About the Author:
Frank Nappi has taught high school English and
Creative Writing for over twenty years. His debut novel,
Echoes From The Infantry,
received national attention, including MWSA's silver medal for outstanding
fiction. His follow-up novel, The Legend of Mickey Tussler, garnered
rave reviews as well, including a movie adaptation of the touching story "A Mile in His Shoes"
starring Dean Cain and Luke Schroder. Frank continues to produce quality work,
including Sophomore Campaign, the
intriguing sequel to the much heralded original story and the just released
thriller, NOBODY HAS TO KNOW, which received an endorsement from
#1 New York Times bestselling author Nelson DeMille. Frank is presently at work
on a third installment of his Mickey Tussler series and his next thriller. He lives on Long Island
with his wife Julia and their two sons, Nicholas and Anthony.
LINKS:
- At any given time
do you work on only one story at a time and maybe plot out the next one or are
there many ideas racing around your head?
Sometimes there is
more than one story racing around in my head at a time. Currently I am writing
two very different novels simultaneously. I am working on the third book in my
Mickey Tussler series and a new thriller as well.
2. Is there a
genre you haven't written in but would like to? Or wish you could write
in?
While many writers
remain faithful to one genre, mostly because they possess an affinity for that
type of writing, my inspiration comes from a true penchant for exploring that
about which I am most passionate. I am not really wedded to one particular genre
at all. After the release of my latest novel, Nobody Has To Know, the literary
world may have to come up with a new distinction just to classify what it is I
have doing the last eight years. I guess to call my work eclectic would be an
understatement. My first novel, Echoes From The Infantry, is an adult novel
(historical fiction) that delves into the world of a WWII veteran’s damaged
psyche and subsequent family drama. That was followed up by The Legend of Mickey
Tussler, described as a YA crossover novel that chronicles the exploits of a 17
year old autistic pitcher during the 1940’s. The sequel to that, Sophomore
Campaign, is more of a YA story as Mickey's journey continues and now my latest
novel, Nobody Has To Know, is another adult release, but in the genre of
Mystery/Thriller. Clearly these stories are all unique in their own way, and
fall into very different genres. However, what binds them together is that same
basic element that really defines who I am as a writer - someone who is moved by
the human struggle. Some say I am experiencing a professional identity crisis.
I’d like to think of it, as others have suggested, that I am just very
versatile.
3. Do you
add an element of romantic suspense in your
stories?
While none of my
books would be considered romances of course, my books are about relationships.
Some of those relationships involve courting couples, so there is some element
of romance there.
4. Say you have
unlimited funds: What kind of writing office/cottage would you create for
yourself?
I think I would
maintain a very similar writing space to my current one, however I would move
the location of my office to a waterview/beach view property in Key West for
sure!!!
My office is where
I do all of my writing. NO music, no snacks. It is the only place where I can
get creative. This may be the case with many authors. And I suppose my writing
space is not that unlike those of other authors. Well...maybe that’s not
entirely true. I do most of my writing in my office at home, a modest room with
walls adorned with my most treasured baseball memorabilia, highlighted by a
beautiful 16X20 black and white Cooperstown signed photo of Ted Williams which
hangs right over my desk. I have other wonderful items in the room as well,
including game used spikes signed by Tony Gwynn, an autographed Sports
Illustrated cover celebrating Hank Aaron’s 715th home run and two Shea Stadium
seats that I acquired after the Mets shut down the old place. There’s lots more
as well. My actual desk is littered with items you would expect any author to
have handy -- some practical and germane to the writing process and some which
hover I suppose in the realm of the idiosyncratic I suppose. I have plenty of
pens and pencils, a clock, an old fashioned dictionary, and other office supply
stuff like paper clips, tape, staples, etc. The more colorful items cluttering
my desktop include a tiny wooden Hemingway House replica I bought while in Key
West, a 12 inch Batman figure, New York Met Bobblehead, San Diego Sno Globe,
lots of loose family photos and an F. Scott Fitzgerald magnetic finger puppet I
received as a gift. It is quite an odd amalgamation of things but it works for
me!
