Coffee with a Canine: Chris Grabenstein & Fred

The current feature at Coffee with a Canine: Chris Grabenstein & Fred.

Chris Grabenstein won the Anthony Award for "Best First Mystery" (given at Bouchercon 2006) for his debut novel Tilt A Whirl—the first in a series of John Ceepak stories to be set "Down The Shore" in a New Jersey tourist town called Sea Haven. It was followed by Mad Mouse, Whack A Mole, and Hell Hole. Mind Scrambler, the 5th John Ceepak mystery, was published last month.

Booklist called The Crossroads, his first YA novel featuring the intrepid Zack and his stepmother Judy, "An absorbing psychological thriller ... as well as a rip-roaring ghost story."

Grabenstein's dogs have influenced his writing:

My third Ceepak mystery "Whack A Mole" was dedicated to Fred and Buster, “one man’s best four-legged writing partners.” Fred is also the inspiration for Zipper, the dog in my YA books "The Crossroads" and "The Hanging Hill" (coming August 11th). In fact, in "The Hanging Hill," I wrote a couple chapters from the dog’s POV. Fred had a lot of input about what I should say when describing the effort required to find the perfect sunning position on a bed.

Learn more about the author and his work at Chris Grabenstein's website.

Read--Coffee with a Canine: Chris Grabenstein & Fred.

--Marshal Zeringue