Pageonelit.com: Where did you grow
up and was reading and writing
a part of your life? Who were your earliest influences and why?
Thomas C. Fairley: I WAS BORN IN
1941, before television. THAT'S IMPORTANT. WE LIVED IN THE GOVERNMENT
HOUSING PROJECT IN VANPORT, PENNSYLVANIA, a little community
overlooking the Ohio River. OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HAD WONDERFUL
TEACHERS, AND I REMEMBER THE STORIES THEY READ TO US AS CHILDREN.
WHEN MY TEACHERS SERIALIZED BOOKS, AND READ FOR 15 OR 20 MINUTES
EACH DAY, I COULD "SEE" THOSE CHARACTERS. THAT WAS
MAGIC TIME FOR ME. I IDENTIFIED WITH THE CHARACTERS IN THOSE
STORIES, AND REALIZED EARLY ON THAT I LIVED IN MY HEAD QUITE
A LOT OF THE TIME. WE WERE ALSO MADE TO WRITE OUR OWN STORIES,
AND I ALWAYS LOVED TO READ MINE TO THE CLASS. THERE WERE MANY
TALENTED CHILDREN IN MY SCHOOL, AND ALL OF US WERE ABLE TO EXPRESS
OURSELVES CLEARLY.
DAVID FARRAGUT, BOY ADMIRAL, WAS THE FIRST BOOK I REMEMBER STAYING
UP PAST MIDNIGHT AND READING. I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. OTHERS
SOON FOLLOWED, THEIR TITLES ARE GONE, NOW, BUT I WAS BITTEN BY
THE READING BUG QUITE EARLY. THERE WAS NOT ANY ONE PERSON OR
TEACHER WHO INSPIRED ME TO WRITE AS I DO TODAY, BUT THEY WERE
ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR INSTILLING IN ME THE LOVE OF LEARNING AND
SHARING WHAT I'D LEARNED IN THEIR CLASS.
Pageonelit.com: Why did you write
ABSOLUTE RESPONSIBILITY, STRICT ACCOUNTABILITY?
Thomas C. Fairley: IT WROTE ITSELF.
IT RAN OUT OF MY FINGERS FASTER THAN I COULD TYPE. I HAD BEEN
TALKING ABOUT LOBBYISTS AND THE CONGRESS AND HOW THEY WERE BED
FELLOWS EXTRORDINAIRE FOR MANY YEARS. AND WHEN I RECEIVED A SMALL
SUM OF MONEY, UNEXPECTEDLY, I BOUGHT A COMPUTER. THE DAY IT WAS
INSTALLED, I SAT DOWN AND WROTE THE FIRST 15 PAGES. I HAD BEEN
THINKING ABOUT HOW TO CONSTRUCT THE NOVEL, BUT THE NOVEL CONSTRUCTED
ITSELF. IT DIVIDED INTO THREE DISTINCT PARTS, AND EACH ONE HAS
A CHARACTERISTIC ALL ITS OWN. WOVEN TOGETHER, THE PARTS MAKE
FOR A VERY POWERFUL STATEMENT ABOUT AMERICAN POLITICS.
Pageonelit.com: Tell us about ABSOLUTE
RESPONSIBILITY, STRICT ACCOUNTABILITY?
Thomas C. Fairley: AR,SA IS
A POLITICAL THRILLER. VERY TONGUE IN CHEEK AND QUITE HILARIOUS.
READERS WILL BE REWARDED OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND AGAIN WITH BELLY
LAUGHS TILL THEY HURT. AND YET, IT IS A 
TRUTH TELLING EXPERIENCE.
I BELIEVE MOST AMERICANS REALIZE THE STRANGLE HOLD LOBBYISTS
HAVE ON OUR GOVERNMENT. I UNSTRANGLED THEIR HOLD IN ONE OF THE
MOST CREATIVE BOOKS TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM. WASHINGTON, D.C.,
GETS PAID BACK FOR ALL OF THE CRAP THEY DUMP ON US DAY IN AND
DAY OUT. EARLY IN MY LIFE I LEARNED TO LOVE A GOOD STORY. THIS
IS A REALLY GOOD STORY. IT HAS ALL THE ELEMENTS OF A TRILLER
- MURDER, INTRIGUE, (A LITTLE SEX) GREAT CHARACTERS, AND FUNNY
DIALOGUE. PEOPLE WHO HAVE READ IT TELL ME THEY COULDN'T PUT IT
DOWN.
