 edition of the magazine. Here is Smith's response in its entirety:

Losing the Chicago Way
Noah Isackson’s March story “Can Cameras Replace Cops?” highlighted a disturbing trend: the sharp movement away from human intelligence and community-based policing.

While technology has its place and certainly its prospects, it cannot and should not overtake the mix of officer acumen and community help in disrupting crime. If we wanted to know the tangible cost of a safe city, Superintendent Jody Weis provided it with his recent budget cuts to CAPS: $5.3 million, a 41 percent drop from 2000.

While CAPS is not perfect, it has been lauded across the country and copied by departments big and small for one simple reason—a proven track record. CAPS does not shy away from a hands-on, personal approach that plants the seeds of prevention and community support, essential elements to the city’s success in battling crime.

Loyola University criminologist Arthur Lurigio is right—“You need a big toolbox to be effective in a big, complicated city like Chicago,” he said—and Supt. Weis has made the department’s biggest sledge hammer a soft-faced mallet with his truncated investment in CAPS.

With the department’s slashing of a key program, limited police manpower, the perceived lack of leadership support, and the addition of cameras to squad cars, Chicago is slowly becoming what many retired and veteran city police officers feared most: cops afraid to do anything.

And that’s certainly not the Chicago Way.

Ask the Author: How different is life when you grow up in a cop family?

(From Beth at Prairie Trails Public Library)

My father was a Chicago cop, but my folks divorced when I was three. He left the department soon after that and has played little role in my life since. I wouldn’t say growing up in a cop family is different, but there’s certainly an awareness to crime that I think many of my contemporaries ignore. For example, I’m double checking that my car and house doors are locked. I have to sit in restaurants facing the door. I look in my rear view mirrors at stoplights. Such daily routines are entirely a product of my upbringing and the knowledge that crime can strike, particularly if one is careless. Other than that, growing up in a cop family led to some interesting dinner conversations; I got to know plenty about Chicago’s underbelly, civic landscape, and character. I can honestly say I was more "aware" of the city and its reality on a variety of fronts, including social, political, historical, and geographical.

Ask the Author is a running series of live audience or reader questions directed at On the Job author Daniel P. Smith. The series, which appears each Monday, is aimed at providing greater insight into Smith’s work in researching and writing On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department as well as the book’s content. A speaker noted for his energy and engaging style, Smith is available for presentations at a wide range of events, including private book clubs, Citizen Police Academy meetings, libraries, senior centers, and schools. Please contact him directly at smithwriting@gmail.com to schedule an event.

Are you a reader with a question for On the Job author Daniel P. Smith? Send it to smithwriting@gmail.com.

On the Job Author at the Orland Park Library

On the Job author Daniel P. Smith will be presenting his author program, "The Path to On the Job: Murder, Reflection, and Where TV Cop Shows Fail," at the Orland Park Public Library on Thursday, April 23, 2009 at 7pm. The program is free and open to the public.

For additional information, please visit: http://calendar.orlandparklibrary.org/.

Thursday, April 23 @ 7pm

Orland Park Library

14921 Ravinia Avenue

Orland Park, IL 60462

708-428-5100

Ask the Author: How much research went into On the Job?

Answer: I suppose I had been unknowingly researching this book for years as I listened to my uncles, brother, and others tell their Chicago Police stories, but my work didn't officially begin until late 2004. My initial research was all interviews and ride-alongs. From there, I wrote a first draft. This first draft, however, was merely 19 magazine-length personality profiles. One story wasn't connected to the next except by the subjects’ shared occupation and city. From there, Lake Claremont Press Publisher Sharon Woodhouse and I agreed that the book needed a reinvention, a more fluid and connected structure. Over the next months, I read everything I could get my hands on regarding the CPD as the book's reinvention took shape. I then divided the book into four units: a look at Chicago's criminal landscape; history of CPD; culture and organization of CPD; and, finally, the psychology of being the CPD. Each intro has an approximately 4,000-word intro and is then followed by the 4-6 personality profiles that relate to that unit heading. For example, in the history unit I speak with an officer from the '68 Democratic National Convention and then follow his career forward.

