Upcoming Author Events

Catch On the Job author Daniel P. Smith at these upcoming events:

Saturday, October 18 @ 11am
Sisters in Crime Chicago meeting
Centuries and Sleuths Bookstore (Forest Park)
An event open to all, author Daniel P. Smith will be speaking

at the Sisters in Crime regular meeting.
http://www.sincchicago.com/index.html

Monday, October 20 @ 6:30-8:45pm
Homer Township Library Author's Fair
14320 W. 151st St.
Homer Glen, IL 60491
http://www.homerlibrary.org/newsblog.asp
Smith will be one of a dozen Chicago author's showcased at the event. He will also offer a brief presentation at 8pm titled "The Path to On the Job: A murder, a deadbeat dad, and where TV cop shows fail."

Thursday, November 6 @ 7pm

Deerfield Public Library

920 Waukegan Road

Deerfield, IL 60015

http://www.deerfieldlibrary.org/

Smith takes his engaging presentation to the northern suburbs. In this free event, Smith will discuss what led him to write On the Job, the officers he encountered, and take audience questions.

Author runs Chicago Marathon and raises nearly $700 for CPD Memorial Foundation

Smith (in blue top) passes the 14-mile mark at the Chicago Marathon.

On the Job author Daniel P. Smith hit 26.2 miles of Chicago's streets on Sunday, October 12, 2008 in honor of Chicago's fallen officers. Smith joined thousands of runners from throughout the globe to tackle the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and in the process raised nearly $700 for the Chicago Police Department Memorial Foundation.


Smith finished in a time of 3 hours 21 minutes, which placed him among the event's top 1400 finishers. Though hoping to qualify for the Boston Marathon by recording a time under 3:11, Smith battled heat that reached into the 80s. Though pleased with his effort, Smith was even happier with his fundraising efforts.


"I'm thankful that so many family, friends, and colleagues saw the CPD Memorial Foundation as a cause worthy of their support," Smith said following the race.

Author Daniel P. Smith Joins Chicago Writers Association Board of Directors

Author and Journalist Daniel P. Smith was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of the Chicago Writers Association. He joins other Chicagoland writers committed to the craft and seeking to contribute to Chicago's literary presence on the national scene. Among the many things Smith and his fellow CWA board members are working on are: a Chicago Writers Hall of Fame; development of a tutoring and mentoring program; and forging relationships with other local writers groups.

"Nelson Algren said Chicago's no place to be a writer and I think we all look forward to challenging that notion and showing that Chicago can support and promote its literary artists," Smith said of joining the CWA board.

For more information on the Chicago Writers Association, please visit: http://www.chicagowrites.org/

October Author Events

Catch On the Job author Daniel P. Smith at these October events:

Saturday, October 4 @ 11-3

Author's Fair 2008

Joliet Public Library • Black Road Branch

3395 Black Road • Joliet, IL 60436

Smith will be one of 40 Chicago area authors appearing at the annual event.

Free and open to the public.

http://joliet.lib.il.us/booklovers/authorfair2008.htm

Saturday, October 18 @ 11am

Sisters in Crime Chicago meeting

Centuries and Sleuths Bookstore (Forest Park)

An event open to all, author Daniel P. Smith will be speaking at the Sisters in Crime regular meeting.

http://www.sincchicago.com/index.html

Monday, October 20 @ 6:30-8:45pm

Homer Township Library Author's Fair

14320 W. 151st St.

Homer Glen, IL 60491

http://www.homerlibrary.org/newsblog.asp

Smith will be one of a dozen Chicago author's showcased at the event. He will also offer a brief presentation at 8pm titled "The Path to On the Job: A murder, a deadbeat dad, and where TV cop shows fail."

Smith to appear at Plainfield Public Library

Author Daniel P. Smith is slated to appear at the Plainfield Public Library on Tuesday, Sept. 30 discussing his recent release, On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department. The event is free and open to the public.

Tuesday, Sept. 30 @ 7pm

Plainfield Public Library

15025 S. Illinois St.

Plainfield, IL 60544

http://plainfield.lib.il.us/index.asp

Remembering September 11

September 11 is sure to evoke a number of reflective moments, among them the sacrifice made by so many of New York's fire and police police personnel in responding to the World Trade Center towers as well as in the following days. Such were days and moments that urged the nation to consider the value and role of its public servants.

On the seventh anniversary of the September 11 attacks, author Daniel P. Smith will be at the Downers Grove Library discussing the daily lives of Chicago's officers, who, like their Big Apple brethren, are also called to serve and protect even amidst tragedy. While Chicago's officers have never faced the horror that befell New York on 9/11, they, much like officers throughout the country, encounter each day's struggle to balance duty and humanity, reflection and relief.

