@frankejames
Author of "FREEING TERESA: A TRUE STORY ABOUT MY SISTER AND ME"
Audiobook Review of Freeing Teresa: "performed by a stellar cast"
Audiobook Review of Freeing Teresa: "performed by a stellar cast"
The audiobook Freeing Teresa tells the powerful true story of Teresa Heartchild, a disabled woman whose freedom is threatened when her siblings plan to send her to a nursing home. Her sister, Franke James, an idealistic activist, refuses to accept this injustice and courageously fights to protect Teresa’s autonomy. This story, brought to life by
Freeing Teresa wins BIG at the NYC Big Book Awards!
Freeing Teresa wins BIG at the NYC Big Book Awards!
LinkedIn: Winning 3 Golds at the IPA and the NYC Big Book awards
LinkedIn: Winning 3 Golds at the IPA and the NYC Big Book awards
Thank you to Ted and Gabby Olczak for making this wonderful gala event, honouring books and their creators, happen! It was great to meet so many impassioned authors at the NYC Big Book Award and the Independent Press Award show. We were thrilled to accept gold awards for 'Freeing Teresa' (two for the audiobook and one for Social Change). I was very proud to see how excited my sister was: Teresa, in a wheelchair, rolled in front of the stage and pumped her arms overhead. The crowd roared and applauded. We also have the 13 talented voice actors (shoutout to Rob Cottingham for playing my brother so convincingly) to thank for bringing our true story to life and snagging the golds for the audiobook.
Franke James Activist: Fighting for Truth, her Family & the Canadian Government EP58
Franke James Activist: Fighting for Truth, her Family & the Canadian Government EP58
Someone You Should Know with Host Stuart Sax and Guest Franke James
Someone You Should Know with Host Stuart Sax and Guest Franke James
Literary Titan 5-star review: "Yet, amidst the darkness, the love between Franke and Teresa shines brightly."
Literary Titan 5-star review: "Yet, amidst the darkness, the love between Franke and Teresa shines brightly."
"An incredibly moving story that touched me deeply" ~ G. W., 5-star review of Freeing Teresa, Goodreads
"An incredibly moving story that touched me deeply" ~ G. W., 5-star review of Freeing Teresa, Goodreads
5/5: "Freeing Teresa: A True Story about My Sister and Me" by Franke James is an incredibly moving story that touched me deeply. As someone who has seen the emotional toll of caring for family members with disabilities, this book resonated with me on a personal level. It’s a heartfelt narrative about Franke’s tireless fight to protect her sister, Teresa, who has Down Syndrome, from being placed in a nursing home. The raw emotions Franke experiences while navigating complex family dynamics and an often uncaring system brought tears to my eyes more than once. Franke’s tenacity in standing up to h...
Franke James: Featured NAMW Member in October 2024 - National Association Memoir Writers
Franke James: Featured NAMW Member in October 2024 - National Association Memoir Writers
Meet the 13 Actors Narrating the Freeing Teresa Audiobook
Meet the 13 Actors Narrating the Freeing Teresa Audiobook
Listen to the moving story of Freeing Teresa through the dynamic performances of a full cast of thirteen voice actors.
Watch the Freeing Teresa Book Trailer: You’re Not Afraid
Watch the Freeing Teresa Book Trailer: You’re Not Afraid
Review by Komal: 5/5 "powerful story of love and resilience"
Review by Komal: 5/5 "powerful story of love and resilience"
Redraw Your Path: Inspiring Transformation Through Dreaming Big
Redraw Your Path: Inspiring Transformation Through Dreaming Big
Listen to the Freeing Teresa Audiobook starring Jackie Blackmore, LaurenPotter and a full cast!
Listen to the Freeing Teresa Audiobook starring Jackie Blackmore, LaurenPotter and a full cast!
Review by Mo Readss: "must-listen audiobook that combines personal narrative with social commentary"
Review by Mo Readss: "must-listen audiobook that combines personal narrative with social commentary"
“Freeing Teresa” takes flight at Brockville AGM!
“Freeing Teresa” takes flight at Brockville AGM!
Experience the uplifting story of Freeing Teresa. Join us as we share Teresa's fight for inclusion and her victories.
Winner of 4 Firebird Book Awards plus the Judges' Pick!
Winner of 4 Firebird Book Awards plus the Judges' Pick!
Human Relations Indie Book Awards 2024: Winner of two Gold Awards and two Silver Awards
Human Relations Indie Book Awards 2024: Winner of two Gold Awards and two Silver Awards
Disability Justice Memoirs by Alice Wong, Franke James, Rebekah Taussig, Marguerite Elisofon, Haben Girma, and Jennifer Natalya Fink
Disability Justice Memoirs by Alice Wong, Franke James, Rebekah Taussig, Marguerite Elisofon, Haben Girma, and Jennifer Natalya Fink
BookTrib Review: A Sister’s Rescue Mission for Disability Justice
BookTrib Review: A Sister’s Rescue Mission for Disability Justice
“It’s My Decision” | Community Living Ontario Webinar: Protecting the Rights of People with Intellectual Disabilities
“It’s My Decision” | Community Living Ontario Webinar: Protecting the Rights of People with Intellectual Disabilities
Join the Community Living Ontario Webinar: "Protecting Rights and Increasing Control" for people with intellectual disabilities.
