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My new mystery The Ex-President is about a rightwing, billionaire, reality-TV-star president who, at the beginning of the story, suddenly resigns. But the allure of power proves too strong, and so, to the world's surprise, he gathers his supporters on a luxury cruise to launch a comeback. This time his ambitious are even greater—and, to his opponents, more terrifying—than winning the presidency.

The name of the ex-president in my novel is Carlton Chomp. Similarities to any existing president are obvious and intentional. I believe mine is the first novel in world history to imagine our president's resignation—and what might come after.

The detective in my novel, a travel writer named Jacob Smalls, finagles a ticket on Chomp's comeback cruise, ostensibly to write a review but really to investigate the ex-president's secret purpose. Since most of the story follows Jacob's undercover investigation amid the ex-president's supporters, I decided, as I was planning the novel, that I should have something like the same experience.

This was in the fall of 2016. What I did was I sign up for a Trump rally.

At the time, lots of writers were doing similar research projects; for much of 2016, it seemed like every magazine, newspaper, and news site featured a weekly "Dispatch from a Trump Rally," spiced up with shocking soundbites from disaffected Trump fans. But my plan was not to cover the rally as a journalist. Instead, I was simply going to attend it with all the other Trump supporters. I would be undercover, just like Jacob, my detective.

The rally was in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. I arrived early (with my wife and another friend, also undercover) and stayed until the end. I talked to a number of Trumpian true believers but said nothing about my own politics and asked few political questions. I already knew what Trump fans believed in. What I didn't know, and wanted to experience, was how the energy of a rally would affect both the crowd and me. I wanted to feel the explosive thrill of being in the presence of so many true believers—and also the anxiety of being a spy among them.

The first thing I saw as I approached the massive line to enter the arena was a father waiting with his two adorable young children. He proudly wore a t-shirt that read "Hillary is a C***." (Spelled out on the shirt; rhymes with blunt.)

It was a sign of things to come. Soon afterward, I saw a woman in a Hillary costume with a fake iron collar around her neck and a "Lock Her Up" sign across her chest. Later, I watched people buy mass-produced, off-color signs featuring pictures of Monica Lewinsky. Somewhat less disturbingly, I listened to man psychoanalyze the Clinton family:"You know," he confided, "Chelsea has anxiety." Contrary to my expectations, I never heard a single racist remark from anyone in the virtually all-white crowd. But the hatred and disdain toward Hillary Clinton (and toward immigrants, Muslims, and liberals in general) was ever-present.

However, I also saw half a dozen people jump to help an elderly woman whose a wheelchair got stuck in a treacherous patch of gravel. And I watched countless people cheerfully share stories, drinks, and snacks with strangers. Everyone around me seemed hopeful, sometimes to the point of ecstasy, about the prospect of a new kind of political leader. Trump's bad poll numbers were easily dismissed. "You can't trust statistics!" someone declared. I found myself sympathizing with, and even admiring, the general spirit of hope and goodwill. Everyone here was delighted to be on the same team—everyone except me and my companions, and we kept that to ourselves.

At one point I asked where all the reporters were. One of my line-neighbors replied, scornfully, "They just get their stuff early and go.”

We finally made it into the arena. When, hours later, Trump himself hit the podium, his affect on the crowd was instant and overpowering. His speaking style, while at times awkward—at one point he read favorable new poll numbers out loud off his cell phone—was perfectly in tune with his audience. They had come to howl at America, and he knew how to maximize their outrage. When he denounced the media, everyone turned to the reporters in the back of the arena and gave them the finger. When he jeered at Hillary Clinton, the whole building shook to the chant of "Lock her up." What, I wondered, gave him that power over people's emotions, the power that so completely eluded Hillary Clinton and all his other opponents?

"Is there anything more fun than a Trump rally?" he asked. In response, the crowd went nuts.

When it was over, I tried to imagine the same scene taking place on the top deck of my imaginary cruise ship, but this time the supporters would be even more resentful, furious, and determined; the energy level higher; and the danger to the undercover spy real.

In my novel, just before Ex-President Chomp makes his climactic announcement, a murder takes place on the ship. The victim is a supporter of the ex-president; the suspects include the ship's crew, leftwing protesters who sneaked aboard, the ex-president's staff, and the ex-president himself. In the background looms the mystery of the ex-president's new ambitions, as well as that of his powerful personality. What makes him at once so detested and so beloved?

It's a mystery that applies just as well to the real world. And one my novel tries to answer.

Jeff Soloway is the author of the new book The Ex-President. 

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What can you tell us about your new release, My Sister's Daughter?