Pageonelit.com: ABSOLUTE RESPONSIBILITY,
STRICT ACCOUNTABILITY's cover features a Pulitzer winning
political cartoon drawn by Joel Pett of the Lexington Herald-Leader.
How did you choose this particular cartoon for the cover and
please explain the cartoons connections to the storyline?
Thomas C. Fairley: I WAS DRIVING
TO BURGAW TO RECORD SEVERAL DEEDS AT THE DEED VAULT, AND TO SEARCH
THE TITLES TO SEVERAL PROPERTIES. I WORK AS A TITLE SEARCHER
FOR MY WIFE, KATE FAIRLEY AND HER PARTNER BILL FUSS, ATTYS AT
LAW. LISTENING TO NPR THAT MORNING, JOEL PETT WAS BEING INTERVIEWED.
HE'D JUST WON THE PULITZER, AND WHEN HE DESCRIBED THIS CARTOON,
I KNEW IN AN INSTANT THAT IT HAD TO GRACE THE COVER OF MY BOOK.
IT CAPTURED, INSTANTLY, THE ENTIRE REASON FOR WRITING AR,SA.
THAT I SELECTED THE GUN LOBBY TO HIGHLIGHT THE PROBLEM IN AMERICAN
POLITICS WAS JUST A RANDOM SELECTION. I COULD HAVE USED THE INSURANCE
LOBBY JUST AS WELL. WHAT FASCINATES ME NOW IS THE ENRON SCANDLE.
ENRON MAKES EVERY ONE OF MY POINTS OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND AGAIN.
LAST MONTH A NOBODY FROM PHEONIX 
ARIZONA
NAMED LOUIS MALCOLM HOLLY WAS SENTENCED TO THREE AND A HALF YEARS
IN PRISON FOR STEALING $1.7 MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE POSTAL SERVICE.
HE WAS ARRESTED, TRIED, SENTENCED AND INCARCERATED. BRAVO. THAT'S
THE WAY IT SHOULD WORK. AND THEN THERE IS KEN LAY AND SKILLINGS.
THOSE CHARACTERS HAVE STOLLEN HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
FROM PENSIONERS, STOCK HOLDERS, BANKS, AND ON AND ON. WHAT'S
HAPPENED TO THEM? NADA. ZIP. NOTHING. AND NOTHING WILL. WHY?
THE PRESIDENT AND THE VICE PRESIDENT ARE BOTH OIL MEN. THE AMOUNT
OF MONEY ENRON GAVE TO THEM OVER THE YEARS CAN'T BE COUNTED.
NO COUNTER GOES THAT HIGH. SAME FOR CONGRESS. KEN LAY STILL LIVES
IN HIS 10 HOUSES ALL OVER AMERICA, DRIVES HIS LUXURY CARS, PLAYS
GOLF IN HIS COUNTRY CLUBS, SAILS HIS YACHT, AND THUMBS HIS NOSE
AT CONGRESS, THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND ALL OF US. MY BOOK FINALLY
BRINGS FOLK LIKE LAY AND CONGRESS TO ACCOUNTABILITY IN A VERY
STRICT FASHION.
Pageonelit.com: Do you have to pay
Mr. Pett any royalty fees for the use of the cartoon?What's your
relationship to Mr. Pett? Has he read ABSOLUTE RESPONSIBILITY,
STRICT ACCOUNTABILITY? If so, what was his reaction?
Thomas C. Fairley: JOEL WAS GRACIOUS
ENOUGH TO SELL THE RIGHTS TO USE HIS CARTOON FOR A MEER $250.00.
