Long Time Conservative Blogger Talks about his Virginia Political Thriller

Question: “Elections Have Consequences; A Cautionary Tale” seems to be based on real events.

David Shephard: I used a literary device, known as a roman a clef, to tell the story.  The events are for the most part real, happened in Virginia, or another state, I made up the characters.  All with the purpose of capturing the times. This is the story of our culture war and the leftward drift of Virginia, prior to Youngkin.  I tried to show how and why we conservatives were losing.

Question: When did you write it, and how long did it take?

David Shephard: I started the book in 2018 and finished a few months before Glenn Youngkin won the GOP gubernatorial nomination.  When I wrote it, we were under the misrule of Ralph Northam, who was the worst Governor of my lifetime, in my opinion. Well, I thought we were headed in the direction of Maryland, that is on our way to becoming a solid blue state. So, from depression I wrote this book.  But honestly the book is more satirical then dystopian.  

Question: Other than the Governor, the main character in the novel is a Republican state senator Angela Parrish.  Who is she based on?

David Shephard: Many who read the book ask me if Angela Parrish is supposed to be Amanda Chase or Kari Lake.  Neither really.  I wrote the book before I ever saw Kari Lake.  There is something that happens in the book to Angela that also happened to Amanda. Just a coincidence. The inspiration for Angela Parrish is a friend of mine.  A woman who is a lawyer, but not really involved in politics. She moved here from Minnesota; she and I would talk politics over the years.  As I was writing this book, I knew I needed another character.  I had the villain, a bad Governor, so I needed a good character.  Then it hit me, I would make my friend into a character.  Angela is Trump like in a sense; the media can’t stand her.  They go after her.

Question: You use some prominent names in the book.  Do worry about any confusion or hurt feelings?

David Shephard:  In the novel there is a legislator, the last name Hamilton, a very minor character.  The Governor needs his vote on a bill.  So, they bribe Hamilton with a judgeship for his wife.  Well, I didn’t think anything of it, until months after it was published a friend of mine, former Delegate Phil Hamilton, messaged me, saying he bought my book.  Well, I realized I used the name Hamilton, for a bad person.  So, I called him, and told him I didn’t mean anything by the mention of the name Hamilton.  He laughed, and said he probably wouldn’t have noticed.

And I used the last name Parrish.  The character is from Manassas, and Parrish is a prominent name.  Well, of course the son of the late Delegate Harry Parrish, and former mayor of Manassas is Hal Parrish.  I didn’t ask for permission, but I sent him a copy, and said he’d probably like the character Angela Parrish. Actually, it was former Delegate Scott Lingamfelter, who told me that I probably should send Hal Parrish a copy.

Question: You have spent years blogging about Virginia politics, now you write a novel about Virginia politics.  How does it compare?

David Shephard: This novel gave me the opportunity to make my points, attack the bogeymen and use humor.  And I had the power to put some good things in the story.  For example, I love the country singer Emmylou Harris, who is from Woodbridge, and in the novel, she sings “Oh, Shenandoah”, at Governor Ronnie Norton’s inaugural.  And I save the Lee statue in the story.

Question: In the novel the dean of the Virginia media is a reporter named Steve Cohen, with the Richmond Daily Dispatch.  Is he supposed to be reporter Jeff Schapiro, with the Richmond Times Dispatch?

David Shephard: You may very well think that, but I couldn’t possibly comment.  I will say I think Cohen is one of my favorite characters.  He loves to tell old Virginia political stories, he is a wealth of information, and he idolizes many of the old Virginia political figures.  He is virtue signaler, because he realizes he has to conform with the social justice mob if he wants to remain dean of the Virginia press corps.   

Question: Well, congratulations on the book.  How can someone get a copy?  Amazon Amazon.com: Elections Have Consequences: A Cautionary Tale eBook : Shephard, David: Books

Or email me at [email protected] and I can autograph a copy and get it to someone at a reduced price.  I think Virginia conservatives and Republicans will love the book.

David Shephard: Thank you.