Interview with Frank Freudberg:
1) Tell us a little about yourself and your book, Baby Please Don’t Go.
I’m a ghost writer, journalist and novelist. I’m married with one
teenage son and we live outside of Philadelphia. I’ve been writing all
my life. I’ve always loved writing and working for myself – even going
as far as dropping out of high school to pursue my craft. I believe in
Mark Twain’s adage: Never let your schooling interfere with your
education.
2) What was the inspiration for this novel?
My son – and every parent’s nightmare: losing a child, no matter how that loss may occur.
3) What would you say the biggest difference/challenge was between writing this novel and your previous novel, Find Virgil?
The two books are wholly different and Find Virgil is a pure thriller while Baby Please Don’t Go fits squarely in a non-existent genre some have called “modern noir romance.”
4) What or who inspired you to create the characters in this book, like Lock and Natalie?
The two characters you mention are amalgams of people I know, including a few people who I wish I didn’t know.
5) What authors or books helped inspire you and your writing?
Thomas Berger, author of 20 novels, including Little Big Man. I like to say he’s America’s greatest living novelist – however, I can’t say that as he died a year and a half ago.
6) What would you say interests you more from a writer’s perspective: developing the plot or the characters?
That’s
an easy one for me: characters. Once I have detected a heartbeat within
a character I’m trying to bring to life, the plot kind of suggests
itself. “Character is drama,” someone said. I agree.
7) What characters in Baby Please Don’t Go do you sympathize or identify with more than the others?
I most identify with Lock; I share some of his troubles and some of his joy.
8) Have you ever wanted to dabble in other genres besides the thriller genre, or is this a genre you are passionate about?
I
don’t feel like I need to stick with one genre. I love writing and I
write what presents itself to me. In both the novels mentioned in this
interview, I wrote the books and only then did I notice that (at least
one of them) might fit into an established genre. I’ve often wondered if
there’s a genre called, “Don’t Waste Your Time,” since that was the
sentiment of more than one Amazon reviewer. Speaking of Amazon
reviewers, I recently received a 1-star review that simply said,
“Haven’t read it yet.” I guess she’s clairvoyant.
9) If you could bring any of your characters to life and have a sit down chat with them, who would it be and why?
It would be Lock’s boy Augie. If I state why I’d want to chat with him, I’d be providing a spoiler, so, I can’t elaborate.
10) What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?
“Sit
in your chair and relentlessly put black on white” and, to quote
novelist Rita Mae Brown, “Don’t hope more than you’re willing to work.”
Thank
you so much for speaking with us, and I wish you luck with all your future endeavors.
Thank you, Anthony, for this opportunity to speak to you and your audience. Best regards,
Frank Freudberg