Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson: On the Power of Creative Teamwork
Authors Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson discuss the benefits of working as co-authors and the process of writing the newest Presidential Agent novel, Rogue Asset.
Brian Andrews is a U.S. Navy veteran, Park Leadership Fellow, and former submarine officer with a psychology degree from Vanderbilt and a masters in business from Cornell University.
Jeffrey Wilson has worked as an actor, firefighter, paramedic, jet pilot, and diving instructor, as well as a vascular and trauma surgeon. He served in the U.S. Navy for 14 years and made multiple deployments as a combat surgeon with an East Coast-based SEAL Team. He and his wife, Wendy, live in Southwest Florida with their four children. You can find them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
In this post, Brian and Jeffrey discuss the benefits of working as co-authors, the process of writing the newest Presidential Agent novel, Rogue Asset, and more!
Name: Andrews & Wilson
Literary agent: Gina Panettieri
Book title: Rogue Asset, Book #9 in WEB Griffin’s Presidential Agent Series
Publisher: GP Putnam’s Sons
Release date: December 7, 2021
Genre/category: Thriller
Previous titles: Tier One Series; Sons of Valor Series; Shepherds Series
Elevator pitch for the book: Charlie Castillo is back in the newest installment of the bestselling Presidential Agent series, with a new team and new challenges. Together with his protégé, USMC Captain and MARSOC Raider P.K. “Pick” McCoy, they will have to work fast and deep in the shadows, because the Secretary of State has been kidnapped by an unidentified terrorist organization. If they can’t find him quickly, a deadly series of events will unfold, plunging America into war.
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What prompted you to write this book?
We were beyond flattered when approached by Putnam to carry the mantle of the Presidential Agent Series on behalf of the Griffin estate. To write under the banner of the iconic W.E.B. Griffin is at once thrilling and humbling, and we worked hard to honor the rich universe and larger-than-life characters he created in the series.
How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?
Because the book was contracted as part of the existing series, the timeline was different than had we been developing a de novo project. As always with our process, we began with a “what if” question. In this case, what if a terrorist organization in North Africa kidnapped the Secretary State to use him as a pawn in a regional power play?
After nearly a decade in retirement, how would Charlie Castillo respond if called back into service by a new Presidential Administration facing a very different geopolitical landscape than the one he left behind?
Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?
First off, it was thrilling to work with the incredible Tom Colgan. We learned so much from him. From the get-go, Tom counseled us not to try and replicate W.E.B. Griffin’s writing style or his voice—because no one possibly could!
Instead, he encouraged us to bring our unique Andrews & Wilson flair—the same authentic, gritty action of our Tier One series—while paying homage to the world and characters Griffin created. Armed and motivated with that advice, we were empowered to bring Charlie back into action and introduce a few new characters that we hope fans of the series will find compelling and embrace.
Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?
The only surprise for us was the lack of surprises! With Charley Castillo at the helm, the book practically wrote itself. As co-authors, our “superpower” is that we never have to worry about writer’s block. That’s the power of teamwork and collaboration—a fresh perspective or a new idea is always only a phone call away.
For Rogue Asset, we used the same tried and true process we’ve developed writing what is now 15 books written together … and we’re happy to report that for this book that process did not let us down.
What do you hope readers will get out of your book?
We hope, more than anything else, that readers will rejoice at the return of the Presidential Agent series. We also hope that instead of trying to compare Rogue Asset to the previous installments, fans will embrace Charley’s return and join him on this new adventure in a world that is more volatile, uncertain, and dangerous than it was a decade ago. The stakes are higher than ever, so fans of the series better buckle-up for a white-knuckle ride!
If you could share one piece of advice with other authors, what would it be?
Write with confidence! Once you find your voice, embrace it … because a writer’s voice is the one defining asset in a very crowded industry that is distinctly and truly his or her own.
Robert Lee Brewer is Senior Editor of Writer's Digest, which includes managing the content on WritersDigest.com and programming virtual conferences. He's the author of 40 Plot Twist Prompts for Writers: Writing Ideas for Bending Stories in New Directions, The Complete Guide of Poetic Forms: 100+ Poetic Form Definitions and Examples for Poets, Poem-a-Day: 365 Poetry Writing Prompts for a Year of Poeming, and more. Also, he's the editor of Writer's Market, Poet's Market, and Guide to Literary Agents. Follow him on Twitter @robertleebrewer.
