Fairmont writes a new novel | News, Sports, Jobs

FAIRMONT – Lowell “Zéké” Ziemann grew up on a farm in Fairmont and has a list of accolades ranging from being a part of several sports halls of fame, a businessman in a Wall Street, Arizona business, and a Western novelist.

Ziemann played baseball and basketball at Fairmont High School and became a member of the Fairmont Cardinals Hall of Fame in 1992. Ziemann then played baseball and basketball at the University of Augsburg. He captained the men’s basketball team in his senior season and for baseball he was the starting pitcher for the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship team in his junior season. Ziemann was inducted into the Augsburg Sports Hall of Fame in 1986.

Ziemmann graduated with a major in mathematics with a minor in physical education. He then taught mathematics and coached in Paynesville, Minnesota from 1960 to 1964 and in Marshall, Minnesota from 1964 to 1976. Two of his teams competed in the state tournament in 1970 and 1974. Ziemann is part of the Marshall Sports Hall of Fame as a coach.

“What is good is that the older you get, the more you appreciate this” Ziemann said.

Ziemann has always had an interest in writing and began his professional writing by writing short western stories on websites and magazines and really started writing more after his retirement. From there he came into contact with Dusty Saddles Publishing in England.

Ziemann chose to call himself AL Shane. AL stands for Albert Louis, which was his father’s initials. Shane is from the 1983 western Shane which Ziemann considers his all-time favorite movie.

Ziemann has written historical novels named Bruno Grant, Mountain Man, and Bruno Grant Warrior which tell the story of a man from Fort Fairmont who became an explorer and then fought in the Civil War at Gettysburg with the 1st Minnesota Volunteers.

“I tried to stick to historical facts and integrate my character into it”, Ziemann said.

To find Ziemann’s novels, you can google AL Shane and they can be found on Amazon and other sites. If you would like an autographed copy, you can email Ziemann at [email protected].

Ziemman told budding Fairmont writers to know the history of the city. Ziemann mentioned that the Chain of Lakes and Fort Fairmont were an integral part of the history of the city and of the Western settlers.

Ziemann still lives in Arizona and is asked how he handles the heat and he says you don’t have to shovel the heat. Ziemann wanted to let readers and the community know that Fairmont is a nice and beautiful city as well as a great place to live.

“When you get away from there, you discover it with the lakes and the beauty that is there and the people are friendly” Ziemann said. “I love the city and have often thought of finding a place there for the winter.