BookTrib: Author & Activist Brings New Awareness to the Injustice of Forced Institutionalization
BookTrib: Author & Activist Brings New Awareness to the Injustice of Forced Institutionalization
“Forced care is happening to people with disabilities around the world. Most people don’t escape. And the world shrugs.” Should everyone have the right to choose where they live? The answer seems obvious — of course, choosing where you live is a basic human right. But for Teresa Heartchild, an artist, self-advocate and author who
“Demand and Disrupt: I Am Alive” (Excerpt of podcast)
“Demand and Disrupt: I Am Alive” (Excerpt of podcast)
Franke James' inspiring true story of Freeing Teresa. Explore how demanding equal rights and disrupting norms can lead to a fairer society.
Midwest Book Review: "The result is more than a memoir: it’s a testimony to how ‘tickets to freedom’ are gained through fighting and love"
Midwest Book Review: "The result is more than a memoir: it’s a testimony to how ‘tickets to freedom’ are gained through fighting and love"
Toronto Star/Op-Ed: My sister was sent to a nursing home against her will. We fought and won, but thousands of others aren’t so lucky
Toronto Star/Op-Ed: My sister was sent to a nursing home against her will. We fought and won, but thousands of others aren’t so lucky
Teresa: #AssumeThatICan
Teresa: #AssumeThatICan
Demand and Disrupt Podcast: Lisa McKinley interviews Franke James. And, Teresa Heartchild reads her poem "I Am Alive."
Demand and Disrupt Podcast: Lisa McKinley interviews Franke James. And, Teresa Heartchild reads her poem "I Am Alive."
Teresa Heartchild's Art for World Down Syndrome Day
Teresa Heartchild's Art for World Down Syndrome Day
A Sister's Riveting Call to Action on Siblings Canada
A Sister's Riveting Call to Action on Siblings Canada
KFAI | Disability and Progress: Sam Jasmine interviews Franke James about "Freeing Teresa" and advocating for #disabilityrights.
KFAI | Disability and Progress: Sam Jasmine interviews Franke James about "Freeing Teresa" and advocating for #disabilityrights.
Limitless Reader Review: “Franke’s commitment to Teresa’s autonomy and dignity is unwavering, thus setting the stage for a riveting battle.”
Limitless Reader Review: “Franke’s commitment to Teresa’s autonomy and dignity is unwavering, thus setting the stage for a riveting battle.”
Soul Healing Sisters: Sole therapy that’s good for the soul
Soul Healing Sisters: Sole therapy that’s good for the soul
Story: Teresa Goes to the Dentist
Story: Teresa Goes to the Dentist
The Kamloops SelfAdvocate interviews Franke James
The Kamloops SelfAdvocate interviews Franke James
Play Video
Teresa Reacts to her Story in Community Living Magazine
Community Living Magazine features Teresa and Freeing Teresa
Community Living Magazine features Teresa and Freeing Teresa
DDA's STAR magazine features Freeing Teresa podcast
DDA's STAR magazine features Freeing Teresa podcast
Inclusion BC Blog: Teresa Heartchild - Art, Family, and Freedom
Inclusion BC Blog: Teresa Heartchild - Art, Family, and Freedom
WHERE TO BUY & LAUNCH DAY!
Amazon: Buy the book: FREEING TERESA
Book Launch – Freeing Teresa – October 24, 2023 at Spectrum Society
Book Launch – Freeing Teresa – October 24, 2023 at Spectrum Society
WEBSITES
Freeing Teresa: A True Story about My Sister and Me
Freeing Teresa: A True Story about My Sister and Me
Website: Franke James : Art and Activism
Website: Franke James : Art and Activism
Website: Teresa Heartchild: Artist, Author, Self-advocate
Website: Teresa Heartchild: Artist, Author, Self-advocate
AWARDS
Firebird Book Award Winner, Judges' Pick: Freeing Teresa
Firebird Book Award Winner, Judges' Pick: Freeing Teresa
Human Relations Indie Book Awards 2024: Winner of two Gold Awards and two Silver Awards
Human Relations Indie Book Awards 2024: Winner of two Gold Awards and two Silver Awards
The PEN Canada/Ken Filkow Prize
The PEN Canada/Ken Filkow Prize
BC Civil Liberties Winner of Liberty Award
BC Civil Liberties Winner of Liberty Award
IPPY Gold Winner (Can–East – Non-Fiction)
IPPY Gold Winner (Can–East – Non-Fiction)
Foreword INDIES Winner, Silver, Ecology & Environment
Foreword INDIES Winner, Silver, Ecology & Environment
FRANKE JAMES' EARLIER BOOKS
“There is apparently one woman whom the government can’t shut up” ~The Guardian
“There is apparently one woman whom the government can’t shut up” ~The Guardian
"Recommended for team-building meetings... and pleasure reading.” ~ ForeWord Review
"Recommended for team-building meetings... and pleasure reading.” ~ ForeWord Review
“Artist Franke James delivers a fun read on climate change” ~ Montreal Gazette
“Artist Franke James delivers a fun read on climate change” ~ Montreal Gazette
FRANKE JAMES ON SOCIAL MEDIA
LinkedIn: Franke James
LinkedIn: Franke James
Instagram: Franke James
Instagram: Franke James
Mastodon: Franke James
Mastodon: Franke James