Grant Cogswell

Grant Cogswell (born October 24, 1967) is an American screenwriter, independent film producer journalist, poet, and political activist.

Though at the outset the chances of success were rated low by the media, Cogswell was recognized as a legitimate challenger, but his hopes were dashed by the occurrence of the primary election just seven days after the September 11 attacks.

[citation needed] He co-founded the People's Waterfront Coalition with architect Cary Moon in 2004, intending to fight the proposed replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a new freeway.

The book's original title came from a book-length poem Cogswell was writing at the time of the election, which was an elegy for Seattle congressman Marion Zioncheck, who committed suicide in 1936.

Film rights to the book were purchased by producer/director Stephen Gyllenhaal, and production began on his adaptation under the title Grassroots in June 2010.