Andrew Klavan is an American conservative commentator and writer of crime and suspense novels. Dubbed by Stephen King "the most original American novelist of crime and suspense since Cornell Woolrich", Klavan has been nominated for the Edgar Award five times and has won twice. Klavan has also worked in film and as an essayist and video satirist. He 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, one of four sons born to father Gene Klavan, a New York disc jockey, and mother Phyllis, a homemaker. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in English Literature. He worked as a radio and newspaper reporter and a radio news writer before becoming a full-time writer. He converted to Christianity at age 49 and was baptized privately.
Career
Klavan began his crime-writing career using the pseudonym Keith Peterson. Under that name, he wrote the four John Wells mysteries, about a crime-solving newspaper reporter, and also The Scarred Man, his first novel of psychological suspense. 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 Edgars 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. 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 recently scripted , a crime film based on the true story of an abortion doctor charged with murder. 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 daily podcast for the Daily Wire. 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.
Awards
Klavan's book Mrs. White, which he wrote under the pen-name Margaret Tracy, won the 1984 Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original. 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. Klavan was nominated for an Edgar Award for Best Novel in 1992 for his first novel, Don't Say a Word. He received an Anthony Awards nomination at the 1996 ceremony for True Crime in the Best Novel category.
Personal life
Klavan lives in Los Angeles, CA with his wife Ellen, whom he married in 1980. They have two children. He was baptized into the Episcopal Church, but is no longer a member.
