Women Who Inspire: Laura Frantz
“I simply love to write for the sheer joy of writing,” says Laura Frantz. As a writer myself, I love to see when passion, creativity and the hand of the Lord collide. Author, Laura Frantz couples her love of history and her amazing abilities as a creative writer to produce clean, wholesome historical fiction.
Stephanie Kelley: Please introduce yourself to our readers.
LF: I’ve been spinning stories since age 7 and still have the first novella I wrote after visiting Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts. But my true passion is the Lord and my family, my husband, Randy, of 27 years and our 2 sons, Wyatt, and Paul. Best job I ever had was being a homeschooling mom! I float between Washington State where my husband is from to my home state of Kentucky. I’ve been a maid, waitress, social worker, innkeeper, gardener, and teacher prior to publishing. But writing stories has always been my forte.
SK: Please share your testimony.
LF: I was raised in a Christian home, thankfully, and came to know the Lord at age 12. When I was baptized soon afterwards, I came up out of the water and told my mom I felt “my insides had been painted white.” A transforming experience for a girl who’d been recently heartbroken by the divorce of parents after 20 years of marriage. Since that difficult time, I’ve seen the Lord redeem so much, making my heart broken for others with the compassion of Christ. I believe that same compassion permeates my writing as well as a love of the natural world – God’s amazing creation.
SK: When did you know that you wanted to be an author/professional writer?
LF: As soon as I was exposed to books. I spent a lot of time on my mom’s lap reading as she was a reading teacher. The bookmobile became one of my favorite things, too. We were always at the library and one of my favorite memories is reading on a quilt in our yard during southern summers. Writing was the activity I loved most though I didn’t want to pursue it professionally. It was just joy enough to write for myself.
SK: Why did you choose historical fiction as your primary genre?
LF: Historicals are always my first pick. I rarely read contemporary though there are some fine contemporary writers out there. My granny used to sew historical costumes for me which helped foster that historical fascination, I’m sure. I used to think I’d been born in the wrong era as my heart resides in the 18th-century. But research has taught me I’m truly blessed to be living in the present age with all its conveniences and comforts. We have little understanding today of what our ancestors dealt with on a daily basis.
SK: If you could live in another time period, which would you choose and why?
LF: The 18th-century without a doubt. Or even the 17th-century which is the setting for my latest novel, Tidewater Bride, revolving around the tobacco brides in James Towne, Virginia. But I shudder at their lack of hygiene among other things!
SK: Tell us a little about your creative process. Do you do a lot of research? Do you imagine your characters in a “movie” in your head as you’re writing? Are your main characters ever based on real people?
LF: Research is like candy to me. I love it almost as much as writing and gain most of my novel ideas through research and the lives of real historical persons. While writing I do see the rooms and settings and characters moving and speaking right down to where they’re positioned, tone of voice, how they’re feeling, etc. Sometimes I write the scene but sometimes the scene writes itself and I just hold the pen and get it down on paper. I do write my manuscripts by longhand first. It’s an entirely different creative process that way.
SK: Do you see your books being turned into movies someday? Which book would you most like to see come to the big screen? And who would you like to play the leading role?
LF: A book-inspired movie would be wonderful. I have author friends who’ve had Hallmark movies made from their books. Someone like Michael Fassbender would work well for one of my Scottish heroes. If I had to choose, I’d pick Love Reckoning or Courting Morrow Little to see on the big screen. But I do believe the book is better, as they say!
SK: What would you tell someone who has always dreamed of being a professional writer?
LF: What are the first and most important steps in “breaking into” the business? I’ve heard it’s easier to win the lottery than to publish traditionally. That said, hone your craft and write the book you are most passionate about. Don’t write for the market. Invest in pouring yourself into the novel that won’t let you alone and polish it till it shines. Then polish it all over again. Most of the authors I see in publishing today are simply those who persevered and didn’t give up or quit. If you’re meant to see your work in print, it will fall into place. I didn’t want to publish and look what happened!
SK: What new projects are you currently working on?
LF: You can expect four more books from me releasing every January through 2025. Currently I’m finishing up a Scottish novel based on my ancestry. And I’m excited to share my brand new cover soon for A Heart Adrift, my 13th historical novel with Revell. I believe it’s my favorite so far and I hope readers agree!
SK: How can our readers get in touch with you?
LF: I’m active on social media and those links can be found on my website at laurafrantz.net I love getting to know readers and welcome any who stop by! Thank you for hosting me. I appreciate it very much!
Thank you, Laura, for taking the time to share your story with our readers.
