( easy jazz playing ) ♪♪ ♪♪ ( people chatting under music ) ♪♪ ♪♪ >> John Grisham, Author: WRITERS ARE THIEVES.

WE STEAL EVERYTHING.

SOMETIMES YOU GET SUED FOR IT, OF COURSE.

( laughter ) >> Grisham: I GET SUED ALL THE TIME.

>> Edwards: DO YOU REALLY?

>> John Grisham, Writer: YEAH, THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEBODY CLAIMING I STOLE SOMETHING FROM A MANUSCRIPT.

YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT HAD BEEN WRITTEN.

THEY'LL HIRE A LAWYER AND WRITE A COUPLE OF DIRTY LETTERS.

THEY'VE ONLY ACTUALLY FILED TWO OR THREE LAWSUITS OVER THE YEARS.

>> Edwards: UH-HUH.

>> Grisham: ACTUALLY, IT'S PART OF THE OVERHEAD.

IT IS PART OF WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO AT THIS LEVEL.

>> Edwards: YOU ARE A PRETTY BIG TARGET.

>> Grisham: YEAH, BUT AT THE SAME TIME I KNOW A LOT ABOUT LITIGATION AND THERE'S A LOT OF IT I ENJOY.

SO WHEN I GET SUED I HIRE SOME REALLY NASTY LAWYERS AND WE DEFEND-- AND, YOU KNOW, I HAVE THAT REPUTATION IN PUBLISHING OF SOMEBODY WHO VIGOROUSLY DEFENDS LAWSUITS.

SO, IT PROBABLY SCARES OFF SOME LAWSUITS.

>> Edwards: YOU STEAL THINGS?

>> Iles: NO COMMENT.

( laughter ) >> Iles: I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY.

>> Edwards: KEEP NOTES?

>> Iles: ABSOLUTELY.

>> Edwards: HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN STEPHEN KING CALLED YOU THE FIRST TIME?

>> Greg Iles, Writer: THAT'S A GOOD FEELING.

YOU KNOW, TO HAVE LOVED SOMEBODY'S WORK WHEN YOU WERE A KID AND THEN BE FRIENDS WITH THAT PERSON, MUCH LESS PLAY IN A ROCK BAND WITH THAT PERSON, ACT CRAZY WITH THEM.

IT'S A DREAM.

JOHN WAS SAYING IN THE BACK, YOU KNOW, THIS JOB-- YOU WOULDN'T TRADE ANYTHING FOR IT-- NOTHING.

IT'S THE FREEST JOB THAT EXISTS IN THE WORLD.

>> Edwards: YOU WERE FOND OF SAYING YOU WORK SIX MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR.

>> Grisham: THAT'S A LIE, TOO.

THAT'S A STRETCH.

I DON'T WORK THAT MUCH.

BUT IT'S A VERY INDEPENDENT WAY OF LIFE AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU DREAM ABOUT WHEN YOU FIRST START YOUR FIRST NOVEL, OR TWO, OR THREE.

YOU DREAM OF GETTING PUBLISHED AND YOU DREAM OF MAYBE EXPANDING READERSHIP AND SOMEDAY YOU CAN DO IT FULL TIME.

IT'S A WONDERFUL DREAM AND WHEN IT COMES TRUE, LIKE FOR THE THREE OF US, WE APPRECIATE IT.

YOU DON'T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED.

YOU WORK HARD AT YOUR CRAFT TO SATISFY YOUR READERS SO YOU CAN CONTINUE TO DO WHAT YOU ENJOY DOING.

>> Gene Edwards, Host: WELL LET'S TALK ABOUT THE WORK FOR A MINUTE.

LET'S ASK THE DREADED QUESTION.

WHERE DID YOU GET THE IDEAS?

>> Barr: HAVEN'T WE JUST COVERED THEFT?

>> Grisham: THEFT, YEAH...

THEFT.

>> Edwards: WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR IDEAS?

>> Nevada Barr, Writer: WELL, THE FIRST ONE CAME OUT OF WHAT I DID.

I WORKED AS A PARK RANGER.

SO, THE FIRST THREE OR FOUR BOOKS CAME OUT OF WHAT I DID FOR A LIVING, AND WHAT I OBSERVED, AND WHAT I EXPERIENCED.

