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Harold D. Anderson grew up on the Westside of Chicago in the neighborhood of Lawndale.  He attended Farragut High School where he was active in a number of school clubs, most notably the Drama Club, where he gained his love for the theater and acting which eventually led him to Los Angeles after college.
 
During high school he not only edited the school newspaper, the Farragut Scroll, he was also the founding editor of the Model Cities RAP, a local newsletter geared towards educating the community through youth participation in civic affairs.  After high school, he attended the University of Illinois at Champaign.  Despite a double major in History and Political Science, he nevertheless had the time and desire to actively participate in what was then called the “revolution”.  It was during the tumultuous times that engulfed many universities and colleges during the late 1960’s that he took up writing again.

This time his focus was on the social changes of the day. Combining his skill as an actor with his fiery poetry, he traveled from campus to campus reciting his poetry to college audiences who were eager to become involved in counter culture and the protest of the American foreign policy in Vietnam. The uplifting civil rights movement and protests certainly shaped his writing during this period.
 
After graduation, he went west to California where he has lived for better than 35 years.  Upon abandoning his dream of becoming the next Sidney Poitier, he met his wife and together they have raised two wonderful children.
 
Professionally, he has enjoyed a successful career in the insurance industry and for the last several years has concentrated on business writing, authoring numerous successful business proposals. An avid reader, he resumed his creative writing as a hobby, the result of which is his first novel, Friendly Enterprise.
 
Aside from writing, he lives a simple life with his family, which now includes two grandchildren, and following all of the Chicago sports teams except the Chicago Cubs.

To read more about Harold and to buy his book, visit hdafriendly.com

Thank you Harold for taking the time to answer some questions for us!  Please tell us what you have been working on.
 
Just had my debut novel, Friendly Enterprise, published and am now working on a follow-up novel, dirty Lies in the Name of God.
 
Have you received any awards for your work?
 
Not yet, but am entered into a “Best New Fiction” category.
 
Do you also do speaking engagements, or seminars?
 
An accomplished speaker, I am looking forward to engaging in speaking engagement and/or seminars in the near future.
 
How has your education, profession or background helped you in your writing career?
 
Having been a professional writer of business grant proposals for nearly 10 years as well as an English Lit minor in college, my background helped tremendously in my preparation for starting my creative writing career.
 
What will your next project be?
 
“Dirty Lies in the Name of God” is the follow-up novel that I am currently working on and should be completed near the end of the year.
 
Who inspires you on a personal level?
 
My family is very inspirational to me on a personal level.  Being a role model for my teenage son is what keeps me going.
 
What type of work is the most rewarding or satisfying for you?
 
Work that is appreciated by others. For example:  management consulting, volunteering, etc. is where I get the most enjoyment.
 
What can you recommend for writers who are just getting started and are trying to make a name for themselves?
 
Be persistent.  Writing professionally is a tough challenge, but with the manner in which material is now be published, there are loads of opportunity for a “newbie” to gain traction for their work.  The two most important characteristics for a newbie writer is discipline and persistence.
 
How did you get started as a writer?
 
Writing my whole life since high school.  Poetry, newspaper articles and business writing provided my foundation to understand that putting words on paper was not the 100lb gorilla it appeared to be.  So, I just decided that I wanted to try my hand at fiction writing and I am pleased with the initial result.
 
Which is your favorite book/work published?
Mario Puzo’s The Godfather is an all time favorite.
 
What does a typical work day look like for you?
 
As a person who works from home, sitting in front of the computer takes up a lot of time.  When outside meetings beckons, I travel.
 
Have you ever had a mentor, or someone who sparked your passion for writing?
 
A high school English teacher was most responsible for my passion for reading and writing.  Simply put, she saw a jewel buried inside an inner-city rock and she polished it up.
 
Who is your favorite writer/author?
 
I like a number of the current crop of mystery/suspense writers: Patterson, Michael Connelly, Stuart Woods and Andrew Vachss.
 
Finally, a most important question: what was the last song you sang out loud when you were by yourself?  :)
 
Sly and the Family Stone’s “You Can Make It If You Try”.  (I’m an old school kinda guy).

Thank you Harold for your insights! We wish you great success with your books!