I HAVE NO TIME CONSTRAINT ON IT. THAT FEE GAVE ME THE RIGHT TO
USE IT FOREVER. I CALLED HIM AT THE PAPER THE DAY AFTER HE WON
THE PULITZER AND INTRODUCED MYSELF TO HIM. HE WAS FLATTERED THAT
I WANTED TO USE HIS WORK. AFTER I SENT HIM THE CHECK AND HE SENT
ME THE CARTOON, WE HAVE NOT TALKED. I'M SURE HE BOUGHT A COPY
OF THE BOOK, BUT HE HAS A DEADLINE EVERY DAY AND HIS LIFE IS
AS FULL AS MINE.
Pageonelit.com: I would characterize
ABSOLUTE RESPONSIBILITY, STRICT ACCOUNTABILITY as darkly
humorous/political thriller/spoof -- Did I leave anything out?
Thomas C. Fairley: HOW ABOUT "A
REWARDING, PAGE TURNING, COMPELLING READ?" READERS WILL
NOT BE ABLE TO FORGET THE HIGH CRIMES OF THEFT LOBBYISTS COMMITT
EACH AND EVERY DAY THAT THEY WALK INTO REPRESENTATIVES OFFICES
WITH SUIT CASES FULL OF MONEY TO BUY THEIR VOTES. PROTEST AS
THEY WILL THAT THEIR VOTES ARE NOT FOR SALE, THE TRUTH IS JUST
THE OPPOSITE. FORMER REPRESENTATIVE BUD SCHUSTER IS A CLASSIC.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE NOT STUPID AS THE JADED CONGRESS THINKS
WE ARE. MANY GOOD FOLK HAVE QUIT VOTING BECAUSE THEY'VE SEEN
THE RESULTS OF THEIR VOTES. IF THEY VOTE ONE BUM OUT, ALL THEY
SUCCEED IN DOING IS VOTING THE NEXT BUM IN.
Pageonelit.com: You've said that
ABSOLUTE RESPONSIBILITY, STRICT ACCOUNTABILITY is, "...Jack
Higgins in the 1st part, Chaucer in the middle and OHenry at
the end." Please explain.
Thomas C. Fairley: I'VE LOVED JACK
HIGGINS NOVELS. SEAN DILLON IS MY KIND OF GUY. AND SO MANY OF
MY CHARACTERS IN PART ONE HAVE PARTS OF SEAN DILLON GRAFTED INTO
THEIR SOULS. THEY MOVE WELL. THEY THINK ON THEIR FEET. THEY ARE
FEARLESS AND WHEN NECESSARY, RUTHLESS. AND, THEY ARE ALL ASSASSINS,
JUST LIKE DILLON WAS BEFORE HE WAS "RECRUITED."
ALL OF THE KILLING TAKES PLACE IN THE FIRST 90 PAGES, BUT
THE STORY GOES ON. THE FBI HAS A MONSTROUS CRIME TO SOLVE. HOW
DO THE ASSASSINS AVOID CAPTURE? DO THEY AVOID IT? WHAT'S THEIR
STORY? MANY OF THE CHARACTERS TELL SOMETHING ABOUT MY OWN PERSONAL HISTORY.
FOR EXAMPLE, FBI AGENT ROHAN HOLLIDAY HAD A PROSTATECTOMY. SO
DID I. CLARENCE HENRY HAD AN 18 YEAR BATTLE WITH THE IRS AND
LEARNED TO HATE THEM FOR BEING A ROGUE, UNSUPERVISED, OUT OF
CONTROLL BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT, JUST AS I DID. SO IN THAT SENSE
IT IS LIKE CHAUCER'S TALES OF THE WIFE OF BATH, ETC. PART THREE,
THE VERY END IS PURE O'HENRY. IT REVEALS ALL.
Pageonelit.com: What would be your
ideal government?
THE AMERICAN SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT IS THE BEST IN
THE WORLD. THAT IT HAS SUFFERED FROM THE INFLUENCE OF MONEY IS
PART OF THE HUMAN CONDITION. HAVING SAID THAT, I WOULD DO WHAT
MY BOOK ADVOCATES. FIRST, I'D MAKE ALL LOBBYISTS CRIMINALS, AND
SENTENCE THEM TO LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT POSSIBILITY OF PAROL.