SINCE THEN I GET THEM EVERYWHERE.

YOU READ A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE AND IT'S NOT LIKE YOU LIFT THE WHOLE STORY.

YOU LIFT A NAME OR YOU LIFT A QUIRK.

OR YOU READ SOMETHING ELSE AND YOU THINK THAT LITTLE PIECE WILL WORK FOR ME.

BUT I GET A LOT OF IT... >> Edwards: SO, DOES IT GO IN YOU NOTEBOOK, THEN?

>> Barr: I DON'T KEEP A NOTEBOOK.

>> Edwards: YOU DON'T?

DO YOU OUTLINE?

>> Barr: NO.

I JUST SIT DOWN AND WRITE IT.

I GOT SUED.

>> Grisham: GOOD, I'M GLAD SOMEBODY ELSE IS BEING SUED.

>> Barr: WRITING IS NOT SCARY.

BEING SUED IS SCARY.

IT'S TERRIFYING.

I'M NOT A LAWYER.

I WAS MORBIDLY FRIGHTENED THE WHOLE TIME.

>> Grisham: WELL, CALL ME NEXT TIME.

I'LL COME BACK AND WORK FOR YOU.

>> Edwards: OOH!

>> Barr: YOU GOT IT!

>> Edwards: WHY DID YOU GET SUED?

>> Barr: SOMEONE FELT THEY WERE A CHARACTER IN ONE OF MY BOOKS.

>> Edwards: AND THEY WEREN'T FLATTERED?

>> Barr: THEY WEREN'T FLATTERED.

THEY WERE THE BAD GUY.

>> Iles: THEY WERE THE GAY LESBIAN... >> Barr: THE NEO-GOTHIC LESBIAN COWBOY.

>> Iles: COWBOY!

COWBOY OUT WEST, THAT'S WHO IT WAS.

>> Barr: BUT THE LAWYER KEPT BROW BEATING ME SAYING, "YOU HAVE NOTES."

"YOU HAVE TO GIVE ME YOUR NOTES."

AND I DIDN'T AND I WENT THROUGH EIGHT HOURS OF DEPOSITIONS?...

>> Grisham: YEAH, DEPOSITIONS.

>> Barr: DEPOSITIONS.

>> Edwards: NO NOTES.

>> Barr: SAYING, "NOPE, NONE EXIST."

>> Edwards: KEEP NOTES?

WRITE A FORMULA?

>> Grisham: YEAH MAN.

I DON'T WALK AROUND WITH A NOTEBOOK.

BUT, YEAH, ALMOST EVERYDAY I'M GOING TO WRITE DOWN SOMETHING.

>> Edwards: DO YOU BUILD AN OUTLINE?

DO YOU KNOW HOW IT'S GOING TO END?

>> Grisham: SURE WHEN I START A BOOK IT'S VERY WELL OUTLINED.

THE MANUSCRIPT IS GOING TO BE 400 PAGES LONG.

FORTY CHAPTERS AT 10 PAGES EACH.

THAT'S THE GOAL.

I KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING TO GO.

I KNOW MOST OF THE CHARACTERS-- ALL THE MAIN CHARACTERS.

MOST OF THE SUB-PLOTS AND ALL THAT IS WRITTEN DOWN.

>> Edwards: REALLY?

>> Grisham: I'LL TELL YOU A FUNNY STORY-- IT MAY BE FUNNY.

YEARS AGO... >> Edwards: I'LL BE THE JUDGE OF THAT.

( Barr laughs ) >> John Grisham, Author: YEARS AGO I'D WRITTEN THE FIRM AND MY AGENT IN NEW YORK WAS REALLY AFTER ME TO GET THE NEXT BOOK IN.

HE WANTED TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

I SENT HIM AN OUTLINE FOR THE PELICAN BRIEF, WHICH WAS A 45 PAGE OUTLINE, CHAPTER BY CHAPTER, BY CHAPTER OUTLINE OF THE PELICAN BRIEF.

SOMEHOW THAT THING WAS STOLEN OR LEAKED OUT AND SHOWED UP IN HOLLYWOOD.

WELL THEY CAN'T READ 45 PAGES IN HOLLYWOOD.

SO, SOMEBODY TOOK IT AND MADE IT LIKE A SEVEN PAGE TREATMENT OF MY 45 PAGE OUTLINE.

