Andrew Britton

QUESTIONS FROM READERS

Andrew Britton answers readers' questions about plotting novels, literary influences and the possibility of big-screen adaptations.

Laura from South Berwick, ME: Where do you draw your inspiration from? What books have you read yourself?
 
Andrew Britton: I’m not sure exactly where I get my inspiration, but if I had to guess, I’d say it probably dates back to the books I read as a teenager. One of the first adult novels I remember reading is RED DRAGON by Thomas Harris, who is still my favorite author. I read a lot of Jack Higgins, too, and I’m sure he’s influenced me in some way.
 
I don’t read a lot when I’m writing, mainly because I don’t have time. But when I get the chance, I like anything by Daniel Silva, Brad Thor, Jeff Lindsay, John Sandford, J. A. Konrath, Kyle Mills, Joseph Finder and Michael Connelly. Stephen Leather, a bestselling author in the U.K., is also one of my favorites.
 
Aaron from Waldo, WI: How old were you when you started THE AMERICAN? 
 
Andrew Britton: I was 23 when I started writing THE AMERICAN, and I finished it 14 months later, just before I turned 25.
 
Aaron from Waldo, WI: What was the number one thing that got you along your way to being published? 
 
Andrew Britton: I think you have to start with a quality story that publishers know they can sell. Beyond that, it’s just perseverance. Everyone cites John Grisham as the perfect example of what patience and hard work can do for you, and for good reason; he was turned down dozens of times before he managed to sell A TIME TO KILL. Imagine what readers would have missed out on if he had just quit.
 
Aaron from Waldo, WI: Did you ever entertain the thought of self-publishing? 
 
Andrew Britton: No. I decided right from the start that if I couldn’t sell my work to a major publisher, I would put it aside and try something else. Unless you just want to see your book in print, self-publishing is not a good way to go for a number of reasons. If you’re interested in reading more on the subject, you might want to check out Tess Gerritsen’s blog at www.tessgerritsen.com. She discusses the pros and cons of print-on-demand publishing in several posts, and she can explain it much better than I can.
 
Aaron from Waldo, WI: Do you create an outline before writing and/or how do you take the step from the initial premise for a book to actually starting to churn out chapters?
 
Andrew Britton: I don’t typically create an outline, but I do lay out a brief sketch of the overall story. It’s almost a necessity, as publishers want to have an idea what you’re planning to do right from the start. With THE ASSASSIN, I made an exception. I put together a fairly extensive outline when I was about 150 pages in, mainly because I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go next, and I needed to make it clear in my mind. But usually, I prefer not to use one.
 
As for making the jump from premise to actually writing it down, I don’t really know how I do it. I just start putting it down on paper (or more accurately, on my computer screen), and I see where it goes. As the novel progresses, the story becomes clearer to me, and at that point, I can go back and make corrections. Usually, the further along I am, the quicker it seems to go.
 
Cynthia from Douglaston, NY: What's the name of your next book?
 
Andrew Britton: Sorry, but it’s too early to tell. I’ll let you know when I do.
 
Anonymous: Do you think any of the Ryan Kealey books will be adapted for film?
 
Andrew Britton: Your guess is as good as mine. I think THE INVISIBLE might have the best chance of being picked up by a producer, as it deals with a theme and a location other than al-Qaeda and Iraq, respectively. A few movies have already been made on the Iraq War, and few of them have done well, with the possible exception of The Kingdom. So, I doubt anyone in Hollywood is willing to take another chance on a film like that. THE INVISIBLE, on the other hand, offers a different look on the war on terror --- a different setting, different villains and different motives, which might well appeal to moviegoers. But I don’t really think about it. If it happens, great, but I don’t think it’s all that likely.

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