THEIR CRIMES OF BUYING MY CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE TO VOTE
AGAINST MY INTERESTS AND FOR A FEW WEALTHY SELF INTREST GROUPS
IS THE HIGHEST CRIME AGAINST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. AND UNTIL WE
ALL UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF THEIR HIGH CRIMES AND TREASON, NOTHING
WILL CHANGE. SECOND, I'D MAKE CAMPAIGNING FOR OFFICE A TWO DAY
AFFAIR. AND IT WOULD BE LIMITED TO A HALF PAGE IN A LOCAL NEWS
PAPER AND A HALF HOUR ON THE LOCAL TELEVISION STATION. NONE OF
IT WOULD COST THE CANDIDATE A DIME. WE DON'T NEED TO BE BOMBARDED
WITH RHETORIC, ALL OF IT LIES. THIRD, I'D MAKE IT MANDITORY THAT
NO CANDIDATE CAN SERVE MORE THAN TWO TERMS. PERIOD. END OF SERVICE.
LIFERS LIKE BYRD OF WVA AND OTHERS OF HIS ILK ARE KILLING US
AS A NATION. WE THE PEOPLE, MY ASS. LASTLY, I'D ABOLISH THE IRS.
I'M NOT AGAINST PAYING TAXES. WE NEED TO HAVE AN ARMED FORCE
AND LOCAL POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS. SCHOOLS NEED TO EDUCATE, BUT
I'D TURN EVERYTHING OVER TO THE LOCAL CITIZENS. IF THEIR SCHOOLS
ARE BAD, THEY HAVE NO ONE TO BLAME BUT THEMSELVES. IF THEY WANT
GOOD SCHOOLS, THEN LET THEM PAY FOR THEM LOCALLY. ALSO, I'D ABOLISH
WELFARE. IN JAMESTOWN IN THE EARLY 16 HUNDREDS THEY HAD A RULE.
DON'T WORK. DON'T EAT. SORRY IF THAT SOUNDS CRUEL BUT THE AMERICAN
CHARACTER OF SELF RELIANCE HAS ERODED TO THE POINT WHERE WE LOOK
TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO CARE FOR US RATHER THAN CARING FOR
OURSELVES. IT HAS WEAKENED US, NOT STRENGHTENED US, AND IT HAS
FOSTERED A GOVERNMENT THAT THINKS IT IS ABOVE AND BEYOND US PEONS,
WHICH IS JUST WHAT IT DOES TO US ALL.
Pageonelit.com: What has been your
feedback from readers and book reviewers? What do they say to
you about their interpretations of ABSOLUTE RESPONSIBILITY,
STRICT ACCOUNTABILITY? What do they like about the book?
Thomas C. Fairley: ALL THE FEEDBACK
HAS BEEN GLOWING. I HAVE AN OLD FRIEND IN CHICAGO WHO TELLS ME
HE STILL LAUGHS EVERTIME HE THINKS ABOUT ...................
AND THEN HE SAYS, "YOU HAD WAY TOO MUCH FUN WRITING THAT,
FAIRLEY." HE'S RIGHT, I DID. READERS EITHER LOVE THE
ENDING OR THEY HATE IT. PART ONE IS LIKE A JACK HIGGINS WORK.
PART TWO IS A TELLING IN THE CHAUCERIAN FASHION OF WHAT HAPPENS
TO THE ASSASSINS AFTER THE ASSASSINATIONS STOP. AND THEN THERE
IS THE ENDING. PEOPLE LIKE THE WAY I FOCUS THEIR ATTENTION OF
THE PROBLEM OF LOBBYISTS AND CONGRESS AND SAY, "MAYBE
IT WILL COME TO THAT." I HOPE NOT. BUT THEN, IF I'M
ABLE TO THINK UP THIS SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF LOBBYISTS AND
CONGRESS, CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT THE REALLY BAD GUYS ARE ABLE TO
THINK UP?
Pageonelit.com: Tell me about your
publishing experience -- ...
Thomas C. Fairley: LIKE ALL HOPEFUL
WRITERS, I SENT MY STUFF OFF TO AGENTS WHO ALL SENT IT BACK WITH
THE FORM NOTE THAT SAID, "NOT QUITE OUR TASTE."
