For part-time Whidbey Island resident and author Tom Layne, a near tragedy in his life was transformed, spilling onto the page as a taut political thriller.

Layne, a pseudonym for Thomas Sherman, first sat down and cut his teeth at the writing game during the agonizing two-year period he was forced to wait for his wife Burma’s heart transplant at the University of Washington Medical Center.

“Burma’s heart condition inspired me in that she showed so much courage when she could have easily sunk into despair,” he said. “I actually started writing to occupy my time during those one and two-week stretches she would be in the hospital before she got her new heart.”

Adding to the anxiety and direness of the situation, Burma suffered a series of increasingly serious heart attacks right up until her successful transplant.

“On one occasion when I was visiting her in the hospital, one of her friends suggested that I write a book to keep from going crazy,” Layne said. “I went home and wrote a novel in about three weeks. It was awful and I threw it away. But the experience convinced me I could actually write a book.”

Undeterred and infused with a newfound optimism, Layne took the turmoil in his life and channeled the energy. He produced another novel, which he said was better, but not strong enough to consider for publication. Inspiration struck one day while the author was watching a news program on television in which a democrat was decrying the influence of talk radio on the election. The idea for “The Assassination of Rush Limbaugh” was hatched.

“I thought, what if the democrats really thought they could never regain the White House as long as Rush Limbaugh was on the air,” he said. “This time I took more time and did some pretty extensive research.”

Layne was inspired by his favorite writer James Clavell, known for his exhaustive research and thick novels capable of dropping a bull elk at 100 yards if hurled at the right velocity.

“[Clavell] was so good at his research and I wanted to try to emulate his efforts,” he said. “Of course, I’m not nearly the writer he was and don’t expect that I ever will be, but his work gave me inspiration to do this book right.”

The novel begins with two immigrant families in search of the American dream. One family takes up law, politics, and police work, while the other family descends into a life of crime. For the better part of a century, the families’ courses fatefully intertwine. How they end up at Limbaugh’s doorsteps makes for a riveting tale that should effectively thrill liberals and conservatives alike.

In the book’s climax, FBI Special Agent Jody Farmer, the latest member of the French immigrant family, finds herself in a losing race with Incubo, hit man for the Sicilian immigrant family, to prevent the shooting of America’s number one talk radio host.

Layne retired from dentistry out of boredom and founded an oil and gas production, and marketing company in Oklahoma, which he built into a $100 million business.

“In 1993, I sold all my interests in the energy business and retired to the good life,” he said.

The “good life” quickly spiraled when Burma developed severe heart disease. She finally received the heart transplant in February, 2003. Layne and his wife now divide their time between Tulsa, Okla. and Oak Harbor, where they spend their summers. With Layne’s current, lengthy book tour, their stays on Whidbey may be truncated this summer and next year.

An Oklahoma native, Layne is effusive when discussing the friendliness of Washingtonians, likening their personableness to people in his home state. The natural beauty on Whidbey Island is also a perk for the discerning couple.

“We’ve been in every state in the Union and over 15 countries,” he said. “The Pacific Northwest offers the best weather and beauty we’ve ever found anywhere in summertime. Also, the residents of Oklahoma and Washington are the friendliest people we’ve ever known.”

Layne’s novel has now been released and sales are expected to increase as promotion ramps up. When not on tour at book signings, hitting the links, or spending time with family, he is busy piecing together two new books.

“I’ve got a couple of other books whirling around in my head now, and when the book tour for this one is finished, I’ll start working on them,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll see them published in a couple of years.”

Interested readers can peruse sample chapters of Layne’s current release at www.TheAssassinationOf

RushLimbaugh.com.