Join the author for a candid conversation about the human side of life with the power of God on one's hip.

Thursday, Sept. 11 @ 7pm

Downers Grove Public Library

1050 Curtiss St.
Downers Grove, IL 60515

(630) 960-1200

Upcoming Author Events

Catch On the Job author Daniel P. Smith at these upcoming events...

Tuesday, August 26 @ 7pm

Park Ridge Public Library

Distinct from other appearances by the author, this event will have a moderator asking questions of Smith before turning to the audience for Q&A. Book signing to follow.

Thursday, August 28 @ 2pm

Autumn Green at Wright Campus

4329 N. Oak Park Ave. (Chicago)

Join the author for his characteristic high-energy presentation on CPD culture.

Includes Q&A. Book signing to follow.

Thursday, September 11 @ 7pm

Downers Grove Public Library

On a day remembered for the efforts of NYC's police and fire, join author Daniel P. Smith as he discusses the human, emotional realities of life on the job. Includes Q&A. Book signing to follow.

Edison Park Fest Here We Come!

Head to Chicago's Northwest side this weekend for one of summertime's best community festivals, the Edison Park Fest hosted by the Edison Park Chamber of Commerce. While there, stop and say hello to On the Job author Daniel P. Smith, who has joined the festival's Business Expo and will be selling copies of On the Job as well as other Lake Claremont Press titles from his spot near the corner of Oliphant Avenue and Olmsted Avenue. Pick up a signed copy for yourself or for a gift.

Who: author Daniel P. Smith

What: Smith will be signing copies of On the Job and selling other Lake Claremont Press titles

Where: Edison Park Fest

(along just south of Northwest Highway about one mile west of Harlem Ave.)

When: Saturday and Sunday, August 16-17, 9am-5pm

Additional information, including hours and location, on the Edison Park Fest can be found by visiting: http://www.edisonpark.com/epfest.

On the Job author joins Rally for Rawa

Daniel P. Smith, author of On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department, spent the evening of Sunday, July 20 at Rally for Rawa on Chicago's northwest side. The event served a key fundraising event for late Chicago Police Officer Bob Rawa, who suddenly passed away in the summer of 2007 from a brain aneurysm. Smith donated copies of the book to the event's raffle and provided all proceeds from book sales at the event to the Rawa family. A K9 officer, Smith profiled Rawa in On the Job. Smith posted the following note about Officer Rawa on his table:

On the Job author Daniel P. Smith
on Officer Bob Rawa…

Bob Rawa was the first officer I interviewed for On the Job. Within one day of receiving my note asking if he was willing to participate, he called me and directed: “I’m in kid, but only on one condition: you get a picture of me and my dog in the book.” Our conversation took place in his home one week later. For nearly four hours, Bob talked openly to me about his career, his children, his own upbringing on the South Side, and, of course, the K9 unit. He moved from one story to the next with equal splashes of character, color, and comedy.

As I moved through completing On the Job, Bob was a consistent source of knowledge, insight, and, at times, my human Rolodex to all things CPD. It took over three years for On the Job to move from conception onto bookstore shelves and Bob waited longer than anyone, a position that agitated his anxious soul. Nearly every three months I’d get a call: “Hey, when are you making me famous?” was all I heard. I could only appeal to his patience and promise him he’d relish the final product. “And I want a signed copy, too,” he’d always remind me. Sure thing, I told him.

Though Bob passed before seeing On the Job in print, I’m thrilled he survives in black-and-white in these pages. Like all the officers I profile in On the Job, Bob had his human flaws, but remained a man of substance and spirit, passion and purpose. He went out his door each day to do the best he could—and that’s all we can ever—should ever—ask of our officers. I hope my characterization of him serves a fitting, worthy tribute to a man who lived with the dogs, yet—as Bob assured me—never laid down to be one.

Two Upcoming Author Appearances

Catch Daniel P. Smith, author of On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department, at these upcoming appearances:

Friday, July 11 at 7pm
Centuries and Sleuths Bookstore
7419 W. Madison Ave. (Forest Park, IL)
Join the author for a discussion of CPD culture, history, and characters. Book signing to follow.

Wednesday, July 16 at 7pm
***Rescheduled for Thursday, August 28 at 2pm***
Autumn Green at Wright Campus
Forest Preserve Dr. and Oak Park Ave. (Chicago)
Join the author for a discussion of CPD culture, history, and characters. Book signing to follow.

Both events are FREE and open to the public.