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Mike Papantonio @mikepapantonio.bsky.social · 2h

www.mikepapantonioauthor.com/newsletter

Plot lines rooted in real cases—real crimes, real victims, and real corruption hidden by corporate media. That’s why I’m launching a monthly newsletter. Taking you behind the scenes for the stories the networks won’t touch. Subscribe and stay informed.

Mike Papantonio @mikepapantonio.bsky.social · 5d

Order your copy of The Middleman: a.co/d/4G3XYUD

Mike Papantonio @mikepapantonio.bsky.social · 7d

Every plot line is rooted in real cases I’ve fought—real crimes, real victims, and real corruption hidden by corporate media.

That’s why I’m launching a monthly newsletter: to take you behind the curtain and share the stories the networks won’t touch.

www.mikepapantonioauthor.com/newsletter

Mike Papantonio @mikepapantonio.bsky.social · 8d

Order your copy of The Middleman: a.co/d/4G3XYUD

Mike Papantonio @mikepapantonio.bsky.social · 10d

I’m excited to be speaking at MTMP Fall 2025 in Las Vegas this October!

I’ll be presenting on the future of AI in the legal industry. How it’s transforming the way we practice law, the opportunities it creates for justice, and the challenges we need to navigate responsibly.

#MTMPFall25

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Mike Papantonio @mikepapantonio.bsky.social · 15d

Order your copy of The Middleman: a.co/d/4G3XYUD

Mike Papantonio @mikepapantonio.bsky.social · 15d

If I were throwing a party and could invite any of my characters, Michael Carey would be at the top of the list. He’s a former special ops PJ who went from rescue missions in Afghanistan to the courtroom. An incredible trial lawyer who doesn’t always color inside the lines.

Mike Papantonio @mikepapantonio.bsky.social · 16d

If I could choose a historical figure for my trial team, it would be Clarence Darrow. He was deeply flawed—‘damaged goods,’ as I’ve said—but his passion for justice and commitment to America’s underclass made him one of the greatest trial lawyers of his time.

Mike Papantonio @mikepapantonio.bsky.social · 17d

Lights, cameras, and a brand-new story in the making. I’ve been working behind the scenes to bring my next legal thriller to life and I’m excited to share the news: “A Death in Arcadia” releases March 2026. Corruption, power, and the fight for justice collide in a small Southern town. Stay tuned...

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Mike Papantonio @mikepapantonio.bsky.social · 19d

Writers like Robert Crais shine a light on real issues. Years ago, he wrote Taken, a thriller that captured the rise of human trafficking on the border before most people were even talking about it. That’s the power of storytelling. It entertains, but it can also warn, reveal, and inspire.

Mike Papantonio @mikepapantonio.bsky.social · 20d

Want a chance to win some free books? Enter here: bit.ly/4mIN0fL

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Mike Papantonio @mikepapantonio.bsky.social · 20d

Judges aren’t above criticism — not when their rulings hurt real people. In my books, I call that out. I also shine a light on the lawyers who use their license to actually do good. If that inspires even one lawyer to aim higher, it’s worth it.

Mike Papantonio @mikepapantonio.bsky.social · 21d

If you follow me at all, you probably know I love sharing my books with readers. And I especially enjoy finding new readers for my work. So do me a favor, help me share! I’m giving away five complete sets of my Deke Deketomis thrillers. Enter here for a chance to win: bit.ly/4mIN0fL

Mike Papantonio @mikepapantonio.bsky.social · 22d

Order your copy of The Middleman: a.co/d/4G3XYUD

Mike Papantonio @mikepapantonio.bsky.social · 24d

When you’re trying 10 or 12 cases a year, life outside the courtroom takes a toll. I remember being on the road 200 days in a single year and trying to balance being a lawyer with being a father and husband. That struggle shows up in my books, where every character wrestles with the same challenges.

Mike Papantonio @mikepapantonio.bsky.social · 28d

Order your copy of the Middleman: a.co/d/4G3XYUD

Mike Papantonio @mikepapantonio.bsky.social · Sep 11

There are over 800,000 licensed lawyers in this country. The real question is what do you do with that license? Do you take extraordinary risks, like fighting corporations that destroy entire ecosystems? Or do you take the easy route with routine cases anyone could handle?

Mike Papantonio @mikepapantonio.bsky.social · Sep 9

I’ve got incredibly talented friends right here in my hometown who are writers. But too often, they face a strange wall. People think, “I know them, I see them socially, why should I read their book?” That mindset misses the point.

Mike Papantonio @mikepapantonio.bsky.social · Sep 6

Some of the strangest moments in trial are the ones you can’t make up and they often end up as material for my books.

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Mike Papantonio @mikepapantonio.bsky.social · Sep 5

Order your copy of the Middleman: a.co/d/4G3XYUD

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Mike Papantonio @mikepapantonio.bsky.social · Sep 4

To be a good writer, balance is everything. Family comes first. Always. Before another case, another chapter, or another book. Writing can consume you, but the time spent with loved ones, sharing a glass of wine or talking about ideas, brings perspective and clarity.

Mike Papantonio @mikepapantonio.bsky.social · Sep 3

F. Lee Bailey was one of the sharpest, most creative criminal lawyers I ever knew and a close friend. His cross-examinations were masterful. I still draw on his traits when I write characters in my books. He was a giant in the courtroom, no matter what the critics said.

Mike Papantonio @mikepapantonio.bsky.social · Sep 2

Order your copy of The Middleman: a.co/d/gMxicF9

Mike Papantonio @mikepapantonio.bsky.social · Aug 31

LIVE YOUR BEST STORY.
Sunset on the Serengeti. Nothing quite like it.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in fire and gold, the quiet hum of the wild settled in around us. Lanterns flickered, smoke curled from the fire, and every detail felt suspended in time.

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Mike Papantonio @mikepapantonio.bsky.social · Aug 30

It sounds counterintuitive, but too much time in the courtroom can kill a legal thriller. Unless the scene moves the story forward, it doesn’t belong. I’ve tried more cases than most, and even I know: readers want a story, not a transcript.