The sixth in a series of international lectures by Alexandria Virginia  criminal defense attorneys, organizer Chris Leibig, along with Joni Robin, Cary Citronberg, Andrea Moseley and Ellen Shultz traveled to Aarhus, Denmark to hold a penal discussion with students and professors on April 13, 2016.

The group, most of whom are former public defenders whose practices focus on the defense of serious criminal cases in Virginia, spoke on the death penalty, police shootings, and Donald Trump’s immigration policies.

Organizer Chris Leibig introduced the group and spoke about general trends in American criminal defense.

Joni Robin, a former pubic defender who now has her own law firm, spoke methods of execution in The US, including the electric chair and lethal injection – and Virgina’s attempt to cerate secret protocols for executions so the public cano0t learn exactly how death row inmates are being killed.

Andrea Moseley discussed police shootings and a recent suit she and her partner won against a Virginia police department.

Ellen Shultz, who is not a lawyer but an experienced investigator who works at the Federal Public Defenders Office in Alexandria, spoke about the investigation necessary to defend someone who faces a death sentence

Cary Citronberg compared Denmark’s recent public reaction against immigration into the country with Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant policies. Some in the crowd did not enjoy the comparison.

“Denmark has a low rate of incarceration and its justice system, unlike the one in America, focuses first on rehabilitation. The result is they have less than half of the US recidivism rate,” Chris Leibig told a local reporter upon the group’s return.

The group, in various combinations, has previously been to Scotland, Ireland, Jamaica, Trinidad and the Bahamas for similar programs. They have been invited to a school in Berlin and Geneva this fall.

Read more about attorney Christopher Leibig and his upcoming release, Almost Mortal, HERE!

Emergency, push for help says less than the big red button

with sides encased in metal, the

the whole contraption like the street signs warning no turn on red

when pedestrians present ‘cause they’re always kinda present

and who couldn’t use the help.

But when it’s all on camera you think twice even though you’re damn sure

nobody’s watching unless things head down shit creek.

I say push it but it’s too late ‘cause everything’s suddenly back to normal

and nobody ever really interrupts that shit.

Soon to Be Released: Almost Mortal

Emerging criminal defense attorney Sam Young has always known he had a gift. Or a curse. He thinks of them as just minor psychic abilities. When Sam is hired by an attractive young nun named Camille Paradisi, he must discover the identity of a serial killer. Otherwise Camille’s Pastor will be exposed for not having turned in the man after a confession—thereby allowing another murder to occur. While Sam’s psychic abilities increase as he investigates the case, he quickly learns that the enigmatic Camille is not revealing the complete truth.

Camille shares an old journal anonymously mailed to the Church, which she believes may have been authored by the killer/confessor. The journal purports to tell the life story of a man with mind control and other special powers who claims to be a descendant of the fallen angels cast of out Heaven by God. As he learns more about the murders, the mystery author, and Camille, Sam begins to realize the so called “Rosslyn Ripper” case may have implications beyond his imagination—including his own past.

Published by Koehler Books and distributed by Ingram, Almost Mortal will release in both soft cover (978-1-63393-179-4, $15.95) and ebook (978-1-63393-180-0, $4.99) in May, 2016. Advanced reader copies in pdf format are available now.

For press inquiries, email shari@writerswin.com.

Chris-Leibig-Almost-Mortal-Release in PDF format
Chris-Leibig-Almost-Mortal-Release in MS Word format

Early-Praise-for-Almost-Mortal in PDF format
Early-Praise-for-Almost-Mortal in MS Word format (legal letter size)

You gotta stop trying to reinvent the wheel

He obviously thought the comment had something to do with why I was in so much trouble but it only got me thinking about the summer the wheels came off my chuck wagon.

It was the summer when Sue Ann finally let loose on the lady from the peanut shop and there was no catching hold of what came oozing out after. Sue Ann had come alone and brought us beautiful music while oiling her strong wooden bow by the edge of the woods. She was our mystic craftsman and us all thinking it was the advent of a nice new time and not scene one of a scary two-scene bit.

Turned out Sue Ann was never an artist but an archer and I screamed liar liar as we all froze when the music stopped and my heart sank down and down like a stone that’ll never hit bottom. Strangest part now is that even though Sue Ann never was playin’ any music I’ve been hungry ever since. Kerplunk.

