Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I was born and raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  I graduated from the University of South Dakota in May 1991 and moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota to attend a one year music program studying contemporary guitar full time at Music Tech which is now the McNally Smith College of Music.  My love for music and the creative side of my brain eventually led me to writing which is my true passion.  I currently work in law enforcement and live with my beautiful wife and two daughters near the Gulf Coast of Florida.

Describe your book ‘The Cold November Son’ in 30 words or less.

The tale of a teenage boy who receives a shotgun for his fourteenth birthday and is soon forced to explore the boundaries of love and mercy.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

The hardest part of writing the book for me was the final rewrite.  I am a perfectionist so the temptation to keep tweaking the book was a challenge for me.  Eventually it reached the point where I was satisfied with the way the story was laid out for the reader.  I wanted it to be a page turner and based on the feedback and reviews I believe I succeeded.

What books have had the greatest influence on you?

The books that influenced me the most were those from my childhood.  I think I read every book in the Hardy Boys and Doc Savage series as well as every book written by Judy Bloom.  Although I love writing fiction I love reading True Crime and Biographical and historical books.

Briefly share with us what you do to market your book?

My marketing campaign has been mostly Internet based. Internet sites such as www.freado.com are great in reaching new audiences.  I have started writing a blog to help gain exposure and I have also recently begun writing for the examiner.com as the Saint Petersburg Florida Culture and Society Writer.   The challenge has been reaching the audience that I know will enjoy the book and finding an agent.   The good news is that the book has steadily increased in sales and watching it gain momentum is exciting.  I have also done book signings at retailers and hope to participate in more in the near future.  Meeting the readers is very rewarding!

How do you spend your time when you are not writing?

I love to spend time with my family.  We are fortunate to live minutes from Florida’s beautiful Gulf Coast so we enjoy boating, kayaking and playing in the sand.  My other creative release is music and I enjoy playing guitar and listening to music.  My pick for 2011 album of the year is the new Foo Fighter’s release "Wasting Light".  I also enjoy traveling. Living on the east coast of the US is great for weekend getaways with so many interesting cities and historical sites only a one day drive away.

What are you working on next?

I have two novels that I am working on right now.  One is a book that has characters that overlap The Cold November Son.  It is titled “The Cold Dark Highway” and is a thriller.  I also have a Novel titled “Where the River Bends” set in the middle of the nineteenth century in Georgia.  Working on two new books simultaneously is a great way to keep the creative juices flowing.   I have enough ideas to keep me busy writing for a decade so I hope to keep pushing out at least one new book a year.