Whether novelists admit it or not, they need a reason to write and create the characters they do. I created Frank Martin out of my own experiences, not to mention frustrations, after a lifetime in the ministry. I've heard enough tragic stories from pastors to give Frank lots of reasons to complain. Whether he is successful enough to provide opportunities for further complaint remains to be seen. I'd like to explore and expand his personality. But at the same time, Frank is not me. My wife hasn't died (We've been married nearly fifty years), and I am still a pastor - happily. Frank is a mishmash of many pastors and life experiences. He is also a combination of many law enforcement cases. I did borrow from my fourteen plus years in law enforcement.
Frank's son, Tony, is also not our son. We borrowed from life experience again, but Tony is not like anyone in our family. I hope to bring Tony and Ariel back in later novels, if we get that far.
Why Frank? I think frustrated, worn-out pastors need a hero they can identify with. They also need to see in Frank that a difficult ministry need not end their service for the Lord. The end of a ministry is not the end of the world. The truth is that pastors are easily broken. That's not a bad thing if we remember David's words -- God will not despise a broken and contrite spirit. More to the point - and this is the overriding theme in Frank Martin - God can use a broken vessel.
Hopefully, Frank Martin will be an encouragement to readers, especially as they watch him overcome various obstacles, including himself, and solve a variety of cases. I hope the realism and power of Frank's message comes through.