Thriller Author Andrew Grant...A Tale of TWO Birminghams

Thriller author Andrew Grant was born and raised in Birmingham...Birmingham, England. Back home they cheer enthusiastically and with gusto for their local football teams. The rivalries are well documented.

Grant is coming to Birmingham….Birmingham, Alabama. His speaking engagement at MURDER IN THE MAGIC CITY writers conference on February 6 at Homewood Library will serve as his inaugural visit to the Iron City. He’ll surely find attendees buzzing with their own sporting chants of "Roll Tide" and "Bama Number One".

Grant’s debut thriller EVEN (St. Martin’s Minotaur) was released last summer and received worldwide praise. His name has begun being spoken in the same discussions with the top thriller/suspense wordsmiths. The book will be re- released in mass market paperback in March. His second book in this (British naval intelligence officer) David Trevellyan series—DIE TWICE— follows in May. At the conference he will discuss his work and the writing craft. Today Grant resides in Sheffield, England—which happens to be known as The Steel City--and Chicago.

"I’m interested to learn more about southern culture and southern hospitality," said the personable Grant, in his rich English accent. "I think the two Birminghams have many similarities. The people enjoy good literature, fine food and art and obviously a great passion for their football."

"The most popular sport by far in Birmingham, England is football. I understand that in Birmingham, Alabama you declare at birth if you’re for Alabama or Auburn University," Grant said. "In my Birmingham there are three serious teams in the city - Aston Villa, Birmingham City, and West Bromwich Albion. Albion is the smallest of the three, and their fans generally keep themselves to themselves, but it's a very different story between Villa and City."

"Just like Birmingham, AL., football is a religion and the rivalry is beyond bitter,” Grant reflected. “Back in the '70s there would be pitched battles between the fans before, after, and sometimes during the games. Who you support generally depends on which part of the city you were born in, and me - I'm a Villa fan. And it's a case of once a fan, always a fan."

Grant will get a taste of good southern cuisine while at the conference, which will be a change from the flavor of his native Birmingham, England.

"There are loads of great restaurants in Birmingham, England but the type of food most associated with the city is Indian," Grant said. “I would always love to 'go for a curry' after a football match - maybe a Chicken Biryani or Lamb Rogan Josh.

In Birmingham, AL. he’ll find an area and state rich in literary bloodline, like his homeland which produced the likes of J.R.R. Tolkien (The Hobbit) and Grant’s personal favorite John Wyndham (The Chrysalids and The Day Of The Triffids).

And if he has time Grant might take in varied musical tastes of the south… country, southern rock or blues. Back in England he grew up with great bands, too. "The most famous ones were heavy metal - the likes of Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath," Grant recalled. "I still like hard rock to this day."

For more on Grant, visit his website.