Interview with Andrew Franks

Author of FAT WHACK

Where are you from originally and where do you reside now?

I was born in Alabama. (I don’t really have much of a Southern accent though) I live in Florida now.

If you currently reside somewhere besides where you were born, what’s the story that lead from there to here?

When I was younger I screamed in a rock band. I had long hair and painted black fingernails and everything else. We played some shows in the sunshine state. I met some cool people and went to the beach. I decided to never leave. By the way I’m bald now and my fingernails are clear. My tattoos are still there though.

What made you decide to write and publish your first book?

Over 20 years ago my friends and I grabbed a VHS camcorder and made a home movie called Fat Whack. It was inspired by the late night infomercials that used to be on tv all the time promoting the next great thing to help you loose weight. The concept of the movie was that you could order your own personal ninja to help you loose weight. The ninjas would jump out of the shadows and knock junk food out of your hands. Of course the movie was silly and awful as most home movies are— but there was something about it. I loved it. I decided to turn it into a book. I wrote the first chapter, let my friend read it, and he said it was awful. So, I quit. Over 20 years later I still loved my story. It was still rattling around in my head and in my heart. I wrote my book and I’m so thrilled I finally did it.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

Fun, funny and fast paced. Don’t take the stories too seriously, although there is serious stuff in them. A lot of people have told me that they literally laughed out loud while reading the books. If you like martial arts, comic books or horror you should give Fat Whack a shot. They are skinny stories that are fat with action and drama!

Who do you feel is most likely to connect with the topics you write about?

People who are looking for a quick escape from reality. I originally thought that my story was more for teenagers or young adults. But I’m finding that it’s resonating with a lot of people from different walks of life. One reviewer said “It’s a story for the 40+ year old teenagers out there.” Young and old can enjoy and laugh at this tale. I think the reason for that is that while my main character is a 20 year old female, the rest of the characters are all in their sixties!!

What unexpected or surprising thing did you learn during the process of writing and publishing?

I wrote my entire first book on my phone. I just couldn’t afford a new computer at the time. At times it felt as if I was writing the world’s longest text message. My thumbs are still trying to recover. Trying to get the proper formatting and editing done on a tiny screen like that was impossible. For my second book I invested in a computer and things went a lot more smoothly. Even with the hardship of writing a book on a phone, I was determined and made it happen. And hey—some people are really liking it! (By the way some people don’t lol) If you are determined to write something make it happen, no matter what obstacles are in your way!

If you could, what advice would you give to your past self before embarking on this journey?

I was in a rush to write my first book. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it! Well, I did it, but a few errors did make it into the completed manuscript. Nothing that ruins the story but I sure as heck notice it. Especially if your self published a few errors are bound to slip by you, but try to slow down and catch as many as you can. I found that I was way more disciplined in this regard for Fat Whack 2. Write like a maniac. Then when you think you’re done, take a break for a few weeks. Then go back and reread and edit some more! I sure hope Andrew takes this advice.

How many people would you ideally like to reach with your books?

The easy answer is as many as possible. Fat whack sold better than I ever expected. I am blessed and happy, but it’s only natural to want more readers. I love my story and my characters, so I want others to experience it. I like to hear that I made people laugh. However, just knowing that a few complete strangers have read the book version of the home movie I made as a kid…that is an amazing feeling all by itself! If no one else read it, just knowing that some people have read it and liked it is humbling. But once again, I would love as many people to be a part of the Fat Whack World as possible.

What has been the biggest challenge and frustration during the process to date?

Finding the time to write. I have plenty of ideas in my head, but life is busy! That was one positive thing about writing the book on my phone. I wrote a lot of it on the toilet at work. If my bosses read this…I’m kidding! (Or am I?)

What’s your biggest strengths when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

I feel my biggest strength is my Muppet Baby imagine. I remember watching that show as a kid and those babies had some serious imaginations! I can always think of something I want to write. One of my biggest weaknesses is that I’m not very technologically savvy. That hurts while writing the book and in marketing. I was never big into social media. Now I am on it quite often trying to promote. I don’t wanna come across as narcissistic though always promoting my own book, you know what I mean? By the way, find fatwhack on Instagram! @fatwhack

What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

Oops, I answered this in the last question. I would add though… self confidence. I have a hard time believing in myself sometimes. But dang it I can do it! And so can you.

When do you think you will write your next book?

My second book was just released. (12/10/19) It is called FAT WHACK: THE FAT IN THE MACHINE. It is a direct sequel to the first story and I am very proud of this one. I am currently working on a second edition of my first book and then I will start work on the last book in the Fat Whack series. (For now) After that I have an interesting idea for a horror book.

Are you self published or did you use a hybrid publisher, or a traditional publisher?

I use BookBaby. So I’m self published but they really help me get a great final product and get that product out there to a lot of stores. It feels like I’m published! Thanks to anyone who read all of this and no matter if you read my book or not I hope you are blessed!