It’s not quite clear when Harper Dimmerman has time to sleep.
Dimmerman is an attorney licensed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, a published legal columnist and an adjunct real-estate law professor at Temple University.
And if that wasn’t enough, Dimmerman just published his first book, “Justice Hunter.”
Dimmerman, born in Philadelphia and raised in the Voorhees’ Alluvium neighborhood, attended the E.T. Hamilton and Kresson schools. He has since crossed back to the other side of the river, but continues to stay connected to Voorhees through family and friends.
“Justice Hunter” is loosely based on Dimmerman’s own experiences as counsel to the City of Philadelphia in the controversial case involving the late Joey Vento’s sign, “This is America: When ordering, please speak English,” which hung prominently in his South Philadelphia staple, Geno’s Steaks.
The book chronicles the life of Hunter Gray, a big-firm lawyer hoping to make partner at the firm he works at. Along the way, he is commissioned to take down Vito Armani, a well-liked and respected South Philadelphia restaurateur.
“I was inspired by the Constitutional issues. Hunter Gray is involved in speech and First Amendment stuff, throwing him into a tailspin with people after him,” Dimmerman said.
The story is completely based in Philadelphia, but the main character is a Chicago transplant who is trying to make a name for himself in the City of Brotherly Love. Dimmerman describes Gray’s character as interesting, well liked and cerebral.
Gray wanted to be a pro soccer player, Dimmerman said, but when that fell through, he redirects himself to a career in law.
Along the way, he dates a common pleas justice.
The book has it all, Dimmerman says — intrigue, sex, violence and the law.
“It gives you a stronger sense of the world we’re in,” Dimmerman said.
For Dimmerman, it isn’t completely out of the blue he penned a work of fiction.
After all, he did graduate from Vassar College with an English/creative-writing degree. He said he was in denial about life post-graduation, and decided to go to law school.
After law school, Dimmerman said he almost became a literary agent. He was writing plays with his brother when he started experimenting with novels.
“It was the best thing I’ve ever done,” Dimmerman said.
One piece of advice he’s received along the way keeps him motivated to write, teach and practice law, all at once.
“I was told, when you love something, it’s what you should be doing,” Dimmerman said.
With another novel on the way in the Hunter Gray series, and two more in the pipeline, Dimmerman confidently revels in having developed his voice.
“I’m writing as it come and developing ways of saying things that are me,” Dimmerman said. “It’s not a quagmire — it makes sense.”
His book was released on the Amazon Kindle and will soon be available in paperback. Dimmerman said he’s pleased with the reviews he’s received so far.
“It’s cool to have people on your team,” he said. “And one review made my year. I don’t think I even asked her to read it.”
Dimmerman said he’s happy the book has been received well. But he also has something no critic or supporter could ever say about his book.
“When I go back and read it, I like it,” Dimmerman said. “I’m leaving something when I’m done. I feel I’ve done something.”
