Washington, D.C.'s Newest Novelists: Downie and Germond

By: Joe Strupp Two of Washington, D.C.'s top veteran journalists, Leonard Downie Jr. and Jack Germond, are turning to fiction for their next writing projects. And both claim their made-up tales -- a first for each -- will not be veiled attempts to write about real people.

Downie, executive editor of The Washington Post and a three-time non-fiction author, says his unnamed book, which is being shopped around for a publisher, has been something of a hobby for several years.

"Instead of woodworking, I do this," says Downie, who has run the Post newsroom since 1991. "I am waiting to see if a publisher is going to buy it."

Downie says only that the book "is about investigative reporting, politics and other stuff in Washington. It is fiction. What is real in it are the places in Washington and the situations and the issues. The plot and characters are fictional, not based on anyone."

Germond, the retired political columnist whose career included stints at The Washington Star and The Sun of Baltimore, authored numerous books with former partner Jules Witcover, as well as several on his own.

But he says the novel he is writing is a new adventure.

"I wanted to prove that an old dog can still do new tricks," he tells E&P. "It is an entirely different experience."

Germond declined to offer specific of the story, noting only that it involves corruption in high public office. "I promised my wife and my agent I wouldn't embarrass myself if it is bad," Germond says, declaring it would not be published if he does not deem it worthy. "I just never did it before and it was one of those things where I have the time and the issues are insider, but important."