Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
A1. My name is Frank Demith. I am an Army veteran having served twenty-eight years on active duty. I am also a 1983 graduate of the United States Military Academy. I currently live in Martinsburg, WV.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “Of Vital Interest”?
A2. I wanted to make sure to make my book something that anyone could enjoy. That meant that I would have to add some detail about what was happening and limit the use of acronyms. I also wanted to make sure to include some strong secondary characters in addition to the main characters. There are many different story lines in the book, but I thought they were essential in telling the story and letting the readers have a deeper understanding of what our men and women in the Armed Forces go through when they deploy to a foreign country,
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
A3. I enjoy reading all books but am mostly interested in the classics and modern suspense/thrillers. My favorite authors have been Dickens, Tolstoy, Tom Clancy, Vince Flynn and Harold Coyle.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
A4. That would have to be my Alma Mater, the United States Military Academy. It is packed with history and amazing views. I will always feel indebted to this institution for allowing me to become the person I am today. It was an amazing experience which has resulted in a wonderful life.
Q5. What inspired you to write the book ‘Of Vital Interest’?
A5. I wanted to share stories of the amazing people I had a chance to work with while in the Army. Each character in the book is a compilation of several individuals I came across while serving in the Army. Not much had been written about the contributions of immigrants to the war effort so I wrote this book for the more than 1500 individuals who joined the Army to serve as interpreter/translators.
Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘Of Vital Interest’?
A6. I wrote this book in 90 days.
Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your books?
A7. My book is available through a number of online sources to include: Barnes and Noble; Amazon; Target; Walmart and dozens of other utlets. Individuals who would like a signed copy can contact me through my website at http://www.frankdemithauthor.com
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Of Vital Interest’?
A8. The title is taken from another program which also recruited individuals for their language and cultural expertise. That program was called Military Accessions Vital to National Interest. The book cover is my way of illustrating the conflict between the two main characters and highlighting the fact that there are different shades of reality in war depending upon an individual’s perspective but the one commonality is bloodshed.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
A9. I am a very structured writer. I spend several weeks developing an outline that covers main points for each chapter, and then I do short character sketches. That keeps me focused on writing and allows me to move through the storyline without leaving things out. I also like to use foreshadowing as I write to give the readers that “Oh yah” momement when they realize something had been said earlier about that topic.
Q10. What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?
A10. That would be “write what you know”. It sounds so simple but it is so important for me. I enjoy writing fact based fiction, and I’m not really making things up, I am telling stories. Hopefully they willl continue to be stories that others can enjoy.
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