A CHECKERED PAST
(a memoir)

By William van Poyck

In this sweeping, genre-blurring autobiography, Miami native William Van Poyck (car thief, burglar, bank robber, escape artist, jailhouse lawyer and award-winning writer) guides readers through a vividly sketched tour, from privileged barefoot youth to reform schools, prisons and ultimately death row, an unforgettable, four-decade odyssey through an unraveling life seemingly beyond reconciliation. Providing a brutally authentic look, projected through the lens of raw experience, into the hardscrabble underbelly of America=s criminal justice system, Van Poyck paints a broad portrait of the human condition, by turns grim, humorous, poignant, haunting and inspiring, yet always compelling. This no-holds-barred, eye-opening saga of human fallibility cuts close to the bone while resonating with life=s timeless themes of despair, hope and redemption. In April, 2004, this book won first place (memoir category) in the Writer’s Digest International Self-Published Book Awards, edging out over 1,000 other entries.

This book (ISBN: 1-4107-3439-0) is available through Author House.

All profits and proceeds from the sale of this book goes to a charity. Van Poyck receives no remuneration.