Ask the Author is a running series of live audience or reader questions directed at On the Job author Daniel P. Smith. The series, which appears each Monday, is aimed at providing greater insight into Smith’s work in researching and writing On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department as well as the book’s content. A speaker noted for his energy and engaging style, Smith is available for presentations at a wide range of events, including private book clubs, Citizen Police Academy meetings, libraries, senior centers, and schools. Please contact him directly at smithwriting@gmail.com to schedule an event.

Are you a reader with a question for On the Job author Daniel P. Smith? Send it to smithwriting@gmail.com.

Ask the Author: How did the idea for On the Job come about and how did you find a publisher?

Answer: I was teaching English at a high school in the western suburbs and gave my sophomore classes (about 75 students) the assignment of finding a character in any of Studs Terkel’s books and, then, analyzing how that character felt about his or her place in life and society. A number of the students, maybe as many as twenty, selected police officers and right there I noted their natural curiosity about law enforcement work. I lumped that onto my own experience from a Chicago Police family in which people were frequently curious to know more about that line of work and On the Job was born—at least conceptually.

At the end of the school year, I took early retirement from teaching and began pursuing the writing life. With the idea for On the Job in my mind in the summer of 2004, I came across a Chicago Tribune Magazine interview with Sharon Woodhouse of Lake Claremont Press and I knew I had my match. I sent a query letter and heard back from Lake Claremont in less than a week. They requested a full book proposal and I obliged. They later accepted the proposal and we moved ahead on the project beginning in November 2004.

Ask the Author is a running series of live audience or reader questions directed at On the Job author Daniel P. Smith. The series, which appears each Monday, is aimed at providing greater insight into Smith’s work in researching and writing On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department as well as the book’s content. A speaker noted for his energy and engaging style, Smith is available for presentations at a wide range of events, including private book clubs, Citizen Police Academy meetings, libraries, senior centers, and schools. Please contact him directly at smithwriting@gmail.com to schedule an event.

Are you a reader with a question for On the Job author Daniel P. Smith? Send it to smithwriting@gmail.com.

Ask the Author: Do you write fiction?

from Michael at the Deerfield Public Library

Answer: No fiction work for me for two reasons: 1.) real life is simply too fascinating for me; and 2.) there are too many great tales yet to be told in Chicago alone, which is of course a major focus of my work. If not me, who? If not now, when? That's the way I look at it. I accept the duty, along with many other Chicago writers, to share true stories of our city, one so rich in spirit, character, and history. This nonfiction world, particularly related to Chicago, is what really drives me.

Ask the Author is a running series of live audience or reader questions directed at On the Job author Daniel P. Smith. The series, which appears each Monday, is aimed at providing greater insight into Smith’s work in researching and writing On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department as well as the book’s content. A speaker noted for his energy and engaging style, Smith is available for presentations at a wide range of events, including private book clubs, Citizen Police Academy meetings, libraries, senior centers, and schools. Please contact him directly at smithwriting@gmail.com to schedule an event.

Are you a reader with a question for On the Job author Daniel P. Smith? Send it to smithwriting@gmail.com.

Ask the Author: How difficult was it to get officers to talk with you?

from John at the Schaumburg CPA Alumni meeting

Answer: Not very difficulty, primarily because I adhered to a long-held Chicago principle espoused by Ol’ Mayor Daley—“We don’t want nobody nobody sent.” Personal recommendations got me to every officer I sat with. My work began with the referrals of my family members, namely my brother and uncles and I benefited immensely from the credibility they have with their colleagues. When I met with individual officers, I then asked them about quality, story-filled officers they knew and from there it spread. No cold calling on my part though; the personal recommendations were central to my access and helped separate me from the many other writers who seek to explore the Chicago Police world.