Susannah Carmichael, recently widowed, returns from Spain to the shocking news that her sister and brother-in-law have been murdered leaving their 15-year-old daughter, Diane, an orphan. Reeling from the shock she puts her own feelings aside to take care of her niece who is a relative stranger.

There are some heart-warming moments between Susannah and Diane as they reconnect. However, the nice moments are interspersed with many dark ones as the killer is hunted.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

I’ve always had an active imagination and I guess it was just a natural progression to eventually write my thoughts down. Also my husband encouraged me – he’s still my biggest fan.

What's on your top 5 list for the best books you've ever read?

1. Roses Have Thorns - Beverley Hughesdon
2. Pet Sematary - Stephen King
3. Lady Killers - Martina Cole
4. Outlander - Diana Gabaldon
5. Carrie - Stephen King

Say you're the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

I would have to say Stephen King – he’s my idol and I just want to know what makes him tick. I think he’s one warped individual. Haha.

What's your favorite thing about writing?

The thought of taking an idea and creating it into a physical book still thrills me so I guess my favorite thing would be receiving paperback copies.

What is a typical day like for you?

I have my 4-year-old grandson living with me at the moment which has caused me to change my regular routine – I wake at 6am and fall into bed around midnight. In between I deal with master 4 – drop him off and pick him up from kindy. I also fit in an hour of exercise in the morning. As I’m one of the founders of Junction Publishing I spend most of my day dealing with submissions, proofreading etc. My own writing takes a back seat and I often have to write in the evenings.

What scene in My Sister's Daughter was your favorite to write?

The creepiness of the secret room in Manchester – I can’t tell you what’s in there because it will spoil it for readers, but the thought of it still gives me the heebie jeebies.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

What will be will be – I believe this totally and never stress about anything beyond my control as things always have a way of sorting themselves out.

Netta Newbound is the author of the new book My Sister's Daughter. 

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What can you tell us about your new release, The CleanSweep Counterstrike?

Matt Tremain is back. Readers told me they liked my character, Matt Tremain, in The Cleansweep Conspiracy. They wanted more. In this sequel, Matt is once again facing his nemesis, Charles Claussen.  As if that wasn’t enough, an even more sinister evil lurks in the background, a shadowy group of conspirators. The clock is ticking for Claussen too. The Brotherhood of Eagles secretly financed his aborted Operation Cleansweep in the previous novel. Now they want answers . . . and their money back. Consumed with a need for vengeance, Claussen risks it all to destroy Matt as the Brotherhood team races to exact their own revenge. When Matt’s new fiance’s life is on the line, Matt goes “all in” to save her.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

I’ve had a life-long urge to write, to tell stories. But Henrietta Blake, teaching a class about writing short stories, transformed my being a writer into becoming an author. Brian Henry, Toronto editor, writer, and creative writing instructor nurtured the process. Many along the way have contributed to my becoming an author, but the real urge comes from a voice within that tells me to keep writing.

What's on your top 5 list for the best books you've ever read?

An impossible limit, but here goes.

Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury

The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck

The Spy Who Came in From the Cold,  by John le Carré

For Whom the Bell Tolls, by Ernest Hemingway

After the Fire, by Henning Mankell

Say you're the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

That’s an easy one. It would be, David Cornwell, better known by his pen name, John le Carré. He’s the undisputed author of espionage novels.

What's your favorite thing about writing?

Turning my imagination loose and telling a story, hopefully, a story someone will find interesting. Writing is a solitary experience but greatly influenced by family, friends, the news and all that’s happening in the world. Writing somehow channels my anxieties about all that goes on around me. If anything, I’m grateful for writing when that happens.

What is a typical day like for you?

I’m still waiting for a typical day, unsure what a typical day is for me. Coffee, newspaper and crossword puzzle in ink starts most days. My writing time depends on the stage of the novel; writing, editing or marketing. Spending time with family and fun is important. Walking, riding a bike, and exercise has a way of freeing my thinking. I quit counting the number of inspirational moments I’ve had while doing something completely unrelated to writing.  I have cured myself, however, of trying to write notes while driving.

What scene in The CleanSweep Counterstrike was your favorite to write?

The battle of Apalach. It was great fun using old men using their brains to outwit their youthful enemy. In our youth-oriented society, people tend to become invisible as they reach old age. This scene was my way of turning that cliche on its head.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

“Salud, pesetas y amor; y tiempo para gastarlas.” Health, wealth and love; and the time to enjoy. Nothing really matters without the joy.

Chuck Waldron is the author of the new book The CleanSweep Counterstrike 

Connect with Chuck:
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