Bestselling author Brett Andrew Strange chatted about his new book “Beneath the Purple Dawn.”
Brett Andrew Strange is a former US Intelligence Officer turned bestselling author. He has written two novels, “Beneath the Purple Dawn” and “Against the Dusk,” as well as ‘Encounters: Six Short Stories.”
Strange has traveled extensively, having visited more than two dozen countries as a part of the research into the events and characters that appear in his work. While he currently calls San Francisco home, he has also lived and worked in Europe, the Middle East, as well as Asia.
He is an author of a number of fictional novels and short stories. He is married with two children and currently lives in San Francisco. He spoke about his writing and his exciting new novel.
Q & A interview
How did writing come into your life and when can you say you truly thought of yourself as an author?
Writing has always been a passion and literature a tremendous influence. I wrote short stories from an early age, and majored in English and American literature at Harvard College, where I studied with esteemed author Verlyn Klinkenborg and the late Seamus Heaney, an Irish poet and Nobel prize winner.
I wrote fiction for three decades before publishing Encounters: Six Short Stories, Against the Dusk, and Beneath the Purple Dawn. I was also a foreign journalist in Bangkok for a whirlwind period in my youth.
Your newest title, “Beneath the Purple Dawn,” is the second in the Paul Drake Thrillers Series. What scene did you enjoy creating the most? And which was the most challenging?
I enjoyed creating the scenes located on Malta, a former British colony. Malta is a fascinating, unique island-nation that has played a pivotal, but underappreciated role throughout history. The accuracy of the scenes in Malta’s capital Valetta required on-the-ground research, including visiting houses, apartments, casinos, and government buildings appearing in the book.
I also interviewed local Maltese officials since I wanted to be very precise on the portrayal of the Maltese police force, which has a long and esteemed heritage. Malta’s dramatic Grand Harbor served as the very vivid location for several critical confrontations that trace back to action that began in Manhattan as described in the first book.
The most challenging scene takes place in southern Sicily. I wanted to capture the protagonists’ sense of discovery and dread as they confront extreme levels of stress and violence. These chapters, taking place largely at night, needed to reveal the adrenaline-rush and ferocity for when Paul, Katya, Elad, and Marco all risk their lives. The reader will need to discover if and how they each make it through this deadly encounter.
If your main character was an actual person, would the two of you get along?
Paul Drake and I would enjoy swapping stories over a nice scotch with a splash of soda. Paul makes mistakes and isn’t perfect, but I agree with Katya’s insight that Paul has integrity. I respect Paul for the choices he made, even if his decisions come at a high personal cost and may appear conflicted or immoral to those who don’t understand the real facts.
When you’re not in writing mode, what do you enjoy doing most?
I enjoy spending time with my wife and two children, aged 7 and 5. We spend time outside in nature, and have very active lifestyles in northern California.
Do you have any advice for someone working on their first book?
Writing today requires an intense belief in the quality of one’s writing and the purpose of one’s art.
I would stress the need to write on themes that are timely, accessible, and important. Readers have limited time for all forms of entertainment, including novels, so delivering an exciting narrative plot is key; however, most critically, the reader needs to care about complex and interesting characters and understand their underlying motivations and intentions.
I also want to transport my readers to many fascinating places they may not have visited but can touch and feel themselves via the novel.
“Beneath the Purple Dawn” is available on Amazon by clicking here.
To learn more about best selling author Brett Andrew Strange, check out his official website.
