Brian Freeman's Blog, page 23

Ten Years: A Retrospective in the Pioneer Press

CLICK HERE TO READ THE PIONEER PRESS ARTICLE.

With the release of my latest Jonathan Stride thriller GOODBYE TO THE DEAD just days away, Mary Ann Grossman of the Pioneer Press has written a wonderful retrospective on my ten years in the book business. It's a great way to get to know me and my novels.

Sometimes it's hard for me to believe that I've spent a decade writing and publishing thrillers around the world -- about a third of my working life. As someone who dreamed of writing books from a young age (I was working on a mystery novel in sixth grade!), this really has been the achievement of a life-long goal. The publishing business is one of the toughest ways to make a living, but it also offers rewards that you can't get anywhere else.

More than anything, as you'll see in Mary Ann's article, I've been fortunate to run this business as a partnership with my wife, Marcia. (She gets the first two words in every book!) We do this all together -- editing, marketing, hitting the road, doing events -- and that's the best part of this new life we created ten years ago.

I hope you enjoy getting to know us in this article -- and I hope you buy a copy of GOODBYE TO THE DEAD and fall in love with it. It's one of my own personal favorites among my novels.

Kerrytown Book Festival

Brian returns to Ann Arbor to present his special 'Stride's Duluth' slide show at the Kerrytown Book Festival. Don't miss this fun look at the many real-life places used as crime scenes in Brian's Jonathan Stride novels -- including his latest, GOODBYE TO THE DEAD.

Shawano Library

Brian returns to Shawano -- the setting for his Jonathan Stride novella TURN TO STONE. He will be back at the library to present his special STRIDE'S DULUTH slide show, featuring locales throughout the Northland (and Shawano!) used in his novels.

Barnes & Noble

Join Brian for "coffee with an author." Call the store to reserve a seat at this intimate event to talk about Brian's writing career and his new book GOODBYE TO THE DEAD.

Once Upon a Crime

Brian will be stopping by the Once Upon a Crime mystery bookstore to sign and inscribe pre-ordered copies of GOODBYE TO THE DEAD. Call the store or stop by to reserve your copy!

Stride is Back

The new book is almost here!

Jonathan Stride is back on March 8 in GOODBYE TO THE DEAD. It's available for pre-order now from your favorite bookseller.

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This is the first Stride novel since THE COLD NOWHERE, and I've been delighted by the early response from reviewers. Publishers Weekly and Booklist both gave the book starred reviews. Suspense Magazine said this: "If there is a way to say 'higher' than 'highly recommended,' I wish I knew it. Because this is one of those thrillers that go above and beyond."

In many ways, I think of this book as a 10th anniversary novel for Jonathan Stride. You'll have a chance to meet Stride's late wife Cindy as a character for the first time, in a mystery that ripples all the way from Stride's past to the present. I hope you'll pre-order your copy now, so that you can start reading on release day!

Minnesota Book Awards

I just got the exciting news that my Cab Bolton novel SEASON OF FEAR is a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award! Big congratulations to my fellow finalists Ellen Hart, Steve McEllistrem, and D.B. Moon.

This is the fourth time in ten years that one of my thrillers has been a finalist for the award in Genre Fiction (my previous finalists were STRIPPED, THE BONE HOUSE, and THE COLD NOWHERE). I'll be crossing my fingers when the winner is announced in downtown Saint Paul on April 16.

The Minnesota Book Awards are run by the Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, with involvement by libraries all over the state. I'm so proud to have the support of Minnesota's librarians!

Of course, if a Cab Bolton novel takes home the award, I think Stride may be a little jealous...!

Barnes & Noble

Jonathan Stride is back! Join Brian at the Galleria in Edina to celebrate the release of his new Duluth-based novel GOODBYE TO THE DEAD. This book marks the tenth anniversary of Jonathan Stride -- and you will want to have a signed copy in your personal library! Reserve your copy now.

Books & Company

Jonathan Stride is back! Brian returns to Oconomowoc to celebrate the release of his new Stride novel GOODBYE TO THE DEAD. This book marks the tenth anniversary of Jonathan Stride -- and you will want to have a signed copy in your personal library! Reserve your copy now.

Tattered Cover

Jonathan Stride is back! Join Brian at the Tattered Cover store in Aspen Grove to celebrate the release of his new Stride novel GOODBYE TO THE DEAD. This book marks the tenth anniversary of Jonathan Stride -- and you will want to have a signed copy in your personal library! Reserve your copy now.