About Me
Don’t worry… I’m “only” a teeny-weeny bit strange.
Finding your special talents is like a marathon where you don't where the stopping point is located. And sometimes that stop is just a resting point before a new twist in the road. Life takes strange pathways and it's all about who you're following and the companions that come along the way. I thank God for being that ever-present guide even when the marathon becomes hard. I hope my readers enjoy the journey as we continue the marathon together.
Tom B. Free
The story of
Patrick T. Frye
I use the pen name Tom B. Free since my real name is associated with news reporting. I’m a father of five who’s always loved reading bedtime stories. I enjoy creating digital art and writing so it’s only natural to combine the two talents. I’ve been writing professionally since 2011 and in 2023 I decided to expand into creating children’s books.
I have several books published and Princess Zee is a series that can be read in any order. Get in touch if you’ve got any comments, questions, suggestions, or just want to say hello. I would love to hear from you.
- My favorite authors are Terry Brooks and J.R.R. Tolkien
- My grandmother taught me how to create art
- Most of my artwork is digital, but my kids love drawing
Storyline
- 1999
My first job was as a software engineer… at the age of 16! Yes, I’m a smarty-pants, although people tell me my head looks big normally, not due to ego.
- 2003
After entering college life, my first post-high school professional experience began with joining an indie video game developer. That’s where I learned the foundation for my digital art skills that still serve me to this day. During that time, I began working on a sci-fi novel series, but that work remains unfinished to this day. Maybe I’ll get back to publishing it now…?
- 2005
I’ve always been an entrepreneur. During this time period, I was mostly focused on the video game development but I also launched several business ventures involving web design, on-site computer repair, eCommerce/webzine, and Green technologies. The latter was probably the most interesting since I created the design for a stackable aquaponics system (hydroponics vegetable gardening combined with fish farming).
- 2008
Graduated Cum Laude, B.Sc. Information Engineering Technology
Yes, I was so busy that it took me 8 years to complete a 4-year degree program. The funny thing is that my degree has never landed me a job. Maybe I should get a PhD just so I can be Dr. Free?
- 2011
At the behest of a friend, I joined a small news website with only 12 employees including myself. We grew this website into one of the Top 50 news sites in the world. At its peak there were hundreds of employees and I trained many of them on how to implement modern technology into journalism.
- 2014
While covering the 2014 Ukraine Crisis, I created for a news story my most well-known work of art: the “Putin riding a nuclear missile” meme. I like to think that ol’ Vlad has seen it and has my name written down somewhere in his little black book.
- 2018
Hard news and politics wears on your soul. I eventually left the big news company and joined a small entertainment-only news site. Starting off as a writer, I eventually became a managing editor.
- Today
The trumpets sounded, the heavens opened up and handed down a proclamation for my next mission! Not really, but I knew it was time for something new. In early 2023, I started work on a quirky little book about dinosaurs trying to find jobs and ending up in ill-fitting positions that were odd if not funny. Pretty much my job history in a nutshell before becoming a writer. But the spark had been lit, Gondor called for aid, and I decided it was time to make the jump to a new career.
Translators
Spanish Translator
Natalia Sepúlveda is a best-selling children’s book author and a Spanish translator and editor. She holds a master’s degree in Spanish from the University of Central Florida in Orlando.
Natalia is originally from San Germán, Puerto Rico, and currently lives on the Florida Space Coast with her husband Joseph, and her 3 children. She enjoys traveling, spending time with family, and serving the Lord.
She owns Bilingual Lifestyle Publishing and teaches Spanish in her Bilingual Playgroup at the library. She has translated and edited over 450 children’s books and educational resources.
She also runs a Bilingual Lifestyle blog, sharing her bilingual family adventures, book reviews, and educational resources.
Website: BilingualLifestyle.com
E-mail: bilinguallifestyle@gmail.com
IG: @bilingual_lifestyle FB: @bilinguallifestyle
French & German Translator
Nathalie Schon is specialized in Francophone literatures and cultures (French overseas territories: Martinique, Guadeloupe, Reunion) and anglophone literatures and cultures of the USA and Hawai’i. She was a visiting lecturer at the University of Virginia (USA) and the Université des Antilles-Guyane (Martinique) and a lecturer at the University of Manchester (UK). In 2003, Karthala publishes her first book: “l’Auto-exotisme dans les littératures des Antilles françaises” She is currently writing a book on the literatures and cultures of Hawaii in a comparative perspective. Nathalie Schon is also a professional subtitler and translator. She works for international film festivals, television channels (Arte, Travel Channel) and film production companies (StudioCanal, Kinowelt).
Website: Office Magenta Amazon Author Page Link E-mail: natjaschon@gmail.com