Zero follows a man that’s convinced by his devious wife to campaign for political office and embarks on a whirlwind tour of fundraising, cover-ups, and scams. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?

I was inspired by two plays written in an absurdist style (The Bald Soprano by Eugène Ionesco, Ubu Roi By Alfred Jarry). I was also inspired by numerous figures in American politics, particularly the devious, double-speaking opportunists who do/did not have the public interest at heart. My final inspiration was that famous Inspector Clouseau.

The characters in your story are interesting and well developed. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?

It seems to me politicians follow a formula when running for office. I tried to tap into, illuminate and satirize those formulas: Portraying the country in dire trouble, presenting themselves as a savior, the person who will rescue and heal the nation. Politicians usually present a long list of promises, most of which cannot be kept. They speak the language of “what people want to hear” rather than “here is the hard, complex truth.” I find many politicians lack honesty and the ability to think critically; instead, they sidestep issues, play the victim card, amp up the shortcomings of their opponent. Key factors in becoming elected are money, publicity and the ability to spin “information” to their benefit. They look for catch-phrases, digestible sound-bites, repeatable slogans

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

I suppose I have a cynical outlook when it comes to politics. I wanted to explore the circus atmosphere that surrounds a political campaign. I wished to undress the greed, deceit, self-serving interests and tactics of many political figures. That said, there are politicians that I truly admire, such as Barak Obama and Stacey Abrams.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

I am not working on another book at the moment. My book GOODS & EFFECTS was launched the same day as ZERO. Much of my time is now devoted to publicizing both books.

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