Interview 63- The Journey Within: A Soldiers Tale, Army Retired Frank Demith
- Interview 63- The Journey Within: A Soldiers Tale, Army Retired Frank Demith Bryan Roof 1:15:21
After twenty-eight years on active duty, Army veteran Frank Demith is turning to a new career path: writing. His debut novel, Of Vital Interest, is a fast-paced, exciting book perfect for lovers of Vince Flynn.Demith, now retired, is taking advantage of his free time by investing in the hobby he’s always enjoyed. As an avid writer, Demith has already written three complete novels although Of Vital Interest is his first to be published. “They say ‘write what you know’ so that’s what I did,” Demith shares when talking about the inspiration behind his voracious writing. “Unfortunately, I thought it would be too difficult to get approval from the State Department for the first two books I wrote. Third time’s a charm!” Demith worked on the Department of the Army team that developed the Army Interpreter/Translator Program and is well-known among many who have worked within the Department of Defense. His experience in working with Army Interpreter/ Translators served as the inspiration for the plot in Of Vital Interest; a story of two Iraqi Americans trained to become expert linguists and U.S. soldiers. Demith’s novel was named a first-place winner of the International Impact Book Awards in the Military Category in Fall 2023. This prestigious award is hosted by professionals in the publishing industry who select winners using a scoring system based on multiple factors, including story, quality of writing, quality of editing, cover design, layout design, and overall book production. The award feels well-deserved considering Demith’s extensive expertise in the subject matter. The story relies heavily on Demith’s military experience with themes of bravery and loyalty to the mission and country laced throughout the story. Demith’s characters find themselves returning to Iraq during a time of war, faced with moral questions about what it means to follow orders. “There are strong themes of good vs. evil in this story,” Demith says. “And there are very strong, relatable characters that I hope readers can learn from even if they can’t exactly relate to them.” This highly original take on the classic military novel offers something new for fans of action and pulp fiction. Complete with compelling characters, and a mystery at its center, Of Vital Interest can be enjoyed by everyone. Frank Demith’s debut novel was released on December 5, 2023. You can view more information or purchase a copy on BallastBooks.com or anywhere books are sold.
