Featured Interview With Alan Frost
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I have American/Romanian parents, but I lived most of my life in Copenhagen, Denmark, which is where I currently reside. When I was a kid, my dad worked in public health, and we had to move several times. So for better or worse, I got to live and study in different counties, and I am very much the product of the international school system. In fact, the question I fear most when I meet someone is “Where are you from?” I have no idea how to answer that.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I don’t think I have a typical “author” answer here. I didn’t like reading all that much as a kid. Then later, I had spells where I would get into a genre and read quite regularly. I remember going through all the C.S. Lewis books, for example. But then I started working as a translator, and I would deal with thousands of written words every day – mostly within boring areas like business and law. And after spending my day working, the last thing I wanted was to read, even it was fiction. Then I discovered audio books about 4-5 years ago, and all that changed. Audio books brought me back to “reading”.
As for writing, I started about 20 years ago, but in all fairness, I had no idea what I was doing. Only a few years ago did I decide to sit down and learn how to write fiction properly. So I studied what I could find on modern writing, read novel after novel, and then finally managed to complete two books. The first is a fun middle grade time travel adventure, which I am releasing now, and the second is YA modern fantasy novel due to be released early next year.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite genres are fantasy and sci-fi. I have a particular fondness for time travel.
My favorite author is probably Michael J. Sullivan, in particular the Riyria Revelations books. I also enjoy the writing of Drew Hayes and Dennis E. Taylor.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
The book I am releasing now is called “A Most Unusual Friday Knight”, and it is the first in the “Shawn From the Shed” series. It is a middle grade (ages 8-12), time travel story, which is meant to be fun and amusing while tackling themes like doing the right thing, standing up to bullies, and using your wits to solve problems.
The story is about two orphans, Johnny and Ella, and their encounter with Shawn, a recluse and socially-awkward inventor who lives in the shed at their orphanage. One night, when they investigate lights flashing from the shed, they discover that Shawn built a time machine. Soon, they are all thrown back to medieval England, to a time of mighty castles, brave knights, and wild animals. To make matters worse, they get on the wrong side of a tyrannical lord, and their “simple” jump to the past turns into a quest to save innocent lives – as well as their own.
One of the most important dynamics of the story is the role reversal. Here, it is the adult who needs help from the kids in order to understand social interactions, avoid getting into trouble, and act in a considerate way towards others. This is often a source of humor, but it also a way to teach important lessons in an unusual and fun way.
Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles
If you enjoyed this writer’s interview, check out our Featured Authors page. We have some of the best authors to learn about. They are just waiting for you to discover them. If you enjoyed this writer’s interview feel free to share it using the buttons below. Sharing is caring! If you are an author and want to get exposure to new readers submit your book to our book promotion service.