Andrew Klavan

{{Infobox writer

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| caption = Klavan in 2018

| pseudonym = Keith Peterson

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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1954|07|13}}

| birth_place = New York City, U.S.

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| occupation = Writer, political commentator

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| alma_mater = University of California, Berkeley (BA)

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| spouse = {{marriage|Ellen Flanagan|1980}}

| children = 2

| relatives = {{nowrap| Thomas Flanagan (father-in-law)
Caitlin Flanagan (sister-in-law) }}

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| website = {{URL|http://www.andrewklavan.com}}

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| genre = Mystery, thriller and crime{{Cite web|url=https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/271685.Andrew_Klavan|title = Andrew Klavan}}

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Andrew Klavan ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|l|eɪ|v|ən}}; 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.

Early life and education

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/09/arts/gene-klavan-radio-show-host-dies-at-79.html|title=Gene Klavan, Radio Show Host, Dies at 79|first=Douglas|last=Martin|date=April 9, 2004|work=The New York Times}} He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in English Literature.{{cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-7180-1734-7|title=The Great Good Thing: A Secular Jew Comes to Faith in Christ

|date=July 11, 2016 |publisher=Publishers Weekly|access-date=December 31, 2018}} He worked as a radio and newspaper reporter and a radio news writer before becoming a full-time writer.

Career

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|date=March 2020}}

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|date=March 2020}}

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 the Kermit Gosnell trial.{{cite web |date=October 11, 2018 |title=Review: 'Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer,' a none-too-subtle take on real-life courtroom drama |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-capsule-gosnell-trial-serial-killer-review-20181011-story.html |access-date=May 2, 2022 |website=Los Angeles Times }}

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.{{cite web |url=https://www.westwoodone.com/2017/02/23/westwood-ones-podcast-portfolio-gaining-momentum-with-new-shows-from-sports-pundits-paul-pabst-andrew-perloff-political-outsiders-ben-shapiro-andrew-klavan-and-miss-new-york-us-iman-ou/ |title=Westwood One's Podcast Portfolio Gaining Momentum with New Shows |date=February 23, 2017 |publisher=Westwood One |access-date=June 18, 2019 |archive-date=June 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190623171053/https://www.westwoodone.com/2017/02/23/westwood-ones-podcast-portfolio-gaining-momentum-with-new-shows-from-sports-pundits-paul-pabst-andrew-perloff-political-outsiders-ben-shapiro-andrew-klavan-and-miss-new-york-us-iman-ou/ |url-status=dead }}

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.

Klavan's 36th novel, “When Christmas comes”, was published in 2021 and features themes of Christmas, tradition, and murder. It is a thriller novel situated in an idyllic town.{{Cite book|title=When Christmas Comes (A Yuletide Mystery): Klavan, Andrew: 9781613162408: Amazon.com: Books|isbn=978-1613162408 |last1=Klavan |first1=Andrew |date=November 16, 2021 |publisher=National Geographic Books }}

Political views

After graduating from Berkeley, Klavan began his writing career as a liberal. He became a conservative during the Reagan administration.{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtGovEfzG8U |title=Jesse Lee Peterson vs Destiny: 1v3 Election Debate Panel |date=October 30, 2020 |publisher=Destiny |access-date=February 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130010022/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtGovEfzG8U |archive-date=November 30, 2021 |url-status=live |via=YouTube}}{{Cite web |date=June 6, 2018 |title=Andrew Klavan on the Criticality of Conservative Competition in Culture, Regressive Progressivism, Political Correctness, Free Speech |url=https://benweingarten.com/2018/06/andrew-klavan-conservative-competition-culture/ |access-date=April 1, 2022 |website=Ben Weingarten |language=en-US}} He has both praised and criticized US president Donald Trump. Klavan supports gun rights{{Cite web |author=News Desk |date=May 25, 2022 |title=Andrew Klavan: 'Gun rights are central to defending' America's 'unique system of Government' - The Global Herald |url=https://theglobalherald.com/news/andrew-klavan-gun-rights-are-central-to-defending-americas-unique-system-of-government/ |access-date=June 5, 2023 |language=en-US}} and freedom of speech.{{Cite web |date=May 15, 2019 |title=Andrew Klavan asserts 'no idea is too hateful to discuss' in talk on America's 'Judeo-Christian' values |url=https://stanforddaily.com/2019/05/15/andrew-klavan-asserts-no-idea-is-too-hateful-to-discuss-in-talk-on-americas-judeo-christian-values/ |access-date=June 5, 2023 |language=en-US}}

