Interview with Drew Benbow, author of The Devil's Politics
Di Angelo Publications sat down with Drew Benbow, author of The Devil’s Politics, and asked him a few questions about his novel, his writing/work process, and himself.
DAP: Can you give us a brief synopsis of your book?
Drew: The Devil’s Politics is a novel about two Black, identical twin brothers, Devon and Damion. As they have grown into adulthood, their paths have diverged. Eventually, Damion’s criminal behavior causes the estrangement of them. A judge gives Damion a literal get-out-of-jail free card in the form of conditioning the suspension of a jail sentence on Damion enlisting in the Army.
Old habits die hard for Damion, as he again finds himself in the middle of a criminal enterprise while deployed to Afghanistan that has hit men tracking him down to Devon’s Washington, D.C. doorstep.
Devon has his own battle to fight, as his conniving boss, a Republican member of Congress, has roped him into a national scandal, Devon being the only person who can save the Congressman’s political life.
Hitmen are closing in on them. The scandal induced media frenzy increases the pressure. Add to that a love triangle between the twins and a scorned woman, and Devon and Damion are compelled to reckon with their differences, testing the bond of their brotherhood.
DAP: What was the inspiration/motivation for writing your book?
Drew: I’ve always desired to author a book, but never seemed to have the time. When the world was in the throes of COVID in the summer of 2020, I spent my time behind the keyboard. This was also the summer of all the protests against police brutality and racial injustice. As a Black man observing the world around me, the only way for me to make sense of the rage I felt was to write. Writing also served as the perfect release valve. In the beginning, I didn’t set out to write a novel; it was just a stream of consciousness sort of process, where I jotted my ideas down. At about 5,000 words in, I began to notice natural chapter breaks. Three chapters turned to five, five to ten, and before I knew it, I was obsessed with the story.
DAP: What is the key takeaway you want people to have after reading your book?
Drew: More than a good story, this novel is my political manifesto. I want Americans—all Americans—to reimagine Black participation in this country’s political system. The aim here is to move the needle closer to a point where Black Americans enjoy greater political equality and empowerment. Because, ultimately, equality for all, pushes us closer to a more perfect Union.
DAP: What inspires you?
Drew: Progress inspires me. Every inch forward creates hope. And hope keeps me going. When I see someone buying a home in a place they would’ve been redlined out of half a century ago, or an out-of-control cop being held to account for his brutality, I’m hopeful that more can be done. And I’m inspired to do more myself.
DAP: What does your writing/working space look like?
Drew: My workspace is the world around me. When writing The Devil’s Politics, it was all consuming. I would get ideas in the shower, on a hike, or while driving my daughter, Audrey to the playground. I found myself writing on my tablet at bars, or on my phone, while waiting for an oil change. Most of my writing, however, was done on my desktop at my dining room table, toggling between the Google Docs file and old Cheers episodes.
DAP: What are you learning/listening to/reading right now?
Drew: I’m always looking, listening and learning. The only station I listen to in the car is WAMU, my local NPR station. Late at night, I catch myself going down YouTube rabbit holes, learning about everything from the civil war in Ethopia to DIY home improvement ideas.
My number one goal right now is having The Devil’s Politics adapted to a limited series on Netflix or one of the other major streaming services. So, I’ve been reading books on screenwriting, mainly a book called Save the Cat. I’m astounded by everything that goes into writing a script, and I’m eager to take this on as a new challenge.
DAP: Are there more books in your future? What about?
Drew: The success of The Devil’s Politics has certainly inspired me to write more. While I’m still in pleasant shock by its reception, I have begun working on the sequel. I’ll keep that storyline close hold for now. I’ve also been toying with the idea of writing a cute children’s book, to introduce kids to politics in a fun way.
DAP: How do you select the books you want to read?
Drew: I don’t select the books—they select me. Like most people, I’m drawn in first by the cover. If the description then captures me, I commit to reading at least 100 pages. If I’m not completely absorbed by then, the book goes on the shelf. My friends are also voracious readers. Half the books I read are based on their recommendations.
DAP: Is there a book that you’ve read multiple times? What is it, and why do you keep going back to it?
Drew: Hands down, that would be The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho. I read it at least twice a year. It inspires me to constantly seek out my own personal legend.
DAP: Share one fun fact about yourself, something that your readers would never guess.
Drew: I’m addicted to travel. I’ve been to at least 50 countries so far. I love airports—the hum and hustle of people rushing to catch flights, the excitement of strangers breaking away from their daily lives en route to their vacation destinations, the sound of announcers over the intercom, and the anticipation of my trip to come. I typically arrive at the airport at least four hours in advance for this experience. And I book flights with long layovers in cool places just for the opportunity to explore a new city even if just to have lunch there.
Click here to order a copy of The Devil’s Politics.