>> Barr: AND YOU HAD NOT WRITTEN THIS BOOK YET?

>> Grisham: I WAS WRITING IT.

I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF WRITING THE BOOK.

AND WE ACTUALLY SOLD THE FILM RIGHTS TO THE PELICAN BRIEF BASED ON SOMEBODY'S TREATMENT OF MY OUTLINE, THE BOOK I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF WRITING.

>> Edwards: WHICH THEY HAD STOLEN FROM... >> Grisham: ...WHICH THEY HAD STOLEN FROM NEW YORK.

THAT'S HOW DETAILED THE OUTLINE IS.

>> Edwards: BUT IS THAT BECAUSE OF YOUR LEGAL BACKGROUND?

>> Grisham: I'M SURE, WE'RE TRAINED TO WORK LIKE THAT, TO BE ORGANIZED.

>> Edwards: YOU KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THE CHARACTERS WHEN YOU GO IN?

>> Grisham: NOT EVERYTHING, NO.

>> Edwards: DO THEY NOT SURPRISE YOU?

>> Grisham: ALWAYS.

YOU CAN'T OUTLINE EVERYTHING.

YOU CAN'T PREDICT EVERYTHING.

>> Edwards: RIGHT.

ELMORE LEONARD SAID ONCE THAT SOMETIMES HE HAS A CHARACTER IN ONE OF HIS STORIES WHO'S TWO CHAPTERS IN AND HE FINDS OUT HE DOESN'T LIKE HIM-- AND THE GUY DISAPPEARS.

>> Grisham: HE KILLS HIM OFF.

>> Edwards: HE KILLS HIM OFF OR HE JUST STOPS TALKING.

>> Grisham: NOT ME.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT GREG.

>> Iles: THIS IS GOOD.

IT SHOWS HOW DIFFERENT WE ALL ARE.

YOU KNOW KING'S NAME KEEPS COMING UP BUT HE DESCRIBES IT BETTER THAN ANYBODY I'VE EVER HEARD-- AT LEAST MY PROCESS.

HE SAID, "THINK OF A WRITER'S BRAIN AS A HOUSE.

DOWN IN THE BASEMENT OF THAT HOUSE ARE A BUNCH OF BOXES AND THEY'RE LYING ABOUT IN DISARRAY.

THE BIGGEST MISTAKE THAT YOU CAN MAKE AS A WRITER IS TO GO DOWN THERE AND TRY TO STRAIGHTEN UP THOSE BOXES."

HE SAYS, "THERE ARE GUYS DOWN THERE WORKING ON THOSE BOXES.

IF YOU WILL JUST LEAVE THOSE GUYS ALONE AND GO ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS FOR A FEW MONTHS THOSE BOXES WILL ALL BE STRAIGHTENED OUT AND WHEN YOU SIT DOWN THE BOOK IS THERE."

THAT'S PRETTY MUCH HOW I DO IT.

I TRY TO DO NOTHING AND BY THE TIME I SIT DOWN I JUST START WRITING 30 PAGES A DAY.

>> Edwards: THIRTY PAGES A DAY?

>> Barr: OOH!..

DOUBLE SPACED?

>> Edwards: HOLD ON, WE'LL COME BACK TO THAT.

( laughter ) >> Grisham: TRIPLE SPACED, WITH WIDE MARGINS!

>> Edwards: SO, WHERE DO THE IDEAS COME FROM?

>> Iles: I DON'T KNOW.

>> Edwards: JOHN, YOU GOT ONE OF YOUR BEST IDEAS IN A COURTROOM CONVERSATION YOU OVERHEARD AND THAT BECAME A TIME TO KILL.

>> Grisham: SURE.

>> Edwards: AND YOU OBVIOUSLY STEAL YOUR IDEAS.

>> Barr: YEAH.

>> Edwards: YOU'RE KIDDING.

WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?

>> Iles: JUST FROM MY OWN LIFE, FROM OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES-- I DON'T KNOW.

I CAN'T ANSWER THAT.

>> Edwards: WHICH COMES FIRST, THE CHARACTERS OR THE IDEA FOR THE STORY?

>> Iles: DIFFERENT AT DIFFERENT TIMES.

