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Frank Zahn writes books for adult readers.

Frank Zahn left home at the age of sixteen to escape the poverty and ignorance that plagued his old neighborhood on the south side of Kansas City, Missouri. He finished high school while living with his older brother, served a hitch in the U. S. Navy, and graduated from college with a BA in economics (major) and philosophy (minor). Afterwards, he married, had two children, and attended graduate school where he earned a PhD in economics.

With an academic career behind him, he now devotes full time to reading, traveling, and writing. When asked if he enjoyed academic life, he said, "Yes, I did. Teaching and research were great experiences, and there was always time for honing my writing skills. I did other things as well. I took a leave of absence to set up and head an economic forecasting unit for a large government agency in Washington D. C., and I took several sabbaticals and leaves of absence to travel, lecture, and study abroad. I'm grateful for the whole experience, especially the travel because it broadened my understanding of the social, economic, and political problems cultural diversity presents."

An award winning lecturer, a Fulbright scholar, and a former consultant for the World Bank, Frank Zahn has traveled to Great Britain, most of Western Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, several countries in Central America, China, India, Japan, and much of West Africa. His four trips to lecture at universities in China are the most memorable, especially the trip to Beijing and Dongying during the 1989 massacre in Tiananmen Square. When traveling, he does not shy away from culture shock. Once he remarked, "Why travel abroad if all you’re going to do is stay at the Hilton, sightsee, and shop for souvenirs in the tourist areas?"

His publications include nonfiction books, articles, commentaries, book reviews, and essays; a short story; and lots of poetry. His poetry has appeared in numerous literary publications, and his first book of poetry, Alive with Thoughts and Feelings, was published in 2004. He wrote a economics primer, Supply, Demand, Markets, and the U. S. Economy, in 2007 for people with little or no formal background in business or economics, and it is available for all to read without charge by clicking on the title.

His debut novel, Foreigner: In the Shadow of the Square, was published in 2009. It is the fast moving story of John Matthews, an American who finds adventure and romance in China during the spring of 1989 when he helps a wounded leader of the demonstrators in Tiananmen Square escape from Beijing and ends up a fugitive from the Chinese military. Recently he completed a second novel, Single Again: Starting Over in the Selects. It is the compelling story of Marianne Kennedy, a woman who learns from bitter experience in Omaha, Nebraska's middle-aged singles world that she must redefine herself independent of a man’s attention and approval if she is to achieve the lasting sense of self-worth that has always eluded her.

More recently, he completed a third novel, Never Defeated: The Rineharts of 82nd Street; it is the powerful and heartwarming story of four spirited brothers who struggle to overcome not only the tragic events of their youth on the south side of Kansas City, Missouri, but the misfortunes they bring upon themselves when they act in ways that cost them their self-respect. His favorite subjects are economics, politics, and religion—all three of which provide constant intellectual stimulus and an endless list of topic and themes to think and write about. His favorite poets include Longfellow, Poe, Kipling, Gibran, and Frost. Among contemporary poets, he admires the works of Ted Kooser, Perie Longo, and Marvin Bell. His favorite writers of literary fiction are Zola, Dickens, Fitzgerald, Rand, Williams, and Capote. Favorite writers of commercial fiction include John Jakes, Greg Iles, David Baldacci, and the late Frank Slaughter.

The above is a bio from Zahn's website.

Frank Zahn writes books for adult readers. Frank Zahn left home at the age of sixteen to escape the poverty and ignorance that plagued his old neighborhood on the south side of Kansas City, Missouri. He finished high school while living with his older brother, served a hitch in the U. S. Navy, and graduated from college with a BA in economics (major) and philosophy (minor). Afterwards, he marr... More