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.