Joyce Egginton Author of The Poisoning of Michigan http://msupress.msu.edu/

Steve Hamilton Author of The Lock Artist http://www.authorstevehamilton.com/

Co-host Jack Girardi Girardi & Keese www.girardikeese.com

Joyce Egginton is the author of seven non-fiction books, including From Cradle to Grave (1989), a best seller in the U.S. and Germany. She was for 20 years New York Correspondent of The Observer of London, and has taught environmental reporting in New York University's graduate school of journalism. In this exciting interview, she discusses her book The Poisoning of Michigan, an investigative account of the contamination of Michigan's dairy cattle with the highly toxic chemical PBB (polybrominated biphenyl) in 1973. A near relation of PCB, this now-banned substance, designed as a fire retardant, was mistaken for a nutritional supplement at a chemical plant. It ended up in cattle feed that was distributed to farms throughout the state. By the time the error was discovered, virtually all nine million residents of Michigan had been ingesting contaminated milk and meat for almost a year. This book tells how the tragedy affected the farm community and the wider populace, and how federal and state authorities failed to respond. 'We were mired in a swamp of ignorance,' one state official admitted. A new introduction by the author and an afterword by three distinguished environmental scientists explain how the legacy of Michigan's poisoning lives on -- and how equally toxic substitutes for PBB still invade our homes and lives.

Steve Hamilton graduated from the University of Michigan where he won the prestigious Hopwood Award for fiction. In 2006, he won the Michigan Author Award for his outstanding body of work. His novels have won numerous awards and media acclaim beginning with the very first in the Alex McKnight series, A Cold Day in Paradise, which won the Private Eye Writers of America/St. Martin's Press Award for Best First Mystery by an Unpublished Writer. Once published, it went on to win the MWA Edgar and the PWA Shamus Awards for Best First Novel, and was short-listed for the Anthony and Barry Awards. In this interview he discusses his latest book, The Lock Artist.

The book tells the story of Mike Smith who is a "boxman." He can open any safe, padlock, or locked door without a combination or a key--a talent that lands him in prison at the age of eighteen. He spends his time writing down the story of his life because that's the only way he can share it. He hasn't spoken in ten years. Not a single word since the tragic day he became known as the "Miracle Boy." Mike is one of those unreliable narrators you can't help rooting for--a traumatized soul fighting his way back from the brink--and the mystery of his silence will have you blazing through pages. A smart, inventive thriller, The Lock Artist is packed with a standout cast of characters, plus enough safe-cracking trade secrets to tempt you to dig up that old combination lock and test your newfound knowledge.

Jack Girardi, Partner at Girardi & Keese, one of America’s Finest Law Firms, and lawyers, as always, brings out the most important key elements to the success of today’s guests.  He and his firm have been dedicated to working hard and getting the best possible recovery for its clients.

Girardi & Keese's mission is to provide aggressive representation of individuals and businesses who have been injured in some way, whether by physical harm, property damage, damage to business, or damage to economic interests. Girardi & Keese has two offices in California: Downtown Los Angeles and San Bernardino.

Hosted by Steve Murphy.

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Contact:

Joyce Egginton
The Poisoning of Michigan
http://msupress.msu.edu/bookTemplate.php?bookID=3743

Steve Hamilton
The Lock Artist
http://www.authorstevehamilton.com/

Jack Girardi
213-977-0211
www.girardikeese.net

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER & HOST:
STEVE MURPHY

www.lbishow.com