By Meredith Stanton Vaselaar
Adrian Branch Librarian
“Lieutenant Jonathan Stride knows it’s not a moral world. One teenage girl has already disappeared on his watch, leaving behind no body, no killer, no justice. Now, when another girl goes missing on a cold night in Minnesota, Stride must relive his worst nightmare…” [From synops, “Immoral”]
Brian Freeman’s first novel, ”Immoral,” introduced the world to Lt. Jonathan Stride. That first novel, published in 2005, was the beginning of a successful writing career, currently spanning 13 years, producing 17 novels, two more to be published soon, as well as one novella. Freeman’s novels have received many awards, as well as nominations, starting with him winning the Macavity Award for best first novel.
A #1 bestselling author, Freeman’s books have been sold in 46 countries, and translated into 22 languages. His books have been published in paper form, as well as audio, and are available in ebook format. His books have been featured in podcasts and he started his own podcast earlier this year.
Freeman was born in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in San Mateo, California, before moving to Minnesota. He graduated with honors from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, with a degree in English. After that, he worked as the director of marketing and public relations in an international law firm.
And then he became a writer.
Freeman writes psychological thrillers. The majority of his books are set in Minnesota, many in Duluth, but at least one, Spilled Blood, in southwest Minnesota. Crime writer, Lisa Gardner, says of Freeman: “[He] is a master of psychological suspense.”
Of his own writing, Freeman says, “I don’t like books where the characters are all good or all bad. I want them to live in the real world, where morality means tough choices and a lot of shades of gray. I hope that’s why readers relate so intensely to the people in my books”
The author enjoys a huge readership in Minnesota, in North America and, indeed, around the world. He and his wife, Marcia, have lived in Minnesota for 35 years, and work together in the book business. Theirs is a solid, and lively, partnership.
Brian Freeman has been in contact with me, as the Adrian Branch Library prepares to host him in Adrian for an author visit. He will talk about how he got started writing – something he credits to his grandmother as well as his 8th grade composition teacher – and how he comes to the plots of his novels, the settings, and then tying it all together.
There is a lot to tell, and a lot to be shared before his visit. In the following weeks, I’ll share what he has written for and about our corner of Minnesota. In the meantime, please mark your calendars with the date and time of his visit: Tuesday, April 17; 7:00 p.m. Mr. Freeman will be speaking to the public at the Adrian Elementary School (and, yes, there will be cookies and beverages served during the program).
And stayed tuned for next week’s article, with more to share about Brian Freeman.
The Brian Freeman Author Program is funded in part or in whole with money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage fund. The program is sponsored by the Adrian Branch Library, the Nobles County Library, the Plum Creek Library System, and Legacy Grants
