One aspect of American politics that has always intrigued me is the “interconnectedness,” so to speak, of the different demographics that dot the sociopolitical landscape of the United States.
For example, what REALLY drives a “pro-life / pro-family” candidate or cause? Is it genuinely the morals and values which they espouse that push him or her toward the higher office which they seek (or wish to hold on to)? Or is there more to the story? Too often, I’m afraid, the latter is more the case. And too often, the “more to the story” can be best understood as the drab green paper which we call “money.”
This, I suppose, is – or has been – the fundamental inspiration for my novel, “Painkiller,” which is the story of Will Earnest; a prominent American evangelical figure who becomes embroiled in scandal, falls from grace, and develops an addiction to painkiller medication following his demise. From here, we see Will’s struggle to regain not only the family he lost, but also the reckoning he seeks for those who had a hand in his ruination. Much of Will’s backstory involves the very “interconnectedness” – of the political sort – that I have spoken of here.
To be specific (and without betraying too much of the story here) Will is similar to many prominent evangelical politicos of our modern day in that there is more to him, at least initially, than meets the eye. He isn’t just the folksy, gland-handing family values guy from the church down the street; rather, he has very real and ambitious political aspirations which he will stop at nothing to achieve. And it is only after his scandal and subsequent downfall that we begin to see him rise from those ashes and build a life which he can be proud of and find dignity in.
I am proud of “Painkiller,” and not simply because it was a finalist in Words Matter Publishing’s Holiday Book contest in 2017. But more so, because it was the first book I wrote following my “political conversion,” if you will, from far-right conservative to a more right-of-center libertarian. “Painkiller” is anti-drug prohibition, to be sure, but is also very much a tale of renewal – of one’s self and one’s commitment to those they love most, especially in the wake of tragedy and betrayal.
With all of that said, do consider purchasing a copy of “Painkiller,” and Happy Reading!
