The bestselling author Dan Brown’s publisher told him that stories about him having extra-marital affairs would boost his book sales rather than harm them.
Brown, who wrote literary hit The Da Vinci Code, divorced his wife of 21 years, Blythe Newlon, last year and she has since sued him, accusing him of having a string of affairs.
In an interview in The Sunday Times magazine, Brown said: ‘I called my publisher and said, I’m so sorry, I hope this doesn’t impact sales.
‘He said: “Are you kidding? Everyone thinks you’re the most boring guy in the world… multiple affairs with beautiful women, finally there’s a story!”’
On his divorce, Brown added: ‘When we separated, she received half of everything and more money on top. Towards the end of our marriage, when we were each looking for comfort in other places, I met someone. She’s hurt. I get it, and I’ve apologised. But it’s not enough.”
In an earlier interview with The Mail, Newlon said she was left emotionally shattered by his repeated infidelity during their marriage.
She launched a lawsuit against her husband in July claiming he had ‘sordid extra-marital affairs’ and accused him of ‘secretly plundering significant sums of their marital assets’, which he allegedly spent on four mistresses, showering one with horses and a home.
Brown, on the other hand, said he is countersuing his ex for libel and slander, insisting her lawsuit had ‘no regard for the truth’.
Dan Brown’s 2003 novel The Da Vinci Code has sold more than 80 million copies worldwide.
It was turned into a film in 2006, starring Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou and Ian McKellen.
Brown, born in New Hampshire, had a brief career as a singer-songwriter, before publishing his first novel, Digital Fortress, in 1998. His first three books were commercial failures, but the fourth, The Da Vinci Code, became a global bestseller.
Source: Daily Mail
