| THE ZERO FACTOR
Click the 'add to cart' button below the description to buy a personalized copy directly from the author! If you have any questions, contact me by my address on this site: john@johnhoffert.com
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| by John Hoffert
The Zero Factor is the first of a series, which chronicles the rise of a young political prodigy named John K. Stratton, Governor of Maryland. Early in his tenure, John is labeled ‘The Young Lion’- a title that his actions throughout the series will justify on more than one level. However, in the prologue, he’s been shot and is being rushed to shock-trauma with life-threatening wounds. The first chapter flashes back a few days and the sequence of events that led to the assassination attempt is revealed.
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| The setting is April 2000 in Maryland. John is in his sixth year as Maryland’s first Independent Governor, having won a narrow victory in his first bid for that office in 1994 at age thirty. He was reelected by a huge margin four years later, which set the stage for a presidential run, given his growing popularity across the country. John believes he can win on the national level for the same reasons he did on the state level, among them the divisiveness and mudslinging between the democrats and republicans and, when it comes to the candidates, their offering of the ‘same ol’ same ol’ election after election.
However, as well as his professional life is going, John’s personal life is every bit the opposite. He’s haunted by his father’s unexplained disappearance at the end of 1974, especially because of the strained relationship they had when he vanished. He also hasn’t had a substantial relationship with a woman since his high school sweetheart, Kimberly Francis, which ended suddenly and badly. Then, a chance meeting with his first love emphasizes his current desolation and brings it to the forefront.
Kim is a high school guidance counselor and she loves her work, ever thankful for the opportunity she took to change the course of her life. As powerful a draw as her first career was- the one she entered into before becoming a counselor-, it also was dangerous for her in more ways than one and she knew she had to get out of it. Like John, she also is haunted by her past, but for a much different reason.
After John’s uncomfortable- then explosive- encounter with Kim in his office, he sets out to regain her love in the midst of also trying to focus on his newly announced presidential campaign, unaware of the plot taking shape against him. A pivotal event takes place when the leader of a deadly street gang shoots and critically wounds John’s younger brother Doug in a random act of violence. This is the gang John’s elder brother Tom, a Baltimore City Police Homicide Lieutenant, is heading the effort to break.
An opportunity for John's enemy is materializing, and right around that time a mysterious campaign contributor surfaces as well. He has an agenda of his own...
---368 pages---
***Buy a signed copy directly from me for $15.00 + shipping & handling (nearly $4 off the cover price!). MD residents add 6% sales tax*** Click 'add to cart' below to purchase with MasterCard or Visa by secure Paypal transaction or, if you'd rather pay by check or money order, contact me at john@johnhoffert.com so we can arrange the sale. Also, if you like, I'll be glad to personalize your copy; just let me know in the 'note/comment' portion as you check out with Paypal or add the request to your e-mail. Thanks, and enjoy!
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