Bestselling Author and Lawyer to Deliver Talk

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The Suffield Public Library Foundation (SPLF) enthusiastically announces a reception and talk with bestselling author and legal figure Mike Chase at the Kent Memorial Library on Thursday, November 7 at 7 p.m. Chase, who is a Suffield native and graduate of Suffield High School, is the author and illustrator of How to Become a Federal Criminal: An Illustrated Handbook for the Aspiring Offender; the creator of the @CrimeADay Twitter feed; and currently a regular guest for legal expertise on news shows and in the pages of such media as the Wall Street Journal.

Chase’s How to Become a Federal Criminal, which was published this past summer, quickly climbed bestseller lists in categories such as political humor and historical humor. About the book The New York Times said, “Somebody with credentials has combed through a mountain of boring literature, highlighted all the ticklish parts and served them up for appreciation. This is an excellent book for people who like to start sentences with ‘Did you know that …?’.” Forbes adds that it is “both an entertaining and humorous look at our criminal justice system…Chase’s book is enlightening and entertaining … and a must have for defense attorneys who are looking to break the ice with a new client. Include How to Become a Federal Criminal on your summer reading list.”

Chase began his journey to the creation of this book through the development of the anonymous @CrimeADay Twitter feed, which quickly gained a devoted following among the criminal justice system elite. Of course, his writing is also grounded in his work as “a criminal defense lawyer and his extensive research into the curious, intriguing, and often amusing history of America’s expansive criminal laws,” as his publisher Simon & Schuster indicates. He has been making regular speaking appearances at events dealing with the criminal justice system, and crowds have enjoyed his perspectives, which are described by Simple Justice as, “Mike has that rare combination of wit and wisdom that he weaves throughout the book. It’s not just a collection of dumb and weird crimes, but explanations and anecdotes about how we got into this mess.”

Over recent years, the SPLF has hosted talks with such figures as renowned author Andre Dubus III, award-winning visual effects supervisor Greg Butler, and musician and author Steve Katz of Blood, Sweat, and Tears, and the group is eager to host its first event in our newly reopened library. Please join the SPLF for this exciting opportunity to hear what is sure to be a lively discussion of the federal criminal justice system, American legal history, the ins-and-outs of food packaging, whether or not to ride manatees, and how to deal with a wide variety of puzzling judicial situations across our country. This free event will take place in the Kent Memorial Library auditorium on November 7 at 7 p.m. 

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