Author Q&A
Q&A with Frank Schaeffer, author of Baby Jack
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The Los Angeles Times describes Schaeffer’s writing as, “A rich brew of cross-cultural comedy.” The British newspaper the Guardian says: “funny and wonderfully observed.” The Times of London says: “Schaeffer describes both the pleasures and occasional torments of childhood with charm and humor.” Kirkus Reviews calls Schaeffer’s writing: “Dramatic and laugh out loud funny, beautifully written and deftly constructed, deeply affecting in its honest portrayal of the author’s passions: a stunning achievement.”
Tom Brokaw calls Frank’s writing, “A powerful and timely account of those missing in action—the privileged class of America staying out of uniform and out of harm's way.” Senator John McCain comments: “Frank [has] done our country a great service. [He] calls on [his] fellow citizens, for whom national service and sacrifice is an abstraction, to recognize that love of country is a more personal and consequential attachment than is popularly understood. . . I commend [his] wisdom and patriotism to all Americans.”
Schaeffer has written for USA Today, the Washington Post, Reader’s Digest, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Los Angeles Times, the Baltimore Sun and many other publications on topics ranging from his critique of American right wing fundamentalism to his experiences as a military parent and novelist.
He is the author of three critically-acclaimed-and-commercially-successful novels, translated into eight languages: Portofino, Zermatt, and Saving Grandma. Schaeffer has also written four nonfiction books including Keeping Faith: A Father-Son Story About Love and the United States Marine Corps (co-authored with his Marine son John; featured at #30 on the extended New York Times bestseller list) Frank’s second book on the subject of his son’s service in the military was Faith Of Our Sons: A Father’s Wartime Diary. Frank’s book Voices from the Front: Letters Home From America’s Military Family was followed by AWOL: The Unexcused Absence of America’s Upper Classes From Military Service—And How It Hurts Our County (Co-authored with former Clinton White House aid, Kathy Roth-Douquet, with foreword by Gen. Tommy Franks.)
A 50-words-or-less bio?
Frank Schaeffer is a best selling author. The Los Angeles Times describes Frank's writing as, "A rich brew of cross-cultural comedy." The British newspaper the Guardian says: "funny and wonderfully observed." Frank's three semi-biographical novels about growing up in a fundamentalist mission include "Portofino," "Zermatt," "Saving Grandma."
Random personal fact?
Frank is a survivor of both polio and an evangelical/fundamentalist childhood, an acclaimed writer who overcame severe dyslexia, a home-schooled and self-taught documentary movie director, a feature film director and producer of four ("pretty terrible") low budget Hollywood features, and a best selling author of both fiction and nonfiction.
"Elevator Pitch" for current projects?
Baby Jack, a novel about the Marines, sacrifice, God, the class division between who serves and who does not, was published in October of 2006. USA Today says of Baby Jack: "The reader marvels at how Schaeffer makes this concise chorus of social conviction moving and memorable..."
Favorite location for writing?
None of your B!
Inspiration for recent book?
My son going to war.
Your favorite writers?
Walker Percy, PG Woodhouse.
Best piece of writing advice you've received?
It's only a job.
What you like most about being a writer?
Getting paid.
What you like least about being a writer?
Doing readings in empty bookstores with bookstore mangers who tell me all about how successful the last guy was.
If you weren't a writer, you would be?
A bank robber.
If your writing came with a soundtrack, which musician/s would compose the
music?
Vivaldi and Duke Ellington.
Next project?
A memoir.
Your motto?
I'd rather be with my wife.
What's the one question you thought WIW should have asked you, but didn't? And what's your reply to that question?
There were too many questions. It's hard to sound cool.