About Frank Shapiro:
Hi, my name’s Frank Shapiro and some strands of my working life are as follows:
I’m a graduate of medieval history from the Hebrew University, Jerusalem as well as a
postgraduate of London University. I also worked as high school history teacher of
European and Jewish history. Among other positions I held was the post of assistant
researcher at the Museum of the Diaspora, Tel Aviv.
Commissioned by the Council of Zambian Jewry to research and write the history of the
Jews in Northern Rhodesia/Zambia led to the publication of Zion in Africa.
This was followed by Haven in Africa, revealing an unknown nexus between Northern
Rhodesia and the Holocaust.
My first novel, God’s Elect, is an exciting contemporary historical suspense story.
Eve and Mary: the Search for Lost Beauty and Sensuality released in June 2014 exposes
a remarkable discovery leading to a trail of unusual historical and cultural
revelations. This work is a readable book cum travel journal encompassing a rich cultural
tapestry highlighting art, Christianity, history and more.
My newest publication is the intriguing novel, The Dating Fantasy. This novel relates the
protagonist’s unusual past dating experiences which constantly haunt and interchange
with the inner web of a convoluted intrigue and personal conflicts of the now.
I have lectured frequently on my subjects and have contributed diverse historical articles
in newspapers and journals.
What inspires you to write?
History has always been my passion. As a historian I researched and wrote up my findings in two books. However, I found a deep pleasure in putting my ideas onto paper in words. This led to playing with ideas and writing two non-fiction books.
What authors do you read when you aren’t writing?
My imagination goes to work with my characters and I get carried away, as if in a dream, and as you know dreams are real when you are there.
Tell us about your writing process.
I found that every passage I wrote could be improved upon and polished. I made it a habit to keep going back to written material and refurbishing style and content. Only when I sat back and said to myself: I really like this, would I then go on. My written researched material was very different from my non-fiction works. In non-fiction I tried to live my characters and attempted to make each one unique.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
My fiction characters are usually real for me, they are taken from life and embellished. They talk to me from the page and I listen, and always ask, does she or he sound real. Would they really respond like that?
What advice would you give other writers?
My advice is always return to what you have written and be critical. Never leave off and say that's finished until you beam with delight and say, wow I really wrote that!
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I started off attempting to get well-known publishers and found it impossible. I worked with a few less well-know, but they did nothing to advertise the books, so this year I published all my books under the Amazon kdp umbrella.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
It's almost impossible for an unknown author to break into the top publishers. I think the publishing game is moving strongly towards self-publishing. It was once looked down upon, but this has now changed and it's become an acceptable approach.
What genres do you write?: history, religion, romance,suspense, historical fiction
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Frank Shapiro Home Page Link
Link To Frank Shapiro Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
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All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
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