Mailing address:

• Derek Franklin
  Simply Brilliant, Inc.
  4626 Donington Drive
  Bloomington, Indiana 47401

Email:

• info@derekfranklin.com

Phone:

• 812-345-3429 (business calls only. I am unable to provide free consultations for issues relating to your Flash projects)

Well, I'm sure you're not interested in my entire life story, which includes (all true) living in a nudist colony as a child, being kidnapped and taken to Germany when I was 7, meeting my first love at 16, and blah, blah, blah...

So here are the most important facts (that you'd probably be interested in) in a nutshell.

• I've been online since September of 1995. The Web fascinated me from day-one
• Prior to the Web, I owned a painting contracting business for several years. Good money, but It really wasn't what I was meant to do
• I learned everything I know about the Web, business, and marketing by turning off the TV at night, after work, and burying my head in books, magazines, etc. Nothing I know or have is the result of a college degree (although I did attend college - for ONE day, before dropping out in order to travel accross Europe), it's the result of an intense passion, something we all can afford. I'm pretty darn proud of that
• I put up my first Website in the Spring of 1998. The URL to the site was www.charismedia.com (I no longer own it). I was so proud of my hard work, but I look back now and laugh at its awfulness :)
• I got started writing books in 1998 (the same year I put up my first site). In my early years online (1996 - 1998), I had grown to have a passion for Macromedia Flash. In those days, info on how to use it was practically nill. I filled this need by creating a series of interactive tutorials that I posted on my site. Long-story-short, those tutorials led to me becoming a Macromedia Press author
• My main area of expertise since 1998 has been Macromedia Flash. I've written 5 books on it over the past several years. These books have sold nearly a quarter of a million copies worldwide, and have been published in close to two dozen languages
• Although I am considered a Flash expert, I have a passion for all types of technology, as well as marketing, creativity, developing, problem-solving and experimenting with totally crazy ideas
• I absolutely LOVE exploring new ways of doing things, many of which I hope to share with you in my blog
• I'm married to Kathy, and have been since Feb 21, 1993 (it is the 21st, isn't it?!?!?...)
• We live in Bloomington, Indiana - one of the best places in the country to live
• My hobbies include writing and playing music, reading, cooking, working on my home, and just plain ol' appreciating life and what it's all about
• Some people say that I'm a pretty funny guy, although, at times, some pretty stupid stuff comes out of my mouth
• I'm a reality TV junkie. The Amazing Race is probably my favorite. Don't call me on Tuesday evenings! ;o)
• Future plans focus mainly on blowing peoples' minds with some of the incredible products I plan on developing from my ever-growing idea notebook. Flash books were just the beginning...
• Simply Brilliant, Inc. is the legal name of my business. The name was totally inspired by the simple brilliance of my wife, Kathy.
• Finally, I leave with this parting thought: Provide quality in all you do, look for quality in everything around you, and accept nothing but quality from others