How These Thriller Writers Keep the Legacy Alive with Andrews & Wilson
In this episode of Authors Who Lead, I sit down with Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson, the powerhouse writing duo behind the riveting thriller Dark Rising. Both veterans with storied pasts—Brian, a former submarine officer with business acumen, and Jeffrey, a trauma surgeon and Navy veteran—found common ground far from the battlefield: at a thriller writing conference.
Their partnership, as Jeffrey jokes, was born of “stalking” at the International Thriller Writers’ ThrillerFest, where their shared backgrounds and values—family, faith, and service—formed a natural foundation for creative collaboration. But it wasn’t instant coauthoring.
As Jeffrey explains, “Once we decided that we were gonna do this thing, we went into it knowing we’re either gonna become better friends or destroy this friendship forever. Let’s see.” Thankfully, the outcome was a deeper bond and a writing team that has delivered years of explosive storytelling.
Breaking the Lone Writer Myth: Writing as a Team
Contrary to the popular image of the solitary author, Andrews and Wilson champion the idea that writing, like military service, is best done as a team. “You can’t drive a submarine by yourself, and one SEAL can’t take a target alone,” Brian notes. Their collaboration, steeped in military ethos, trades artistic isolation for a friendship, a business venture, and a creative workout partnership all wrapped into one.
This teamwork doesn’t just make the process more enjoyable; it makes it more productive. Over a decade, the duo has published more books—each “more fun”—than they could have managed alone. The secret? They treat their endeavor as both an art and a business, with a clear division of labor and mutual trust at its core.
The Writer’s Reality: Less Glamour, More Grit
What is it like behind the scenes as a full-time author? Both writers agree that the creative mystique often overshadows the reality: writing is just one part of the job, and only occupies a few hours of their 60-hour workweek.
The remainder is spent wrangling marketing, editing, contracts, mentorship, and the “business of writing.” Brian, drawing on his MBA, likens their venture to running a small company: “You have to put on all these hats to make your business run… I can’t imagine being a writer trying to do that by yourself.”
Aspiring authors, take note: feeling overwhelmed or disappointed is normal and part of learning to thrive in the business.
Sparking the Story: Pantsers with a Plan
Andrews and Wilson describe themselves as “pantsers”—writers who let the story unfold as they go, guided by character and curiosity rather than rigid outlines. This organic approach allows their characters to surprise them, often taking the narrative in unexpected directions. Not only do they both write all major characters, but they also revise each other’s work with no ego, just a shared commitment to the best possible book.
Their creative process is dynamic: They work on multiple series simultaneously, draw inspiration from current events, and sometimes, as with Dark Rising, let location and story “choose each other,” believing that stories can feel like pre-existing entities waiting to be discovered.
The Art of Seamless Collaboration
So, how do they co-write? With military-like trust and flexibility. Chapters are divided up, often by point of view, with both writers authoring and editing each section, ensuring characters remain consistent. “Every chapter is better as a result,” Jeffrey says, with developmental edits (DE) cementing the unified voice.
This synergy is aided by constant communication—multiple daily check-ins, brainstorming, and a shared freedom to change anything for the story’s sake. The mantra: don’t serve your ego, serve the story.
Staying Inspired and Giving Back
Andrews and Wilson keep stagnation at bay by writing across genres, producing short stories, and regularly switching creative gears. This feeds their passion and ensures their writing stays fresh—something they urge all writers to do.
Perhaps most notably, their service ethos extends beyond the page. The duo actively mentors veterans, supports organizations like the Seal Legacy Foundation, and uses their platform to honor the sacrifices of military families. As Brian reflects, their stories entertain and provide readers with principle-driven characters and moral compasses in a turbulent world.
The partnership of Andrews and Wilson stands as a testament to the power of collaboration, intentionality, and service, on the page and in real life. For writers and readers alike, their journey reveals that great stories, like great missions, are best accomplished together.
Join us again next week for more captivating insights from influential authors and publishing experts. Remember to subscribe to Authors Who Lead and visit our website for more show notes and past interviews.
That’s all for this week. If you have a message inside of you that needs to be written, today is the day to start. Don’t delay—take action.
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