Meet Joni Franks

We were lucky to catch up with Joni Franks recently and have shared our conversation below.

Joni, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
Before I had the privilege to begin writing and become an international award-winning author, I worked in the business world. During that time, it was uncommon to see women working in outside sales positions. I held one job where I was one of only three women in the U.S, working for a transportation company that moved freight for manufacturing facilities worldwide. It was a great challenge to earn acceptance and trust in this male-dominated industry. I was certainly the only woman in the room, and it was clear from the beginning that being taken seriously was going to present challenges. Through persistence and diligence, I was able to succeed and eventually I earned the title of Assistant Vice President of Sales. Achieving this status, aided me in making a career change into the insurance field. Very few women were hired for those positions then, but my prior business experience was an advantage. I went on to manage and own insurance agencies in Missouri and Colorado for many years to come. Through steadfastness and persistence, I overcame many adverse situations where my competence was questioned simply because I was female. Looking back, I can feel proud of my years in the business world. I worked hard, saved my money and was able to take a break from working in 2016, It was then that I wrote my first book about equality and bullying and Corky Tails: Tales of a Tailless Dog Named Sagebrush was born. Fast forward to present and I have twelve published books and over forty literary honors.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am very proud of my Corky Tails: Tales of a Tailless Dog Named Sagebrush book series. I created and self-published these books as an indie author. Presently there are eight books, a Spanish translation version and a coloring book. These books have consistently won the American Fiction Award since 2018, as well as the prestigious Moms Choice Award, and the International Readers Favorite Awards contest. I also wanted to create a companion book series for an older audience. The Crooked Forest is presently a two-book series with a third book to be released in 2024. This Adult and Young/Adult book series has earned awards for Womens Fiction, New Age Fiction, Novelette Fiction and Art illustration, which I also create.
It is an honor to be a successful multi-genre author. Often times it is considered that we can only be successful in one field, when in reality, there are no limits.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back, the qualities that have been most impactful in my own personal journey have been listening to my heart, following my dreams and remaining consistently persistent.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
Recently I signed a traditional publishing contract with Roan and Weatherford Publishing. They will republish nine Corky Tails books under their Young Dragons imprint and there will be six new Corky Tail books to be released in the coming years. I am very excited about this new project, and I feel that it will solidify my desire to leave my books as a legacy for the new generation and generations to come.
Never give up on your dreams!

Contact Info:

Image Credits
photo credit Joni Franks

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