Grey Man's Land Interview with Andy McNab

You won't find this one anywhere but here, my friends. Andy McNab has been kind enough to visit with us fanatics here at greymansland.com, and if you're anything like me you'll realize what a privilege this really is. Enjoy.

GML Andy, I'd first like to thank you and tell you what an honor it is to have you visit with us. I asked a few of your most ardent fans if they would like to ask you a question, and the response has been overwhelming. The questions below represent just a fraction of the total I received. Thank you again for answering those you find time for.

ANDY MCNAB Sorry for the delay but my PowerBook decided to die on me.

GML We're all dying for more information about "Boy Soldier" and the series to follow. You've done so well with personalising Nick Stone--is Danny Watts's character based in part on you in your own youth?

ANDY MCNAB Some of it is. Danny is a South London boy and the areas that he hangs out in are the ones I know very well. I find it a lot easier to write about things I know rather than make them up. That takes too long and is hard work. There are going to be four books. The first two books are one story. I'm not going to tell you about it because I want you to read them!

GML While "Boy Soldier" is aimed at teenagers, will adult fans of your work find something to enjoy in it? And what age group would YOU recommend it for?

ANDY MCNAB The reaction from adults who have read the first book (I'm 11,000 words into the second) has been fantastic. They really got into it so I'm hoping the BS series will appeal to all ages.

GML How hard is it to refrain from the colorful language you're known for when writing youth-oriented books?

ANDY MCNAB It wasn't a bad as I thought. There is a lot of swearing in BS. It's all a question of context. I can't have a character having a conversation with 'fucking this and fucking that.' But they can say fuck if they are angry, scared or frustrated. In fact in teenage books there can be drugs, underage drinking and sex. The only thing I couldn't have Danny do was shoot someone.

GML Here's one that's been puzzling us for a long time: Towards the end of "Firewall," Nick Stone says to Valentin, "I'm sorry about your nephews." Who the hell were Valentin's nephews?

ANDY MCNAB I know. I know. There was a draft that had a couple of Valentin's nephews getting the good news from Nick. The sentence slipped through the net and I throw the book at the proof reader everytime I see her! Should have spotted it myself really.

GML Speaking of Nick Stone, can you tell us anything about the next novel?

ANDY MCNAB The next one hasn't got a title yet. They never do until something comes up in the story that makes sense. That can take some time, I can tell you. At the moment, the story will start in Australia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey.

GML The waiting for a movie is killing us--can you please end the rampant speculation and let us know when we might be seeing Nick Stone on the big screen?

ANDY MCNAB A deal has been signed with Warner Bros to make Crisis Four. If that is a success, the stories will become a franchise. I have already written the treatment for the basis of a script and going back to LA in a few weeks time to see a scriptwriter who is lined up for the actual job. But don't hold your breath. The one thing I've learnt about Hollywood is that there has to be a lot of meetings before anyone can even decide if they want sugar in their coffee. Still, it's all good fun.

GML Could you give us just a hint as to what you were doing between the Bravo Two Zero mission and leaving the SAS? Or is that classified?

ANDY MCNAB I was working for a small cell called RWW (Revolutionary Warfare Wing). These are the guys that are asked to start coups and insurgencies for all manner of reasons. Like everything else in life, it's always easier to start something than end it.

GML You once said: "I think any profession that you're getting in, you always wanna, sort of, achieve the highest level. It is all about proving yourself." Do you feel you've achieved that as a writer?

ANDY MCNAB No, not yet. I think every time I write another book, I get better, but I still want to learn more about structure. Because I'm a TV generation kid I have no idea about book structure. I see everything as a three-act film. (Not that I knew there were three acts until a few years ago). I seem to get there in the end, but it takes me double the time.

GML I believe you also said you read the last chapter of a book first. Should we read the last chapter first when reading your books?

ANDY MCNAB If you want to. One of the first things I do when planning a story is decide what happens at the end. In both the physical sense i.e. where Nick is and what he is doing. But also the emotional sense i.e. what has Nick learnt, how does he feel about it and what is he going to do about it. Once that is established, it can't change because it would mess up the whole story. Of course, reading the last chapter is cheating but I think, so what, it's my book, I've just bought it, so I can do what I want.

GML Considering all you've accomplished--getting badged, surviving internment intact, countless successful operations, and an amazing literary career--what do you consider your greatest achievement?

ANDY MCNAB That's a hard one. But it has be getting badged.

GML Recent television fiction depicts female SAS operators--is that anywhere close to reality?

ANDY MCNAB There are no women who are badged. However, they have worked alongside the Regiment since the 2nd World War. At the moment, there is a debate about letting women into the Regiment but they are still working out, how to get women into the Regiment without dropping the severe physical selection process.

GML What's the best beer in the world?

ANDY MCNAB Madam Golightly Goes to the Fair. Actually, I just like the name, and the beer's not bad either.

GML I once jokingly asked you to autograph a book for me and write something disparaging towards me as a dedication (i.e., "To Dickhead"). If you had to say something disparaging about Grey Man's Land, what would it be?

ANDY MCNAB You greymansland people. What the fuck is going on? Get a life!

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