The Bookmarked interview... with Andrew Bridgeman

As this interview reveals, Andrew Bridgeman did a lot of things before becoming an author. But, luckily for his many readers, he eventually settled behind a keyboard and took the plunge as a writer.

The result of that decision was the release, in 2024, of his debut novel Fortunate Son, a twisty, suspenseful and tightly plotted thriller which features rookie FBI agent Emma Noble who finds herself caught up in political machinations and double-crossing that have been years in the planning.

Last year saw the release of Andrew's follow up to Fortunate Son. A Noble Sin sees family secrets threaten everything Agent Noble believes in as she is called upon to hunt her own father.

Based in New Hampshire, on the East Coast of the United States, Andrew is currently working on the third instalment of the Emma Noble series and, here, talks about his late arrival to writing, explains how he stays open to ideas, voices his concern at Hollywood's strangling of new creative voices, and reveals which authors he'd invite to dinner.

You worked in various jobs before starting Fortunate Son. What made you decide to finally start writing?

I took a creative writing class in college and I was hooked. It was the first time in my life I can remember feeling completely in control — the words, the world, the people, everything. I fell in love with writing. My professor, Robert Olmstead, was a student of Raymond Carver, and is a revered author in his own right; he told me I should pursue writing.

"My parents warned I’d end up destitute and alone."

My parents disagreed and warned I’d end up destitute and alone. I did a lot of shit: played rugby, sang jazz, worked in sales, started businesses, earned an MBA. Life happened. I’d been married to my wife for decades when I told her I’d always wanted to be a writer. She just looked me in the eye and said, “Then you need to start.” She’s amazing, by the way. Better late than never.

Above: The two books in Andrew's Emma Noble series. A third is on the way in 2026.

You’ve said the idea for Fortunate Son came from a small memory from your adolescence; Can you tell us more about that?

I was about eleven, having a terrible day — teachers were harsh, I was getting bullied, and when I got home my mom laid into me about something. I remember staring out the window, wishing someone would walk up the path to my house, ring the doorbell, and tell me there’d been a mix-up, that I was supposed to be somewhere else — new school, different family, new friends. I don’t know why I remembered that years later, but something about that day stayed with me.

"In the end, I found a way to redeem that shitty day."

As an adult, I played with the thought experiment: Why would someone show up at the door? A hospital mix-up? Or was I kidnapped as a child? The kidnapping idea became the bones of a story about a quiet, shy kid in his mid-twenties who learns that everything he believed about his life was a lie. He was kidnapped as a toddler in the crime of the century, and his birth mother is about to be inaugurated Vice President of the United States in five days. In the end, I found a way to redeem that shitty day.

Do you believe authors should search for ideas, or become receptive to the ideas already around them?

I can't speak for other authors, but I find ideas everywhere because I stay open to them. The world is constantly whispering possibilities, but I have to be quiet enough to hear them. Sometimes the best stories don’t come when you go hunting around for them, they appear when something from your past or your imagination suddenly clicks into place. My job is to notice.

"The world is constantly whispering possibilities."

How intense was the research for Fortunate Son and A Noble Sin, and how do you approach research?

I have a buddy who’s a former FBI agent, so I leaned on him where I needed accuracy. My philosophy on research is simple: know enough to make the reader feel they’re in capable hands, then move on. I’m not going to drop thirty pages on the inner workings of a nuclear submarine just to prove I did the homework. I want the story to breathe. If the reader believes I know what I’m talking about, they’ll relax and enjoy the ride.

Your plots are intricate and full of twists; do you plan everything or leave room for surprises?

Once I understand the spine of the story, I can write freely and discover the body around it. The best moments don’t happen in front of the computer, they arrive on hikes, in the shower, or when I’m nowhere near my keyboard. There is nothing like the feeling of being sideswiped by an idea that came out of nowhere. Those surprises, when they arrive, are fantastic.

"There is nothing like the feeling of being sideswiped by an idea that came out of nowhere."

When writing, do you immerse yourself in your genre, or avoid reading other thrillers?

I don’t read a lot while I’m drafting because I worry about being derivative. I’m better about that now, but I still try to protect the voice of whatever I’m writing. That said, I’ve gotten to know some great thriller authors recently and I love supporting their work.

