The Hollow Soul
GENRE
DRAMA POLITICAL ACTION ADVENTURE
Core Theme
BELIEVING IN YOUR HERITAGE TO FORGE YOUR FUTURE.
TIME PERIOD
1980s & '90s
COMPARABLE TITLES
HOUSE OF CARDS, THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT
CHARACTER LIST
MAYA: 30S. LEAD. A WOMAN WHOSE HAD LOSS IS LIFE AND IS IMMERSED IN NATIVE CULTURE.
JOSEPH: 35-39. A NATIVE AMERICAN INVOLVED IN GOVERNMENT FOR THE BETTERMENT OF HIS PEOPLE, HE BECOMES MAYA'S LOVER.
JOEL WATTENBERG: 38-40. THE POTUS'S CHIEF OF STAFF WHO WANTS JOSEPH TAKEN OUT.
TANNER: 35-40. MAYA'S BOSS AND MENTOR IN THE FBI.
THE PRESIDENT: 50S-70S. INTERESTED IN FINDING AN OPPONENT HE CAN BEAT, AND HONES IN ON JOSEPH.
O'TOOLE: 50S-60S. FBI DIRECTOR IN CHARGE OF THE JOSEPH OPERATION.
Logline
This is a fictional novel about a political game where a man on a mythical search becomes obsessed with his power to save the world. And the woman who represents our government to seek out his hidden validity, but who must look inside her own soul for that key.
Target Audiences
Age: 18-34,35-54,55+
Target Gender: Universal
Setting
Arizona, Boston, Washington DC
Based on a True Story
No
Publishing Details
Status: Yes: self-published
Publisher: Amazon KDP
Year Published: 2021
Starting Description
We meet a woman who is running away, using a fake identity, to hide from the government; we wonder who she is, what she is running away from and how it happened.
Ending Description
The story comes full circle, after we have learned about the political games played, who has survived and who hasn't, and what this woman needs to do to save the world.
Group Specific
Information not completed
Hard Copy Available
Yes
ISBN
9798721521751
Mature Audience Themes
Information not completed
Plot - Other Elements
Meaningful Message,Philosophical Questions,Twist
Plot - Premise
Internal Journey/Rebirth,Quest
Main Character Details
Name: Maya Chardon
Age: 35
Gender: Female
Role: Logical
Key Traits: Complex,Confident,Blunt,Engaging,Educated,Honorable,Secretive
Additional Character Details
Name: Joseph Pahana
Age: 35-39
Gender: Male
Role: Protagonist
Key Traits: Masculine,Patriotic,Religious,Outspoken,Confident,Complex,Charming,Aspiring,Heroic,Educated,Honorable,Leader,Strong Moral Code,Skillful
Additional Character Details
Name: Presidential Chief of Staff Joel Wattenberg
Age: 38-40
Gender: Male
Role: antagonist
Key Traits: Aspiring,Badass,Aggressive,Complex,Confident,Crazy,Villainous,Decisive,Power Hungry,Skillful,Greedy,Sarcastic,Secretive,Educated,Leader
Additional Character Details
Name: Elliott Tanner, FBI Supervisor
Age: 40-45
Gender: Male
Role: mentor
Key Traits: Masculine,Aggressive,Complex,Confident,Decisive,Skillful,Educated,Leader,Secretive
Genre
ACTION, POLITICS, RELIGION, DRAMA, ROMANCE
Brief
Joseph Pahana is a charismatic leader of Indian American roots who seems to have all it takes to be the next American President. During his journey, Joseph falls in love with Maya. The feelings towards each other are true and solid but not enough to keep Joseph from losing his essence and becoming corrupt in his quest for power. They end up apart, with a tragical ending to Joseph.
Overall Rating
EXCELLENT
Narrative Elements
Authors Writing Style: EXCELLENT
Characterization: GOOD
Commerciality: GOOD
Franchise Potential: GOOD
Pace: EXCELLENT
Premise: GOOD
Structure: EXCELLENT
Theme: EXCELLENT
Accuracy of Book Profile
Book Profile reflects book accurately.
Draw of Story
The elaborated political environment and the games played behind the curtains of power are certainly the most enticing things about the story.
Possible Drawbacks
Nothing made me want to put the book down.
Use of Special Effects
THE STORY RELIES A LITTLE BIT ON SPECIAL EFFECTS
Primary Hook of Story
I would watch this movie due to the original plot which is able to involve Indian American spiritual forces and games of power in the White House.
Fanbase Potential
It could have a large fanbase if adapted because narrative is solid, characters are unusual and story can be surprising.
Awards Potential
It could have awards potential if adapted as it involves both political and spiritual universes, which would demand interesting visuals and acting.
Envisioned Budget
MEDIUM BUDGET
Similar Films/TV Series
HOUSE OF CARDS, THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT
What’s New About the Story
The most original thing about this story is certainly a well-tied narrative able to combine both the richness of culture and beliefs of Hopi tribes and the nastiness and sophisticated nets of American politics in the journey of two charismatic characters.
Lead Characters
Joseph is a charismatic attorney and a mixture of white and native american who has the chance of becoming a great politician and bring justice to the nation but loses himself in the process. Maya is a wise woman who is mysterious and as the reader gets to know her, her vulnerabilities also come into play.
Uniqueness of Story
It is a rare gem.
Possible Formats
Film: Studio, Indie, Streaming TV Series: Network, Cable, Limited Run / Mini-Series, Streaming
Analyst Recommendation
RECOMMEND
Justification
I recommend it because the story is original, characters are charismatic and there is a clear arc, narrative is well tied and there is enough action to involve the audience.
Brief
Joseph Pahana is a charismatic leader of Indian American roots who seems to have all it takes to be the next American President. During his journey, Joseph falls in love with Maya. The feelings towards each other are true and solid but not enough to keep Joseph from losing his essence and becoming corrupt in his quest for power. They end up apart, with a tragical ending to Joseph.
What We Liked
This book has very interesting characters. Maya is a Native American woman who studies her heritage academically, while working for the FBI to help repair relations with the government for her people. She falls for Joseph, a handsome and charming man from a different tribe who has used his great skills as a lawyer to help his people and is now probably running for President. Put these two together, and you have a profound and fascinating combination. Joseph is rock-solid in his beliefs while Maya is still hesitant over things like the supernatural elements of their heritages. They both end up in danger which intensified the urgency of their beliefs and makes for a compelling story.
Besides the beautiful scenery in the American Southwest that begs to be in more films, it's a compact and tense story that is well-structured for a film. The characters are compelling and there is plenty of interesting and exciting events that occur. You have elements like politics and the highest stakes and murder plots juxtaposed with personal stories about religion and love.
Key points:
Government murder plots
Mysterious Native Americans
Attractive and compelling leads
Great scenery
Profound religion and mysticism stories
Synopsis
The President and his advisors decide that a young Native American, Joseph, will be a good opponent for him in the next election and endeavor to find out everything about him. The FBI sends Maya, a Native American who's studied their culture, to get close to Joseph.
Maya and Joseph embark on a romantic relationship as she tries to reconcile her own religious beliefs with Joseph's, which are very hard core and include the supernatural. When she finds out the government will now be killing Joseph if he runs for President, she warns him - then leaves him because she cannot agree with his beliefs. All hell breaks loose as natural disasters destroy cities and FBI agents are being killed for knowing too much. Maya is given a ticket back to the Hopi tribe and a new identity.
Maya heads back to the Hopi village and finds out that Joseph has made plans for them. She now believes in him wholly. He's moving the Hopi to a Mayan civilization and Maya is to be their leader. Also, she is pregnant with his child who will also be a leader someday.