When I came up with the idea for Exodus, it wasn’t even an election year.  I didn’t want to write a “fiction-mimicking-life type of story.  I planned to write a Romantic Suspense which had aspects of domestic terrorism.

As each chapter rolled out, my writing forum members would ask if I was getting inspiration from the current political cycle.  That would be a ‘negative’.  My original premise came from my time in the Army Reserve in the 80’s.  An individual or group had tried to gain access to the reserve center to obtain military equipment.  They weren’t successful, thank goodness.

“Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t.    ~ Mark Twain

This led me to research domestic terrorism.  I found some mind-blowing statistics about the rapid increase in extremist groups and domestic terrorism over the last two decades. I had no idea.

Violence in the name of political beliefs isn’t a new idea.  Think Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton’s duel, assassinations or attempts on political figures, and the bombing of the Federal building in Oklahoma in the 90’s, you will find a small sampling of my thought process.

I write fiction.  I create plausible and implausible worlds where I decide the outcome.  I do think the adage “truth is stranger than fiction” is true.  This is a crazy world with unpredictable people, and I’m happy the world isn’t comprised of cookie-cutter people.  How dull would the paintings, music, film and books be without the diverse creative citizens of our world.

I can only say,  I hope and pray this political season doesn’t reflect my book.  If so, we are in for a helluva ride!!

** I’m offering a discount coupon code SE34Q  , so you can buy the recently published Exodus on Smashwords for only 99 cents!   Follow this link for my book page —  Smashwords   Offer good through 10/7/16.