Life at Open Heart Publishing

Hello Readers!

Our featured author for this post is Alex Francani.  Enjoy!

Where did you get your ideas for writing “Legos, Honey, A Squirrel, Marcus, and Me.”

I have no idea where this story came from. I recognize the writing style and I know that I wrote it, but I have no idea how I invented the unnamed 70-something year old man and his beautiful daughter Honey. I don’t know how I came up with the idea that the greatest manifestation of pain could be exacted in a grieving person’s decisions to stop actively participating in his own life. I wrote that story eight or nine years ago. At the time, I was a junior or senior in college. I wasn’t really trying to be a good writer, as much as I was trying to live a life interesting enough to be a compelling story. (I have since realized that “interesting” shouldn’t be the only criteria.) I always argued vehemently against people who said that the main characters of my first person stories were really just various versions of myself. Although, truth be told, they were probably more right than I was. Now, a little older and more wise to the fact that I am not as wise as I’d like to be, I see a lot of myself in the characters of my stories. However, the main character in “Legos” is an old man dealing with loss in a profound and thoroughly confusing way. As a 21 year old, I had never experienced loss like that. 

Tell us about some other things you are involved in besides writing.

Umm… I don’t want to. 

How do you organize the books on your bookshelf?

I don’t have a bookshelf. I buy books, and then forget about them. I know I have some in California in someone’s garage (I think his name is Dave), and I would like them back. I have some under my TV. When I was a little kid, I didn’t like to read school books, so when I finished them I threw them across the room. Sometimes I threw them pretty hard. As I grew older and liked reading more (and found some better books), I would sometimes even throw books that I’ve borrowed from other people. I guess I don’t treat books all that reverently. I respect the words on the page – and writers better than me – like Lewis Norden, Tim O’Brien, Dave Eggers, and Wally Lamb – but the way I figure it, the words are the same on a crinkled page as they are on a beautifully preserved page. Anyone who takes the time to finish something I’ve written can happily throw it across the room if it makes them feel better.

Who or what inspired you to become a writer?

My characters. I haven’t written a story myself yet. I create people, get to know them, and then I just watch them. I write down their lives like a documentary. 

Who is your favorite author (besides yourself) and why?

Lewis “Buddy” Nordan came downstairs to the kitchen one day from a day spent typing. He was crying. I wasn’t there, but from what he told our class and what I can imagine, this white-haired man of sixty hard and great years, probably slumped his shoulders and darted his eyes around the room. They eventually landed on the face of his wife.
       “What’s wrong?” she asks.
       Buddy looked from his wife to the floor, then without wiping his eyes, says in a small voice, “George just died.”
       His wife stopped her preparation of dinner and said, “Who’s George?”
       “He’s in my story.”
       “Didn’t you see his death coming?” she says, no longer worried about a real person who has died, and goes back to her cooking.
       “What?” Buddy says back, then considers the question, “Well, I guess I should have known.”

        Buddy Nordan makes sense to me. I marvel at writers who can plan a story meticulously, research it, and write it with beautiful prose, but I love Buddy because he lives with his creation and cares as much about his characters as he does his craft.

        While I was in his class, I tried to emulate his writing style into a story I was writing. I got a “B”. I don’t think he gave any other student a grade lower than an “A-” all semester. Either he doesn’t like how he writes or I failed miserably.

Do you consider yourself to be perfect? (please elaborate…no gory details or anything, just something more than a simple yes or no). 

I have a dream that one day I will be really famous. I’m not sure what I will have accomplished to get such fame, but for some reason, I’d have a world-wide audience. I would stand behind a podium before a great crowd, then I would start listing all my faults and weaknesses. I’d go on and on and try to outlast the crowd. It would almost be like playing a big game of chicken with a world-wide audience. I’d be daring them to stick by me despite myself. I’m not perfect and I realize that having a dream of telling the world everything that’s wrong with me isn’t the most healthy idea in the world, but wouldn’t it be great if there were still people around after all the facts were known? Wouldn’t it be just great? Everyone has secrets. I don’t believe all secrets are kept because people are being “secretive” We just don’t always have the right words to express the Truth. This is true though: it would be great if after all my faults and weaknesses are known, there’s still someone there to hug me.

No, I’m not perfect. One of these days I’m going to learn that that is okay. 

Where will you be in 5 years?

If all works out as I plan, I will be on a beach, looking up at mysterious comet, living in a trailer, and thanking God that I’ve learned that it’s okay. When my eyes drop from the sky, I will see that I am surrounded by people. I will be living in a trailer by choice. Someone will have already bought my novel Low California and produced my screenplay Hiccups. . . would you like to buy them?

Alexander Francani was born and raised in Erie, Pennsylvania.  After a great childhood he went on to his education at Tulane University and Villanova University before graduating from the University of Pittsburgh’s Fiction Writing Program.  In addition to his Fiction Writing Degree, he also received a Master’s Degree in Education from National University.  His career includes teaching English and Religion in Los Angeles, as well as coaching high school basketball.  His short story The Lucky One’s was published in Joseph Santiago’s anthology World Voices: Connected Communities.  His original screenplay Hiccups was optioned by independent film producer Cynthia Graner.  In addition to writing and teaching he enjoys traveling and volunteer work.  He has done service work in Peru, Saint Lucia Island, and the Appalachian Hills of Kentucky.  Alex currently resides in Pennsylvania and focuses his talents on writing.