Shift: What’s the story behind “Deadfall”?
JF: The story is part of a collection of stories I’ve been working on about these characters. The plot itself originally was the backstory in another piece, but (as sometimes happens) the backstory proved to be more interesting, so I decided to make it its own stand-alone piece. The setting sprang naturally out of the story since I needed them to be someplace near the woods, and this suggested a less urban setting. I liked it as a choice since, being a city boy, I tend to write a lot of urban stories. This forced me out of my comfort zone and allowed me to explore a different world.
Shift: Both your 2015 novel, The Thunder of Giants, and “Deadfall” feature female protagonists. How did you get into these characters?
JF: As a reader, I’ve always gravitated towards stories with strong female protagonists, and I think this is why this is often reflected in my writing. I’m distinctly aware of the challenges associated with this, and I try to do my due diligence. The Thunder of Giants is historical fiction, so I was able to do research into the era, and that helped me to attune myself to the obstacles faced by women in the 19th century. I try to do a similar thing these days with the modern era. I read a lot and try to listen even more. I’m fortunate to have grown up in a family of strong-willed women, and many of my closest friends are women, including, of course, my girlfriend of many years. I rely on them a lot to tell me when I’m getting it wrong and help me figure out how to get it right.
Shift: What are you working on now—and where are you headed with your writing?
JF: I always have several projects on the go since I work in multiple forms, but right now the focus is a screenplay I had optioned recently and my thesis project for my MFA, which is a new novel. I work as an actor, too, so the new novel is about a family of actors navigating the industry in the #MeToo era. I also have a list of projects I want to pursue which includes more historical fiction and the collection of stories of which “Deadfall” is a part.