The baby was a disappointment from the minute it was born.
Franklin Funderburk was supposed to be Jack's son but cruel fate made her the exact opposite. Her unwanted birth began an unfortunate chain of events that will peck at Frankie throughout her childhood and ultimately turn her into a monster. Frankie's only pleasure in life is working at the local meat packing plant where she finds an odd satisfaction in killing animals. Certainly Lewistown's oddest resident, Frankie is the definition of outcast.
It isn't just the townsfolk who are a possible danger to Frankie. It will be a tiny race of cave dwellers called the Adeasols that will either save her or destroy her for good.
Franklin Funderburk was supposed to be Jack's son but cruel fate made her the exact opposite. Her unwanted birth began an unfortunate chain of events that will peck at Frankie throughout her childhood and ultimately turn her into a monster. Frankie's only pleasure in life is working at the local meat packing plant where she finds an odd satisfaction in killing animals. Certainly Lewistown's oddest resident, Frankie is the definition of outcast.
It isn't just the townsfolk who are a possible danger to Frankie. It will be a tiny race of cave dwellers called the Adeasols that will either save her or destroy her for good.
Sometimes you just gotta find your groove
"Frankie Funder" was the first book I wrote after being officially declared a father. My first son was around two years old and I had left my job physically working at the newspaper. While I continued to write professionally as a freelance writer, not having to go to the office was instrumental in giving me the freedom to just write without the stress of knowing that I'd have to make room to go to work every day. That's not to say it was easier by any means. Having a suddenly grumpy kid in the next room presents its challenges when you're sucked into a flow of creativity and don't want to lose the groove. It didn't take long to figure out the best schedule in which to write. I only wrote at night after the boy and my wife had gone to sleep making for relative solitude and very few disruptions.
I drank often when I wrote this book. It wasn't the type of drinking that leaves someone sloppy passed out on the floor but the kind that sees a bottle sitting on a desk with a whiskey glass next to it. Don't worry folks, my son was well cared for during this time as I would usually spend an hour, maybe two, writing the book, sipping on Jim Beam while those around me slept peacefully. I discovered the joy (and necessity) of writing without auditory distractions at this time. It's not just a matter of listening to music for me either. It has to be instrumental only and it has to provide emotion. I listened to soundtracks from "Fargo," "The Shawshank Redemption," and "Legends of the Fall" in regular rotation throughout the duration of the process of writing "Frankie Funder."
I also enlisted the help of two good friends who provided artwork for the book - the first time I didn't handle all of the art myself. I asked Russell Dickerson to draw a picture of The Fox to go on the inside and got Kirk Alberts to handle the front cover duties. I was so happy with each one that I made a limited print of the hardcovers that all three of us signed. Did you get your copy?
Frankie Funder is a character that means a lot to me. Sure, she has some crazy issues and the whole cannibal thing is a bit uncommon but I'd like to think she's a good-hearted gal on the inside. Here's to hoping that she's out there, somewhere, teaching the Adeasols a thing or two about life outside of the cave. - Patrick
I drank often when I wrote this book. It wasn't the type of drinking that leaves someone sloppy passed out on the floor but the kind that sees a bottle sitting on a desk with a whiskey glass next to it. Don't worry folks, my son was well cared for during this time as I would usually spend an hour, maybe two, writing the book, sipping on Jim Beam while those around me slept peacefully. I discovered the joy (and necessity) of writing without auditory distractions at this time. It's not just a matter of listening to music for me either. It has to be instrumental only and it has to provide emotion. I listened to soundtracks from "Fargo," "The Shawshank Redemption," and "Legends of the Fall" in regular rotation throughout the duration of the process of writing "Frankie Funder."
I also enlisted the help of two good friends who provided artwork for the book - the first time I didn't handle all of the art myself. I asked Russell Dickerson to draw a picture of The Fox to go on the inside and got Kirk Alberts to handle the front cover duties. I was so happy with each one that I made a limited print of the hardcovers that all three of us signed. Did you get your copy?
Frankie Funder is a character that means a lot to me. Sure, she has some crazy issues and the whole cannibal thing is a bit uncommon but I'd like to think she's a good-hearted gal on the inside. Here's to hoping that she's out there, somewhere, teaching the Adeasols a thing or two about life outside of the cave. - Patrick