"It Can Happen Here: A Prehistory of the 2016 Presidential Election" was begun in 2011 and finished early the following year. It is a story that looks forward to tell the imagined history of the candidates seeking the Presidency, their election, and ultimate abuse of power.A fanatical village mayor, Samuel Parsons, becomes governor, Vice Presidential candidate, and ultimately President of the United States. Juxtaposed with his story is that of Hal Simpson, a small town newspaper editor balancing his family, job, and reputation as he finds himself increasingly out of step with the powers that be. As the President becomes assumes dictatorial powers and pushes the country into war, Simpson must decide if fair and balanced news reporting is worth the risk of imprisonment.A story rooted as much in the Presidential elections of 2008 and 2012 as that of 2016, "It Can Happen Here" is a tale of ambition and conscience, asking the reader to decide how far freedom can be compromised in order to save it.