Episode 419 (Part 17) Politicians turned Novelists: JIMMY CARTER, MARILYN QUAYLE, NEWT GINGRICH, BILL CLINTON and JAMES PATTERSON, Plus Our Host RANDAL WALLACE with some News of our own (Season Finale)

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In this landmark season finale, The Great American Authors brings its sweeping literary and political journey to a powerful close by spotlighting a remarkable group of leaders who turned to fiction to tell their stories — Jimmy Carter, Marilyn Quayle, Newt Gingrich, Bill Clinton, and James Patterson — and by sharing major news from our own host, Randal Wallace.

We begin with President Jimmy Carter’s The Hornet’s Nest, a deeply researched historical novel that reflects Carter’s lifelong devotion to moral complexity, faith, and the human cost of conflict. It is not simply a former president writing fiction — it is a statesman continuing to wrestle with America’s past through story.

We then turn to one of the most overlooked voices in presidential-era fiction: Marilyn Quayle. With limited public material but unexpectedly strong reader reception, her novels — especially The Campaign — received the highest reviews of any of the books featured in this episode, a striking contrast to how rarely her writing is discussed today. It is one of the quiet surprises of the series.

Next, we explore Newt Gingrich, whose prolific post-political career includes best-selling political thrillers and alternate-history novels, along with the children’s books co-written by his wife Callista Gingrich. Together, they created one of the most expansive literary universes ever produced by a political family.

From there, we dive into one of the most successful collaborations in modern publishing: Bill Clinton and James Patterson. Their three blockbuster novels — The President Is Missing, The President’s Daughter, and The First Gentleman — are examined not just as thrillers, but as a masterclass in how insider political knowledge and elite commercial storytelling can fuse into global bestsellers. We also share James Patterson’s own writing principles, offering practical insights for aspiring authors.

The episode concludes with an announcement from host Randal Wallace, who unveils three major upcoming works:
• 16 Leadership Lessons from the Cold War, the companion book to this podcast
• A Riddle in the Sand, a contemporary political romantic thriller
• An Ocean of Time, a novel of political scandal turned redemption set in the tropical paradise of Key West, Florida.

Finally, we close the curtain on The Great American Authors itself — a series that examined how power, politics, and storytelling collide across generations of American history. This season, and this entire series, are dedicated to the memory of Gloria Wallace Bulmer, the beloved mother of our host, a former English teacher at Myrtle Beach High School, and a lifelong lover of American and British literature whose passion for books helped inspire everything this series became.

This is not just a finale.
It is a tribute — to stories, to history, and to the people who teach us to love them.

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