Chuck Miceli combines his criminal justice background and fascination for severe weather in his new supernatural novel, "Amanda's Room." Part mystery, part thriller, Miceli's novel merges details from his experiences in prisons and jails with facts about severe weather and violent storms. Then he adds his own mix of paranormal coincidences to act as a catalyst for this supernatural stew. Together, these forces set the stage for what happens in the story and in the lives of its characters. Set in Washington Irving's Hudson Valley, the book challenges readers to uncover the mysterious source of power in Amanda's room. Then, in "Perfect Storm" fashion, he takes them on a violent-weather thrill ride of thunderstorms, tornadoes, waterspouts, and hurricanes.Miceli serves on the Editorial Board for "Voices and Visions," the annual literary review of the University of Connecticut's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. His text, "Fire Behind Bars," (co-authored with Alton P. Golden), was the first book in the U.S. to deal with the issue of deadly fires in secure institutions and put him on the national stage as a speaker and consultant. His articles have appeared in professional journals and magazines, and his poetry and short stories have been printed in literary journals. Miceli is also a columnist for WTNH's weather information website: WXedge.com. The site features his articles on major weather events like the Blizzards of 1969 and 1978, and the "Long Island Express" hurricane of 1938.Chuck Miceli's background in criminal and juvenile justice plays significantly in "Amanda's Room," especially in reference to Baker-Miller, a particular shade of pink paint actually used in prison cell blocks. Miceli's correctional experience includes being a work supervisor at a reformatory and a training officer in jails and a maximum-security prison. He was a Resource Center Coordinator for the National Institute of Corrections and Chief of Curriculum for the Connecticut Justice Academy. He has worked as a criminal and juvenile justice consultant to the American Correctional Association, the National Juvenile Court Services Association, and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. He has taught extensively throughout the country on topics ranging from Fire Safety and Riot Control to Management Development and Disaster Management. His courses have been taught to thousands throughout the country.Miceli spends much of his free time involved in civic, social, and religious volunteer work. He currently serves on the Leadership Council for the University of Connecticut's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and was previously a Lieutenant for the Community Emergency Response Team in his town. He is also past Board of Directors Chairman for Every Dollar Feeds Kids (http://www.edfk.org), a non-profit organization that raises money to feed hungry children in the US and abroad and he donates a portion of his book sales to the charity.Miceli was born the son of a coal miner in Pittston Pennsylvania. He grew up one of eleven children in the tough East New York section of Brooklyn New York. He served as Staff Sargent and rifle platoon leader in the Marine Corps Reserves, and now lives with his wife, Judy, in suburban Connecticut.