Page 62 - Novelist Post – J.D. Barker and more

Francine Falk-Allen Reflects on Life, Writing, and Stories That Inspire Change
Francine Falk-Allen discusses her journey with polio, her passion for writing, and how her stories of resilience inspire greater understanding of disability, aging, and life’s unexpected challenges.
62 II NOVELIST POST
FBy Carly Preston London rancine Falk-Allen
write a book, based on life vignet- tes I had shared. When I retired,
I thought, “What would I write about? What do I know well?” And the answer was: living with the aftereffects of polio. I thought it might be useful to people to know what life was like for people with ambulatory disabilities, and that their perspectives might not match reality in some ways. My percep- tion is that many people may have the concept that disabled people are pathetic (we’re not, generally) or, not think about what we must experience in order to have a good life.
How did your background in art and business shape your approach to writing?
I have always been creative, whether it was drawing, photog- raphy, painting, or music. Writing felt like a natural extension. Early in the memoir process, a filmmaker told me I was a good storyteller,
so that was encouraging. Having
a head for business already was helpful in organizing the many ad- ministrative aspects of publishing, although I have found it to be less predictable and definite than the somewhat rigid characteristics of accounting!
What was the most emotionally challenging part of writing Not a Poster Child?
One of my beta readers, formerly a book reviewer, told me I was pointing my finger at people regar- ding how I had been treated as a disabled person. I hadn’t seen that, so I re-wrote it, told my experien- ces, and let the readers reflect on their own attitudes or actions. The chapter I wrote on my dad and his death and how it affected me was
a tough chapter; I cried several times in the process. My father’s death had as much influence on my emotional life and my expectations
of men as did having had polio. The two were intertwined.
In No Spring Chicken, you mix humor with serious themes—how do you strike that balance?
Ha! I tell people that my epitaph will read, “She thought she was so funny!” That would be especially amusing on an urn. In talking about things that people find difficult, these go down more easily—like a spoonful of sugar for medicine—if there is a lighter attitude when ap- propriate. Not a Poster Child also has a lot of humor in it. As Wavy Gravy (Hugh Romney) says, “If you don’t have a sense of humor, it’s just not funny.”
How did your family history influence your decision to write A Wolff in the Family?
I attended a memorial service for one of my mother’s many siblings years after she had passed. At the reception, I sat with one of my aunts, and in the middle of eating egg salad sandwiches, in one or two sentences she mentioned several shocking things I had not known about my mother’s family (nor had my sister, I later learned). One of those was that my grandfat- her had put my five youngest aunts and uncles in an orphanage. The reason he did this was stunning, and the things Aunt Dorothy sha- red seemed too outrageous a story to let lie. I was compelled to make it into an intriguing fiction.
What do you hope readers take away from your portrayal of disability and aging?
Even if you lose some function, you can still have a good life; you just have to adapt and find alternative ways of managing or find new avenues of enjoyment. Keep looking out the window. Also, for people who do not have any disability currently, I hope it
Living with as an author, advocate, and storyteller radiates both wit
and wisdom, offering readers Courage, profound insights into the
Humor, and Creativity
human experience. Through
her award-winning memoirs, Not a Poster Child: Living Well with a Disability and No Spring Chicken: Stories and Advice from a Wild Handicapper on Aging and Disability, Falk-Al- len opens the door to a world often misunderstood, inviting us to see life through a refreshing and deeply empathetic lens.
Her ability to weave humor
into even the most challenging subjects demonstrates not only her skill as a writer but also her unmatched capacity to find light in the darkness.
is a true force of inspiration, resilience, and creativity. Her remarkable journey
As we eagerly await her forthco- ming historical novel, A Wolff in the Family, based on the gripping real-life scandals of her family’s past, it's evident that Falk-Allen's storytelling knows no bounds. She moves seamlessly from memoir to fiction with the same authenticity and clarity that have defined her previous works, inviting readers into narratives both personal and universally resonant. With her dedication to raising awareness about disability, aging, and accessi- bility—not to mention her personal courage in sharing her own stories—Francine Falk-Allen is a celebrated voice of her generation. We are honored to bring you this conversation with her, where she shares reflections on writing, resi- lience, and the art of living fully.
What inspired you to turn your personal journey with polio into a published memoir?
Friends kept telling me I should