About the Book:
A psychotic coal mine operator and cynical neighbors with an anti-mining agenda fight out a strip mine permit battle. Mike Jacobs, a 28-year old environmental prosecutor with Pennsylvania's environmental agency, DEP, is caught between the warring factions, but is ordered to "babysit" the case. All Mike wants to do is to protect the environment and neighbors from certain harm as a result of the proposed mining.
Sid Feldman, the Philadelphia lawyer for the mine operator, who oozes power and privilege, offers Mike a job midway through the proceedings. Miranda Clymer, the lawyer for the neighbors, pulls out all the stops to win Mike's affection and assistance. Mike's nearest and dearest friend, Nicky Kane is by his side as his paralegal. Mike must use all of his talents as a lawyer and rely on his discretion and courage to do what is right and not anger the political bosses for whom he works. In the cataclysmic ending, someone will die, but who?
About the Speakers:
Joel Burcat is a novelist and environmental lawyer. His debut novel, Drink to Every Beast, is the first in his series of Mike Jacobs environmental legal thrillers. He has received the following awards: Second Place, PennWriters (Novel Beginnings, 2020); Quarterfinalist, ScreenCraft 2019 Cinematic Book Competition; Honorable Mentions at the New York Book Festival (Best General Fiction); and Readers' Favorite International Book Award (Best Fiction—Legal Thriller). In addition, he has published several short stories. Burcat was selected as the 2019 Lawyer of the Year in Environmental Litigation (for Central Pennsylvania) by Best Lawyers in America. He has also received “Super Lawyers” and “Best Lawyers” designations for environmental and energy law and was selected by the Pennsylvania Bar Association as a recipient of its annual award in environmental law. Burcat lives in Harrisburg, PA, with his wife, Gail. They have two grown daughters, a son-in-law, and a granddaughter.
Harvey Freedenberg has been writing about books since 2005, and in that time has written more than 950 reviews, essays, and columns for publication. A member of the National Book Critics Circle, Harvey has written for publications that include BookPage, Bookreporter.com, Shelf Awareness, Kirkus Reviews, Harrisburg Magazine, and the Minneapolis Star Tribune. He has appeared as a panelist at the Delaware Book Festival, Harrisburg Book Festival, and local libraries; has interviewed authors at the Midtown Scholar Bookstore in Harrisburg, PA; and has spoken on copyright and contract law for writers at the Pennwriters Conference and York Book Expo. Harvey served on the Board of the Dauphin County Library System for seventeen years, including two years as its president, and for several years, was a member of the selection committee for the “One Book, One Community” program.
