FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 1, 2007

MUW professor writes novel

By Jill D. O’Bryant
  
COLUMBUS, Miss. -- Dr. James D. Ward, associate professor of political science at Mississippi University for Women, recently published his first novel, “Fuhrer’s Heart: An American Story.”
   
A suspense thriller set in the New Orleans academic world, “Fuhrer’s Heart” combines suspicious deaths, action and conspiracies with a mix of racial tension and political commentary.
   
“I have always wanted to write,” Ward said. “However, I avoided creative writing for most of my life in order to first pursue a career in journalism and later a career as a political science professor. Fortunately, experiences from both professions were instrumental in the writing of ‘Fuhrer's Heart: An American Story.’”
   
In addition to using his experience in journalism and political science, Ward, a former news reporter for WCBI-TV in Columbus, also drew on his experience as a New Orleans resident in the 1990s when Louisiana voters were affected by the magnetism of white supremacist David Duke in his bid for high political office.
   
“Aspiring writers are advised to write about what they know best,” Ward said. “So, the novel is set in academia and deals with hidden racism and the role the news media play in our everyday lives.”
   
One of the main characters, a young African-American named Michael Woods, achieves his dream of earning a doctoral degree in an effort to escape the working class lifestyle of his family. After graduation, he is recruited by New Orleans’ Institute for Public Policy that has been secretly infiltrated by white supremacists.
   
Available in hardcover and paperback, “Fuhrer’s Heart” may be purchased soon at major online booksellers including barnesandnoble.com, borders.com and amazon.com. It is currently available at the MUW bookstore, the Book Mart in Starkville and online at www.xlibris.com/fuhrersheart.htm or by calling (888) 795-4274, ext. 876.