Ask the Author is a running series of live audience or reader questions directed at On the Job author Daniel P. Smith. The series, which appears each Monday, is aimed at providing greater insight into Smith’s work in researching and writing On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department as well as the book’s content. A speaker noted for his energy and engaging style, Smith is available for presentations at a wide range of events, including private book clubs, Citizen Police Academy meetings, libraries, senior centers, and schools. Please contact him directly at smithwriting@gmail.com to schedule an event.

Are you a reader with a question for On the Job author Daniel P. Smith? Send it to smithwriting@gmail.com.

On the Job author sets two presentations in the western suburbs

On the Job author Daniel P. Smith will be presenting at two west suburban locations later this month. Both events are free. Smith's hour-long presentation includes his motivations to write the book, never-before-heard stories of individual officers, and Q&A.

Sunday, March 29 @ 3:30pm

Westmont Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

6501 S. Cass Ave in Westmont

Monday, March 30 @ 7:00pm

LaGrange Park Public Library

555 N. LaGrange Road in LaGrange Park

Ask the Author: What are you working on now?

From a Westmont Citizens Police Academy Alumni member

Answer: I’ve been trying to get a project off the ground for the last year of so with a photographer colleague of mine, Brian Palm (http://www.bmpalm.com/). For the last 7-8 years, Brian’s been taking photos of Chicago buildings before the wrecking ball hits. This started as a college project and has developed into a real passionate pursuit for Brian. These buildings, Brian always tells me, “are like time machines into our past.” Brian’s work, which has been featured in the Chicago Tribune and on WTTW’s “Chicago Tonight,” shows how our city’s character is evolving—some might say disappearing—in the name of progress.

For each of Brian’s photos, I’m looking to tell a short story or anecdote about the specific building. Some of the buildings Brian has shot speak for themselves—The Chicago Defender offices, Rainbo Roller Rink, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange—but others are residences, churches, businesses, and the like. We’re looking to humanize these buildings, urging others to consider what we lose as a city when buildings fall and the history likely fades with them.

We’re looking to get funding for the project so that we can put it in book form, perhaps even pairing it with an exhibition. If you know of anyone, send them my way—wink, wink.

Ask the Author is a running series of live audience or reader questions directed at On the Job author Daniel P. Smith. The series, which appears each Monday, is aimed at providing greater insight into Smith’s work in researching and writing On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department as well as the book’s content. A speaker noted for his energy and engaging style, Smith is available for presentations at a wide range of events, including private book clubs, Citizen Police Academy meetings, libraries, senior centers, and schools. Please contact him directly at smithwriting@gmail.com to schedule an event.

Are you a reader with a question for On the Job author Daniel P. Smith? Send it to smithwriting@gmail.com.

On the Job author appears on Conscious Discussions radio show

Hosted by Lillian Brummet, the Conscious Discussions radio show explores issues of the individual and the world of writing. Such a mission made it a perfect stop for Daniel P. Smith, author of On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department.

With listeners across the globe tuning in, the host and her guest discussed Smith’s path into the literary world, motivations for writing On the Job, and provided readers an objective, inside look into the world of law enforcement, particularly big-city police work.

The show has been archived on the Conscious Discussions website. To listen to Smith’s appearance, please visit: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/consciousdiscussions/2009/03/12/an-insiders-view-into-law-enforcement

NOTE: Make sure your speakers are turned on. The broadcast will start when you click on the link.

Many thanks to the talented and sincere Lillian Brummet for her hosting duties.

On the Job's Daniel P. Smith appears on "The Authors Show"

Daniel P. Smith, whose debut work On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department has received numerous positive reviews since its February 2008 release, recently appeared on "The Authors Show" with host Don McCauley.

To listen to the interview visit http://www.theauthorsshow.com/ and scroll down to select the March 12 interview with Daniel Smith.

Many thanks to host Don McCauley for a guiding a gracious, insightful interview.

