A Time to Run: A Novel by Senator Barbara Boxer

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Barbara Levy Boxer (born November 11, 1940 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American politician and the current junior U.S. Senator from the State of California.

A member of the Democratic Party, Boxer was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1992. Throughout her career, Boxer has been a vocal advocate for environmental issues, women's rights, gun control, and medical research. She is generally classified as a progressive, and is often in conflict with conservative groups. However, reflecting the views of her constituents, her electoral margins have increased each time she has sought re-election.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Boxer

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U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer’s first novel, A Time to Run, follows three college friends over 30 years as they pursue careers in community activism, politics, and journalism. At the story’s opening, protagonist Ellen Fischer, now a Senator, must decide whether to trust leaked information that could scuttle a conservative Supreme Court nominee’s appointment.

BABW: Why did you choose to write a novel instead of a memoir?

Boxer: I’ve already written non-fiction, and I’m not interested in writing a memoir. I was interested in writing a page-turner and leaving people understanding how things really work, the clash between liberals and conservatives.

Have you always written, or is this a new path?

I always liked to write, ever since college days. After I stopped being a stockbroker and moved to California, I started to volunteer in different campaigns and I was attracted to the press positions, and then I became a journalist. And now [as a senator] I have some terrific writers and we work on polishing stuff, but I basically do my own speechwriting.

Since you were already a writer, why did you feel the need for a co-author?

I didn’t really know what I was doing in terms of writing a novel, and I wanted to write a really good book. My agent recommended Mary-Rose [Hayes], who’s written six novels. Mary-Rose didn’t know anything about politics and I didn’t know anything about writing a novel, so there was no ego involved on either side.

Who came up with the plot?

I did. When Mary-Rose came on board, I’d already written the book, and she helped me rewrite it. She really expanded the Derele and Satcher [two supporting] characters. What Mary-Rose did, is — she’s a wonderful writer—she developed the texture.

Writing, or even reading, a novel creates a kind of transformation. What kinds of changes happened for you in writing this story?

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US SENATOR BARBARA BOXER | Welcome to my online office!
Welcome to the Official Website of US Senator Barbara Boxer.

http://www.boxer.senate.gov/