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Andrew Klavan

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Andrew Klavan
Klavan in 2018
Klavan in 2018
Born (1954-07-13) July 13, 1954 (age 70)
New York City, U.S.
Pen nameKeith Peterson
OccupationWriter, political commentator
Alma materUniversity of California, Berkeley (BA)
GenreMystery, thriller and crime[1]
Spouse
Ellen Flanagan
​
(m. 1980)​
Children2
Relatives Thomas Flanagan (father-in-law)
Caitlin Flanagan (sister-in-law)
Website
www.andrewklavan.com

Andrew Klavan (/ˈkleɪvən/; born July 13, 1954) is an American novelist and conservative political commentator. He has also worked in film and as an essayist and video satirist. He is also known for being a political commentator and hosts The Andrew Klavan Show podcast on the conservative site The Daily Wire.

Biography

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Early life

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Klavan was born to a secular Jewish family in New York City and grew up in Great Neck, Long Island as one of four sons born to father Gene Klavan, a New York disc jockey, and mother Phyllis, a homemaker.[2] He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in English Literature.[3] He worked as a radio and newspaper reporter and a radio news writer before becoming a full-time writer.

Marriage and children

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In 1980, he married Ellen Flanagan, daughter of Thomas Flanagan and sister of Caitlin Flanagan.[4] They have two children[5] and live in Nashville, Tennessee.

Conversion to Christianity

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Klavan converted to Christianity at the age of 49 and was baptized privately.[6][7] Initially he attended the Episcopal Church, but has since left for the Anglican Catholic Church.[citation needed]

Career

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Klavan began his crime-writing career using the pseudonym Keith Peterson. Under that name he wrote The John Wells book series, a mystery series about a crime-solving newspaper reporter, and The Scarred Man, his first novel of psychological suspense.[citation needed]

Under his own name, Klavan has written crime novels, and the Homelanders series for young adults. His novels have been translated around the world. He has won two Edgar Awards from the Mystery Writers of America, the Thumping Good Read Award from W.H. Smith, and been nominated for Anthony Awards and the International Thriller Writers award.[citation needed]

True Crime was filmed by Clint Eastwood in 1999. Don’t Say a Word was filmed starring Michael Douglas in 2001. Donald Cammell's 1987 White of the Eye was based on the novel Mrs. White, which Klavan co-wrote under the pseudonym Margaret Tracy with his brother, playwright Laurence Klavan. Andrew wrote the screenplay for the 1990 Michael Caine film Shock to the System, based on the novel by Simon Brett, and for the 2008 horror film One Missed Call, which starred Shannyn Sossamon and Ed Burns. He also wrote the screenplay for the movie-in-an-app Haunting Melissa and its sequel, Haunting Melissa 2: Dark Hearts. He scripted the 2018 film Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer, a crime film based on the true story of an abortion doctor convicted of murder.[8]

Klavan has produced several satirical online video series including Klavan on the Culture for PJ Media, The Revolting Truth for TruthRevolt, and A Very Serious Commentary for Glenn Beck's Blaze Media. He currently does a weekly podcast for the Daily Wire called the Andrew Klavan Show.[9]

The Great Good Thing: A Secular Jew Comes to Faith in Christ, Klavan's first non-fiction book, was published in 2016. It is a memoir of his spiritual journey from secular Judaism and agnosticism to Christianity.[3]

Klavan's 36th novel, was published in 2021 and features themes of Christmas, tradition, and murder. It is a thriller novel situated in an idyllic town.[10]

Political views

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After graduating from Berkeley, Klavan began his writing career as a liberal. He became a conservative during the Reagan administration.[11][12] He has both praised and criticized former US president Donald Trump. Klavan supports gun rights,[13] gay marriage[14] and freedom of speech.[15]

Awards

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Klavan's book Mrs. White, which he wrote under the pen-name Margaret Tracy, won the 1984 Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original.[16] In 1989, his novel Trapdoor was nominated in the Best Paperback Original category.[16] In 1990, he won the Edgar Award in the Best Paperback Original category for The Rain, as well as a nomination at the 1990 Anthony Awards for Rough Justice in the paperback category.[16][17] Klavan was nominated for an Edgar Award for Best Novel in 1992 for his first novel, Don't Say a Word.[18] He received an Anthony Awards nomination at the 1996 ceremony for True Crime in the Best Novel category.[17]