IF I DO SOMETHING THAT IS FORMULATED LIKE 24 HOURS IT'S THE PLOT.

IF I DO SOMETHING LIKE THE QUIET GAME THAT'S CHARACTER DRIVEN.

IT GREW OUT OF A PERSON.

IT'S JUST DIFFERENT EVERY TIME.

>> Edwards: DO YOU HAVE A GREAT CHARACTER YOU WANT TO BUILD A STORY AROUND OR DO YOU HAVE A STORY AND YOU DEVELOP CHARACTERS TO MAKE IT WORK?

>> Grisham: I ALMOST ALWAYS START WITH A STORY.

WHEN YOU WATCH LAWSUITS, LITIGATION AND TRIALS AND THINGS THE WAY I WATCH IT.

I DON'T STUDY IT.

I WATCH IT IN PUBLICATIONS AND NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES.

SO THERE ARE ALWAYS IDEAS THAT ARE FESTERING.

BUT IT'S ALMOST ALWAYS THE IDEA FIRST.

I THINK THE BEST BOOKS I WRITE ARE THE ONES THAT CAN TAKE AN ISSUE AND WRAP A NOVEL AROUND AN ISSUE.

LIKE THE STREET LAWYER IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THAT.

HOMELESSNESS I WAS ABLE TO WEAVE A NOVEL AROUND.

THE CHAMBER WAS THE DEATH PENALTY AND THE RAINMAKER WAS INSURANCE FRAUD.

THE RUNAWAY JURY WAS TOBACCO LITIGATION-- AND I DON'T ALWAYS DO THAT.

THE BOOK LAST YEAR, THE SUMMONS, IT HAD JUST A STORY.

>> Edwards: ARE YOU ALWAYS LOOKING FOR AN ISSUE?

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR THE HOT BUTTON?

>> Grisham: NO.

MY WIFE TELLS ME ALL THE TIME, "STOP PREACHING.

GET OFF THE SOAP BOX AND JUST WRITE A BOOK.

TELL A STORY I DON'T WANT TO BE EDUCATED ABOUT IT."

AND I LISTEN TO HER-- AND I DO TEND TO GET CARRIED AWAY WITH SOME OF THE PREACHING.

I MEAN, SOME OF THE ISSUES STUFF THAT I ENJOY, BECAUSE I ENJOY POLITICS.

I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT LAWYERS ARE DOING THAT WILL MAKE A GOOD STORY.

THEN ONCE I HAVE THAT IDEA THE CHARACTER COMES-- MY STRENGTH IS PLOT.

IT'S NOT CHARACTER.

IT'S NOT-- THAT'S WHAT I ENJOY DOING.

>> Edwards: THIRTY SOMETHING PAGES A DAY?...

>> Iles: I THINK HE'S GOT MORE STRENGTH OF CHARACTER THAN I HAVE.

>> Grisham: GREG YOU DON'T WRITE 30 PAGES A DAY, DO YOU?

>> Barr: YOU JUST SAID THAT TO MAKE US FEEL BAD.

>> Iles: NO, NO, NO.

I DO NOTHING... >> Edwards: I GET THE FEELING THIS IS A GUY THAT JUST SITS THERE AND WORKS, AND WORKS... >> Grisham: WHAT TIME DO YOU START IN THE MORNING?

>> Iles: I SLEEP ALL DAY AND I START AT NIGHT.

>> Grisham: YOU SLEEP ALL DAY?

>> Edwards: YOU ARE NOCTURNAL.

>> Iles: WHEN I'M REALLY WRITING I WAKE UP ABOUT 3:00 IN THE AFTERNOON.

>> Grisham: AH, LIKE WILLIE MORRIS.

>> Edwards: WILLIE WAS NOCTURNAL.

>> Grisham: SLEEP ALL DAY AND UP ALL NIGHT.

>> Iles: BUT NOT DRINKING ALL THAT TIME.

( laughter ) >> Barr: BUT CAN YOU DO IT SOBER?

>> Grisham: WHAT TIME DO YOU START WRITING?

>> Iles: AFTER MY WIFE AND KIDS GO TO BED AND I WRITE TO ABOUT 7:00 IN THE MORNING-- JUST STRAIGHT THROUGH.

>> Grisham: SO, EIGHT OR NINE HOURS OF SOLID WORK.

