We live in political times where it is impossible not to be involved, inspired, appalled, or motivated by the current administration. It seems like everyone has something to say about politics these days – and fiction writers are no exception. This came to the forefront of Stephen Elliott’s mind following the 2001 elections and the attacks of September 11th, when he and his fellow novelists began to question their focus and the relevance of their work in such times. Unconsciously, current events had seeped into their writing…and thus Politically Inspired was born.
So why fiction, especially when it’s so important for us to read the truth? Fiction can help us see the things that non-fiction can’t, and the stories featured in this anthology truly represent the diverse voices of our times.
Stephen Elliott is the author of four novels, including Happy Baby, and the political memoir Looking Forward to It: Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The American Political Process. He recently journeyed to the areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina and contributed several articles to Salon.com.
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