Books

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Standalone books

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  • Face of the Earth (1977)
  • Agnes Mallory (1985)
  • Mrs. White (1987) (as Margaret Tracy, with Laurence Klavan)
  • There Fell a Shadow (1988) (as Keith Peterson)
  • The Rain (1988) (as Keith Peterson)
  • Darling Clementine (1988)
  • The Trapdoor (1988) (as Keith Peterson)
  • Son of Man (1988)
  • The Scarred Man (1989) (as Keith Peterson)
  • Rough Justice (1989) (as Keith Peterson)
  • Don't Say a Word (1991)
  • The Animal Hour (1992)
  • Corruption (1993)
  • True Crime (1995)
  • Suicide (1995)
  • The Uncanny (1998)
  • Hunting Down Amanda (1999)
  • Man and Wife (2001)
  • Dynamite Road (2003)
  • Shotgun Alley (2004)
  • Damnation Street (2006)
  • Empire of Lies (2008)
  • The Identity Man (2010)
  • Crazy Dangerous (2012) ISBN 9781595547934
  • If We Survive (2012) ISBN 9781595547965
  • Nightmare City (2013) ISBN 9781595547972
  • A Killer in the Wind (2013) ISBN 9780802122254
  • Werewolf Cop (2016) ISBN 9781605989730
  • The Great Good Thing: A Secular Jew Comes to Faith in Christ (2016)
  • The Truth and Beauty (2022)

The Homelanders series

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"Homelanders" redirects here. For The Boys character, see Homelander.
  • The Homelanders: The Last Thing I Remember (2009)
  • The Homelanders: The Long Way Home (2010)
  • The Homelanders: The Truth of the Matter (2010)
  • The Homelanders: The Final Hour (2011)

The Mindwar trilogy

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  • Mindwar (2014)
  • Hostage Run (2016)
  • Game Over (2016)

The Another Kingdom trilogy

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  • Another Kingdom (2019)
  • The Nightmare Feast (2020)
  • The Emperor's Sword (2021)

The Cameron Winter Series

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Audio plays

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  • Another Kingdom: Season 1 (2017)
  • Another Kingdom: Season 2 (2018)
  • Another Kingdom: Season 3 (2019)

Filmography

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Year Title Notes
1987 White of the Eye Based on Mrs. White
1990 A Shock to the System Screenplay
1999 True Crime Based on True Crime
2001 Don't Say a Word Based on Don't Say a Word
2008 One Missed Call Screenplay
2013 N.Y.C. Underground Screenplay
2018 Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer Screenplay
2023 Lady Ballers[19] Cameo appearance

References

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  1. ^ "Andrew Klavan".
  2. ^ Martin, Douglas (April 9, 2004). "Gene Klavan, Radio Show Host, Dies at 79". The New York Times.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "The Great Good Thing: A Secular Jew Comes to Faith in Christ". Publishers Weekly. July 11, 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  4. ^ Robinson, Peter (August 2, 2008). "That Despicable Winston Churchill". National Review. ....reminded me of an exchange I had with my father-in-law, Thomas Flanagan, brilliant guy, old school academic lefty. Flanagan, the author of a marvelous trilogy of novels about Ireland, the first of which is "The Year of the French," taught at Berkeley
  5. ^ "How a Secular Jew Came to Faith in Jesus Christ". The Christian Post. September 26, 2016.
  6. ^ Andrew Klavan | Can We Keep Silent in a World Gone Mad?. Hillsdale College. April 19, 2019. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2022 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ "The Andrew Klavan Show - The Truth and Beauty PART I: Understanding The Words of Jesus Christ". The Andrew Klavan Show. Retrieved March 31, 2022 – via Google Podcasts.
  8. ^ "Review: 'Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer,' a none-too-subtle take on real-life courtroom drama". Los Angeles Times. October 11, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  9. ^ "Westwood One's Podcast Portfolio Gaining Momentum with New Shows". Westwood One. February 23, 2017. Archived from the original on June 23, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  10. ^ Klavan, Andrew (November 16, 2021). When Christmas Comes (A Yuletide Mystery): Klavan, Andrew: 9781613162408: Amazon.com: Books. National Geographic Books. ISBN 978-1613162408.
  11. ^ Jesse Lee Peterson vs Destiny: 1v3 Election Debate Panel. Destiny. October 30, 2020. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2022 – via YouTube.
  12. ^ "Andrew Klavan on the Criticality of Conservative Competition in Culture, Regressive Progressivism, Political Correctness, Free Speech". Ben Weingarten. June 6, 2018. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  13. ^ News Desk (May 25, 2022). "Andrew Klavan: 'Gun rights are central to defending' America's 'unique system of Government' - The Global Herald". Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  14. ^ "Doug Wilson Hosting Pro-Gay Marriage Speaker at his Conference for High School Kids". Pulpit & Pen. July 7, 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  15. ^ "Andrew Klavan asserts 'no idea is too hateful to discuss' in talk on America's 'Judeo-Christian' values". May 15, 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  16. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Best Paperback Original Mystery Novel Edgar Award Winners and Nominees - Complete Lists". Mysterynet.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2012. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
  17. ^ Jump up to: a b "Bouchercon World Mystery Convention : Anthony Awards Nominees". Bouchercon.info. October 2, 2003. Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
  18. ^ "Best Mystery Novel Edgar Award Winners and Nominees - Complete Lists". Mysterynet.com. Archived from the original on December 15, 2012. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
  19. ^ "Lady Ballers (2023) ⭐ 6.1 | Comedy, Sport". IMDb.
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