1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?

I guess you could call me a late bloomer.  I didn’t write my first book until I was 69, which was a memoir of my brief teaching career, which began at age 65 .  My degree is in chemistry, and after graduating and receiving a ROTC commission, I  spent two years in the Army Chemical Corps. My final assignment was as an exec officer in a technical intelligence detachment where we analyzed potential enemy capabilities in chemical, biological and nuclear warfare.  For most of my tenure, I was stationed at Fort McClellan Alabama where I met my wife, who is from Anniston.  After discharge, I worked in various facets of the chemical industry for the next forty years first in technical service, and eventually Southeast Regional Sales Manager until an unplanned early retirement when I was 63.  For the next couple of years I was a consultant; and then I decided to try teaching.  When my wife suffered a stroke in 2008, I then entered my dual career of caregiver and writer.    

2) What inspired you to write your book? 

I have been a political junkie since childhood.  I’m active on FaceBook and most of my commentary involves politics.  When Trump was elected, I just felt compelled to write some type of critique.

3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?  

I see similarities to the rise of Hitler and also parallels with George Orwell’s 1984.  If not for his cult, we could probably dismiss the man, since after all, he’s in his seventies and won’t be around forever.  But, unfortunately,  I think the fascist movement that he has inspired will be around long after he departs.

4) What drew you into this particular genre?  

In my mind, one couldn’t find a more suitable character for a parody or a satire.  The fact that he contradicts himself continually is comical itself; but that his followers do the same thing makes it outrageously so.  I’ve pointed out that it would be disingenuous to be against everything he says or does, since he is on both sides of most issues from time to time. . 

5) As this book deals primarily with Donald Trump and his presidency, if you had the opportunity to ask him a question or confront him about one of the lies he told that you highlight in your book, what would it be and why? 

“Mr. President, you have been quoted as saying ‘ Promises are like predictions ; they might or might not come true.’”  If you don’t believe in your promises; why then should anyone else?

6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership? 

Facebook by far.

7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there? 

Ask yourself first why you want to write a book.  If it’s to be a legacy or strictly educational.  I would encourage you to go ahead.  If, on the other hand, it’s to make  a lot of money; I’m sorry to say that you are probably in for a big disappointment.  Unless you are well known or have something really unique to say; the chances of you’re making it big are very slim.  There are just too many books out there competing for market share.  If I haven’t dissuaded you; then at least think about what might attract a lot of interest.  Who are your prospective audience and why should they select your book over all the others in the same genre or about a given subject?

8) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon? 

As stated above, I am in a dual career of caregiver to my wife and writer.  My first and most important responsibility is the former.  As time permits, I will continue to write.  I have written two short stories in the genre of Rod Serling’s “Twilight Zone”.  So far, I have not come up with any more.  If any of your readers would like to contribute to an anthology for a nominal negotiated fee, they can reach me at themoderatelibertarian@gmail.com

.   I’m also early into “”A Debate with an Atheist.  It’s too early to say if I will finish it.  And, then there may be some other idea that strikes my fancy and takes me in a new totally unexpected direction. 

About the Author

I have been fascinated by science since age five or six, when I got a telescope for a birthday. At that point I was going to be an astronomer, but that changed when I got my first chemistry set at about ten. 

B.A. Chemistry Indiana University 1961. 

First lieutenant Army Chemical Corps 1963. Last assignment – Executive officer technical intelligence detachment.

Retired in late 2002 after a successful career with a number of chemical companies including one that I started and a second that I co-founded in 1974 for recycling and disposal of waste chemicals.

After retirement became a consultant and then a teacher. 

Now in my fourth career as a writer.

My first book was a memoir of a brief teaching career that I began when I was 66. Title is “Teacher’s Gotta Dance”, available presently only on Kindle. Second book was a rebuttal to Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth”, titled “A Really Inconvenient Truth-The Case Against the Theory of Anthropogenic Global Warming”. My latest is a novel, titled “Secession- A Republic Reborn”. 

Could States Start Seceding from the Union? This Author Thinks It’s Possible

Also a podcast interview (not the same). The interview starts seven minutes or so into the podcast. 

https://audioboom.com/posts/6109981-podcast-anson-knowles-7-15-17.