Andrew Klavan | |
|---|---|
 Klavan in 2018 | |
| Born | (1954-07-13)July 13, 1954 (age 71) New York City, U.S. |
| Pen name | Keith Peterson |
| Occupation |
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| Alma mater | University of California, Berkeley (BA) |
| Genre | |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Thomas Flanagan (father-in-law) Caitlin Flanagan (sister-in-law) |
| Website | |
| www | |
Andrew Klavan (/ˈkleɪvən/; born July 13, 1954) is an American novelist andconservative 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 hostsThe Andrew Klavan Showpodcast on the conservative siteThe Daily Wire.
Klavan was born to a secularJewish family inNew York City and grew up inGreat Neck, Long Island as one of four sons born to fatherGene Klavan, a New Yorkdisc jockey, and mother Phyllis, a homemaker.[2] He graduated from theUniversity 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.
Klavan began his crime-writing career using thepseudonym Keith Peterson. Under that name he wrote The John Wells book series, a mystery series about a crime-solving newspaper reporter, andThe Scarred Man, his first novel of psychological suspense.[citation needed]
Under his own name, Klavan has written crime novels, and theHomelanders series for young adults. His novels have been translated around the world. He has won twoEdgar Awards from theMystery Writers of America, the Thumping Good Read Award from W.H. Smith, and been nominated forAnthony Awards and theInternational Thriller Writers award.[citation needed]
True Crime was filmed byClint Eastwood in 1999.Don’t Say a Word was filmed starringMichael Douglas in 2001.Donald Cammell's 1987White of the Eye was based on the novelMrs. White, which Klavan co-wrote under the pseudonym Margaret Tracy with his brother, playwright Laurence Klavan. Andrew wrote the screenplay for the 1990Michael Caine filmA Shock to the System, based on the novel bySimon Brett, and for the 2008 horror filmOne Missed Call, which starredShannyn Sossamon andEd Burns. He also wrote the screenplay for the movie-in-an-appHaunting Melissa and its sequel,Haunting Melissa 2: Dark Hearts. He scripted the 2018 filmGosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer, a crime film based theKermit Gosnell trial.[4]
Klavan has produced several satirical online video series includingKlavan on the Culture forPJ Media,The Revolting Truth forTruthRevolt, andA Very Serious Commentary forGlenn Beck'sBlaze Media. He currently does a weekly podcast for theDaily Wire called theAndrew Klavan Show.[5]
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, “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.[6]
After graduating from Berkeley, Klavan began his writing career as aliberal. He became aconservative during theReagan administration.[7][8] He has both praised and criticized US presidentDonald Trump. Klavan supportsgun rights[9] andfreedom of speech.[10]
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | White of the Eye | Based onMrs. White |
| 1990 | A Shock to the System | Screenplay |
| 1999 | True Crime | Based onTrue Crime |
| 2001 | Don't Say a Word | Based onDon'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 |
Klavan's bookMrs. White, which he wrote under the pen-name Margaret Tracy, won the 1984Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original.[12] In 1989, his novelTrapdoor was nominated in the Best Paperback Original category.[12] In 1990, he won the Edgar Award in the Best Paperback Original category forThe Rain, as well as a nomination at the1990 Anthony Awards forRough Justice in the paperback category.[12][13] Klavan was nominated for an Edgar Award for Best Novel in 1992 for his first novel,Don't Say a Word.[14] He received anAnthony Awards nomination at the1996 ceremony forTrue Crime in the Best Novel category.[13]
In 1980, he married Ellen Flanagan, daughter ofThomas Flanagan and sister ofCaitlin Flanagan.[15] They have two children[16] and live inNashville,Tennessee.
Klavan converted to Christianity at the age of 49 and was baptized privately.[17][18] Initially he attended theEpiscopal Church,[19] but has since left for theAnglican Catholic Church.[20]
....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
