From the NFL to Crime Fiction: Andre Hardy on Tear the City Down (E237)
In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Andre Hardy, a former NFL player turned writer and author of the debut crime novel Tear the City Down. Set in San Diego against the high-stakes world of professional football, the novel draws on Andre’s own experiences in the NFL while exploring the darker sides of the sport and the city. We also talk about his path to writing, the role of jazz throughout the Coltrane series, and the experiences that shaped his storytelling.
Episode Highlights
Andre’s journey from professional football to writing and what led him to put his own NFL experiences on the page
Looking beyond the glitz & glamour of professional football to the physical toll on players, particularly their bodies and brains
Exploring the contrasts of San Diego and what lies beneath the beautiful version of the city most people see
Why Andre believes writing about books challenges us to slow down, think more deeply, and examine what we believe
The influence of John Coltrane & how pairing the novels with Coltrane’s music creates a bigger, broader experience for readers
Andre’s book flight of atmospheric mysteries and thrillers, including stories featuring male protagonists navigating fatherhood and relationships with their daughters
Connect with Andre:
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Books and authors mentioned in the episode:
The Blue Flame by George Pelecanos
Record Lows by CJ Green
Middle Passage by Charles Johnson
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Darktown by Thomas Mullen
Ghalen by Walter Mosley
Book Flight
Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley
Pegasus Descending by James Lee Burke
She Rides Shotgun by Jordan Harper
Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!