Desiderata says many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness and I hope that’s true

because this shithole lacks a certain placidity and as far as loud and aggressive persons they’re all over the place and avoiding them brings us back to the loneliness question

which apparently triggers the fear and that’s nothing but a dog chasin’ its tail.

Like this old guy who was crossing the street who was a scabby kind of old and I know that wasn’t his fault but he still grossed me out

and then the guy said hello and he seemed happy despite it all

and I nodded and let him pass on by but I couldn’t help thinking how much I’d like to make him eat dirt

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view,” Atticus said to Scout back in 1960. And this is exactly what I was thinking about when Smitty tossed another empty over his shoulder into the backseat like he had no idea he would have to clean that shit up later.

You know when your mother’s cousin’s husband cheats on her with a bunch of whores and that’s all anyone can whisper about at family dinners and you realize it’s pretty much a big deal? Smitty cracked another beer and I thought about how dumb it was that he liked to keep the windows rolled up ‘cause it meant he needed to smoke less.

“Nah,” I said, but he was onto something new already and he usually didn’t wait around for answers to questions like that…

Less than sixty days from the release of Almost Mortal and now knee-deep in final edits from my publisher, Koehler Books.

Many thanks to authors, reviewers and others who have taken the time to read Almost Mortal and to share your thoughts. – Chris

“The verdict is in – Attorney Christopher Leibig offers a legal thriller for the ages. Realistic yet unpredictable, with a clever metaphysical twist, Almost Mortal is a thrilling roller coaster ride!” – Robert Dugoni, #1 Amazon, New York Times and Wall Street Journal Best Selling Author of My Sister’s Grave

“A poised protagonist leads this serpentine but engaging legal tale.” – Kirkus Reviews

She smiled and said Man, you walk heavy towards where I expect to dispense shiny new news.

Hard copper bits of news like jacketed bullets or pennies

Time may have a way of showing some of us what’s really important but that’s often stuff like the thirteen year old girl that was really a fat old cop who actually felt bad about the whole mess but not nearly enough

Sure, we got Donald Trump, The Clinton’s War on Women and the People versus OJ Simpson but they rarely show fat old cops or AA meetings only elegant tidbits of flare like silver bullets or medals

Do small things with great love – said Mother Teresa – and I guess that’s a good way to think because it applies to things that are really fuckin’ small like trying to figure out when you got hooked

Last night I was at a dinner in Charlottesville, Virginia for the criminal law section of the bar association. These things are usually kind of fun. Drinks and dinner with random legal personages who often turn out to be pretty interesting.

Last night’s event was more interesting than usual. I was seated next to a woman who was a lawyer, a political consultant, and who also turned out to be an award-winning Charlottesville poet. A great conversation ensued and left eager to read her work the following morning.

So I did! And, reading some of her work online this morning got me thinking about writing. People like her, with actual, serious talent for word-wrangling, make small, daily things large and memorable. They make you remember to pay attention. Words have power, real power.

As I prepare for the launch of Almost Mortal this May, life has been a flurry of interviews and reviews; speaking with publishers and printers and designers and videographers.

It’s an exciting time for any author and very enjoyable when we get to see some fruits of our labor, especially while we’re still anxiously awaiting the book’s release!

So here are a few early articles and interviews I’d like to share, and I’ll keep you posted on more as they become available, either here or on our Press page.

Thanks for stopping by!

Chris

Interview with Christopher Leibig, Author of Almost Mortal:

A fun Q&A with the folks at Small Friendly planet, where I answer questions about the book, the publishing process, and on being a defense attorney.

Almost Mortal Reviewed by Kirkus Reviews

Happy with the review from Kirkus, who sums up the review (link above) with this: “A poised protagonist leads this serpentine but engaging legal tale.”

Author Interview of Almost Mortal by Christopher Leibig

Fun interview here and a spoiler alert when asked about what readers can expect in the future: “Hopefully a sequel to Almost Mortal. Also have another novel, finished years ago, that I will try to launch if Almost Mortal does well…”

Almost Mortal Reviewed by Authors Reading

Kind words at this review that include: “Leibig has done a masterful job… you will sit down with Almost Mortal and not want to put it down. Leibig has a very nice and easy way with his writing that will keep you captivated.”

If you’re a recognized reviewer and would like to arrange for a digital ARC of Almost Mortal, please provide your info with your comment below or email shari@writerswin.com to arrange a copy.