a question of character
Story By Mike Overall, Photos submitted

This titillating question is posed on the dust cover of A Question of Character, a new political thriller/cliffhanger novel by a father-and-son writing team, the father of Jonesboro and the son a denizen of Los Angeles:

“What if the President of the United States was also a murderer?”

Gotcha? Well, if early sales are any indication, then the question is academic. To date, the book has grabbed the attention of legions of readers who are in the market for an ideal summertime read. And “Question” has it all: thrills, chills, conspiracies galore, some fascinating subterranean White House history, and a profusion of obligatory whodunits. Furthermore, the book is a literary grab-bag, the whole of it packaged as a fictional insider’s look at some of the less glamorous, criminally seamy side of the literal and figurative machinations of political Washington.

The new novel is the fictional brainchild of John M. and Steven Abernathy –the father defers to his son on the authorial credits – and is, or soon will be, for sale at Barnes and Noble and Borders bookstores, and may be ordered from Amazon.com. Dr. Abernathy, a dentist in Jonesboro for several decades, currently maintains a part-time practice in the city as well as one in Clearwater, Florida. He recently conducted a book signing at That Bookstore in Blytheville, and said several more signings and personal appearances are in the works.

Steven, 57, and John M., 26, said in an interview that the novel began as a movie script, but the pair decided to turn it into a novel because “moving” a script in Hollywood is no simple task, as well as extremely time-consuming. And as has been the case with literary partnerships down through the ages, “We used a system of checks and balances in the planning and writing of the book,” John said. “Dad (who ran an unsuccessful campaign for First District congressman in 1984) had some pointed ideas about the characters, what and who they represented, the politics of it, and other plot devices.”

“At that juncture,” Steve interjected, “John would help tie the whole thing together. It was truly a cooperative effort between us. We tossed the script back and forth and agreed to compromise on certain ideas when we felt we had to.”
The father said his son “was more of an outliner than I was,” and from their shared cooperation and mutual brainstorming, the novel, which the son illustrated with some striking images that depict seminal occurrences in the story, began to take shape.

Although much of what comprises the story is speculation, the pair wove into their tale some historical facts, real-world occurrences, and details based on existing maps of old Washington City.

“There’s even one scene in the book that takes place in a parking garage which really exists,” the father said. “While we wanted to tell a good story, we also wanted to include an element of realism for the reader. We tried to include the little details to make the story as realistic as possible.”

Although most readers under the age of 35 or so may not realize it, the Abernathys’ novel includes two pivotal characters that bear a striking resemblance to former President Bill Clinton and now Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. As for the over-40 crowd, they will not have any trouble recognizing the Clintons in fictional guise.

Steven, a political junkie who has followed the goings-on in Washington for many years, admitted outright that the Clintons “were the inspiration for the story.... When I ran for Congress I became acquainted with them and subsequently followed their careers from Arkansas to the pinnacle of power in the White House.”

At this writing, the novel had been on the market for two weeks. “If we can sell fifty-thousand copies over the next several months,” Steven said, “it might make the people in Hollywood sit up and take note.”

And now that John, a graduate of Jonesboro High School and the prestigious Savannah (Ga.) College of Art and Design, is based in Los Angeles, where he has just finished directorial work on a full-length feature movie entitled “Resurrection City,” he is in an advantageous position to pursue a movie contract.

“We have a very solid basis for a script from the book,” John said. “Right now we’re trying to find a literary agent,” one whose knowledge of the Hollywood ropes could gain them entree to one or more movie studios.

John has written, directed, produced or otherwise been involved in several short films, and has turned out several short stories and screenplays. The exceedingly talented man also served as first assistant director on the aforementoned “Resurrection City,” an old-time horror movie which premiered at the Arkansas Film Festival in April of last year and had its worldwide debut in Hollywood – appropriately –last Halloween night. John obtained his degree in video/film production with an emphasis on writing and directing films.

Dr. Abernathy and his wife, Michele, who maintain a second home in Destin, Fla., have a younger son, Grey, 25, a computer engineer who will enter graduate school at UA-Fayetteville later this year. The family has its roots in the Missouri Bootheel town of Campbell.

Feeling the tug of the Abernathys’ fictional magnet? My infinitely better half did; she pronounced the book a thrilling read “that would make a great movie.”

For more information on the writers and their book, which includes a digital entertainment package issued by Tate Publishing & Enterprises, visit their Web site: www.QuestionOfCharacter.com.