>> Iles: WHEN I'M DOING IT.

BUT A LOT OF TIMES I'M NOT DOING IT.

I'M JUST THINKING.

>> Edwards: SO WITH A PLAN?

>> Iles: YEAH, WITH A PLAN.

>> Edwards: WITH AN OUTLINE?

>> Greg Iles, Author: UH-HUH.

BUT AS JOHN SAID, YOU CAN ONLY PLAN SO MUCH AND THEN IT HAPPENS.

I'M NOT ONE OF THOSE GUYS WHO SAYS, "OH, MY CHARACTERS CAME TO LIFE AND THEY TOOK OVER."

>> Grisham: THEY ARE LYING WHEN THEY SAY THAT.

WRITERS WILL SAY, "I HAVE NO IDEA..." >> Edwards: THE CHARACTER LED ME DOWN THAT... >> Grisham: "WHEN I STARTED THIS BOOK I HAD NO IDEA, I WAS INSPIRED."

THAT'S NOT TRUE.

THEY ARE LYING, THAT'S FICTION.

HOW MANY PAGES DO YOU WRITE A DAY?

>> Barr: WHEN I'M CRANKING 12 MAYBE 14-- IF LIKE, GOD SMILES.

>> Edwards: WHAT IS YOUR DAY-- EARLY IN THE MORNING?

>> Nevada Barr, Author: IT VARIES.

THE ONLY RULE I CAN STICK TO IS THREE PAGES A DAY.

I WRITE LONG HAND.

I CAN WRITE AS BIG AS I WANT AND CROSSED OUT STUFF COUNTS.

THEN WHEN I GET CLOSER AND CLOSER TO IT BEING DUE I'LL START CRANKING...

30?...

I MAY GET UP TO 12 OR 14.

>> Grisham: IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER.

IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MUCH YOU WRITE A DAY.

IT JUST MATTERS HOW IT COMES OUT.

>> Barr: NO IT DOESN'T AS LONG AS YOU GET IT DONE, YEAH.

>> Iles: HOW GOOD IS IT IN THE END.

>> Edwards: TYPE WRITTEN, COMPUTER-- WHAT'S YOUR SYSTEM?

>> Iles: OH YEAH, COMPUTER, SURE.

>> Grisham: YEAH COMPUTER-- TEN PAGES A DAY IS A LOT.

>> Barr: YEAH, IT'S A LOT.

>> Grisham: AND THAT'S PRETTY... >> Edwards: WHAT DO YOU AIM FOR?

>> Grisham: WHEN IT'S SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER AND I'VE GOT TO HAVE THE FIRST DRAFT DONE BY NOVEMBER THE 1st.

SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER I SHOOT FOR 10 PAGES A DAY FIVE DAYS A WEEK.

THAT'S FROM 6:00 IN THE MORNING TILL ABOUT 10:00 OR 11:00.

>> Edwards: 10:00 OR 11:00 IN THE MORNING?...

>> Grisham: YEAH.

I CAN'T GO PAST NOON AND I'M EXHAUSTED WHEN I FINISH.

IF I DO 10 PAGES IN FIVE HOURS IN THE MORNING I'M PRETTY WELL WIPED OUT FOR THE DAY.

>> Barr: YEAH, I'VE GOT TO KNOCK OFF AND GO TO THE GYM, AND TAKE NAPS, AND PLAY AROUND.

>> Grisham: GO TO THE GYM-- I GO FOR A LONG RUN.

>> Iles: SEE, I SHOULD BE TAKING A PAGE OUT OF HIS BOOK.

HE'S THE ONE THAT'S MAKING IT WORK.

( laughter ) >> Edwards: THIS MIGHT WORK.

LET ME ASK YOU THOUGH ABOUT THE REST OF THE DAY BECAUSE I'M INTERESTED IN THAT, TOO.

WHAT IS THE REST OF YOUR DAY?

HOW MUCH WEIGHT HAVE YOU LOST, BY THE WAY?

>> Grisham: OH I DON'T KNOW-- 10 OR 15 POUNDS.

>> Edwards: AND IT'S BY RUNNING?

>> Grisham: YEAH, I RUN A LOT.

I CAN'T STOP EATING SO I'VE HAD TO RUN MORE.

