Author Talk: October 16, 2014
Andrew Grant is the author of the David Trevellyan novels, a three-book thriller series that revolves around a professional spy. His latest book, RUN, is a stand-alone thriller that introduces readers to computer consultant and software engineer Marc Bowman --- who, unlike Trevellyan, is a layperson like you and me. When Bowman’s world falls apart, he finds himself in more danger than he ever could have imagined, to the point where he can no longer tell friend from foe. In this interview, Grant discusses why he chose to make his new protagonist so relatable --- including the challenges he faced in getting Bowman realistically out of sticky situations. He also talks about the surprising parallel between Bowman and pop artist Roy Lichtenstein, and why writing a book at the same time that his wife [Lady Emily author Tasha Alexander] was writing her own was less hectic than you would think.
Question: You've given your “hired-gun” computer consultant Marc Bowman so many obstacles. He's fired, his wife/co-worker Carolyn sides with the company and then disappears. Then the FBI comes calling. What inspired this character and this storyline?
Andrew Grant: Everyone knows what it feels like to have a bad day. A REALLY bad day where everything that can go wrong does go wrong. I hoped that in setting up my hero so that the bottom is torn out of his world, piece by agonizing piece, I could create a character that readers would sympathize with, and a world they would relate to. Even if I did take things to a bit of an extreme…
Q: Exactly what role did the Chicago Institute of Art play in this book?
AG: Back in August of 2012, I was walking around with a semi-developed picture in my head of how I wanted the hero of my new book to look. I knew I wanted him to be a civilian, über-competent in his own high-tech field, and maybe a little more comfortable dealing with computers than people. But I also knew I needed more: an extra element that rounded out his character and illustrated what makes him tick. I was still trying to figure out what this could be when I visited the Lichtenstein exhibition that the Art Institute was hosting that summer. I remember gazing at the trademark shading in one of Lichtenstein’s giant paintings and being hit by the realization that in a way, my hero worked with the same tools. Only instead of dots and lines, he dealt in zeros and ones, and this parallel became a key theme throughout the personal and professional aspects of the book.
Q: This is your first book for Random House. What did you set out to accomplish in kicking off this series?
AG: My aim was to stretch myself as a writer, so rather than continuing with a professional intelligence service agent as I’d done in my previous series, I decided to head in a completely different direction. This time, I thought it would be interesting to create a normal, familiar world that readers would recognize, drop in the kind of guy who could easily be their next-door neighbor, then turn everything on its head to see how far a person like that would go to save himself and his family.
Q: Obviously Marc and Caroline face challenges beyond those of most marriages. How was that a challenge as the writer?
AG: This aspect was extremely challenging. Being turned on by your spouse must be the most profound kind of betrayal. I’m fortunate to never have had that experience myself, so instead I had to think back to my corporate days and try to channel the kind of ruthless backstabbing I used to frequently witness in and around the boardroom.
Q: What part of the story was your biggest writing challenge and why?
AG: Any part where Marc was faced with physical danger or needed some kind of specialist knowledge to get out of trouble was challenging to write. As I mentioned, the hero of my previous series was a professional agent, so overcoming assailants or recognizing when someone was attempting to lure him into a trap was second nature to him. This time, however, I had to work much harder to come up with cunning and innovative ways for Marc to outwit his enemies and remain on the RUN.
Q: You are married to historical fiction author Tasha Alexander, author of the just-released THE COUNTERFEIT HEIRESS. Did that make for a hectic household with both of you writing novels for fall release?
AG: In a strange kind of way, it actually made for a less hectic household! Tasha is by nature a morning person, and likes to start writing at the crack of dawn. I, on the other hand, am at my most productive much later in the day, and prefer to keep working long after the sun has set. As our deadlines approach, our habits become more extreme --- Tasha waking ever earlier in the morning, and me regressing even deeper into a nocturnal state --- so that on occasion we actually found ourselves passing on the landing, me heading to bed as she was getting up.
