What inspired you to write America’s Candidate?
I'm an attorney and have been fortunate to have had a very successful and engaging career as both a Major in the US Army JAG Corp and as a Supervising Deputy Attorney General. I've had a great deal of experience in world affairs and in criminal justice. After my retirement, I wanted to write a novel that would allow me to explore and incorporate the wisdom and observations I've amassed over the years through my work. I enjoy being creative and so I wanted to apply my expertise to my creative side. So, that's why I developed this project of a fictional suspense thriller that I knew people would find very unique and thought provoking.
Can you tell us about the moral complexities of the characters in your book? How do they reflect real-world politics?
It is difficult to talk about the moral complexities without giving away too much of the mysterious storyline, but I can tell you many of the characters within my book face very challenging decisions throughout the novel. They wrestle many divergent decisions. You can follow their fascinating thought process and I think people come away from the book re-thinking their own lives, decisions and sense of right and wrong. The book, through its character development, essentially challenges readers to come to terms with their own personal political idealism and sense of what exactly is best for the country. Readers will be surprised and challenged by what occurs within the book and its potential to actually happen in real life. At the end of the novel, I have included a host of very thought provoking book club questions that I think readers will love to ask themselves or to share and discuss with others.
As a former attorney and Major in the U.S. Army, how have your professional experiences influenced the writing of this political thriller?
In the Army , I was a Major in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corp and handled numerous criminal Court Martial cases as a defense attorney. So essentially, I defended the soldiers and officers who serve our nation and were charged with various crimes. When I subsequently became a Deputy Attorney General, I prosecuted very serious cases against civilians. I think having the perspective of arguing from both sides really helped give me a complete understanding and view that helped me realize that viewing things from just one side, doesn't always give you the full picture. I think by the end of the novel, readers will understand that what you think you know, is not necessarily the full story. Also, some of the criminal aspects of my novel were partially developed from real world cases that I have handled throughout the course of my career.
What do you think makes America’s Candidate stand out in the political thriller genre?
I can honestly say that I don't think a novel like this has ever been written. It is unique in capturing so much of what is really happening in today's society along with a fictional story that makes readers contemplate the future of politics in this country as well as question their own ideas of reality and morality.
How do you balance the suspense and thrill of a murder mystery with the political themes in your book?
It was an interesting challenge to me because I did not in any way want to give away my own personal ideas of right and wrong when it comes to politics. I wanted readers to think for themselves and come to their own conclusions about the characters and their motivations. I had to remain very neutral while ensuring that readers could delve into the issues surrounding politics and morality. The murder mystery aspect of the book was the most difficult part because even though it is only fiction, I got so in the mind of one of the characters that I experienced remorse for the murdered person. It was so fascinating for me as a writer to take on the challenge of a murder.
What challenges did you face when writing a story with such significant real-world implications?
One of the challenges is something I cover in my book club questions for readers. Without giving too much away about the plot the ultimate challenge is sort of a "be careful what you wish for" situation. Are we all certain that what we think would be the best path for our country, really would be for the best? What are the motivations of the people who are influencing us to believe in our own stances on the political front? There's so many thought provoking and challenging ideas that come through this book that have absolute real world implications.v
The idea behind your book, “America's Candidate,” could potentially change the history of politics and television. Can you explain how you envision this playing out in the future?
I think if a tv show like "America's Candidate" does subsequently get produced by a major network based on my idea, it would literally change history. You see that playing out, for better or worse, within the plot of my storyline but readers can see the real-world implications. We are not far off at all from my novel becoming a reality. It is only a matter of time and we need to be prepared. We also all need to question whether we want these political changes and what impact they will have on society as a whole.
In your opinion, what is the most important political issue that America’s Candidate addresses?
I think the most important aspect of America's Candidate is the idea of how we choose the leaders or our nation and who gets to run for those extremely influential and important positions. The current system has its own problems but could we make things worse by changing the system without thinking through what impact the changes will have. Adding a forum for new people to have the opportunity to lead also brings about new challenges and dilemmas.
Can you describe the moment you decided to write a novel, and what was your journey like in transitioning from law to fiction writing?
The transition from being a criminal prosecutor to writing a fictional suspense story with political implications was one of the most fun and enthralling endeavors I have ever done. It was an absolute thrill to write this novel. I felt every emotion possible as I entered the mind of each character. I decided to write this novel as my New Year's resolution last year. I started writing the novel in January and I became so obsessed (in a good way) and so compelled by the story that I finished the entire novel and published it on Amazon within 4 months.
Who do you see as your target audience for America’s Candidate, and what message do you hope they take away from it?
My target audience extends to anyone who likes books that are suspenseful and thought provoking. You can't come away from reading this novel without saying Wow, I never thought of this before. I think it would appeal not only to people who love a good fiction murder mystery but even to people who normally prefer non-fiction. I say this because you have to consider real world politics and implications during the course of this book. I also just wanted to write a fun, twisty, slow-burn suspense novel and I think that will appeal to many readers.
How did your time in the military and working as a prosecutor shape your approach to writing suspenseful narratives?
In the military, in addition to criminal defense, I was also a Civil Affairs officer. I deployed to war torn countries, offered humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and was a liaison between the military and civil authorities. I had the unique opportunity during my deployments to see the state of affairs in countries that have completely different political machines and processes in place than we do here in the US. So I was able to study things that worked, did not work, problems and solutions. All of these experiences helped me creatively write my novel. The same can be said of my experience as a Deputy Attorney General, I was able to take aspects of cases I prosecuted and use them in my writing.
What do you believe is the most important takeaway for readers of America’s Candidate?
The most important takeaway from my novel is for readers to be sure not to blindly accept what they see as reality. It is important to question your beliefs and perceptions. I hope once readers finish the book they will develop their own well thought out and realistic ideas of what needs to be done to either make the world a better place or at the very least, ensure it doesn't get worse.
Are there any particular authors or works that inspired your writing style or themes in this book?
No one in particular. I just wanted to write using my own sense of style.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers looking to incorporate real-world issues into their fiction?
I think it is easiest to write about what you have lived and experienced. You have developed insights and opinions from that which you have actually gone through and observed. If you can express that within your writing, then you have something very valuable to offer others. No one else can see things from your perspective so if you share your experience, it will be fascinating to other people. Write what you have lived and learned and write from the heart!!!
How has being part of AllAuthor benefited your journey as an author?
It has been a wonderful experience. AllAuthor has developed beautiful Mockup banners that incorporate the way that I want readers to see my work. I love that these banners are sent to the public on various social media platforms. It really helps readers to get to know me and engage with my book.
