Performed by Val Cole

Get to know the writer:

1. What is your short story about?

How political discourse has gotten in the way of relationships and how to cope with this through love and compromise.

2. What genres would you say this story is in?

Political.

3. How would you describe this story in two words?

Sadly topical.

4. What movie have you seen the most in your life?

The Big Lebowski

5. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)

I Will (The Beatles)

6. Do you have an all-time favorite novel?

The Cather in the Rye

7. What motivated you to write this story?

The sorry state of political discourse in our country and how it has needlessly and mindlessly divided us

8. If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

Paul McCartney

9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

I belong to Braver Angels. This organization brings Republicans and Democrats together to discuss issues in a fair, non-threatening and non-judgmental way. I firmly believe this is the way to a more unified and secure future for all of us.

10. What influenced you to enter your story to get performed?

I wanted to reach a wider audience with my message of love and compassion as the answer to divisive politics.

11. Any advice or tips you'd like to pass on to other writers?

Keep writing even when the pile of rejection keeps growing and the naysayers become too much to bear.