Fred Fanning

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I started writing in 1994. I published my first book, which was my master’s project in 1998 with a professional association. I retired from the government in 2015 and started writing full time. Over the years, I have authored and coauthored over 70 articles. My articles have appeared in Professional Safety, the Journal of the American Society of Safety Engineers; Perspective, the newsletter of the Public Sector Practice Specialty of the American Society of Safety Engineers; PM World Journal; the International Journal, Organization, Technology and Management in Construction; PMI GovCOP Magazine, the government sector magazine of the Project Management Institute; and several journals of the U.S. Army. I have written physical and electronic books that include fiction and non-fiction. I have also written chapters for three technical books and two stories that were published in anthologies. My work has earned nine awards. I have also presented technical papers before national audiences. I am a member of the Riverside Writers where I serve as the Treasurer and the Virginia Writers Club where I serve as Recording Secretary.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is a novel A Walk Among the Dead. It was inspired by my experiences living in Germany during the fall of the Iron Curtain, Reunification of Germany, and the withdrawal of US Forces from Berlin. They were very exciting times.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No, I just write and research like I was taught in college.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I really like Edgar Allen Poe and Ayn Rand. I also like Clive Cussler and Leonard Scott, whom I worked with in Berlin. although I am sure he doesn’t remember me. He was a celebrity then too. As a child, I read a lot and was influenced by the classics like Grapes of Wrath, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and Invisible Man to name a few.

What are you working on now?
I am working on two novels. The first is a paranormal mystery set in the Ozarks of Missouri. I was intrigued by the Beaman Monster incident in Sedalia, Missouri. My book is about the monster, real and unreal, of Missouri. I am also working on a sequel to A Walk Among the Dead. This time, Inspector Maggie Hoffmann tries to solve another crime perpetrated by former East German Police and several murders. It will be based in Berlin too.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I don’t really have a single best method or website for promoting my books. I have worked with several of each over the years, but selling non-fiction books is very hard. I have learned that the only way to sell books is to keep trying. I am trying many of those sites again with my novel, but in a different way. I am also trying new sites and methods too.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I would tell a new author to keep writing. You can’t publish what you haven’t written. I also tell new authors that even if you don’t strike it rich to keep trying. The success is in the writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I ever received with respect to writing was to keep writing. I have never had a problem writing non-fiction, but my first novel was very difficult. I kept trying to edit and write. When I tried just writing I was able to complete a 50,000-word story that could be edited. If I hadn’t tried that I think I would still be working on that book.

What are you reading now?
I am reading Nazi Gold by Ian Sayer and Douglas Botting.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am going to stop writing non-fiction and focus on fiction. I have a few more non-fiction articles I want to finish and after that no more. I want to also learn to write short stories and fiction articles.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Anthem by Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. The Colorado Kid by Stephen King, and Rocket Boys by Homer Hickman.

Author Websites and Profiles
Fred Fanning Website
Fred Fanning Amazon Profile

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