Click Here to read a reprint of an online chat with Greg sponsored by Barnes & Noble on May 22, 1997 after the release of Greg's third novel, Mortal Fear.

Are their particular authors or books that you feel have influenced your writing? Yes, I have a great number of favorite authors and selected works that I feel have greatly influenced my writing. Click Here to view Greg's current list of influential authors and works.

Are you going to move out of Mississippi like John Grisham did? John Grisham is in a unique situation, and should not be blamed for leaving Mississippi for most of the year. Grisham is the Tom Cruise of the publishing world, and he simply cannot lead a normal life in his home state. I have not yet reached, nor will I ever reach that level of fame, so remaining in Mississippi for me is not as problematic. The advent of 24 Hours (Trapped) has brought with it a different level of fame and fascination, and has changed the way I am treated in my home town. But at this time, my wife and I plan to remain here. Natchez is a wonderful place to raise children, and we have much extended family here. This is the Southern tradition, which I revere and believe should be perpetuated.

Do you consider yourself a Southern novelist? I believe that many of the themes of the "classic Southern novel" were explored and even exhausted long ago by Faulkner, Robert Penn Warren, Tennessee Williams, Flannery O'Conner, Eudora Welty, William Styron, Truman Capote, and others. That being said, I do feel a deep "Southernness" in my soul which I can best express as a profound connection to the land, to extended family, to the Mississippi River, and to the black/white racial conflict which lies at the heart of the moral conflict present in what it means to be an American. In a nation of ever-increasing homogeneity, the South as a region stubbornly retains its unique identity, both its dark and light sides. As Marshall Frady put it, in the South, "the Old Testament and the Crucifixion always seemed to count for more than the New Testament and the Resurrection - a dire melodrama of thorns and betrayal and midnight anguish, with nothing in the life of Jesus mattering quite so much as his suffering and his death."

What was it like working with the stars in your recent movie? Please see the "Movies" section of Greg's website.

Will you write another World War Two novel? There is a constant flow of letters from fans asking this question. In particular, the character of Jonas Stern prompts great interest. After the success of Spandau Phoenix and Black Cross, Greg did not wish to become pigeonholed as the next Jack Higgins. He branched out into other genres, but he retains his deep and abiding interest in the second World War. Greg feels that from a moral perspective, World War II is the most fertile source of material for thrillers. He considers Black Cross a hard novel to match, and will only write another World War II novel when he has a story of equal depth and excitement. One such story has brewing in his mind for three years, and he will eventually turn his hand to this.

Where do you get your ideas? Stephen King jokes about his question all the time, and I must confess that I joke about it too. Ideas come out of the ether, from your subconscious, from the smile on the face of a woman you saw once in your life. Sometimes you're exorcising demons from your past, other times you're painting the flights of your imagination onto paper. The more fictional the idea is, the more true it's likely to be. The best neuroscientists in the world don't understand how the human brain creates the things it does, and that's good for all of us. It leaves some mystery and magic in the world.

Will any more of your books be made into movies? Dead Sleep has been bought by Warner Brothers for the Todd sisters, the producers of "Memento" and the "Austin Powers" series. Spandau Phoenix is much too complex to be made into a feature film, and would have to be produced as a mini-series. I have rebuffed all interest in Black Cross which I think will make a powerful film one day. I am waiting for a producer I believe is capable of giving this novel the respectful treatment that its themes require, rather than one who will simply exploit it as an action film. There is great interest in Sleep No More, but as yet, I have not agreed to a deal with anyone. I feel fortunate that I am in a position to say no to the wrong kinds of Hollywood deal, a luxury that few authors have.

Are you working on any more screenplays? The script for 24 Hours (Trapped) made a good impression in the Hollywood community, and has created opportunities for me. I am constantly offered work as a "script-doctor" for films in production in Hollywood. But, as yet, I have not found a script I wanted to work on. I have nearly finished two original screenplays at this time, and they will soon be up for sale.

I am a new fan. In what order should I read your books? That depends on what your interests are. If you like World War II novels, you should read Black Cross and then Spandau Phoenix. I think this question is really, which of my books do I think are the best. At this moment in time, I would answer this way: The Quiet Game, Mortal Fear, Black Cross, Dead Sleep, Sleep No More, 24 Hours, Spandau Phoenix.

Which of your books is your personal favorite? Either The Quiet Game or Mortal Fear.

How do you research your novels? When I wrote Spandau Phoenix, I was a starving artist. I worked in an 8 x 10 room, with a computer, and library books stacked almost to the ceiling on every wall. I did two years of extensive research on World War II, and traveled to Germany to complete my research. The success of Spandau Phoenix brought with it deadlines and great pressure. Over the years, I've been forced to do less and less of the research myself, and hired others to assist me . I do still talk to many experts in person, such as doctors, police, soldiers, FBI agents, and "average citizens" in my quest for verisimilitude and for true psychological portrayals of characters.

Why do you have so much sex in some of your books? The sexual drive is one of the most powerful in the human psyche, affecting our behavior in many seemingly unrelated areas of our lives. I am also fascinated with the human propensity toward "evil," which some people commonly call sin. My books contain what life contains; therefore, I do not shy away from sex, profanity, violence or illness. I also include love, loyalty, sacrifice, pride, honor and heroism, some of the "old verities" that William Faulkner said would always comprise the backbone of good fiction.

Can I send my copies of Greg's book to be inscribed? Yes. You can send them to Greg in care of I. C. Inc., 112 Main Street, Natchez, MS 39120. Please include a note stating how you would like the books inscribed, along with return postage.

Does Greg read his e-mail? Our policy is to forward all email to Greg. He does read all of his email, and when time permits, he responds to many.

Would Greg be interested in writing a book from my ideas? Unfortunately, Greg does not have time to write books and screenplays based on his own ideas! So, collaboration on projects with others is not possible. Also, legal counsel has insisted that Greg not comment on other individual works that have not yet been published.