Hugh Holton celebration at Centuries and Sleuths

Augie Aleksy, the affable owner of Centuries and Sleuths bookstore in Forest Park, will be hosting a celebration of former Chicago cop, author, and Chicago prize Hugh Holton. One of Chicago’s most accomplished contemporary authors, Holton penned a number of celebrated works delving into the real world of law enforcement, its promises and pitfalls. His passing in 2001 left a void in Chicago’s literary scene.

Join On the Job author Daniel P. Smith and other Chicago writers, literary crime enthusiasts, and devoted readers for a celebration of Hugh Holton’s life and work.

Sunday, March 15, 2009 at 2:00 p.m.
Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore

7419 W. Madison St. (Forest Park, IL)

Ask the Author: Why would anybody want to become a Chicago Police Officer?

(from Meredith at the Glenview Public Library)

Answer: The answer to that question is as diverse as the individual officers’ personalities. For some, it’s a stable, secure job. In this era of economic chaos and job loss, public safety cuts are rare. A city might not bring on additional officers, but they’re unlikely to cut positions. Law enforcement is generally job that delivers a solid, middle-class life, including a good pension, benefits, and decent salary and that certainly bears mentioning. This can also attract some less than motivated souls, however, some who see police work as a “ticket” out of tickets and a reason to pump out their chests.

Perhaps that sounds idealistic, but I also found many officers who got into the work with a sincere, almost ethical motivation; for them, law enforcement was a calling. These to me are the best officers; they’ve committed themselves to the profession and work to activate the true ideals of the career—to serve and protect.

Ask the Author is a running series of live audience or reader questions directed at On the Job author Daniel P. Smith. The series, which appears each Monday, is aimed at providing greater insight into Smith’s work in researching and writing On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department as well as the book’s content. A speaker noted for his energy and engaging style, Smith is available for presentations at a wide range of events, including private book clubs, Citizen Police Academy meetings, libraries, senior centers, and schools. Please contact him directly at smithwriting@gmail.com to schedule an event.

Are you a reader with a question for On the Job author Daniel P. Smith? Send it to smithwriting@gmail.com.

Ask the Author: If you were to start this project now, what new element would you want to address?

(From Eileen at the Roden Library on Feb. 25, 2009)

Answer: When the book came out in early 2008, Jody Weis had just taken office as superintendent, only the second outsider to ever inhabit the post. The impact of that decision is something I would have enjoyed exploring because I believe it shows the political nature of the police department and puts that idea in a present-day context.

When O.W. Wilson took the top cop post in 1960 as the city’s first ever outside chief, it was largely driven by falling public support in the aftermath of the Summerdale Scandal. Mayor Daley the First needed to show his “reformer” side and nothing says reformer quite like an outsider. Flash forward 47 years, and Mayor Daley the Second steals a page out of his father’s playbook in the wake of the taped barmaid beating, a second barroom scuffle involving officers, and the Special Operations scandal. Though the appointment of an outsider has its merits (no allegiances to the good ol’ boys and a fresh set of eyes), the political nature of Weis’ appointment cannot be denied and would have made for interesting conversation.

Ask the Author is a running series of live audience or reader questions directed at On the Job author Daniel P. Smith. The series, which appears each Monday, is aimed at providing greater insight into Smith’s work in researching and writing On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department as well as the book’s content. A speaker noted for his energy and engaging style, Smith is available for presentations at a wide range of events, including private book clubs, Citizen Police Academy meetings, libraries, senior centers, and schools. Please contact him directly at smithwriting@gmail.com to schedule an event.

Ask the Author: Who's your favorite officer in the book?

Answer: To be honest, I can't really say I have a "favorite" as each story stands on its own and has its own unique element. For instance, my most enjoyable conversations came with John O'Shea, a rookie officer at the 1968 Democratic Convention who shares a heartfelt story about a murdered girl named Miracle Moon. Mike Cummins, who discusses faith and police work, was my most insightful, philosophic interview. Jim Rohrlack showed me how empathy and police work was a two-way street among citizens and officers. Miguel Rios was my most dramatic interview as he discussed the aftermath of having to kill an offender. Bill Jaconetti, nearing retirment, was my most refreshing interview--an ol' timer who wasn't the least bit jaded by his years on the job. Jaconetti "got it" like few do. So from each interview, I received something special, something unique, and something that remains with me. Above all, I'm grateful I found so many men and women willing to share their stories and personal history in such a sincere, open way.


