Interview with Perrysburg Author Gary L. Franks on Writing and Publishing Local History Books (Summer Reading Series Part 4 of 4)

This is the 4th and final part of my Summer Reading Series. The goals of the series are to encourage you to read this summer or inspire you to write your first book.

 

The FULL show notes are on https://www.perrysburgpodcast.com/104

 

Part One was my interview with Alisha and Tracy at Way Public Library about their summer reading programs. https://www.perrysburgpodcast.com/100 

 

Part Two was my interview with Perrysburg resident and author Bill Williams about his first book, 20 Years of Internet Humor and Other Interesting Things: Volume One. He also shared advice and inspiration for first-time authors. https://www.perrysburgpodcast.com/101 

 

Part Three was my interview with Denise Phillips from Gathering Volumes Bookstore. We talked about why she opened the store and everything it offers. https://www.perrysburgpocast.com/103 

 

The Summer Reading Series wraps up today with Part Four. Perrysburg resident and author Gary L. Franks talks about his books, the research needed to write them, his co-authors, advice for first-time authors, and more. 

 

Thank you for listening to the series! 

 

Gary’s books can be found at http://engineer9.com/HOME/Books/bookindex.html. The titles are below:

 

1. Perrysburg Then and Now 
2. Bridges at the Foot of the Rapids
3. The Preservation of Fort Meigs and Its Burial Grounds
4. The Maumee & Western Reserve Road: Its History and a Survey of Its Milestones
5. The Founding and Survey of Perrysburg, OH
6. Perrysburg’s Hydraulic Canal
7. Toledo’s Forest Cemetery

 

Gary is discerning whether he will move forward with his 8th and 9th books or not. The proposed titles are Orleans of the North and Toledo's Forest Cemetery: Volume 2.

 

Gary mentioned a book about Woodlawn Cemetery during our conversation. The title is Toledo’s Woodlawn Cemetery (Images of America) by Rebecca Deck Visser and Renee Ciminillo Jayne. It’s available in Hardcover, Paperback, and Kindle book. https://www.amazon.com/Toledos-Woodlawn-Cemetery-Images-America/dp/146711295X 

 

6 Pearls of wisdom I found during our conversation. I elaborate on each point in the last 5 minutes of the episode.

1. You don’t have to be an author by trade to write a book.
2. Gary filled a (local history) gap with his books.
3. Gary self-published his books.
4. You don’t have to write your book alone.
5. Price your book to sell, and sell your books where there is traffic (local events and the internet).
6. Be persistent.

 

Links from this episode

• Website for Gary L. Franks http://engineer9.com/HOME/Books/bookindex.html 
• Email Gary L. Franks [e-mail] 
• Toledo’s Woodlawn Cemetery (Images of America) by Rebecca Deck Visser and Renee Ciminillo Jayne https://www.amazon.com/Toledos-Woodlawn-Cemetery-Images-America/dp/146711295X
• Instant Publisher (Collierville, Tennessee) https://instantpublisher.com 
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• Follow the podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@perrysburgpodcast
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