John Ford Clayton lives in Harriman, Tennessee with his wife Kara, and canine companions Lucy, Ginger and Clyde. He has two grown sons, Ben and Eli, and a daughter-in-law, Christina. He earned a BS in Finance from Murray State University and an MBA from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He is active in his East Tennessee 
community having served on the local boards of the Boys and Girls Club and a federal credit union, on church leadership and creative teams, and on a parks and recreation advisory committee. When he’s not writing he works as a project management consultant supporting Federal project teams. John is a huge fan of Disney parks and University of Kentucky basketball. Visit his website at www.johnfordclayton.com.
Find out more about Manipulated.
Q: What’s inside the mind of a political thriller author?
A: In our hyper-polarized 2018 political climate, where any discussion of politics can quickly turn toxic, my primary thought is, there must be a better way. This current partisan rancour can’t continue. We seem to be rapidly approaching a time where the country is either going to explode or find a way to heal itself. Manipulated explores an alternative reality where that healing process begins. It is an outlet to provide a glimmer of hope in what appears to be a hopeless situation. It dares to ask, what if we didn’t settle for two firmly entrenched political parties but instead forged a third path out of this abyss. What if?
Q: Tell us why readers should buy Manipulated.
A: The 2016 presidential election elicited raw emotions from many Americans. Okay, I already know what you’re thinking, “politics, no thank you!!” Believe me, I understand. For countless political observers the entire election process demonstrated the ugly underbelly of our country, regardless of which side of the political aisle you call home. Manipulated reimagines that election cycle.
Manipulated chronicles a 70-year clandestine effort to seize control of the United States at the foundational level. It’s all happening right under the noses of an unsuspecting nation. The long-awaited scheme will come to fruition with the 2016 presidential 
election. Everything is going according to plan, but then something happens. A new voice emerges. A strangely authentic candidate captures the fascination of the American people. But is it too late? Has the machine gotten too large to overcome? The stakes are high. The survival of the nation as we know it hangs in the balance.
Q: What makes a good political thriller?
A: A political thriller must thread the needle of not being so far-fetched that it is unbelievable but far enough from reality that it is compelling. It must have a rapidly evolving storyline that demands the reader to ask, “what’s next?” It must have characters that the reader cares about, including those they love and those they want to strangle. In the end the author owes a debt to the reader’s investment of time paid off in the currency of an ending that leaves them moved, fulfilled, and satisfied.
Q: Where can readers find out more about you and your work?
A: My website www.johnfordclayton.conm provides information about me and my book. I am on social media at www.facebook.com/johnfordclayton and www.twitter.com/johnfordclayton.
Q: What has writing taught you?
A: Writing is hard. It requires energy, focus, and a stubborn commitment. It demands equal parts of the left brain and right brain. The left brain is necessary to produce an organized storyline that stays focused on evolving the plot. The right brain is the source of colourful characters, interesting scenes, and intriguing dialog. While the story can always be improved, there must come a time when the writer is complete and transfers the product into the hands of the reader. The reader is the ultimate arbiter of whether a book is successful. The reader is always right.
The Dark Phantom Review 
Reblogged this on Beyond the Books.