Ask the Author is a running series of live audience or reader questions directed at On the Job author Daniel P. Smith. The series, which appears each Monday, is aimed at providing greater insight into Smith’s work in researching and writing On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department as well as the book’s content. A speaker noted for his energy and engaging style, Smith is available for presentations at a wide range of events, including private book clubs, Citizen Police Academy meetings, libraries, senior centers, and schools. Please contact him directly at smithwriting@gmail.com to schedule an event.

Are you a reader with a question for On the Job author Daniel P. Smith? Send it to smithwriting@gmail.com.

On the Job Author to Appear at Chicago Public Library's Roden Branch

On the Job author Daniel P. Smith will venture to Chicago's northwest side for an author program at the Chicago Public Library's Roden branch on Wednesday, February 25, 2009. This will be Smith's maiden appearance in a Chicago Public Library branch.

Smith will discuss his motivation to write On the Job, share stories from the officers he encountered, and take audience questions. The program is free and open to the public.

On the Job author program with Daniel P. Smith

Weds, Feb. 25 at 7pm

Chicago Public Library Roden Branch

6083 N. Northwest Hwy (Chicago)

(312) 744-1478

Ask the Author: What do Chicago cops think of their new boss?

Answer: I wouldn't want to speak for all of Chicago's officers, but there are a few prevailing thoughts regarding the tenure of new Chicago PD Superintendent Jody Weis. One group will never accept Weis. He's not only an outsider (only Chicago's second ever outside chief), but a Fed at that. There's long been a tension between Chicago cops and their colleagues on the federal side. Another group has taken a wait-and-see approach. He might do some good and do some bad. A final group is happy at the prospect of some new blood who has no loyalties to "his boys." I'd say one overriding philosophy, however, is that Weis' tenure will end sooner than later. History tells us that Chicago chiefs don't stay at the job long. Supt. Weis just finished his first year in February 2009, so the clock's ticking.

Here's what I will comment on regarding the hiring of Supt. Weis and, more notably, his boss, Mayor Richard J. Daley. Weis' hire is a play right out of the old man's playbook. When the Summerdale Scandal shook up the CPD ranks in 1960 and threatened the former Mayor Daley's election bid, he brought in the city's first outside chief with Orlando Wilson, a professor at UCLA. Fast forward over four decades and a few well-viewed CPD scandals challenge the current Mayor Daley's power and control. His response? Bring in an outsider. I'm a big believer that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Ask the Author is a running series of live audience or reader questions directed at On the Job author Daniel P. Smith. The series, which appears each Monday, is aimed at providing greater insight into Smith’s work in researching and writing On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department as well as the book’s content. A speaker noted for his energy and engaging style, Smith is available for presentations at a wide range of events, including private book clubs, Citizen Police Academy meetings, libraries, senior centers, and schools. Please contact him directly at smithwriting@gmail.com to schedule an event.

Are you a reader with a question for On the Job author Daniel P. Smith? Send it to smithwriting@gmail.com.

Daniel P. Smith guest blogs on The Outfit Collective

The Outfit Collective is a stirring collection of some of Chicago's best crime writers and the group recently welcomed On the Job author Daniel P. Smith into the mix for a guest spot. Check out Smith's post at http://theoutfitcollective.blogspot.com/ and provide a comment if you're so inclined.

Many thanks to the talented Michael Allen Dymmoch for extending the invitation that allowed for Smith's appearance. And be sure to follow The Outfit Collective for some great reading on Chicago's criminal world and those individuals inspired to write about it.

On the Job emerges as Lake Claremont Press' 2008 top seller

Author Daniel P. Smith (left) with fellow Chicagoans Ryan Prendergast and Mike Ribich at the On the Job release party at Goodbar in February 2008.

