Hillary Clinton, former U.S. Secretary of State and past presidential candidate, launched her latest book and first novel titled "State of Terror" in collaboration with Canadian mystery and thriller writer Louise Penny. Clinton previewed the release of her first novel with a tweet on Twitter earlier this month, stating, "State of Terror is my first novel! It has been a labor of love with my friend and favorite mystery author Louise Penny; I can’t wait for you to read it." The novel is published in the United States by Simon & Schuster.
The story follows a novice Secretary of State named Ellen Adams, who has joined the administration of a new U.S. President, Douglas Williams. At the helm of American diplomacy, Ellen must uncover the threads of a global terrorist conspiracy involving Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran, with the help of a State Department employee of Lebanese descent and a Pakistani-American journalist.
"State of Terror" is not Clinton’s first book; she has authored several works including "It Takes a Village" (1996), "Living History" (2003), "Hard Choices" (2014), and "What Happened" (2017) following her defeat in the presidential election to former President Donald Trump. The release of "State of Terror" marks Clinton's first fictional work, raising significant questions about why leaders and politicians turn to writing fictional stories and novels, according to DW channel.
American writer Jacob Abel, who has studied the mental and physical health of U.S. presidents, believes that the desire for political leaders to write novels stems from their wish to leave a mark or legacy that documents their political lives. He added, "Political fame and fortune are often fleeting, so I can imagine that there is a desire to create a work that may endure beyond their time in office. Clearly, politicians are often more concerned about their legacy than most other figures, so writing plays an ideal role in meeting their psychological needs."
