Andrew Gross
Encyclopedia
Andrew Gross is an American
author
of thriller novels including four New York Times bestsellers. Best known for his collaborations with suspense writer James Patterson
. Gross’s books feature close family bonds relationships characterized by loss or betrayal and large degree of emotional resonance which generally lead to wider crimes and cover-ups. They have all been published by William Morrow, an imprint of Harper Collins.
in 1952. He grew up in anhattan] and attended the Barnard School for Boys. Both his father and his grandfather on his mother’s side were successful clothing manufacturers.
Gross received a degree in English from Middlebury College
in 1974. After a two-year stint in Denver, where he worked as a dress buyer, and then opened a stew-and-soup fast food pilot named Ebeneezer's, he went back to work for his family’s publicly-held apparel firm, The Leslie Fay Companies, named after his mother. While there, he received a Masters in Business Policy from Columbia University
in 1982.
. He took three years to finish a draft of his first book HYDRA, a political thriller, in 1998. He recalls “after dozens of rejections from agents and ultimately publishers, not knowing what my next step in life was, and sitting around my study, wondering what cliff I was going to drive our SUV off of, I received a phone call from someone who asked, ‘Can you take a call from James Patterson
?’” Gross met with Patterson and discussed the early concepts for what ultimately became the Women's Murder Club
series. Patterson explained that the head of his publishing house forwarded Gross unpublished manuscript to him with the words scratched on the cover: “This guy does women well!” Patterson and Gross formed a partnership in less than a week.
Gross worked with Patterson of several books in this series, including SECOND CHANCE and THIRD DEGREE, both of which went to Number One. Then, they branched out on different themes together, co-authoring the top bestsellers, THE JESTER, LIFEGUARD, and JUDGE AND JURY.
In 2011 Gross departed from Ty Hauck, writing Eyes Wide Open building on two personal stories from his own past.
, New York
and they were married three years later. In 1984, Gross took over HEAD Sportswear, the struggling arm of the iconic ski and tennis brand, and by 1989, had repositioned it into the Number One upscale producer of tennis and ski apparel in the United States, and a thriving brand in Europe as well, before leaving for a larger role at Leslie Fay, then with close top a billion dollars in annual sales and on the New York Stock Exchange
.
As Gross describes it, ”sometimes the toughest thing about being in a family company is that it's filled with your own family,” and in 1991, he left to pursue his own opportunities at Le Coq Sportif
, a boutique tennis/ golf brand, and Sun Ice, Inc, a Canadian skiwear manufacturer, the latter, “ending poorly and abruptly,” as Gross says, “and hastening my writing career.”
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
of thriller novels including four New York Times bestsellers. Best known for his collaborations with suspense writer James Patterson
James Patterson
James B. Patterson is an American author of thriller novels, largely known for his series about American psychologist Alex Cross...
. Gross’s books feature close family bonds relationships characterized by loss or betrayal and large degree of emotional resonance which generally lead to wider crimes and cover-ups. They have all been published by William Morrow, an imprint of Harper Collins.
Early life and education
Andrew Gross was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1952. He grew up in anhattan] and attended the Barnard School for Boys. Both his father and his grandfather on his mother’s side were successful clothing manufacturers.
Gross received a degree in English from Middlebury College
Middlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Drawing 2,400 undergraduates from all 50 United States and over 70 countries, Middlebury offers 44 majors in the arts,...
in 1974. After a two-year stint in Denver, where he worked as a dress buyer, and then opened a stew-and-soup fast food pilot named Ebeneezer's, he went back to work for his family’s publicly-held apparel firm, The Leslie Fay Companies, named after his mother. While there, he received a Masters in Business Policy from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1982.
Start in publishing
Gross attended the Writers Program at the University of IowaUniversity of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
. He took three years to finish a draft of his first book HYDRA, a political thriller, in 1998. He recalls “after dozens of rejections from agents and ultimately publishers, not knowing what my next step in life was, and sitting around my study, wondering what cliff I was going to drive our SUV off of, I received a phone call from someone who asked, ‘Can you take a call from James Patterson
James Patterson
James B. Patterson is an American author of thriller novels, largely known for his series about American psychologist Alex Cross...
?’” Gross met with Patterson and discussed the early concepts for what ultimately became the Women's Murder Club
Women's Murder Club
Women's Murder Club is an American police procedural and legal drama, which ran on ABC from October 12, 2007, to May 13, 2008. The series is set in San Francisco, California and is based on the 'Women's Murder Club' series of novels written by James Patterson...
series. Patterson explained that the head of his publishing house forwarded Gross unpublished manuscript to him with the words scratched on the cover: “This guy does women well!” Patterson and Gross formed a partnership in less than a week.
Gross worked with Patterson of several books in this series, including SECOND CHANCE and THIRD DEGREE, both of which went to Number One. Then, they branched out on different themes together, co-authoring the top bestsellers, THE JESTER, LIFEGUARD, and JUDGE AND JURY.
Solo career
In 2006 pursued his own writing career leaving Patterson. In 2007, THE BLUE ZONE, debuted on the NYT bestseller list in the United States. A year later, It was followed up by The Dark Tide ( 2007), which was nominated for Thriller of the Year by the International Thriller Writers Association. THE DARK TIDE featured the Gross’ fictional detective Ty Hauck of Greenwich, Connecticut, who became the lead character in his corruption and political conspiracy-based bestsellers Don't Look Twice and Reckless.In 2011 Gross departed from Ty Hauck, writing Eyes Wide Open building on two personal stories from his own past.
Personal life
In 1979, he met his wife Lynn on a blind date in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and they were married three years later. In 1984, Gross took over HEAD Sportswear, the struggling arm of the iconic ski and tennis brand, and by 1989, had repositioned it into the Number One upscale producer of tennis and ski apparel in the United States, and a thriving brand in Europe as well, before leaving for a larger role at Leslie Fay, then with close top a billion dollars in annual sales and on the New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located at 11 Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA. It is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed companies at 13.39 trillion as of Dec 2010...
.
As Gross describes it, ”sometimes the toughest thing about being in a family company is that it's filled with your own family,” and in 1991, he left to pursue his own opportunities at Le Coq Sportif
Le Coq Sportif
Le Coq Sportif is a French company producing sports equipment such as shoes, shorts, and T-shirts. It was founded in 1882 by Émile Camuset, but the first clothing items branded with the rooster appeared in 1948...
, a boutique tennis/ golf brand, and Sun Ice, Inc, a Canadian skiwear manufacturer, the latter, “ending poorly and abruptly,” as Gross says, “and hastening my writing career.”
Collaborative
- The JesterThe Jester (novel)-Plot:The Jester is a novel focussing on a young man named Hugh, beginning in the year 1096. He is living in a time of unrest, when nobles treat peasants like himself as dirt. The region is ruled over by a tyrannical ruler named Baldwin. Seeking freedom, he joins the Crusades...
(2003) - 2nd Chance2nd Chance (novel)2nd Chance is the second novel in the Women's Murder Club series written by James Patterson with Andrew Gross. It is the sequel to 1st to Die.- Plot summary :...
(2005) - 3rd Degree3rd Degree (novel)3rd Degree is a crime novel written by James Patterson and Andrew Gross. It is the third novel in the Women's Murder Club Series, And the sequel to 2nd Chance.-Plot:...
(2005) - The Life Guard (2005)
- Judge and Jury (2006)
Ty Hauck series
- The Dark Tide (2008)
- Don't Look Twice (2009)
- Reckless (2010)
- Eyes Wide Open (July 2011)