Lake Claremont Press recently announced that On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department was the company's best-selling title of 2008. The Chicago-based publisher, celebrating its 15th year in 2009, has carved a tremendous niche as guardians of Chicago history and character.

Of the news, On the Job author Daniel P. Smith said: "That On the Job had such a successful run in 2008 is a testament to spirit and passion so many poured into this project, including Sharon Woodhouse and her staff at Lake Claremont Press. I'm honored that On the Job has been able to reach so many people and contribute to the dialog we have about our city."

Ask the Author: Do you speak to any female officers?

Answer: There are two female officers I profile in the book: Beth Russell and Cindy Pontoriero, Chicago’s first female detective.

I speak with Beth about motherhood and how a police officer balances those two distinct worlds. You think of motherly traits—gentle, caring, nurturing—and those characteristics don’t mesh with our thoughts of Chicago police officers. What I found from Beth is that crossover exists. More than anything, Beth explained how being a police officer affected how she raised her children.

Cindy and I discussed her role as a detective, a position she loved, and the unique challenges that role provides. A pioneer, she never wanted to blaze a trail—even if her work opened up many doors.

One thing I didn’t do in the book was discuss the challenges of being a female officer, namely existing in a masculine world. For folks interested in that, I direct them to the Bible on the topic—Gina Gallo’s Armed and Dangerous: Memoirs of a Chicago Policewoman. Gina did such a spectacular job examining the female’s position in the police world that I wouldn’t do the topic justice.

Ask the Author is a running series of live audience or reader questions directed at On the Job author Daniel P. Smith. The series, which appears each Monday, is aimed at providing greater insight into Smith’s work in researching and writing On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department as well as the book’s content. A speaker noted for his energy and engaging style, Smith is available for presentations at a wide range of events, including private book clubs, Citizen Police Academy meetings, libraries, senior centers, and schools. Please contact him directly at smithwriting@gmail.com to schedule an event.

Ask the Author: Do you discuss corruption within the ranks of the Chicago Police Department?

Answer: When people would find out I was writing a book on the Chicago Police, the most common reply would almost always be: "Oh, you mean about all the corruption?" I thought that was such a sad commentary on the city's police department and its officers, even though the cynical reply wasn't necessarily out of bounds. Though certainly intriguing, talking about corruption, such a small piece of the Chicago Police world, would only have me falling into the sensationalistic trap; I wanted and needed to explore the depth of the CPD culture and those who inhabit it.

That said, corruption is an unfortunate piece of the CPD's history and I did address it in parts. I discussed the Summerdale Scandal of 1960, which I feel began to turn the tide of public perception against the police, while a few officers, such as Willie Calabrese and Bill Jaconetti, shared with me their thoughts on corruption in the ranks. In short, corruption has been a part of the CPD's story, but it's really a small piece of a much larger story. One of the great books on the topic is Richard Lindberg's To Serve and Collect, which adds to a compelling, often overlooked argument: corruption was perhaps more widespread and commonplace in the pre-Summerdale days than it is today.

Ask the Author is a running series of live audience or reader questions directed at On the Job author Daniel P. Smith. The series, which appears each Monday, is aimed at providing greater insight into Smith’s work in researching and writing On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department as well as the book’s content. A speaker noted for his energy and engaging style, Smith is available for presentations at a wide range of events, including private book clubs, Citizen Police Academy meetings, libraries, senior centers, and schools. Please contact him directly at smithwriting@gmail.com to schedule an event.

Are you a reader with a question for On the Job author Daniel P. Smith? Send it to smithwriting@gmail.com.

Ask the Author: Why didn’t you become a cop?

Answer: It’s simply not my vocation. For many in my family, becoming a Chicago police officer has not only been their career choice, but their vocation. I’m a big believer that we all have to find our vocation in life and police work just isn’t that calling for me. I took the police test and went through some steps, including the physical, but I can’t say I ever had a real desire to pursue that life. I knew I wanted to be a writer and I’m grateful that’s just the life I’ve landed on; I’ve found work that feeds my soul and my stomach.