When I’m writing, I’ll usually reach for short stories; Chekhov, Hemingway and others. There’s something about the economy of language in short fiction that sharpens the craft and its in small enough doses that the author’s voice isn’t going to stick to my pages.

What’s the first book you remember loving?

John Jakes’ sagas that came out around the Bicentennial, in 1976. I was about eleven. I was too young to be reading those but I couldn’t get enough of them. They were epic, emotional and full of adventure. I think that’s the first time I understood what storytelling could really do.

Above: John Jakes' North & South saga focussed on two families during the American Civil War.

Which literary character would you most like to be?

Atticus Finch comes to mind immediately; wise, humble, grounded in principle, doing the right thing even when it’s hard. I also think of Darry Curtis, the older brother in The Outsiders. He sacrificed to take care of his family, carrying more than any young man should. There’s something about quiet strength and responsibility that resonates with me.

What’s your favourite movie or TV show adapted from a book?

The Bourne Identity. I read Ludlum’s book as a kid and was fully prepared to hate the movie. I was wrong. It reinvented the modern thriller; smart, lean, emotionally grounded. It’s driven by character rather than spectacle, and it explores the question of identity under extreme pressure. That’s the kind of storytelling I gravitate toward.

Above: The 2002 adaptation of Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Identity is "smart, lean [and] emotionally grounded."

Which book should be adapted for the screen that hasn’t been yet?

Honestly? I think we're over-adapted. Hollywood keeps strip-mining the same books while original screenplays struggle to get made. If I had to pick, I'd rather see studios take risks on new voices than turn another beloved novel into a disappointing two-hour slog.

"Hollywood keeps strip-mining the same books while original screenplays struggle to get made."

Where’s your favourite place to write?

Anywhere. Buses, trains, cigar lounges. I put my AirPods in, make a grumpy face, and people generally leave me alone.

Describe your perfect writing setup.

I’ve built a space above my garage; piano, guitars, a gas stove, a wall of books. I’m allowed to smoke cigars up there, too. I’ve got a decent speaker setup, because music helps me disappear into the world I’m writing. But it has to be instrumental or in a language I don’t understand. Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of GIMS — he’s a French-Congolese singer and rapper with incredible depth and range.

What was the last book you read, and would you recommend it?

Cloud Cuckoo Land, by Anthony Doerr. Excellent book; smart, layered, and full of surprising turns. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Above: Next up on Andrew's reading list is Anthony Doerr's Cloud Cuckoo Land.

Which book is next on your reading list?

Crimson Thaw, by Bruce Robert Coffin. I recently met Bruce — great guy and a great writer. It’s the first in the series and I’m a sucker for starting at the beginning. Plus, it’s set in Maine, just across the border from where I live.

You can have dinner with four authors, living or dead; who and why?

Dorothy Parker, because she was hilarious and brilliant. I would sit her next to Ernest Hemingway to keep him on his best behaviour. While they sparred, I’d spend time picking the brain of James Michener; his ability to craft generational epics fascinates me. And I’d invite Harlan Coben too, because I suspect we’d get along; his thrillers have humour and heart. Eclectic group, but after a few cocktails it would be an unforgettable night.

"I’d invite Harlan Coben too, because I suspect we’d get along; his thrillers have humour and heart."

What book should you have read, but still haven’t?

I hate to admit it, but I’ve never read Of Mice and Men. I know. Don’t tell anyone. I’ll get to it.

Above: Steinbeck's classic that Andrew will get to...

Which of your books are you most proud of?

Fortunate Son, because it was my debut. It was a long, hard haul, but I proved to myself that I could be a writer. It unlocked a confidence I desperately needed.

How do you organise your bookshelves?

Spines out is my only rule. If you’re looking for something—good luck and godspeed. No Dewey Decimal system. It’s a disaster zone.

What are you working on next, and when might we see the next instalment in the Emma Noble series?

I'm deep into the third Emma Noble story. It will take readers from the Caucasus Mountains in Georgia to the Moskitia jungle of Honduras. What makes this one special? It revisits some of the evil from Fortunate Son and A Noble Sin in ways no one is expecting. It’s still in progress, but I think I’ve got a solid handle on where it’s headed. My hope is that it’ll be out in 2026... but not early 2026.

To purchase Fortunate Son and A Noble Sin, click here.

If you Are a published author and would like to be considered for a Bookmarked interview, drop me a line at maxelwoodwrites@gmail.com