Franke James never envisioned herself as a writer. With an MFA and a passion for fine art, her path seemed clear: to express herself through visual mediums. However, a growing unease about the world's apathy towards climate change shifted her focus, leading to an unexpected literary journey.

James was deeply concerned about climate change, and “in 2006, I was writing long, well-researched articles," James recalls, but “I was getting zero response." Frustration mounted, until a breakthrough moment in January 2007. Her first illustrated essay, "A Green Winter: Will Global Warming Be Good for Canada?", a true story about climate change, resonated powerfully. Suddenly, the silence was broken.

"The response was instantaneous," she says. "An outpouring of comments, magazine articles, a request to publish the essay in an anthology, and even an invitation to turn it into an animated film." This unexpected success ignited a new creative fire. James began crafting more true stories about personal activism, tackling issues like giving up her SUV in "My SUV and Me Say Goodbye" and battling city hall for a green driveway in "Paradise Unpaved."

Posting her essays online attracted the attention of New Society Press, which published her collection, "Bothered By My Green Conscience," in 2009. This marked the official transition from artist to author. Since then, James has penned three more books, culminating in her latest triumph, "Freeing Teresa: A True Story about My Sister and Me."

This deeply personal narrative, chronicling her fight to rescue her youngest sister from a nursing home, has garnered significant acclaim, winning the 2025 Independent Press Award in Audiobooks as well as the NYC Big Book Award for Social/Political Change and the Audiobook Nonfiction categories. The audiobook, brought to life by a talented cast including Jackie Blackmore, Lauren Potter, and Dayleigh Nelson, further amplifies the story's emotional impact.

James attributes her drive to activism and caregiving to the profound influence of her late father, a lawyer who exemplified unwavering dedication to justice and family. "He greatly influenced me and inspired me to become an activist for justice and a caregiver," she explains. His unwavering support, particularly when caring for her mother after a stroke, taught her the power of perseverance and compassion.

"He fought the doctors, who advised that he pull the plug. Instead, he brought my mother home and cared for her," she recounts. "They celebrated every small achievement as a victory! He refused to put her in a nursing home and cared for her every day for the next sixteen years until her death at home."

Another powerful inspiration is the late Terry Fox, the one-legged athlete who ran across Canada to raise funds for cancer research. "He was the one-legged athlete who ran a marathon a day halfway across Canada in 1980—until cancer struck again," James says. Fox's legacy of determination and altruism continues to resonate, inspiring her sister Teresa and countless others.

"Every one of us is important. Just look at what one person can do," James quotes Fox, a sentiment that echoes throughout her own journey. From a concerned artist to an award-winning author, Franke James proves that a single voice, fueled by passion and conviction, can indeed make a difference. Her story is a testament to the transformative power of storytelling and the enduring impact of personal activism.