Ask the Author is a running series of live audience or reader questions directed at On the Job author Daniel P. Smith. The series, which appears each Monday, is aimed at providing greater insight into Smith’s work in researching and writing On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department as well as the book’s content. A speaker noted for his energy and engaging style, Smith is available for presentations at a wide range of events, including private book clubs, Citizen Police Academy meetings, libraries, senior centers, and schools. Please contact him directly at smithwriting@gmail.com to schedule an event.

Are you a reader with a question for On the Job author Daniel P. Smith? Send it to smithwriting@gmail.com.

Ask the Author: Did you have to get clearance from the city or police department to do this project?

Answer: In a word, no. I tried to avoid 35th and Michigan (police headquarters) as much as possible. First, I didn't want to get tied up in the bureaucracy and red tape that often governs getting such clearance. Second, I didn't want them "steering" the book in any way. And third, I thought it to important to use my personal contacts as much as possible, which would allow me greater access to officers and certainly help make the whole interview process seem a lot more conversational and a lot less formal. I wanted officers to speak to me because they wanted to share their stories and not because they were told they needed to speak with "this guy writing a book." The only interaction I had with the police "system" was when I made a Freedom of Information Act request for 911 calls to the 11th District (many thanks to Kevin Smith at the Office of Emergency Management for his prompt response) and when I called the very pleasant Sgt. Kristin Barker to get a copy of the CPD's organizational flow chart.

Ask the Author is a running series of live audience or reader questions directed at On the Job author Daniel P. Smith. The series, which appears each Monday, is aimed at providing greater insight into Smith’s work in researching and writing On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department as well as the book’s content. A speaker noted for his energy and engaging style, Smith is available for presentations at a wide range of events, including private book clubs, Citizen Police Academy meetings, libraries, senior centers, and schools. Please contact him directly at smithwriting@gmail.com to schedule an event.

Are you a reader with a question for On the Job author Daniel P. Smith? Send it to smithwriting@gmail.com.

Ask the Author: How many officers did you interview in writing On the Job?

Answer: I spoke to over 100 current and past officers in writing On the Job, though I only profile 19 in the book. Those 19 officers are individuals I had in-depth discussions with about their personal history and careers. Oftentimes, I found myself returning to them for additional insight or detail. Many of the other officers who are not referenced by name in the book provided background information, shared their personal thoughts, and provided clarification on different points. At some point, I knew I had to cut off the text. I wanted the book to be an accessible read and it simply would not have been so had I provided readers 100 stories and it ran 600 pages.

Ask the Author is a running series of live audience or reader questions directed at On the Job author Daniel P. Smith. The series, which appears each Monday, is aimed at providing greater insight into Smith’s work in researching and writing On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department as well as the book’s content. A speaker noted for his energy and engaging style, Smith is available for presentations at a wide range of events, including private book clubs, Citizen Police Academy meetings, libraries, senior centers, and schools. Please contact him directly at smithwriting@gmail.com to schedule an event.

Are you a reader with a question for On the Job author Daniel P. Smith? Send it to smithwriting@gmail.com.

On the Job author to speak to Mystery Writers of America

On Sunday, January 18, author Daniel P. Smith will speak to the Midwest Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America, sharing stories and details from his debut work, On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department. Smith's talk will begin at 1pm at Centuries and Sleuths bookstore in Forest Park, a reading hot spot commanded by the always friendly Augie Aleksy.

Daniel P. Smith's On the Job Program

Sunday, January 18 @ 1pm

Centuries and Sleuths

7419 W. Madison Ave.

Forest Park, IL

The Mystery Writers of America is the oldest and most prominent organization for writers of crime fiction and other professionals in the field and its Midwest Chapter claims members from 13 states. Additional information about the MWA's Midwest Chapter can be found at http://www.mwamidwest.org/.