>> Edwards: WHEN DID YOU START RUNNING?

>> Grisham: LAST FALL.

USUALLY WHEN I'M WRITING I RUN MORE AND EXERCISE MORE, JUST GET IN BETTER SHAPE.

BECAUSE ONCE YOU DO THAT DRAINING PART OF 10 PAGES A DAY YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING PHYSICAL.

I HAVE TO.

I HAVE TO GO OUT AND SWEAT.

SO I'LL GO RUN FIVE MILES OR EIGHT MILES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> Edwards: WOULD JOHN GRISHAM HAVE DONE THAT BACK IN THE EIGHTIES?

>> John Grisham, Author: I'VE ALWAYS RUN A LOT.

BUT I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS AN ATTORNEY WORKING A LOT OF HOURS ALSO IN THE LEGISLATURE DOWN HERE IT WAS HARD TO GET A RUN IN EVERYDAY BECAUSE YOU GET SO BUSY.

AGAIN THIS LIFE STYLE, YOU KNOW, GREG CAN SLEEP ALL DAY.

>> Edwards: IT'S JUST WHATEVER WORKS.

YOU'VE GOT TO GO TO THE GYM?

>> Barr: YEAH.

I WRITE IN THE MORNINGS, TOO, BECAUSE NOBODY MESSES WITH YOU PRETTY MUCH IF YOU GET UP EARLY ENOUGH.

THEN I TAKE ART CLASSES, I DRAW, I GARDEN IN THE AFTERNOONS.

BUT THE GYM IS LIKE... >> Edwards: SO YOU ARE OUT LOOKING FOR A RELEASE.

>> Barr: YOU START TO FEEL LIKE A PIECE OF CRUMPLED UP TIN FOIL AFTER A WHILE.

>> Edwards: AND YOU GO TO BED?

( laughter ) >> Iles: I DO OTHER THINGS, TOO.

>> Edwards: WE ASKED PEOPLE WHO WERE WAITING IN LINE FOR AN AUTOGRAPHED BOOK TODAY ABOUT THEIR QUESTIONS.

SALLY ROGERS... DO YOU EVER WORRY THAT SOME OF YOUR MURDER PLOTS MIGHT GIVE IDEAS TO CRIMINALS?

>> Grisham: OOH.

I DON'T DO MURDER VERY WELL.

>> Edwards: NO YOU DON'T, DO YOU?

>> Grisham: MURDER AND SEX...

I DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT THOSE.

>> Edwards: YOU'VE DONE A COUPLE OF MURDERS, BUT NOT MANY.

>> Barr: I KILL PEOPLE A LOT.

I ENJOY IT VERY MUCH.

MY THEORY IS NO MATTER WHAT HORRIBLE THING I CAN THINK OF OUT OF THE DEPTH OF MY DEPRAVED IMAGINATION, SOMEBODY IS OUT THERE DOING IT WHILE I'M WRITING IT.

I MEAN, YOU JUST... >> Edwards: NO MATTER HOW STRANGE IT IS?

NO MATTER HOW WEIRD IT IS?

>> Barr: NO MATER HOW STRANGE AND WEIRD IT IS.

>> Edwards: NO MATTER WHAT GRIZZLY BEAR IS INVOLVED IN IT?

>> Grisham: THEY ARE NOT READING BOOKS EITHER-- THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT THERE DOING THE MURDER.

>> Barr: YEAH, WATCH THREE HOURS OF PRIME TIME.

>> Grisham: YEAH, THEY ARE WATCHING TELEVISION OR MOVIES AND ALL THAT.

BUT THEY ARE NOT READING BOOKS TO GET IDEAS ON HOW TO KILL PEOPLE.

>> Barr: MURDERERS ARE ILLITERATE, YOU KNOW.

>> Iles: I PUT OFF WRITING 24 HOURS FOR SEVEN YEARS, I'LL TELL YOU THAT.

>> Edwards: BECAUSE YOU THOUGHT?...

>> Iles: I WAS WRITING ONE OF MY OTHER BOOKS... >> Edwards: THIS PLOT OF KIDNAPING... >> Iles: I READ THAT KIDNAPING FOR RANSOM WAS THE LEAST SUCCESSFUL CRIME IN THE UNITED STATES-- MAJOR CRIME.

