Thrilling response~”Dos Gringos”

Not only is it a thrill to hold the book, my father’s tale, in my hand. But even more exciting, in a different way perhaps, is to see others laugh, smile, and read the first few pages of the book and come out with great comments. I took a few books to the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books today.  I met old and new friends; authors, publishers, editors, and just friends. They look at the cover and the smile starts. they read the back cover and laugh at “A Norwegian and an Irishman meet in a Texas bar…”  Their expression gets serious as they read the first page or two, and then hand it back and say. “Hey, this is good, really good. I can’t wait to get a copy and read the whole thing.” Speaking engagements, book signings, etc., are starting to get scheduled.

Buy the book here.

Global Response to “Dos Gringos!” Great!

As a preface to a formal announcement of the publication of my second book, “Dos Gringos,” I sent an email notice to my personal mailing list. Within two hours congratulatory responses poured into my computer from all over the world: Hong Kong, Berlin, St. Petersburg, Budapest, London, Rostov-on-Don, and many more — and from all about the United States. It was such a pleasure to see this. I also learned that those who ordered my first book, ”Walking on Ice, An American Businessman in Russia,” from Amazon, have received notice that “Dos Gringos” is now available. At this moment, the cover photo is not yet on Amazon, but that will come soon.

 To buy on Amazon go to http://www.amazon.com/Dos-Gringos-Norwegian-Irishman-Revolution/dp/1432746634/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271811133&sr=1-1

Review on “Walking on Ice…” from top Russian magazine.

 New Book on Business in Russia – American author brings a fresh and honest look at doing business in today’s Russia

 From Andrei Zolotov, Jr., Editor, Russia Profile, Moscow:

Essentially, it is a collection of essays, although one part of the book is structured in chapters on Russian geography, demography, culture, business and politics, while the other is simply called “An Essay Collection.” These pages bear an openly Chekhovian description of a weekend spent at the dacha with an extended Russian family next to a carefully worded account of the role of crime and corruption in business practices and how they can be worked around; a tribute to Boris Pasternak next to a report about the October 1993 revolt and the shelling of parliament from an unusual perspective of a businessman whose operation was headquartered in the Comecon building at the very center of those dramatic events.

The author analyzes the role of the Orthodox Church in shaping the Russian psyche and identity, and categorizes Russian women in types which would make some of them blush. What brings these essays together is a transpiring love for both the strengths and weaknesses of this country and its people.

Read more »

Veteran reviews for “Walking on Ice…”

I am pleased that so many qualified and experienced international veterans have commented positively on “Walking on Ice, an American Businessman in Russia.” Here are a few.

“What Andresen has written is romantic and accurate and nostalgic and prophetic and all of the wonderful and confusing and simple things we ‘veterans’ know Russia to be. It is a story that resonates with any of us living through this dramatic and productive era.” Kevin Cuffe, Vice President/Managing Director, SOVINTEL/Golden Telecom, Moscow

 “Based on his years of doing business there, at a particularly formative point in Russian history, Andresen has done a great service in helping to unravel and explain all these contradictions and conundrums that seem to grow deeper and deeper the longer you spend there. This will be of real interest to the casual reader as well as of great value to those looking to make their own mark in the world of Russian business. A book of valuable insights from one of the real pioneers.” Peter Charow, Founder and first president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia, presently British Petroleum Regional Director for Russia, CIS and Turkey

 “There is a great story to be told about the Western businessmen who went to the falling Soviet Union to teach business to the Russians and returned perhaps having learned much more than they taught.  Rather than chronicle the persons or the events, Andresen’s book conveys the texture and flavor of what we Westerners found in Russia. It paints a picture of the Russian “Soul” at the time young and old there were adapting to enormous change. Anyone going there to work with the Russians will benefit from this picture.  It is a fun and humorous read that carries with it some valuable lessons.   I recommend it to anyone interested in understanding today’s Russia.” William T. Potvin, Managing Partner, Deloitte & Touche – Russia,  1990 – 1996

 “Fred Andresen tells us about working with the Russians—with insight, understanding, and a rare degree of humor. Not ever ignoring the well publicized challenges, he tells us how he succeeded in spite of all that. Walking on Ice is MANDATORY reading for all who contemplate a tour of duty whether government or business in Russia or who have worked there—it brings back memories and reality. One cannot put it down.” Richard Weden, General Director, American Express Russia. 1995 to 2004

 Read the book at   “Walking on Ice, An American Businessman in Russia”

Where do stories come from?

It has always amazed me how little events, a turn in the road, a glimpse across the street, an angel thought,  so often leads into a story. The British novelist and poet, Vita Sackville-West, said it so well:

“It is necessary to write, if the days are not to slip emptily by.

How else, indeed, to clap the net over the butterfly of the moment?

for the moment passes, it is forgotten; the mood is gone; life itself is gone.

That is where the writer scores over his fellows:

he catches the changes of his mind on the hop.

Growth is exciting; growth is dynamic and alarming.

Growth of the soul, growth of the mind.  

Vita Sackville-West Twelve Days, ch. 1 (1928).

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El Paso~Change and No Change.

Writing “Dos Gringos” was a satisfying experience. Although most of story came from my father’s tale of his escapades in The Mexican Revolution, being there in that border city, El Paso, my home town, after fifty-two years of world travel, was a rebirth in a way for me. In many ways, nothing had changed in that town, except now it seems English is a second language.. It is still a city far away from others. It occupies the pass which the Rio Grande River carves its way south from its mountain source in northern New Mexico, then south separating Texas and Mexico all the way to The Gulf of Mexico.  Growing up there, I sort of thought myself as a mixture, by parents Norwegian and German and half my friends Mexicans.

I am rediscovering its history: from the Indians, the Spanish beginning in 1598, the following  conquistadors, then Texas in 1836 and the wild life of the frontier, its roll in the Mexican Revolution. I grew up on the desert during World War Two and the occupation with the huge military presence and the rockets at White Sands Proving Grounds on the horizon north of my house. Today the drug related crime in Juarez worries the Americans.

Is there anything for me after “Dos Gringos?” I don’t know, but the place is filled with stories.

“Dos Gringos” coming soon!