Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Well, to start with, I am an American TV writer and novelist currently living in Los Angeles. I was born in the wonderful city of Cincinnati, Ohio to Frank and Dorothy, third generation Italian and Ukrainian immigrants. My mother was an incredible reader. She would read a book a night, and since we lived near a local library, she would walk my brother and I up at least once a week to the library and we would load up on books and head for home. So I can thank my mother for my love for books. After graduating from high school, I went to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, for four years before moving to the West Coast to pursue a career in television and film in Hollywood, where I’ve worked ever since. Though I’ve written lots of tv scripts, this is my first novel.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Starlight Wedding. Interestingly, I had planned on writing it as a movie and structured it accordingly. Different types of stories have different structures, but after completing my synopsis I thought why not make it a book instead of a movie and after leaving it sitting in a drawer for a year I finally got around to making it a book. I wish I could remember when the first inspiration hit me. In truth, I have no idea. I’m sure I’ll remember the second I send this in. I do know what inspired me throughout the book. My girlfriend, a lovely woman, is a planner like Amanda. In fact, she works planning events, and I am an artist, so to speak, like Daniel, which creates drama. Much less drama than what’s in the book, of course. But as I was coming up with the idea, I thought we could make some sparks fly between the characters by really making them polar opposites. To be clear, Amanda is not my girlfriend, and I am not Daniel. Far from it. But I would be lying if I said there isn’t a similarity between their relationship and ours.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Good question. I don’t have a routine at all. However, I wrote most of the novel on my phone and ereader. I find if I use a computer it hinders my creativity. There’s something about the permanence of seeing the perfectly spaced out sentences that makes me feel like I’ve got to get everything right the first time. Whereas on a phone, it feels like I’m just free writing. Of course, my eyes probably don’t like it, but hey, if it works, I’m all for it. I would use a pencil and paper if it didn’t mean I’d have to transcribe it later. So I’ve evolved. Just not enough to go straight to using a computer.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have always loved Romantic stories, especially the British classics like Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, etc… I was in an honors English class in high school and we had a summer reading list of I think four books we had to read. So while everyone else at the community pool was focused on sunbathing, I was trying to read a copy of Sense and Sensibility in the blinding sunlight. But I grew to love the books and the combination of humor, drama, and romance in those books stuck with me every since.
What are you working on now?
I am forcing myself not to write for one month. Then I will be adapting a World War 2 Romance I wrote as a movie a while ago into a novel. At least I think I will. I’m tempted to create a sequel for Starlight Wedding. Writing is incredibly creative and freeing but once I get into a novel, my mind is consumed until it’s done so I am enjoying the time in between books.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am still new to the marketing side of this, so we shall see. So far, having a few friends who are tv stars that have read the book do social marketing has caused the biggest bump in sales.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Writing is a craft. It’s like everything else. If you don’t structure your story right you will wander through the book aimlessly and get off track. Most importantly, you’ll bore readers. I trained under a lovely woman, Jen Grisanti, who teaches the young writers at NBC, and also helps people through her website learn how to structure a story. I’d suggest anyone serious about writing that doesn’t know about structure to go to her.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
As a Christian I find the best advice comes from the bible. But that’s just me. My father was a minister for most of my childhood and he paid my brother and I fifty bucks to memorize the first chapter of Proverbs, which was written by Solomon, arguably the wisest man who ever lived. I hated memorizing it at the time, but the words have stayed with me ever since. He says to seek wisdom, and you will find it. And I believe that. There’s a lot of deception in this world. And a lot of wrong choices. Wisdom helps you get through it as best you can.
What are you reading now?
I am a huge fan of Terry Goodkind. I’ve read all of his books. I am reading one of his latest, Severed Souls. As far as romance goes, I love Fern Michaels, and a little known author Cara Lynn James’s books are delightful.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I have a promotion coming up I’m really excited about. After that, hopefully talking with tv film people about making Starlight Wedding into a Rom Com movie.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
They’d have to be books that can be re-read. The bible, of course, for me, would be one. Then Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. And then hopefully one that showed me how to get off the darn island.
Author Websites and Profiles
Frank Thomas Amazon Profile
Frank Thomas’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
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