Interview with Author Frederick H. Crook

My guest today is Frederick H. Crook. Hello! Welcome back to Writing in the Modern Age! It’s such a pleasure to have you here.

Can you tell us a little bit about your latest book? When did it come out? Where can we get it?
 
myBook.to/CampanelliSiegeoftheNighthunter
Campanelli: Siege of the Nighthunter is the 3rd Campanelli dystopian crime thriller in the series. Our favorite blind detective must track down a serial killing cannibal. It was released March 29th, and you can buy paperback copies from B&N or Amazon, or get it for your Kindle from Amazon.
 
Interesting! 

Is there anything that prompted Campanelli: Siege of the Nighthunter? Something that inspired you?
 
I’m not sure, but I might have had some bad toppings on a pizza one night. The character of the serial killer just sort of happened and I thought it would be interesting to throw him in Frank Campanelli’s futuristic, post-Great Exodus Chicago. I have to say, I’m happy with the outcome, though it cost me some nightmares and lack of sleep.
 
Oh, I hear you! The first time I got into a villain's head, it was pretty disturbing.

So...when did you know you wanted to write? Or has it always been a pastime of yours?

I’ve wanted to write since I was a kid. I started early with some short stories. Now, at 46, there’s no end to the ideas, so it seems.
  
That's great! And I love to hear about an author's journey!

Do you have any favorite authors yourself, Frederick?
 
Stephen King, Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, and Dean Koontz, among some others.
 
All right. 

Do you write in a specific place? Time of day?

I like to start as soon as I can, but I think I’m most productive in the afternoon. That seems to be the trend.
 
Are there any words you'd like to impart to fellow writers? Any advice?
 
Write what you’re passionate about. MAKE the time, and MAKE the space. That is, make sure you are comfortable while you’re writing, whether that’s in a chair, couch, standing up, whatever. You are most productive when you are not fidgeting. :)
 
Very true! That's great advice! Thank you for offering those words of wisdom. 
 
And thank you so much for stopping by to visit us here today at Writing in the Modern Age.  It was so nice having you!  :)

Readers, here is the blurb for Campanelli: Siege of the Nighthunter.
 
myBook.to/CampanelliSiegeoftheNighthunter
 
June, 2110. A serial killer strikes the populace of the City of Chicago. The first victim is a wanted man by Detective Frank Campanelli’s Sentinel Division. His body had been mutilated and, from the evidence uncovered by forensic genius, H. Lincoln Rothgery, it has been partially consumed. The unknown invader leaves a trail of corpses behind in short order, including that of a homicide detective.
            To add to the mystery, the DNA evidence retrieved from a stolen vehicle indicates that the killer is former military, but special encoding prevents the murderer from being identified. Frank’s partner, Marcus Williams, seems to know more about what’s going on than he lets on, until the former Navy SEAL calls in a friend from the FBI to help.
            “The Nighthunter”, as the media has labeled him, instills terror and virtually shuts down Chicago. Together, Campanelli, Williams, and the agent must work to capture the enigmatic and frighteningly efficient cannibal.
 
Here is an excerpt.
 