5. If you could
turn your novel into a TV show, which novel or series would you do? Where would
it be set? Network TV (ABC, NBC, CBS), Cable (AMC, BBC, Lifetime) or Premium
Cable (HBO, Showtime, Starz)?
I am lucky to say
that the first book in my Mickey Tussler series, The Legend of Mickey Tussler,
has been adapted for a movie already!!! Check out the movie “A Mile in His
Shoes” – starring Dean Cain and Luke Schroder in the lead roles. You can
purchase the DVD at Amazon. Here is the synopsis from
Amazon:
Only a miracle can
help baseball coach Arthur “Murph” Murphy (Dean Cain) and his losing minor
league baseball team. As Murph sets out to recruit new talent for the team, he
stumbles upon Mickey (Luke Schroder), a young farmer with an incredible
pitcher’s arm. However, Mickey’s parents are reluctant to allow him to join the
team because he has Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism. Murph convinces
Mickey’s parents that life in the minor league will benefit their unique son,
but he doesn’t realize just how much his new recruit will help the team’s game
and, more importantly, their spirit. Based on the novel “The Legend 0f Mickey
Tussler” by Frank Nappi.
6. Finally, tell
us about your Mickey Tussler series!
The series tells
the story of a 17 year old autistic kid who is mired in the obscurity of a small
farm in Indiana in 1948. In addition to his condition, which of course has no
name at the time, Mickey possesses the remarkable ability to throw objects (most
notably apples) with extraordinary velocity and precision. It appears that his
life will never amount to anything more than the day to day toiling on the
family farm under the cruel and watchful eye of his cantankerous father Clarence
when a most fortuitous encounter with baseball manager Arthur Murphy, a man who
himself is struggling with his own demons, alters the trajectory of each of the
character's lives forever.
Blurb:
THE LEGEND OF MICKEY
TUSSLER
In
the late 1940s, the minor league Milwaukee Brewers are foundering yet again and
manager Arthur Murphy is desperate. When he sees seventeen-year old Mickey
Tussler throwing apples into a barrel, he knows he has found the next pitching
phenom. But not everyone is so hopeful. Mickey’s autism—a disorder still not
truly understood even today—has alienated the boy from the world, and he is
berated by other players and fans. Mickey faces immense trials in the harsh and
competitive world of baseball while coping with the challenges inherent to his
disorder. An honest and knowledgeable book about overcoming adversity, and the
basis for the television movie A Mile in
His Shoes, Mickey’s powerful story shows that with support and
determination anyone can be triumphant, even when the odds are stacked against
him.
SOPHOMORE CAMPAIGN
It’s
1949 and eighteen-year-old pitching phenom Mickey Tussler is back with the
rejuvenated minor league Brewers in the sequel to The Legend of Mickey Tussler (the basis for the television movie A Mile
in His Shoes). Despite Mickey’s proclamation that he will never play
baseball again after last season’s violent conclusion, his manager—and now
surrogate father—Arthur Murphy cajoles the emotionally fragile, socially
awkward boy with autism into giving it another shot. Mickey reluctantly returns
to the field and must once again cope with the violence and hatred around him.
When a young African American player joins the team, the entire team is
subjected to racial threats and episodes of violence, one of which Mickey
witnesses firsthand. Struggling to understand such ugliness and hatred, and
fearful of reprisal should he tell anyone about what he has seen, the boy’s
performance on the field suffers. Mickey now must deal with a side of human
nature he scarcely comprehends.
Read an excerpt!
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The
nightmares that had been plaguing her for weeks warned of this moment. Images,
too terrifying to be real, flashed quickly across her mind’s eye in an instant
replay of her recent night terrors. Running down a long, empty hallway, filled
with doorways on either side, chased by some unknown monster that knew her
deepest fears. Running towards a movie, scrolling incessantly with images of
those she loved most trapped in a fiery hell. Sepia-toned faces, twisted in
pain, were a stark contrast to the blue, red and yellow of the flames engulfing
them. The echoes of their screams filled the dark, never-ending hallway. She
couldn’t look away and she couldn’t stop running; her only escape was straight
ahead, towards the horror show. 
