Chicago-style politics is front and center. When a sitting president has his roots in this sullied political heritage, it makes for news and leads to speculation. NOT BLACK AND WHITE is a fictional account of many of the events that led to the meteoric rise of a local charismatic street politician to become America's first African-American President, and the downfall and imprisonment of two consecutive governors of the State of Illinois, along with several of their most trusted advisors and cohorts. This story puts the reader inside the campaign offices and smoke-filled back rooms where political deals are made. It depicts the rise and fall of a Syrian immigrant who made millions by pretending he had billions, while charming his way into the highest halls of wealth and power. The perspective of a local attorney/businessman who found himself in a front row seat to politics-as-usual in The City That Works is reflected throughout the story. The cast of characters may appear familiar to anyone who ever read a headline or watched cable news and talk shows across the country. In 1994, a freak traffic accident occurred, killing a family of six young children when their van burst into flames after being struck by a semi-trailer truck driven by a man unqualified to drive such a vehicle. The truck driver, a victim himself, had bribed an employee of the Illinois secretary of state's office in order to procure his commercial driver's license. The tragic accident and resulting exposé of corruption and scandal that followed changed forever the course of American History. Inspired by true events, NOT BLACK AND WHITE leaves it to the reader to interpret fact from fiction.
Reader Review:
Q&A with author G. A. Beller:
Q. After 35 years in the investment business,
what has driven you to become a debut author?
Throughout my career in the investment business, I
advanced my knowledge of financial markets and the global political decisions
which drive their directions and trends. I was determined to understand
politics on not only the local level, but on the national and global levels as
well. The more I read, the more I formed strong opinions, and those strong
opinions fueled my desire to write. This passion to write had been on the back
burner until I was able to devote the time to make becoming a serious writer my
priority. Now that time has finally come, and I intend to become a relevant
writer as my new primary career.
Q. So much of the material in NOT BLACK AND WHITE is ripped
from the headlines and features actual events with real people. Why did you
choose to publish this book as fiction?
I don't believe the articles in newspapers or online
are necessarily accurate. Additionally, many publications have their own
agendas, and therefore the information in the articles may be biased. Though I
primarily used these previous writings to formulate the basis for the story of Not
Black And White, I was unwilling to accept the information as accurate
or factual. I don't think anyone is capable of telling this story as
non-fiction. As an aspiring writer, when I started this book I wanted to create
excitement and entertainment, which required a great deal of speculation. My
creative juices took over, and I chose to fictionalize the characters and
events with my goal to provide the reader with an entertaining novel. I also
wanted to challenge the reader to use their imagination to determine fact from
fiction.
Q. How much of the
action (and characters) in NOT BLACK AND WHITE is true and how much has been
fictionalized?
Since the story is loosely based upon the true
characters and events, and I question many of the facts as previously written,
I am speculating on how the stories played out. I cannot say with certainty,
nor am I willing to share my opinion, as to what events actually happened as
written.
Q. In order to write this book, you must have had access to
a wealth of inside knowledge and background information that the average “Joe,”
outside the halls of power, would not be privy to. What can you tell us about
your sources?
As I stated in the Author's Notes, my resources for
this book were the many articles written about this time in history. The story
is totally speculation enhanced by my curiosity and imagination and applied to
prior written accounts of characters and events.
Q. Many folks will
compare your book to Joe Klein's PRIMARY COLORS. How are the two books
similar/different? Would you compare your novel to any other political
thrillers?
Joe Klein's Primary
Colors was, in my opinion, a very entertaining book. Mr. Klein used the
fictionalized accounting of characters and events to write his novel. Obviously,
that strategy was the same for Not Black And White, and the subject
content of both books is politics during a specific time in history. The
similarity ends with that strategy for telling the story. I cannot think of
another novel or political thriller that would compare to either book.
Q. You have stated publicly that you voted for Obama in the
2008 election. How has your view of President Obama changed since researching
and writing NOT BLACK AND WHITE?
I did vote for President Obama in 2008. I did my best
to avoid any personal perspective relating to my political views. My writing of
Not
Black And White did not influence my personal opinion of Obama. My
views of Obama have, however, been formulated based upon the actions and
policies of the President and his administration during the past six years.
Q. Do you associate with a particular political party? How
has your affiliation changed over time, and, in particular, after writing this
book?
My political affiliation was not affected by the
writing of this book. I strongly believe that both major parties are too
extreme. I do not affiliate with either party, and would like to see a truly
credible candidate represent an independent third party. The independent vote
is critical for either party to win a presidential election. Additionally, it
appears that the size of that vote is growing, as more voters are becoming
dissatisfied with the major party base and their political platforms. Hopefully,
someday the political process will offer an electable third party candidate to
represent the independent voters.
Q. What does the phrase "Chicago-style politics"
mean to you? What makes Chicago unique
in the realm of politics and power?
