This week it is my pleasure to interview author Frank Dixon .

Me: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Frank: I have enjoyed writing since my childhood. It was a really healthy outlet for me and allowed me to have a place to put down my abundance of thoughts. I never really thought about becoming a professional writer until after my daughter was born and I realized how important raising my daughter was to me. I already had a wealth of notes so it was a matter of building upon that foundation, refining, organizing and deciding on which topics I felt would be most helpful to parents. 

Me: How long does it take you to write a book?

Frank: It varies depending on the length of the book and the topic but writing a book from start to finish typically takes me anywhere from three to six months.

Me: What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?

Frank: I tend to write more during the night. I’m most productive and it feels more quiet and I generally have a better sense of focus. I usually write for several consecutive hours.

Me: Do you intend to keep writing?

Frank: Yes, I love to write, always have. I am having lots of success and have gotten lots of positive feedback from parents so this is not only a worthwhile endeavor but also very personally meaningful to me. It feels amazing to actually having a lasting impact making a difference in the parenting industry through literature and I plan to continue upon my success.

Me: What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

Frank: I consider myself to be somewhat of a perfectionist which seems great on the surface but admittedly can have its drawbacks. Sometimes I get hung up on a concept I want to explain and I find myself an hour later still debating if I were in my readers shoes if it’s really phrased as best as it can possibly be. Ultimately, I think in most cases it doesn’t make a whole lot of difference and the finalized result which is published will be conveyed regardless however it’s in my nature and though at times I question if it’s the best use of my time at the end of the day if my readers are happy then it’s a success.

Me: Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

Frank: I do extensive research for each of my books based on topics I have thought up previously and from I do additional research and decide what topics I think will be most beneficial to readers. I also get input from my readers and other sources as well as to what their biggest parenting problems are and work to produce a solution. In addition, I spend a good amount of time identifying some of the top thinkers in the industry based on the particular topic and all my books are backed up with sources that are referenced and cited.

Me: What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

Frank: I enjoy writing and it’s extremely fulfilling. It amazes me how easily I lose track of time. I’m not sure how to best describe it other than something like when Neo is tapped into The Matrix. Except instead of encountering Agent Smith in a dystopian setting, I’m in a world with my thoughts, ideas, words and constant revisions. Then I find myself caught off guard as the oven beeps after several hours of writing and I snap out of my “Writing Matrix” and into the kitchen.

Frank Dixon:
I’m the author of the Best Parenting Books series. I grew up in Newton, Massachusetts, I’ve moved around all throughout Boston, but I’m currently back in my hometown where I grew up. After I completed high school, I joined the Army National Guard, and after serving for several years, I completed trade school for computer support, and my daughter was born in 2011. Since then, I have been working and writing. In my downtime, I enjoy spending time with my daughter, reading, writing, hiking, playing sports, swimming, and listening to comedy. For the most part, I’m a homebody; much of my family and friends live around me, so I’m quite content. Growing up, I felt trapped. I experienced first-hand cheating, lying, secrets, and manipulation regularly as a child which had a lasting impact on me that was quite challenging to cope with. I felt entirely powerless as just a child standing in the face of injustice, always living under what felt like a double-edged sword of conditional love, and watching my family unravel. While my peers were having a fun and worry-free childhood, I had surrendered myself to guilt, shame, depression, and anxiety. Millions of adults never recover from their painful childhood and, as new parents, pass on their fears, insecurities, and problematic behaviors to their children. It’s a vicious cycle, and I refused to let my childhood define me and crush me. I made a point to channel negativity, pain, and suffering from my childhood experiences to illuminate a positive future for myself and others. Overcoming my rough upbringing was the hardest thing I had to do. However, it taught me a lesson. I became the person I am today, not despite my childhood, but because of my childhood. That’s why I decided to share my experience and knowledge with new parents who want to avoid the same mistakes, who want their kids to succeed in life, who want to build stronger, happier, healthier families to give their child the best chance to grow into successful and thriving adults in an increasingly tough and challenging adult world.