>> Edwards: THIS IS A BOOK ABOUT KIDNAPPER WHO GOT AWAY WITH IT?

>> Iles: YEAH, THE PERFECT KIDNAPING.

SO I SAID, "I'M NOT A DUMB GUY.

WHY DOES KIDNAPING FOR RANSOM-- WHY DOES IT NOT WORK?"

I SAID, "HOW CAN I MAKE IT WORK?"

WHEN I THOUGHT OF THAT AND FOR ONCE-- I DON'T USUALLY WORRY ABOUT IT, JUST LIKE THEM.

BUT I HELD OFF AND ONLY WHEN I REALIZED THAT WHEN SOMEBODY IS WILLING TO DO THAT, THEY COULD GO TO YOUR HOUSE AND HOLD A GUN TO YOUR WIFE'S HEAD AND SAY, "GO TO THE BANK."

THERE'S A SIMPLER WAY.

SO I WENT AHEAD.

ACTUALLY I DIDN'T GO AHEAD WITH THE BOOK UNTIL HOLLYWOOD CONVINCED ME THEY WANTED TO MAKE IT, THEN I WENT AHEAD.

BUT I AGREE WITH THEM FOR THE MOST PART.

BUT I THINK NOW AND THEN IT HAPPENS.

ROD SERLING WROTE A BOOK ABOUT A BOMB BEING PLACED ON A PLANE AND ARMED AT A CERTAIN ALTITUDE.

HE WAS SUED OVER THAT.

HE WON, BUT YOU KNOW I THINK THERE IS SOME DANGER THERE.

I THINK THEY ARE RIGHT, MOST PEOPLE AREN'T READING BOOKS TO FIND OUT, BUT NOW AND THEN YOU NEVER KNOW.

>> Barr: NOW WITH THE INTERNET WE ARE ABSOLVED.

I WANTED TO FIND OUT HOW TO BLOW SOMETHING UP-- A FRIEND OF MINE HAPPENS TO BLOW THINGS UP FOR A LIVING.

TALK ABOUT A DREAM JOB.

HE TRAVELS ALL OVER THE WORLD AND BLOWS THINGS UP LEGALLY.

HE JUST TYPED IN "EXPLOSIVES" AND HIT "GOOGLE" AND IT WAS ALL THERE.

>> Edwards: AND THERE IT WAS.

>> Barr: YEAH.

>> Edwards: AND THE TOM CLANCY STORY WITH SUM OF ALL FEARS.

WITH A PLANE GOING INTO THE-- MY GOSH, WHO WOULD EVER IMAGINE?

>> Iles: WELL JOHN'S IDEA OF ASSASSINATING A SUPREME COURT JUSTICE TO INFLUENCE A TRIAL OUT IN THE FUTURE, THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD... >> Grisham: I CAN THINK OF A COUPLE I WOULD LIKE TO KNOCK OFF NOW.

( laughter ) >> Barr: THAT LITTLE LIST.

>> Edwards: DID YOU IMAGINE YOURSELF A MYSTERY WRITER?

WHEN DID YOU THINK YOU MIGHT BECOME A MYSTERY WRITER?

>> Barr: NEVER.

I WAS AN ACTOR FOR ALL THOSE YEARS AND MY FIRST BOOKS WERE ALL HISTORICAL AND I NEVER READ MYSTERIES AND I WASN'T UNTIL I WAS INTO WRITING MY FIRST ANNA PIGEON THAT IT DAWNED ON ME, "THIS IS A MURDER MYSTERY.

THERE'S GENRE FOR THIS."

AND I WENT OUT AND STARTED STUDYING.

BUT, NO, IT WAS JUST THE STORY CAME UPON ME AND THEN I REALIZED THERE WAS A NAME FOR THIS.

>> Edwards: SO WHEN YOU GO INTO MYSTERY BOOK STORES NOW IT'S OKAY.

BUT DID YOU HANG AROUND MYSTERY BOOK STORES?

>> Barr: NEVER DID UNTIL I STARTED WRITING THEM AND SELLING THEM AND NOW I READ MYSTERIES LIKE I EAT DORITOS, ONE AFTER THE OTHER.

>> Edwards: DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A MYSTERY WRITER?

>> Grisham: NO, NO-- SUSPENSE.