Chicago is one of the most difficult cities to govern
for a number of reasons. It might be the most diverse city in the country, as
it became a melting pot for immigrants of all nationalities. Settlers from
around the globe have established neighborhoods. The city became a major center
for trade, creating labor and cultural challenges since the 19th century. To
this day, labor unions dominate the political landscape. Additionally,
organized crime has been associated with Chicago for as long as I can remember.
Although Chicago doesn't stand alone in the challenges
of crime and corruption in politics, its mayors have been challenged to make it
“The City that Works." The political machines in Chicago and Illinois have
been at the center of media coverage for over a century. "Chicago-style
politics" has earned its reputation by those in power playing by their own
rules, which in many cases has landed numerous political figures in front of
the cameras on their way to prison. Not Black And White depicts a prime
example of just such an era in Chicago-style politics.
Q. What would have to happen for our political system to
change and corruption to
lessen?
Obviously, power corrupts. In many cases, the
temptation to participate is overwhelming, even for a politician who starts out
with good intentions. My suggestions would not totally solve the problem of
ill-intentioned power seekers, but they would not be influenced by the need to
raise campaign funds from these special interest groups. First of all, I would
overhaul the rules governing the funding of political campaigns at all levels.
As idealistic as this sounds, I would eliminate all lobbyists. I would rewrite
campaign finance law so that no one may contribute to any candidate. Political
candidates would receive a fixed amount of taxpayer dollars, with every
qualifying candidate receiving the same allotment. Debates would be sponsored
by TV stations and paid for by the taxpayer. A specific program would be
defined and apply to each election. If lobbying and campaign funding by
individuals and special interest groups were altered, as I am suggesting, the
cost to the taxpayers would be a small fraction of the cost which ripples
through the economy when the special interest groups pass along the cost of
their agendas to the consumers. A prime example is Big Pharma and the
healthcare lobby. My suggested program would clearly mitigate the corruption to
the great benefit of the citizens of the United States at every level.
Q. What projects
are on tap for G. A. Beller?
I am co-authoring a second novel, which is about a
childless couple that sponsors a young girl from India through a national
children's fund. It's based upon a true story, taking readers on a miracle ride
spanning a thirty-five year period. The reader will experience the changes to
the lives of the main characters and hundreds of thousands of others. This
novel will be the first in the Defining Karma™ book series, and will be an
ongoing program for G. Anton Publishing. (www.definingkarma.com)
Q. You have travelled extensively, but have chosen to live in Chicago for over
twenty-five years. What attracts you to
select Chicago as your home?
I have spent extended periods of time in many cities
around the country. There are a number
of reasons I choose to make Chicago my home.
For anyone who has visited Chicago, and particularly in the spring,
summer and fall, I don’t have to explain the attraction of the city. The city life offers an affordable lifestyle
in a beautiful, clean urban environment.
The arts, entertainment and dining options are extensive. The city is known as “The City that Works,"
and I find this to be true. The
transportation options throughout the metropolitan Chicago area, as well as its
proximity to two major airports, makes Chicago's accessibility to world travel
second to none, in my opinion.
Additionally, I find the Midwestern attitude and mentality, as evidenced
by the friends I’ve made, better than anywhere else in the country. I love visiting New York and California, but
for a home base, I choose Chicago.
Q. You call
yourself a political junkie, and you are obviously well read, tell us what you read regularly, and add to that
books you find to be among your favorites.
I subscribe to about thirty publications a month. I consider myself a serial reader of
newsletters, both political and financial.
I regularly read the Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The New
York Times, The Financial Times, USA Today, Chicago Crain’s as well as the two
local Chicago newspapers. I read The
Economist, and alternate between a number of monthly magazines, roughly eight
to ten when I am home, and more when I travel.
I read daily postings on many websites and from bloggers, and I subscribe
to at least a dozen daily online newsletters.
I estimate I spend a minimum of two hours a day during the week and
roughly three to four hours on weekend days.
To name a few books I enjoyed these past few years, I
would include 2030 by Albert Brooks, Game Changer, The Amateur by Edward Klein,
as well as a number of biographies, which I typically read when I travel. My favorite novel is The Power of One by
Bryce Courtenay.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
I'm a political junkie. The idea for this book came
out of the constant media reminders of political shenanigans – national, state,
and local – as well as the nonstop negative campaigning filling the airwaves,
our voice mails, and our mailboxes. This constant flow fuels my desire to
write.
I was intrigued when a relatively obscure local
politician raised his standing to the national stage almost overnight and was
instantly embraced by the voters to become our first African-American
president. I, too, was captivated by his charm and charisma as I
enthusiastically cast my vote.
Living in Chicago, surrounded by a history of
political corruption and incompetence in our state politics, my curiosity
prompted me to research this specific era of rampant criminal behavior – a time
when it appeared things couldn't get worse. As our convicted politicians and
their cronies were being released from prison, I decided to utilize articles
that appeared in the press and on the internet to create a fictionalized
accounting of the characters and events, and I depict, through my imagination,
how things might have played out.
Find G. A. Beller online:
