Matt Bronleewe makes the leap from music to thrillers
Matt Bronleewe brings down the house with his latest August Adams thriller, House Of Wolves, that hits shelves this August. The former rock musician took time away from songwriting and penning thrillers to talk to The Big Thrill about his new novel.This is your second in a 5-book thriller series following the adventures of bibliophile August Adams. Your first, Illuminated, was described as 24 meets The Da Vinci Code. What was your inspiration for this series?
I wanted to write a thriller series about books. A very Seinfeldian idea--books about books. I've always been a huge reader and I thought it would be really fun to take bookworms and librarians and make them the stars of the adventure.
In House Of Wolves, rare-books dealer August Adams is enmeshed in the mystery surrounding another book-this time The Gospels of Henry the Lion. What made you decide to have your protagonist in the series be a rare-books dealer?
I heard a story about a rare book dealer in New York. Apparently he goes to these elaborate parties and stands before the host's most prized artwork hanging on the wall and then asks them, "What if I could get you THAT, but in a book?" The host is hooked and wants to know more. The dealer goes on to explain that rare books are HOT, and that an investment could reward them with MILLIONS. I loved the idea of this sales-driven character that is torn between his love of books...and his love of the almighty dollar! (Did I mention his love of adventure? That too!)
Do you have a passion for rare books?
Definitely. Especially ancient books. I'd go on to explain exactly WHAT BOOKS and WHY, but I'd be revealing all of my upcoming adventures for August Adams!
You have an illustrious career as a songwriter, producer and award-winning member of the band, JARS OF CLAY. Describe your path from award-winning songwriter to thriller writer?
People are sometimes confused by the leap. They seem like such different mediums. But they're not. They both focus on storytelling. The only difference is that with music you've only got 3 minutes to tell your story, and with a book you've got to fill more than 300 pages! My "leap" came about because of a producer/writer friend Charlie Peacock. (He's probably best known recently for his work with the band SWITCHFOOT.) Charlie connected me with a publisher, who ended up becoming my agent. How crazy is that? I was blessed to have some well-connected friends. But I knew all the connections in the world weren't going to help if I didn't work hard. So I went crazy getting my first book done, doing tons of research and writing every night into the wee hours. But now I look back and it was all worth it, because now my second book is coming out! And I'm hard at work on my third! And somehow, I'm still doing music full-time too! Whew, I'm tired just talking about it!
Explain your fascination with rare manuscripts? Why did you decide to base your series around the pursuit of these historical and theological mysteries?
I'm especially fascinated with medieval times, and the secret societies and mysterious manuscripts that sprung up during that time. I wasn't a history-buff in high school or college, but once I started doing some research a few years ago, I was hooked. At first I surfed the Internet for answers. Then I hit the local libraries. But that wasn't good enough, so I started traveling. I went to the Library of Congress in DC, and the Morgan Library in NYC. But that still wasn't enough! So now I'm going directly to the source of my interests. For instance, my wife and I just spent some time running around France where we tromped through ancient cathedrals and climbed mountains to explore the ruins of ancient abbeys. It's been an amazing journey. And that's what I want people to pick up in my thrillers--that it's not just a story, it's an adventure they could have for themselves.
What role does music play in your life today? How has it shaped your writing?
I am involved in music in one way or another every day. Some days I'm producing a song for an artist or a band. Some days I'm playing guitar in my studio. Sometimes I travel to write with other songwriters. Every day is different. It's about as un-corporate a life as a person could live, and I love it. Music invigorates my book-writing, and book-writing fuels my music. It's tricky sometimes balancing the two, but I love them both.
What is your daily writing life like? How is it different from your life as a musician?
Music is fast-moving and immediate. You react in the moment, and capture moments as they happen. Writing a book feels more deliberate in comparison, but I'm really striving to capture the energy. I feel when I'm playing guitar or writing a song. I want the words to explode from the page. My daily life is a constant jump back and forth between music and books. Many mornings and late nights are spent with books, and many afternoons are spent with music. I think most people would be driven to insanity by the hours and schedule I keep, but I don't know how to function any other way.
You have a very spiritual background. How has your faith contributed to where you are today?
A long time ago, I promised God that I'd be willing to go anywhere he wanted me to go, and do anything he wanted me to do. Life since then has just been chasing after the dreams he set before me. I don't deserve any of the good things in my life, so every day is just another reminder that I'm blessed. And I can't imagine life any other way.
Matt Bronleewe is a recognized producer, songwriter and author. The former member of the band JARS OF CLAY has earned numerous awards producing and co-writing albums that have sold a combined total of over 20 million copies. Bronleewe currently resides in Tennessee with his wife and three children. He continues to write and produce music, and he also volunteers to help disadvantaged youth in the community.
Contributing editor Megan Kelley Hall is freelance writer and novelist living in Massachusetts, and is a founding partner of Kelley & Hall Book Publicity, based in Marblehead, MA. Her debut thriller, SISTERS OF MISERY, is a YA/Adult Suspense cross-over and is the first in a series with the second novel, THE LOST SISTER, due out in 2009.
Definitely. Especially ancient books. I'd go on to explain exactly WHAT BOOKS and WHY, but I'd be revealing all of my upcoming adventures for August Adams!
You have an illustrious career as a songwriter, producer and award-winning member of the band, JARS OF CLAY. Describe your path from award-winning songwriter to thriller writer?People are sometimes confused by the leap. They seem like such different mediums. But they're not. They both focus on storytelling. The only difference is that with music you've only got 3 minutes to tell your story, and with a book you've got to fill more than 300 pages! My "leap" came about because of a producer/writer friend Charlie Peacock. (He's probably best known recently for his work with the band SWITCHFOOT.) Charlie connected me with a publisher, who ended up becoming my agent. How crazy is that? I was blessed to have some well-connected friends. But I knew all the connections in the world weren't going to help if I didn't work hard. So I went crazy getting my first book done, doing tons of research and writing every night into the wee hours. But now I look back and it was all worth it, because now my second book is coming out! And I'm hard at work on my third! And somehow, I'm still doing music full-time too! Whew, I'm tired just talking about it!
Explain your fascination with rare manuscripts? Why did you decide to base your series around the pursuit of these historical and theological mysteries?
I'm especially fascinated with medieval times, and the secret societies and mysterious manuscripts that sprung up during that time. I wasn't a history-buff in high school or college, but once I started doing some research a few years ago, I was hooked. At first I surfed the Internet for answers. Then I hit the local libraries. But that wasn't good enough, so I started traveling. I went to the Library of Congress in DC, and the Morgan Library in NYC. But that still wasn't enough! So now I'm going directly to the source of my interests. For instance, my wife and I just spent some time running around France where we tromped through ancient cathedrals and climbed mountains to explore the ruins of ancient abbeys. It's been an amazing journey. And that's what I want people to pick up in my thrillers--that it's not just a story, it's an adventure they could have for themselves.
What role does music play in your life today? How has it shaped your writing?
I am involved in music in one way or another every day. Some days I'm producing a song for an artist or a band. Some days I'm playing guitar in my studio. Sometimes I travel to write with other songwriters. Every day is different. It's about as un-corporate a life as a person could live, and I love it. Music invigorates my book-writing, and book-writing fuels my music. It's tricky sometimes balancing the two, but I love them both.
What is your daily writing life like? How is it different from your life as a musician?
Music is fast-moving and immediate. You react in the moment, and capture moments as they happen. Writing a book feels more deliberate in comparison, but I'm really striving to capture the energy. I feel when I'm playing guitar or writing a song. I want the words to explode from the page. My daily life is a constant jump back and forth between music and books. Many mornings and late nights are spent with books, and many afternoons are spent with music. I think most people would be driven to insanity by the hours and schedule I keep, but I don't know how to function any other way.
You have a very spiritual background. How has your faith contributed to where you are today?
A long time ago, I promised God that I'd be willing to go anywhere he wanted me to go, and do anything he wanted me to do. Life since then has just been chasing after the dreams he set before me. I don't deserve any of the good things in my life, so every day is just another reminder that I'm blessed. And I can't imagine life any other way.
Matt Bronleewe is a recognized producer, songwriter and author. The former member of the band JARS OF CLAY has earned numerous awards producing and co-writing albums that have sold a combined total of over 20 million copies. Bronleewe currently resides in Tennessee with his wife and three children. He continues to write and produce music, and he also volunteers to help disadvantaged youth in the community.
Contributing editor Megan Kelley Hall is freelance writer and novelist living in Massachusetts, and is a founding partner of Kelley & Hall Book Publicity, based in Marblehead, MA. Her debut thriller, SISTERS OF MISERY, is a YA/Adult Suspense cross-over and is the first in a series with the second novel, THE LOST SISTER, due out in 2009.
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