Life & Work with Frances White

Today we’d like to introduce you to Frances White. 

Hi Frances, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Thank you for asking. Recently, I published my first literary biography titled ‘Death by Vaudeville – A Journey Back From the End of the World,’ with Page Publishing, Inc. It has been a passion of mine to be able to see this story in book form. And now, after a decade of research and compiling records, I found a publisher to help me share this story. I am happy to say, readers can find it online through various sites, from Barnes & Nobles, Amazon, Google Play, iBook, Walmart, Target and more. 

This story came about, after working on my family tree research. I had been keeping genealogical records since the age of ten. So I am the family historian, and genealogist, and proud of it. 

Having grown up surrounded by two grandmothers, who loved sharing their family stories, I learned to appreciate genealogy. One of my grandmothers would talk about her “Round Robins” all the time. It was a letter that she would start writing, then mail it off to another sister, who would add a page of her own to it, then she would mail it off to another, until each person in the family added a page about their lives. I learned so much about them all, this way. 

After 40+ years of research, on both my parent’s families, and after learning some very interesting stories about my ancestors, such as knight templars, world map makers with the West Indies Shipping Company, and heroes, for which Beethoven wrote an overture for, I still felt it more important to write about family members who were much closer to my own time. I felt their life stories needed to be preserved before there are lost to the grave, with me.  

It was my hope, in some small way, to leave a legacy for my children and grandchildren to carry-on to their families. Most importantly, I wanted my children to have that same feeling of “connectedness” that I felt by knowing where we all came from.  I believe when we know them better, we know ourselves too. I believe that knowledge of family grounds into a bigger thing. 

One such story inspired me to write a book, was that of my great uncle, on my father’s side, Robert L. V. Smith, also known as Zane R. Southern. It was his story that inspired me to start writing, especially after my grandmother had said to me at the age of 10, he went to prison for killing someone. That story intrigued me for years and wanted to know more. 

I knew I had to find out more about what had happened to him, but it would be several more years before I would know his full story. But, once I found well over 350 newspaper articles and two magazine stories on his trail and combined it with all the genealogical records, I realized my grandmother’s story of him was bigger than she let on. 

Humorously, what I thought was going to be a boring story for my children to read, of birth records, marriage certificates, and death reports, turned out to be a notorious murder trial, with full articles of love, betrayal and murder, as well as several images of faces of people who had been all players in this story.   

I never dreamed, that what I would discover-would be tales of Vaudeville Agents, Hollywood actors and actresses; a Boxing Champion, a world-class Defense Attorney and his A-Team, and a lowly chauffeur, who would have to fight for his life, after fighting to save his marriage. And the more I researched his story, the more notorious it grew, as I read newspapers published from around the country, between 1924-1925, and were talked about for several years to come.

In short, my story, ‘Death by Vaudeville’, is about Robert’s journey back from the ‘End of the World’ aka Folsom Prison. It is the retelling of his life story, in gripping details and potent history of his Smith family, to the tragic circumstances of childhood and adulthood, that lead to his descent into a homicidal rage that resulted in a fifteen-year sentence in California’s notorious Prison. And, how his story ended…

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I really love Robert’s story. I became fascinated with him and all that he went through. At times, I was very disappointed in him and yet, the more I researched his life, the more I found value in his story and in his life. 

The more I learned about what had happened to him, and how he mustered through the darkness, the more I thought his story could help other people. There must be people out there who have found themselves fighting to survive their own hastily decisions, that ruined their lives, just like Robert. I believe by sharing his story with everyone, they might see how there is hope for redeeming their own lives, and to come back from the end of their world.  If only life were easy. It isn’t easy, but possible. If one is willing to fight for something better.

My publishing journey hasn’t been easy. In fact, it’s been a rough road getting this story out there. At first, I pitched my storyline to a literary agent in Ohio, at a writers’ conference. She took great interest in my story and asked to read more. It turned out she wasn’t intrigued with my boring genealogical story. So, with that disappointment, I had to rethink my approach in telling Robert’s story and rewrote most of my book from boring facts, into a literary biography.  

When I couldn’t find a publisher who saw the value in my story, I found a publishing company that did the work for me, instead of self-publishing. They helped me in so many ways to get my story published, they did what they said they would do for me. But even with their help, I struggled getting my book out front of the public, to say, it can be purchased online. So, I set out to do all I could to learn about sell my story using social media. By the beginning of 2021, I was making progress. I was approaching my release date in June, 2021.

However, the just months before my launch, I lost my only son RJ. He was 37 years old. My world and my mind were broken. I could longer focus on making my book sell. I stopped posting on my blog, and all other social media that I was using to build it up. And my launch party for my book never happened as planned. I couldn’t arrange any book signings because I lost my zeal and passion for everything. My book didn’t matter anymore. Robert’s story didn’t matter anymore. 

Not only that, but many other tragedies had occurred for myself and my family. A month after my son passed away, my mom had a stroke, from which she has recovered. Then my dad passed away on New Year’s Eve of 2022, while in rehab from a stroke, under covid restrictions, where no family was allowed. It was very emotionally difficult for all of us.

So now, I am trying to get back to life. I am trying to refocus on things that made me-me. It’s hard, but, if the Lord is willing, I will keep moving forward with my writing and my blog, telling more family stories, as well as my son and my father. It is my hope to join more followers and readers.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Currently, I am working as a merchandiser, with a home improvement company. It is my hope to spend more time blogging on my family genealogy. And write more literary biographies of interesting subjects. I would like to continue to share more of those stories at franceswhiteauthor.godaddysites.com  with my readers. And share fun facts on https://www.instagram.com/fran.white.author.genealogist/ and, if anyone is interested come join me on https://www.facebook.com/agenealogist.story where I share more detailed information about those who played an important role in the life of Robert L.V. Smith, from ‘Death by Vaudeville,’ people such; as boxer-Kid McCoy, actor and comedian-Alexander Carr and his wife, Helen Carr, 1920s Ziegfeld Folly Girl. And the great, Samuel S. Hahn, L.A. Attorney at Law, the real-life attorney of the movie “Changeling.” And the first woman attorney to pass the Bar in California and practice law, Clara Shortridge Foltz. And, of course, Rudolph E. Mack president and proprietors of the Golden State Vaudeville Company.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Yes, my daughter, Natasha Bouchillon, who inspires me to continue to be creative. My husband, Jerry, who let me work endlessly, in my free time. To my sister Cindy Lincoln and my friends, Mary Quehl, Sharon Miller, Deborah Sandow, all who helped me edit my manuscript before going to the publishers. To my ancestors, near and far, who without them, I wouldn’t be who I am. And, to my son, whose absence will always remind me to press on, knowing one day we will meet again. And that doing the right thing no matter how difficult, will one day benefit us.

And of course, Voyage Michigan Magazine for given me the time to share my book with others. Thank you. 

http://www.pagepublishing.com/books/?book=death-by-vaudeville

Pricing:

• 22.95 for the book

Contact Info:

• Email: franceswhite5437@gmail.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/agenealogist.story
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fran.white.author.genealogist/

Image Credits
Frances White