"NOT QUITE UP TO OUR STANDARDS." "CLOSE, BUT NO
CIGAR." AFTER 50 OR MORE SUCH REJECTIONS, I CONTACTED
1ST BOOKS AND CONTRACTED WITH THEM TO PUBLISH IT. I PAID SEVERAL
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO THEM, AND IN 6 MONTHS, THEY PRINTED MY
BOOK. IT IS A PRINT ON DEMAND (POD) BOOK AND IT CAN BE PURCHASED
AT http://www.1stbooks.com
OR at www.amazon.com
. 1ST BOOKS PAPERBACK IS ONLY $11.95. AT AMAZON IT IS $18.67.
HARD COVER AT 1STBOOKS IS $16, AND AT AMAZON, I THINK IT IS $25
OR $26. GETTING THE BOOK PUBLISHED WAS EASY AT 1STBOOKS. THE
PEOPLE THERE REALLY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING. THE PROBLEM WITH
SELF PUBLISHING IS THAT YOU ARE THE PROMOTER. THE BOOK'S SUCCESS
DEPENDS ON YOU. CAN YOU IMAGINE PRACTICING MEDICINE ON YOUR DEGREE
IF YOU 
ARE
NOT A DOCTOR? OR LAW, IF YOU ARE NOT A LAWYER? UNLESS YOU ARE
A PROFESSIONAL PROMOTER, WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU CAN PROMOTE
YOUR OWN BOOK ANY BETTER THAN YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD PRACTICE
MEDICINE? THEY GIVE YOU SUGGESTIONS AND DIRECTIONS AND HINTS
OF ALL KINDS, AND YOU RUN AROUND LIKE THE PROVERBIAL CHICKEN
WHO JUST HAD ITS HEAD CHOPPED OFF. IT AIN'T A PRETTY SIGHT. AND
YOU DON'T SELL MANY BOOKS, EITHER.
Pageonelit.com: Are you working on
a follow up? Or something totally different?
Thomas C. Fairley: TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
MY SECOND BOOK, AND I'M NEARLY FINISHED WITH IT, IS ABOUT THREE
GENERATIONS OF EPISCOPAL PRIESTS AND THEIR PROGENITOR. IT BEGINS
IN IRELAND, QUICKLY MOVES TO BOSTON, AND ON TO CALIFORNIA FOR
THE BULK OF THE STORY. THIS IS A SERIOUS BOOK BECAUSE I USE IT
TO ADDRESS MANY OF THE PROBLEMS FACED BY ALL PROTESTANT DENOMINATIONS,
TODAY. I USED THE EPISCOPAL
CHURCH BECAUSE OF ITS PARTICULAR FORM OF GOVERNMENT. IT LENT
ITSELF TO MY STORY BETTER THAN SAY THE METHODISTS OR PRESBYTERIANS.
AND MY THIRD BOOK IS ABOUT CONDEMNED PRISONERS AND HOW THEY CAN
BE USEFUL TO SOCIETY. NO SEQUAL IS PLANNED, AT THIS TIME, TO
AR,SA.
Pageonelit.com: What was the last
book you read?
Thomas C. Fairley: I JUST FINISHED,
THE MILLIONAIRES, BY BRAD MELTZER. GRISHOM'S THE SUMMONS
IS NEXT ON MY LIST.
Pageonelit.com: Do you have any hobbies?
What are they? How do they enhance your writing.
Thomas C. Fairley: I LOVE TO PLANT
FLOWERS IN MY FRONT YARDS. ALL KINDS OF BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS. I
LOVE TO PUTTER AROUND THE INTERCOASTAL IN OUR LITTLE BOAT. OUR
BACK YARD IS A LAKE. WE TIE THE BOAT TO OUR DOCK SO IT IS VERY
CONVENIENT FOR MY WIFE, KATE, AND ME TO PLY THE WATERS AROUND
OUR ISLAND. BOTH ACTIVITIES GIVE ME PLENTY OF TIME TO THINK,
AND OFTEN I FIND MYSELF WRITING DOWN A THOUGHT HERE AND THERE
THAT FINDS ITS WAY ONTO ONE OF MY PAGES.
