Ohio Dem party leader writes political thriller
Voter fraud. Fracking. A contentious congressional election. It may sound like the 2016 Ohio election – or maybe the popular ABC show Scandal – but it’s actually The People’s House, a new novel written by Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper.
If you ask Pepper what it’s about, he’ll say gerrymandering. But that wonky topic doesn't do the book justice. Much like author John Grisham did for law firms, Pepper pulls back the curtain on how local political races really work. The result: A can't-put-it-down novel that's part thriller and part reason to pay attention to the election process -- no matter where you live.
Underfunded board of elections? Check.
Election night parties? Check.
Fundraising? Check.
Swing state politics? Check.
Along the way he throws in powerful senators, a Russian billionaire and a handful of killings to cover up a political plot.
"I wanted to tell a story that gives an insider view of politics," Pepper said. "Right now people are very energized by political intrigue; think House of Cards and Scandal, let alone the current election. The plot itself may be a wild ride, but it highlights real problems that pose risks to our democratic process."
The book is available for pre-sale here, and it will be officially released Aug, 15.
The book comes out just as Pepper and his delegates from the battleground state take center stage at the Democratic National Convention.
Pepper’s roots are in the local elections he writes about. At 30, he was elected a Cincinnati City Councilman, followed by four years as a country commissioner. He mounted two failed bids for state offices before taking the helm of Ohio Democratic Party in 2015. Those campaigns and his job means he has traveled the state non-stop for six years, giving him a close-up view of the many parts of Ohio he writes about in the book, from Lake Erie, to Eastern Ohio, to Toledo, to the Mahoning Valley.
So exactly when did Pepper, 45, have time to write a novel? In the evening after his 2-year-old son went to bed and during nap time, he said.
Pepper’s main character is world-weary Jack Sharp, a political reporter at The Youngstown Vindicator. (Full disclosure, this writer is from Youngstown and once worked at The Vindicator.)
“I’m a big believer in real investigative reporting and how important it can be in uncovering problems," Pepper said. "In the book, I show what a difference a true investigative reporter can make, even in these tough times that journalism is enduring."
Plus, Pepper said, a reporter makes for a great narrator.
He worked hard to make it non-partisan and thinks he succeeded.
Pepper is self publishing, the book through the Ohio-based Gatekeeper Press.
“It was important to get the book out this year, with politics so top of mind right now,” Pepper said. And then he puts his political hat back on: "I hope people like the story, but also walk away understanding the real need for districting and other election reforms. And 2018 and 2020 are the years where this issue will be most relevant again."