Books

= Standalone books =

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 Kingdom of Cain: Finding God in the Literature of Darkness (2025)

=''The Homelanders'' series=

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 =

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

= The ''Another Kingdom'' trilogy =

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

= The ''Cameron Winter'' Series =

When Christmas Comes (2021) {{ISBN|978-1-61316240-8}}
A Strange Habit Of Mind (2022) {{ISBN|978-1-61316351-1}}
The House of Love and Death (2023) {{ISBN|978-1-61316446-4}}
A Woman Underground (2024) {{ISBN|978-1-61316553-9}}{{cite web |title=ISBN 9781613165539 |url=https://isbnsearch.org/isbn/9781613165539 |website=isbnsearch.org}}

Audio plays

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

Filmography

class="wikitable"
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 \|Cameo appearance

class="wikitable"

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

|Cameo appearance

Accolades

Klavan's book Mrs. White, which he wrote under the pen-name Margaret Tracy, won the 1984 Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original.{{cite web |title=Best Paperback Original Mystery Novel Edgar Award Winners and Nominees - Complete Lists |url=http://www.mysterynet.com/edgars/previous/original/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121220075006/http://www.mysterynet.com/edgars/previous/original/ |archive-date=December 20, 2012 |access-date=March 22, 2012 |publisher=Mysterynet.com}} In 1989, his novel Trapdoor was nominated in the Best Paperback Original category. 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.{{cite web |date=October 2, 2003 |title=Bouchercon World Mystery Convention : Anthony Awards Nominees |url=http://www.bouchercon.info/nominees.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207060829/http://www.bouchercon.info/nominees.html |archive-date=February 7, 2012 |access-date=March 22, 2012 |publisher=Bouchercon.info}} Klavan was nominated for an Edgar Award for Best Novel in 1992 for his first novel, Don't Say a Word.{{cite web |title=Best Mystery Novel Edgar Award Winners and Nominees - Complete Lists |url=http://www.mysterynet.com/edgars/previous/novel/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215192439/http://www.mysterynet.com/edgars/previous/novel/ |archive-date=December 15, 2012 |access-date=March 22, 2012 |publisher=Mysterynet.com}} He received an Anthony Awards nomination at the 1996 ceremony for True Crime in the Best Novel category.

Personal life

In 1980, he married Ellen Flanagan, daughter of Thomas Flanagan and sister of Caitlin Flanagan.{{Cite news |last=Robinson |first=Peter |date=August 2, 2008 |title=That Despicable Winston Churchill |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/despicable-winston-churchill-peter-robinson/ |newspaper=National Review |quote=....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 |authorlink=}} They have two children{{cite news |date=September 26, 2016 |title=How a Secular Jew Came to Faith in Jesus Christ |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/how-a-secular-jew-came-to-faith-in-jesus-christ-interview.html |work=The Christian Post}} and live in Nashville, Tennessee.

Klavan converted to Christianity at the age of 49 and was baptized privately.{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMcmpd9R4QM |title=Andrew Klavan {{!}} Can We Keep Silent in a World Gone Mad? |date=April 19, 2019 |publisher=Hillsdale College |access-date=February 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128141921/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMcmpd9R4QM |archive-date=November 28, 2021 |url-status=live |via=YouTube}}{{Cite web |title=The Andrew Klavan Show - The Truth and Beauty PART I: Understanding The Words of Jesus Christ |url=https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnNvdW5kY2xvdWQuY29tL3VzZXJzL3NvdW5kY2xvdWQ6dXNlcnM6MTc1OTY3MDI1L3NvdW5kcy5yc3M/episode/Yzc2ZDM2YWEtYTRhYy0xMWVjLTkyNGYtMjNmMWNkYTg5NjU2 |access-date=March 31, 2022 |website=The Andrew Klavan Show |language=en |via=Google Podcasts}} Initially he attended the Episcopal Church, but has since left for the Anglican Catholic Church.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}