What is your most recent book? Tell us a bit about it.

Shedrow has been described as a racetrack thriller in the spirit of Dick Francis, but since the principal character is a surgeon rather than a barrister, it has a good deal of medical drama as well. It’s a very fast-paced thriller, a fun read, and as one author said, “filled with characters that you would enjoy hanging out with for a while.” It was selected as one of the three best medical thrillers of 2010 by Suspense Magazine.

Tell us something about yourself.

I was born and raised in upstate New York, and I live in Saratoga County now, about 15 miles south of Saratoga Springs, the site of the historic Saratoga Raceway—one of the settings for my novel. I have been a practicing oral and maxillofacial surgeon for close to 30 years. My practice is now half-time, with the remainder of my time devoted to a variety of business consulting activities, and writing, of course.

I had published a good deal of work related to my profession in peer-reviewed scientific journals and newsletters, but I set my mind to a work of fiction after meeting authors Robert Dugoni, Michael Palmer and Tess Gerritsen. Palmer and Gerritsen, both best-selling authors, also had careers as physicians, and Dugoni was a practicing attorney for many years before he published his first best-seller.

As for my longstanding interest in books and writing, I credit a host of inspirational secondary school teachers at the Albany Academy, a school that counts among its alumni Herman Melville, Stephen Vincent Benet and Andy Rooney.

How did you choose the title?

To horse lovers and thoroughbred race enthusiasts, the word Shedrow is instantly recognized as a row of barns at a race track. The word may be less familiar to others, but I like the single word title, like some of the Dick Francis classics: Nerve, Forfeit, Risk, Silks, Knock-Down. I think Shedrow is in the same spirit, plus there has never been a title by that name.

What types of books do you like to read? Who are your favorite authors? Why?

I like a pretty eclectic mix on the fiction side: F. Scott Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Salinger, Vonnegut, Ayn Rand, Robert Parker, Richard Russo, Stephen Hunter. Then I have to add three more that personally helped me to learn the craft: Tess Gerritsen, Michael Palmer and Robert Dugoni.

Who is the perfect reader for your book?

Fans of Dick Francis, readers of medical thrillers and crime drama. Certainly fans of thoroughbred racing will have a particular interest, though readers have often commented that they loved the book despite the fact that they knew nothing about the sport.

Where can readers learn more about you and your book?

The website is at www.shedrow1.com and it has lots of photographs from some of the venues in the story, along with excerpts, reviews, and links to some of the press coverage surrounding the book. The book is also readily available on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com