Frankie Page Interview Published on: 09, Jul 2021

My favorite's are the ones with my grandparents. Growing up I spent most of my summers up-north Minnesota with them in their RV. I would go to U-Pick farms and collect various berries then go back home and make jam to go with fresh homemade bread. Then while waiting for things to cook, we would play many games of Skip-Bo and Yahtzee. My grandpa loved taking me fishing or we would just sit around and watch professional bowling or pool. His commentary was always hilarious. I was so excited when I got older and he took me to the lodge and taught me how to play pool. To this day, my absolute favorite memory of them is when I decided to drive with them from the campsite in Park Rapids, MN all the way down to their home in Greenfield, IA. My grandpa hated driving fast, so we took HWY 169 the whole way down. The RV stunk of the egg salad sandwiches my grandma made for the 15 hour journey (I was traumatized for a while from that). But the funniest part was before we left, my grandpa gave me a quote of roadkill we would pass. Telling me how many skunks and racoons we'd drive over. I took his challenge and then laughed when we drove over our first one. They were the names of the rivers we were driving over. So now, every time I drive over one of those rivers I think of him and that trip.

I am not sure if it was the very first, but I remember Welcome to Dead House by R.L. Stine. I was obsessed with Goosebumps, ordered and read every single one. I even got to meet R.L. Stine at the Mall of America and have him sign one of my books. Goosebumps are what encouraged me to start writing at a young age.

I have several, but the first that comes to mind is Lauren Landish. I love how she writes in a variety of sub-genre. She is why I decided to write all of my romance books under one pen name instead of multiple.

My biggest dream was to write and direct a zombie film that was so spectacular that George Romero would give me a personal shout out. Unfortunately, no that did not happen.

I think it is a personal preference really. I decided to go with self-publishing because I wanted full creative control and didn't want to fit into anyone else's requirements. It isn't always easy and sometimes I consider looking into conventional publishing, but then I look at other well established self-published authors and remind myself to keep going strong, I will get there one day.

A disadvantage of self-publishing and being a new author, is that you have no network. While I was a part of some reader and writer groups, it isn't easy to get yourself out there. I didn't elect to pay for marketing, because at the end of the day I was still new and knew that I wouldn't get much return on investment. But the indie romance community has been super supportive in helping get the word out there. I was so excited when Claire Kinglsey and Pippa Grant allowed me to promote Forever Moore in their reader groups. To have these two amazing authors who I have religiously read ALL of their books allow a nobody like me to promote in, I was thrilled.

In the Moore family series specifically, I am planning a total of four full-length novels (one for each sibling) then one or two novellas. I am definitely going to do a five year in the future novella after the last Moore book, showing a bit of the families overall HEA. I am also considering a prequel novella that takes place the summer after Tilly's senior year. I have a feeling after book 3, this might be something people would want.

I'd say the most difficult thing was making her sound mature without going overboard. But then I realized that my best friend is 41, so honestly, we don't talk much differently. I think the best part of her character was the playlist and all the 80s rock hits I used to keep me in the right mindframe.

I get a lot of support, but I'd say my husband. He has assisted financially, because self-publishing isn't free or cheap. But more than that, he helps watch our daughter when I need him to focus on writing. When I am stuck on something he sits with me and talks through the scenario and gives his perspective.

Movie, besides kids ones we watch with our daughter, The Conjuring 3. We actually did a whole marathon. Also we have been watching and trying to finish Supernatural, we are on season 13 now.

I read a lot myself. It has been a bit slow recently, but I usually try to read 1-2 books in a week. Sometimes it will be my favorite tried and true authors, other times it is my fellow author friends (sometimes it is both). I also participate in a lot of reader and writer focused Facebook groups. But, to be honest. With the exception of cover art, I tend to do my own thing and just hope at the end of the day people like what I put out.

The freedom. My initial goal or hope was screenplay writing. But as I started looking into the world, I realized it wasn't what I thought. Then recently, I started reading indie romances and was just blown away. I saw an opportunity to express my creative side and not deal with the red tape of hollywood.

I'd say time. I would rather write 500 really awesome words in a day then 1500 bad ones I am going to delete the next. Sometimes I will get really inspired and write 10k in a day. Sometimes I might not look at a manuscript for a week or month. I find I write best when I am in the mood and inspired, it isn't something I can force.

Sorry, I snort-laughed at this one. I have a ton of projects that are in progress or jotted down for the future. Whenever I message my editor telling her I have an idea, she just laughs, shakes her head and says "of course you do... what now?" Then I proceed to tell her and her reply is "Oh, that does sound good." The current project I am working on is my first dark romance (with my love of horror many were surprised I didn't start here but I love the challenge that contemporary romance offers). This project is called Rose's Inferno, it is a dark paranormal romance trilogy. I am working on book two right now. Book 1, Road to Retribution, will come out in October. The story is inspired by the concept that Rose (lead female character) sells her soul to save her dying boyfriend. By doing so, her world is turned upside down in more ways than she could ever imagine as secrets are revealed.

I just joined earlier this year. So far everything has been great. The staff have been super helpful, I love the cover of the month platform. The questions/discussions on books are really neat as well.