Lincoln caught Frank’s gaze. “We found two different types of blood, two sets of DNA in the car.”
            “Go on,” McLain prompted.
            “Herman Werner’s and the killer’s. No ID’s been matched to his,” Rothgery stated and stood from his chair. He stepped between the two detectives and stepped casually toward the sedan. “The killer’s DNA has been engineered, as has the blood, but there’s no identification to be found in the cells. He is a he and appears to be of military origin, but it goes beyond anything I’ve ever seen.”
            “So, you’re telling me that the killer is a soldier. American?” Frank asked as he stopped next to Lincoln and stared at the driver’s seat of the ruined car.
            “I can’t even determine that without a serial number, Frank.”
            “Soldier or not, Mister Rothgery…how the hell did he get outta that?” McLain asked from Lincoln’s other side. The big man waved his hand over the wreckage as he spoke. “That should’ve been fatal…engineered genes or not.”
            “I agree.” Rothgery slid his glasses from his Roman nose and rubbed his eyes with his free hand. “Gherling is still researching the DNA and the blood while Teri is carrying out more tests.”
            “You said Werner’s blood was in the car,” Frank stated.
            “Yeah,” Lincoln said then nodded. “Not much of it, though. A lot of the DNA we found in it was from hairs in the carpets and seats. My opinion is that he used the car for some time. Months, perhaps close to a year.”
            “So, Werner was cut out of the seatbelt…then thrown through the air.” Kirby stepped up to the side of the car and studied the sliced seatbelt. In the bright light, the precision cut was much more impressive.
            “Definitely,” H. Lincoln affirmed as he replaced his eyeglasses. “And…before I forget…there are teeth marks on the body.”
            “We saw those,” Frank said. He leaned back on the workbench behind him and crossed his arms. “The bites on the shoulder.”
            “I’m not talking about those, Frank.”
            This took Kirby’s attention from the wreck to the forensic genius. “What are you trying to say, Mister Rothgery?”
            “I’m saying he had a little nibble on some muscle tissue while he cut out the heart and liver. It’s also confirmed that the heart and liver were eaten.” Lincoln met the eyes of McLain then looked to Campanelli.
            “God,” Kirby uttered and stepped away from the sedan as if it exuded heat.
            “How do you come to that, Lincoln?” Frank asked.
            “Pieces of both organs were left behind in the car. Nothing more than shreds, really. Seems he had to pick them out of his teeth as he drove.”
            Frank lifted his right hand to his chin and rested it, keeping the left arm tucked. “You’re telling me that we have a soldier of unknown origin turned cannibal, running around the streets of Chicago.”
            “From everything we’ve gathered so far, Frank, that’s about the size of it.”
 
Purchase Links: 



This book sounds riveting! We'll be sure to check it out! :)

myBook.to/CampanelliSiegeoftheNighthunter
  

Author Bio  
  
Frederick was born in Chicago in 1970 and now lives in Villa Park with his wife, Rae and their three dachshunds. He began by writing fictional works all through high school, but didn’t take himself seriously until 2009, when Frederick began writing his first novel, The Dregs of Exodus, which was self-published in late 2010. This was followed up with another novel, The Pirates of Exodus in 2012.

Throughout that year and 2013, he continued writing and published four short stories in eBook form for Kindle. Runt Pulse, The Fortress of Albion, Lunar Troll, and Campanelli: The Ping Tom Affair.

His third novel, Campanelli: Sentinel, was picked up by Solstice Publishing in late 2014. The novella, Minuteman Merlin, was released for the Kindle by Solstice Publishing in March of 2015 and followed up by his fourth novel, Of Knight & Devil, in September. His fifth novel, Campanelli: Siege of the Nighthunter, was released by Solstice in March, 2016.

He is currently an editor for Solstice Publishing and working on novel number six, a paranormal historical fiction.
 
https://www.amazon.com/Minuteman-Merlin-Frederick-H-Crook-ebook/dp/B00TXHJL2Y?ie=UTF8&qid=1463168858&ref_=la_B00P83FW02_1_2&s=books&sr=1-2
 
https://www.amazon.com/Campanelli-Sentinel-Frederick-H-Crook-ebook/dp/B00PMET6JA?ie=UTF8&qid=1463168858&ref_=la_B00P83FW02_1_1&s=books&sr=1-1
 
https://www.amazon.com/Campanelli-Affair-Frederick-H-Crook-ebook/dp/B00DQBICQE?ie=UTF8&qid=1463168858&ref_=la_B00P83FW02_1_7&s=books&sr=1-7
 
https://www.amazon.com/Lunar-Troll-Frederick-H-Crook-ebook/dp/B00CAB33II?ie=UTF8&qid=1463168858&ref_=la_B00P83FW02_1_8&s=books&sr=1-8
 
https://www.amazon.com/Fortress-Albion-Frederick-H-Crook-ebook/dp/B00BDTY32I?ie=UTF8&qid=1463168858&ref_=la_B00P83FW02_1_6&s=books&sr=1-6

https://www.amazon.com/Runt-Pulse-Frederick-Crook-ebook/dp/B00AOCHRGY?ie=UTF8&qid=1463168858&ref_=la_B00P83FW02_1_10&s=books&sr=1-10

https://www.amazon.com/Pirates-Exodus-author-Dregs-ebook/dp/B007G39WEE?ie=UTF8&qid=1463168858&ref_=la_B00P83FW02_1_9&s=books&sr=1-9

https://www.amazon.com/Dregs-Exodus-Frederick-H-Crook-ebook/dp/B004IZLI6I?ie=UTF8&qid=1463168858&ref_=la_B00P83FW02_1_3&s=books&sr=1-3

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