Photo: Courtesy of Valerie Estelle Frankel
Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.
I’m Valerie Estelle Frankel, author of 83 books so far. I’ve won a Dream Realm Award, an Indie Excellence Award, and a USA Book News National Best Book Award for my Henry Potty parodies, the first ones I published. I have a few other kid-friendly parodies and lots of analysis on big franchises: books looking at symbolism, gender roles, and other topics in Star Wars, Doctor Who, Outlander, Hamilton, Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, superheroine films and so on. Within this, I’ve written lots of heroine’s journey guides like From Girl to Goddess and Superheroines and the Epic Journey. I just published The Villain’s Journey too!
Recently, I’ve gotten into Jewish writing. My chapter book Chelm for the Holidays (2019) was a PJ Library book, and now I’m the editor of Jewish Science Fiction and Fantasy for Lexington Press (seeking essays and entire books), publishing an academic series that begins with Jewish Science Fiction and Fantasy through 1945 (2021). Once a lecturer at San Jose State University, I now teach at Mission College and San Jose City College and speak often at conferences. And if anyone has questions on the heroine’s journey, the villain’s journey, and Jewish science fiction, I have all the answers!
What inspired you to become an author?
My first self-pblished book was a Harry Potter parody I thought might be a quick path to fame. Ironically my first published book, on how the heroine’s journey works, was my notes on how to write an amazing children’s fantasy adventure…so goes fate sometimes…After my guide to Hunger Games sold really well, I decided to keep going analyzing other popular series and sharing my fannish insights.
Where and when do you write? Do you have a writing routine?
All the hours! I take time out for teaching or reading breaks; otherwise, every hour goes straight to writing.
How long does it take you to finish a novel?
Henry Potty and the Deathly Paper Shortage just took me ten days (with loads of sugar, caffeine, and Mel Brooks movies). My big books on Jewish fantasy have been going for years. It all depends.
Which authors can we find in your library?
I keep lots of obscure parodies around to fuel the humor writing, and lots of archetype books and feminist analysis for the heroine’s journey. Recently, I’ve been adding hard-to-find Jewish science fiction to the pile (though many classics and recent works are widely available). I love big epic fantasy for pleasure reading.
What advice would you give an aspiring author?
As everyone says, you have to read a lot and write a lot. If you write a little each day, you have a book. I’ve actually been teaching a kids’ creative writing class lately, where we’re trying to do exactly that.
Where can our readers purchase your books?
Amazon, Bookshop.org, Smashwords (only some are here, but I do have free ones up). Take your pick. The big list is available here or here: www.vefrankel.com But make sure you search Valerie Estelle Frankel, since other authors have similar names.
On which Social Media channels can our readers connect with you?
Facebook: Valerie Frankel
Twitter: @valeriefrankel
Goodreads is a fun platform for booklovers: Valerie Estelle Frankel Author Profile
Presentations on the heroine’s journey, the villain’s journey, and soon Jewish science fiction are up on my YouTube. And I’ll be speaking on Zoom about Jewish science fiction this February. I’m very excited!
Photos: Courtesy of Valerie Estelle Frankel
