THE NEXT PRESIDENT IS GOING TO BE A WOMAN... Catherine Young, Vice President and newly-anointed Democratic nominee, is surging in the polls. The race is on against GOP candidate Jerusha Hutchins, folksy charmer and blonde beauty, who is the darling of the far-right Liberty Party. Jerusha is married to a powerful televangelist minister and has a lot of support. But with political wunderkind Zane Zarillo running her campaign, Catherine is bound to hold her lead. Suddenly a medical emergency puts the President in the hospital and forces Catherine to act in his place... a perfect opportunity for her to show her Oval Office stuff. Just when her election looks like a sure thing, Catherine's romantic fling from decades ago comes to light. Will the American public accept a woman with a past? Blackmail, a cat-and-mouse chase through the streets of D.C., and a hostage crisis bring the new and old media circus to a frenzy as sexual politics and racial tension collide in this sizzling campaign season thriller. Amazon Kindle bestseller in political fiction. 50,000+ copies downloaded to date 5.5 out of 5 stars - Top Pick Underground Book Reviews What Amazon readers are saying: I picked up RUNNING on Saturday evening and put it down on Sunday at 8:15pm... what a ride From the strong female lead to the charmer turned villain, the political intrigue and the romantic longing for what might have been, I was riveted to my Kindle. Trying to concentrate on some gardening I found my mind returning to the book and gave up on the roses to head back to the wonderfully rich world that Ms. Fitzgerald has created. (My boys had to make their own dinner but the dog and cat did get fed ) ... RUNNING had me up till the wee hours of the morning And, when I was not reading it, I was thinking about the characters. This book is at times funny, heartbreaking, and suspenseful. ... writing, pace, and storyline were so good that I found myself putting off other things so I could keep reading. ... it grabbed me and didn't let go. With a fast-paced plot and an unerring feel for the cinematic, Fitzgerald creates a thriller that will resonate not just with political junkies like myself, but the suspense-thriller reader as well. ... Fitzgerald did a superb job with the different points of view. The voices were powerful and distinct. Catherine grew as a woman, a mother, a candidate and an individual, and the blackmailer (I don't want to give too much away) rapidly spiraled, causing the reader to both hate and pity him while looking upon him with absolute disgust. ... Several times, all I could do was shake my head at the truth behind the scenes. ... Mark my words: Patrice Fitzgerald has a bestseller in the making I read the whole novel in one sitting, it was that good. ... This story is crying out for a movie adaptation, you'll mentally be casting it as you read It breezily moves along the way to a thrilling conclusion, with never a dull moment. ... This is a great piece of writing that belongs on every bestseller list in the country. ... Can't believe this is a first novel... ... I loved this book from the very beginning ... Just when you thought you knew where the story was going it surprised you. ... Terrific plot - I had to keep turning the pages (metaphorically speaking). The characters were intriguing and I had no idea how it would end - always a good thing when you're reading for escape Looking forward to the next one. ... A stunning suspense novel ... You will not be sorry to purchase this -- it's a great read.