Conversations with Jake Fraczek

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jake Fraczek.

Hi Jake, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
From years in the music industry, both as an artist & performer and as a roadie, traveling the world, to then transitioning into writing and podcasting, I realized I wasn’t a musician, and I’m not a writer. I’m an artist. These have been, and are, my canvases. It caused me to reflect on my youth a lot where drawing and painting, and then skateboarding, were my everything, my canvases then. Now, I am an author with two books out and a weekly podcast. As a young kid in Nevis, West Indies, or then older in Boston, I couldn’t have seen the windy artistic road I would go down.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’ve never had a muse. I just use uncomfortable moments as fuel to my words of fire. To say from pain comes great art is very cliche, but it’s a very cliche because it’s often very true. My first book, Quicksand, and my latest, The Waiting Room, were both birthed from dark, painful moments, but my lens is a humorous one, so I formed an ability to laugh at, or through much of it while crying through the rest. My newfound passion for writing came from heartache, shame, excess, debauchery, fear, death, adventure, and lots of twisted, hilarious moments in my life. My books being autobiographical, Quicksand centered around heartbreak and a love triangle, whereas The Waiting Room’s backbone was me going to take care of my dying father alone in Mexico.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My latest book, The Waiting Room, and my first book, Quicksand, are both available now in various formats from all major platforms for books. They are true stories with a dark-comedic tone. I write in short-story, non-linear format because I find it better serves my generation of readers and makes the act of picking up a book less daunting and more exciting. I don’t find too many contemporary American writers telling stories like mine, in the manner which I do, with a raw honesty, so part of my inspiration is to create what I find is missing. I also strive to not be a pretentious writer. Too many authors grow into that mold. I also host my Damaged Goods Podcast weekly. When I was younger, I would probably be known best as Jake the Snake/J The S with my band Blue Gold, making music, but that was some time ago. When I use a microphone now, it’s on my podcast or a radio show.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Audiobooks are certainly gaining in popularity, so I put those versions out alongside the paperbacks. I do the narration myself. I see those continuing to grow in popularity. Other than that, I couldn’t tell you what big shifts are on the horizon. I don’t have much Nostradamus blood in my veins, nor would I want any. Predicting the future is too much responsibility. I’m trying to enjoy this ride more.

Contact Info:

• Website: linktr.ee/jakefraczek
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakefraczek/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/jthes
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU3lqnW4LH10iurB6GyGXzQ/videos

Image Credits
Adam Amengual