Your latest novel, ‘The Chicago Phoenix’, tells us yet another amazing part of your life. Can you explain what drove you into the marijuana business at just 13 years old? Per The Buffalo News, Keene wrote in his book: "After my early release, the five years I had with my father meant more to me than all the money in the world. I personally do not think the drug penalties should be so draconian and harsh for non-violent drug crimes. I do not think conspiracy laws should even be legal at all. Because what is a conspiracy… It is hearsay and you can never defend yourself against hearsay. Your freedom is far too valuable to lose even a day ! El problema es que Keene resulta muy desagradable y parece ser un vendehumos. Con haberlo introducido en los dos últimos capítulos habría bastado.

Unfortunately for him, Ford County jail was somewhat centrally located on his road to ruin. An hour up the highway in one direction was his hometown of Kankakee, where he was busted for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Down the highway from Ford County in the other direction was the U.S. courthouse in Urbana, where he took a plea on the drug charge and was sentenced to ten years. Then he was held at the jail a few days longer until he was transferred to the custody of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. He did not relish returning to Ford County yet again in 1998, even though he would be closer to family and friends, and he certainly didn’t look forward to seeing Lawrence Beaumont, the assistant U.S. attorney who had summoned him from his federal prison in Michigan. I’m also currently writing my next new book “American Sparkle” based on one of my other creations which is already set to be a motion picture. We were supposed to start filming “American Sparkle” in June 2023 but the writers and directors and actors strike happened. It’s currently still in negotiations, so as of now my “American Sparkle” movie is on pause till all is resolved. The show – which is executive produced by Keene – suggests a disturbing premise: both Jimmy and Larry are tied together through their obsession with women. One is a womaniser using sex to ignore childhood trauma; the other is an incel who could never get girls until he killed them. Speaking on Dateline in 2012, he said he hopes that his role keeping Hall behind bars has allowed him to earn some line of redemption.The novel follows young Jimmy Keene in the marijuana business. However, the business was undoubtedly dangerous. The job included surviving street shootings, brawls, and other dangerous situations. Do you recall any specific situations in which your life was in danger? James Keene is an American author, writer, executive producer, and businessman. His first book is In With the Devil: A Fallen Hero, a Serial Killer, and a Dangerous Bargain for Redemption. In his book, Keene explained that taking part in the operation allowed him to spend five years with his father, who passed away in 2004. Falls under the technically, you told a story category, for me. It’s very oddly written in a way, since Keene is a third person perspective but it’s ostensibly his book? Clearly, it is written by the other person with details supplied by Keene, which makes it odd he’s the predominate name, but I guess it’s more upfront than ghostwriting. It’s just a bit odd at the start as you acclimate.

Yes. Keene portrays a prison guard in the series finale. "He cameoed in the show, which was great fun, at a very intense, emotional, dramatic part of the story," recalled actor Taron Egerton. "[It was] surreal for both of us. But also, I think he felt quite emotional about it because it was a huge episode in his life." Egerton described Keene as being "a really nice guy" who "seemed really pleased and excited and grateful that we were going to such pains to tell his story in the best way we could." All I can really say about this is that I enjoyed the Apple+ series much, much more than I did the book on which it's based. That's unusual for me, although it's also kind of rare for me to still seek out the source material after I've watched a movie or series, but I loved the screen adaptation so much I thought I'd like to dig deeper.Beaumont, Keene remembers, was ecstatic, practically reaching across the table to hug him: “That’s great. Great.” Jimmy Keene grew up outside of Chicago. Although he was the son of a policeman and rubbed shoulders with the city's elite, he ended up on the wrong side of the law and was sentenced to ten years with no chance of parole. Keene has since become an author and has spoken about his experience with media outlets including Dateline. He also works in real estate.