Award-Winning Independent Writer and Editor
If you’re fascinated by the shadowy world of crooked politicians, whether in fiction or non-fiction, you’ve come to the right place. I’m James L. Merriner, an award-winning independent writer and editor, and I’ve spent my career uncovering the secrets, scandals, and schemes of some of history’s most notorious figures. My work brings these stories to life, offering readers a front-row seat to the drama, intrigue, and consequences of political corruption.
Why Read About Crooked Politicians?
There’s something undeniably compelling about stories of power, greed, and betrayal. Whether it’s the real-life exploits of corrupt officials or fictional tales inspired by historical events, these narratives captivate us because they reveal the darker side of human nature. My books and articles dive deep into these worlds, combining rigorous research with engaging storytelling to create works that are as informative as they are entertaining.
As an award-winning writer and editor, I bring a level of craftsmanship and insight that sets my work apart. My non-fiction exposes the intricate webs of political corruption, while my fiction novels reimagine historical events with a dramatic twist. If you’re a reader who craves depth, authenticity, and a fresh perspective, my work is for you.
From the backroom deals of crooked politicians to the high-stakes drama of historical fiction, my books offer something for every reader. Whether you’re drawn to the factual rigor of non-fiction or the imaginative power of fiction, you’ll find stories that challenge, entertain, and inspire.
Visit my website or your favorite bookstore to explore my collection. Your next great read is just a click away—don’t wait to uncover the stories that will keep you hooked from the first page to the last.
Shortly before I left the Atlanta Constitution, where I was the political editor, an Atlanta alderman was indicted for something or other. It was front-page news, of course.
Then, shortly after I joined the Chicago Sun-Times, a Chicago alderman was indicted for something or other. And it didn’t even make the front page!
I went up to my editor and asked, “Are aldermen getting indicted routine news around here?” He just glowered at the stupidity of the question.
So as a political writer, more or less by default, I covered many stories about boodle and clout (wonderful Chicago words).
In time, I wrote five books about political corruption—and efforts at reform—in Chicago, the state of Illinois, and the U.S. Congress. Some of the people in those stories were outsized characters who seemingly could have been made up by a novelist.
Speaking of novelistic characters—a famous novelist once told me that he threw away a serious nonfiction manuscript and wrote it up as a novel instead. Why? “Because people will believe fiction much more readily than they will believe nonfiction.”
That observation inspired me to write a novel to bring to life the grifters, grafters, cheaters, prosecutors, reformers, and even innocent people caught up in scandals whom I had encountered. I found their counterparts in some characters, both real and made up by me, in the early years of Prohibition under President Warren G. Harding.
I found that the times, the early 1920s, revealed in Stumbling in the Public Square were much like our own: contempt for the law, illegal government spying on citizens, sex scandals, foreign wars . . .
