Frank B Olson
Life & Career
I was born and raised in Idaho. When I graduated from high school, I decided to pursue an education at Utah State University. I took two years off and served an LDS mission in Yekaterinburg, Russia. Once I returned I rambled for a couple years between the Life Sciences before deciding to get my Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Information Systems. After graduating, I decided to try my hand at Environmental Engineering, but decided that I was not meant to be an Engineer. However, I met the most wonderful and loving woman of my life, Lauralee, whom I married in 2004. We now have four beautiful children that surprise us and keep us entertained every day.
I currently work as an Analyst. I have three published technical, procedural manuals to my name. These manuals provide instructions and guidance to approximately 40,000 employees on how to perform their duties and help guide them into properly following our policies.
Being an analyst is not my dream or vocation. Recently, I set out on a new adventure to follow my dreams and write stories I can share with you. My long-term goal is to be able to make a living from my writing and sharing these stories with the public. Over the next several years, I'll be posting more about my goals and the steps I take to achieve them. I appreciate your support.
I was born and raised in Idaho. When I graduated from high school, I decided to pursue an education at Utah State University. I took two years off and served an LDS mission in Yekaterinburg, Russia. Once I returned I rambled for a couple years between the Life Sciences before deciding to get my Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Information Systems. After graduating, I decided to try my hand at Environmental Engineering, but decided that I was not meant to be an Engineer. However, I met the most wonderful and loving woman of my life, Lauralee, whom I married in 2004. We now have four beautiful children that surprise us and keep us entertained every day.
I currently work as an Analyst. I have three published technical, procedural manuals to my name. These manuals provide instructions and guidance to approximately 40,000 employees on how to perform their duties and help guide them into properly following our policies.
Being an analyst is not my dream or vocation. Recently, I set out on a new adventure to follow my dreams and write stories I can share with you. My long-term goal is to be able to make a living from my writing and sharing these stories with the public. Over the next several years, I'll be posting more about my goals and the steps I take to achieve them. I appreciate your support.
Personal Interests
I love stories. More often than not, you will find me with a book or kindle in hand reading some story. I've had stories buzzing inside my head for decades and, now, I feel more comfortable with my storytelling abilities. I spent the last 20 years studying and practicing the writing craft. Some of my favorite books for the craft include: Elements of Style by Strunk & White; How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy by Orson Scott Card; Characters & Viewpoint also by Orson Scott Card; Stein on Writing by Sol Stein; The Fantasy Fiction Formula by Deborah Chester; and On Writing by Stephen King. These books have been instrumental in putting tools in my toolbox so I can write clearly and effectively.
For me, some of those books are better than others. Stephen King's On Writing I would have to say has been the biggest boot to the britches for me. I've found that on the Discovery-Outline writing method scale, I lean heavily on the discovery side of things. If I try and outline a story from beginning to end, it kills the story for me, I lose interest in it, and I walk away from the story unsatisfied in not being able to write it and discover what secrets it has. Stephen King is the epitome of a discovery writer, and after reading On Writing, I hear his voice (though not with the Maine accent) in my head pushing me to write, to tell the stories I want to read. And now that I've practiced, written, and disposed of several novels (yeah, they don't deserve necromancy either), I'm ready to pursue writing and getting my works published. Those practice novels won't see the light of day again. That's okay. They were practice stories so I could hone my craft and learn how different tools worked and what tools work for me when I write. And now, I feel more prepared to jump into the public sphere and publish my stories.
When it comes to stories, I mainly consume those in print. I don't watch very much TV. Since I moved out of my parent's house 20 years ago, I haven't had cable or dish. I get a shocked look from people when I tell them that. But you know what? I'm fine with that. I would rather spend my time with a good story than deal with commercials and the trash that parades around as good story telling. However, if I find a TV series that is told well, I will binge on it until I get tired of it or it wraps up.
I'm a smoker. By that I mean, I have a huge smoker (big enough to fit 3 14 lb turkeys inside) and grill that keeps me busy making delicious food. Food is awesome, and I'm lucky to be married to a wonderful chef. So, when I get some off time or I'm not busy repairing my cursed fence, I like to break out the grill and smoker.
I love stories. More often than not, you will find me with a book or kindle in hand reading some story. I've had stories buzzing inside my head for decades and, now, I feel more comfortable with my storytelling abilities. I spent the last 20 years studying and practicing the writing craft. Some of my favorite books for the craft include: Elements of Style by Strunk & White; How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy by Orson Scott Card; Characters & Viewpoint also by Orson Scott Card; Stein on Writing by Sol Stein; The Fantasy Fiction Formula by Deborah Chester; and On Writing by Stephen King. These books have been instrumental in putting tools in my toolbox so I can write clearly and effectively.
For me, some of those books are better than others. Stephen King's On Writing I would have to say has been the biggest boot to the britches for me. I've found that on the Discovery-Outline writing method scale, I lean heavily on the discovery side of things. If I try and outline a story from beginning to end, it kills the story for me, I lose interest in it, and I walk away from the story unsatisfied in not being able to write it and discover what secrets it has. Stephen King is the epitome of a discovery writer, and after reading On Writing, I hear his voice (though not with the Maine accent) in my head pushing me to write, to tell the stories I want to read. And now that I've practiced, written, and disposed of several novels (yeah, they don't deserve necromancy either), I'm ready to pursue writing and getting my works published. Those practice novels won't see the light of day again. That's okay. They were practice stories so I could hone my craft and learn how different tools worked and what tools work for me when I write. And now, I feel more prepared to jump into the public sphere and publish my stories.
When it comes to stories, I mainly consume those in print. I don't watch very much TV. Since I moved out of my parent's house 20 years ago, I haven't had cable or dish. I get a shocked look from people when I tell them that. But you know what? I'm fine with that. I would rather spend my time with a good story than deal with commercials and the trash that parades around as good story telling. However, if I find a TV series that is told well, I will binge on it until I get tired of it or it wraps up.
I'm a smoker. By that I mean, I have a huge smoker (big enough to fit 3 14 lb turkeys inside) and grill that keeps me busy making delicious food. Food is awesome, and I'm lucky to be married to a wonderful chef. So, when I get some off time or I'm not busy repairing my cursed fence, I like to break out the grill and smoker.