Philadelphia columnist talks about identity

Philadelphia Daily News columnist Stu Bykofsky turned to On the Job author Daniel P. Smith for insight into the perils of identity. In the wake of the Bernard Madoff scheme and against the backdrop of Barack Obama's ascent to the presidency, Bykofsky examined how our identity can sometimes shape our self-assessment.


You can find Bykofsky's insightful article at:

http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/stu_bykofsky/20090105_Stu_Bykofsky__Madoff_casts_shame_on_Jews_everywhere.html

On the Job a 2008 Top Seller

Lake Claremont Press publisher Sharon Woodhouse recently announced that On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department was the company's best-selling title of 2008.

Many thanks to the readers who helped On the Job reach such a rewarding result. Particular thanks go out to the folks who hosted author Daniel P. Smith at an event in 2008 or provided the book special mention:

Kathlyn Williams of the Niles Senior Center

Judy Nicholas of the Plainfield Public Library

Carol Ann Carter of the Lake Bluff Public Library

Anne Feeney of the Glenview Public Library

Mary Jane O'Brien of the Prairie Trails Public Library

Susan Golland of the Des Plaines History Center

Joan Simonds of the Patty Turner Senior Center

Gena Zelenka of the Park Ridge Public Library

Carol Kania of the Downers Grove Public Library

Lynette Stone of the Deerfield Public Library

Rick Kogan, host of "The Sunday Papers" on WGN Radio

Carrie Matheson with WGN TV's Noon News

Rachel Farrell with the UIC Alumni Magazine

Lee Lofland of The Graveyard Shift

Angela Wilson with Pop Syndicate

Kristin Moo with Chicago Public Radio's 848

Andy Herman and Nick Digilio of the Nick Digilio show on WGN Radio

Don Babwin of the Associated Press

Paul Garrison of Frugal Muse Books in Darien

Gene of G&L Trophies in Oak Lawn

Augie Aleksy of Centuries and Sleuths in Forest Park

Dawn King and Chief James Ramey of the Westmont Citizens Police Academy Alumni

Karen Arnet with the Hoffman Estates Citizens Police Academy Alumni

Commander Jeff DuFloth of the Arlington Heights Citizens Police Academy Alumni

Officer Marc Bregman of the Villa Park Citizens Police Academy Alumni

Lisa Schillinger of the Yorkville Citizens Police Academy Alumni

Officer Brian Phelan of the Lockport Citizens Police Academy

Tom Conway of the Schaumburg Citizens Police Academy Alumni

Chuck Freiberger of the Elmhurst Citizens Police Academy Alumni

If you're interested in having On the Job author Daniel P. Smith bring his engaging presentation to your special group, please contact him at smithwriting@gmail.com.

Ask the Author: Where did you get the idea for On the Job?

Answer: I was teaching English at a suburban Chicago high school and I gave my three classes of sophomores, about 75 students, a project in which they had to go to one of Studs Terkel’s books and find an interesting character Studs had interviewed. The students had to then discuss how that individual felt about their “place” in life. About 20 of the students picked police officers. My first thought was that the students were cheating, but I soon found that the students who had picked the same officers had no social connections to one another. Their decision to examine one of the many officers Studs talked to arrived from a sincere and natural interest in police work. I thought back to my own personal life and considered how intrigued people were when I told them I was from a large Chicago Police family. And right there the idea for On the Job was born. I knew I had a book. My teaching career ended in June 2004 and by the end of the month I had written the book’s introduction, which is virtually unchanged from what readers see today.

Ask the Author is a running series of live audience or reader questions directed at On the Job author Daniel P. Smith. The series is aimed at providing greater insight into Smith’s work in researching and writing On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department as well as the book’s content. A speaker noted for his energy and engaging style, Smith is available for presentations at a wide range of events, including private book clubs, Citizen Police Academy meetings, libraries, senior centers, and schools. Please contact him directly at smithwriting@gmail.com to schedule an event.

Are you a reader with a question for On the Job author Daniel P. Smith? Send it to smithwriting@gmail.com.