UIC alum tells Chicago stories
Ana Genkova
Issue date: 4/21/08 Section: Features
Media Credit: Daniel SmithFormer UIC student Daniel Smith lives his life in Chicago and knows all the inner-workings of the Chicago Police Department.
"I want writing to be my vocation, not occupation. It's probably a fairly idealistic aim, but I am a fairly idealistic person [and] I am on my way to that," said Daniel P. Smith, author of the book "On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department."
Smith graduated from UIC in 2003 with a degree in English education and a prominent running career. After teaching for a year, he devoted himself to writing.
"One of the problems I had [was] that I didn't know writing was a career option, and I stuck on the educational track. After college I went into teaching for a year, and I left because I felt called to do writing," said Smith.
Smith's writing career began during his college days when he wrote for The Chicago Flame and the UIC Today. Smith also met his journalism mentor while at UIC, Bob Davis. After one year of teaching, Smith had to start building his portfolio again, so he could support himself through writing.
"I am almost there where writing is the only thing I do," he said. Smith has a part-time job connected to running, his other passion in life.
"On the Job" is Smith's first book in a subject he was naturally inquisitive about. Smith grew up on the north side of Chicago and comes from a large Chicago Police family. His interests and luck led him to Lake Claremont Press, a company that publishes non-fiction books about Chicago and happened to be actively seeking Chicago Police books at the time Smith submitted his proposal.
Through 19 personal stories, the book describes the criminal landscape of Chicago, the history and organizational culture of the Chicago Police Department and the personal aspect of police work. Although it took Smith just 16 months to complete the writing, the research for the book was a long and at times frustrating process. Smith always interviewed the officers where they felt comfortable, so he could overcome their reluctance to talk to the media. He visited them at home or went on ride-alongs to observe them on-duty.
Smith is actively promoting his book through book release parties, news appearances, talks in Chicago libraries, and radio interviews. He is committed to his work and determined to pursue his future writing goals.
"Just like in running, [in writing] there is a goal in the end, there is a finish line, but for me to get there, I have to put in a lot of work along the way. I have to hustle; I have to be diligent with my work and persistent."
In the future, Smith wants to continue to tell the stories of Chicago. He has no intentions of writing fiction because real life fascinates him. Smith plans to work with photographer Brian Palm who takes pictures of Chicago buildings before they are destroyed.
"It's a shame that these buildings go and we lose the Chicago feel because oftentimes they are replaced by a pretty sterile condo. We are losing some of our city's authentic character," Smith said. In collaboration with Palm, Smith plans to tell stories that capture Chicago's spirit and personality.
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Smith graduated from UIC in 2003 with a degree in English education and a prominent running career. After teaching for a year, he devoted himself to writing.
"One of the problems I had [was] that I didn't know writing was a career option, and I stuck on the educational track. After college I went into teaching for a year, and I left because I felt called to do writing," said Smith.
Smith's writing career began during his college days when he wrote for The Chicago Flame and the UIC Today. Smith also met his journalism mentor while at UIC, Bob Davis. After one year of teaching, Smith had to start building his portfolio again, so he could support himself through writing.
"I am almost there where writing is the only thing I do," he said. Smith has a part-time job connected to running, his other passion in life.
"On the Job" is Smith's first book in a subject he was naturally inquisitive about. Smith grew up on the north side of Chicago and comes from a large Chicago Police family. His interests and luck led him to Lake Claremont Press, a company that publishes non-fiction books about Chicago and happened to be actively seeking Chicago Police books at the time Smith submitted his proposal.
Through 19 personal stories, the book describes the criminal landscape of Chicago, the history and organizational culture of the Chicago Police Department and the personal aspect of police work. Although it took Smith just 16 months to complete the writing, the research for the book was a long and at times frustrating process. Smith always interviewed the officers where they felt comfortable, so he could overcome their reluctance to talk to the media. He visited them at home or went on ride-alongs to observe them on-duty.
Smith is actively promoting his book through book release parties, news appearances, talks in Chicago libraries, and radio interviews. He is committed to his work and determined to pursue his future writing goals.
"Just like in running, [in writing] there is a goal in the end, there is a finish line, but for me to get there, I have to put in a lot of work along the way. I have to hustle; I have to be diligent with my work and persistent."
In the future, Smith wants to continue to tell the stories of Chicago. He has no intentions of writing fiction because real life fascinates him. Smith plans to work with photographer Brian Palm who takes pictures of Chicago buildings before they are destroyed.
"It's a shame that these buildings go and we lose the Chicago feel because oftentimes they are replaced by a pretty sterile condo. We are losing some of our city's authentic character," Smith said. In collaboration with Palm, Smith plans to tell stories that capture Chicago's spirit and personality.
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