IF YOU HAD TO CLASSIFY ME SOMEWHERE IT'S SUSPENSE.

>> Iles: I'D SAY PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE.

NAH, THEY SAY THE DIFFERENCE AND I THINK YOU SEE IT HERE.

>> Edwards: THAT'S THIS SHELF OVER HERE.

>> Greg Iles, Author: WELL, THE DIFFERENCE IS IN A MYSTERY IT'S ABOUT WHO DID IT.

AND IN A THRILLER IT'S ABOUT WHO WILL PREVAIL.

YOU MAY KNOW WHOSE DOING IT ALL ALONG.

IT'S ABOUT WHO WILL PREVAIL.

>> Edwards: CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG-- THE THING I LIKE ABOUT YOUR STUFF IS YOU CHANGE CONSTANTLY.

YOU'RE A SHAPE CHANGER.

YOU STARTED OUT DOING WORLD WAR II STUFF.

DID YOU DESIGN THAT?

DID YOU PLAN THAT?

>> Iles: I DID.

THE PRESSURE IN PUBLISHING IS OBVIOUSLY WHEN SOMETHING IS SUCCESSFUL GO AHEAD AND REPEAT THAT AND THAT'S CERTAINLY THE PATH TO THE GREATEST FINANCIAL SUCCESS.

IN SOME WAYS I'M MY OWN WORST ENEMY.

>> Edwards: YOU DECIDED NOT TO BE FINANCIALLY SUCCESSFUL?

>> Iles: WELL... >> Barr: HE WAS FOILED.

( laughter ) >> Iles: I JUST HAVE TO-- I THINK I HAVE TO GO WITH WHAT INTERESTS ME EACH TIME.

I THINK THAT IS THE GREATEST FREEDOM I HAVE-- BUT IT'S A RISK EVERY TIME.

IT'S NOT A SECURE WAY TO BE A WRITER.

>> Edwards: HOW DID THE PUBLISHERS AND THE AGENTS FEEL ABOUT YOUR CHANGING HORSES CONSTANTLY?

>> Iles: THEY PREFER IT OTHERWISE, BUT I FINALLY REACHED A POINT WHERE I THINK I HAVE A FAN BASE THAT HAS COME TO EXPECT SOMETHING DIFFERENT EVERY TIME.

THAT MAY LIMIT WHAT I CAN EVENTUALLY SELL.

I MAY NEVER HIT MASSIVE NUMBERS DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT EVERY TIME BUT I'LL BE HAPPIER, PROBABLY.

>> Edwards: SO WHEN YOU GO TO YOUR PUBLISHER AND SAY I WANT TO DO A PAINTED HOUSE OR I WANT TO DO THE CHRISTMAS STORY, WHAT DO THEY SAY?

OF COURSE, YOU ARE KIND OF A BIG GUY.

YOU CAN PRETTY MUCH WRITE WHATEVER YOU WANT.

>> Grisham: THEY'VE NEVER SAID, "NO."

NOT IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.

>> Edwards: WELL, WHO COULD?

( laughter ) >> Iles: EXCELLENT POINT.

>> Grisham: WELL WHEN I WROTE A TIME TO KILL-- I MEAN, I DIDN'T KNOW IF THE BOOK WAS GOING TO GET PUBLISHED AND I SET UP THAT FICTIONAL COUNTY TO SORT OF GO BACK AND TELL A LOT OF STORIES OUT OF.

WELL, THEN I WROTE THE FIRM.

MY GOAL WAS TO ALTERNATE, FORD COUNTY BOOKS WITH LEGAL THRILLERS.

DO ONE EVERY OTHER-- YOU KNOW, SWAP THEM OUT.

WELL, WHEN THE FIRM CAME OUT IT WAS A VERY QUICK SUCCESS AND THEY PREVAILED ON ME TO WRITE MORE LEGAL THRILLERS.

AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE DONE.

BUT AS THE YEARS GO BY I WANT TO GO BACK TO FORD COUNTY AND I'LL PROBABLY DO THAT PRETTY SOON AND TRY TO WRITE DIFFERENT KINDS OF BOOKS.

WHEN YOU WRITE A DOZEN OR SO BOOKS OF ONE TYPE OF BOOK YOU CATCH YOURSELF WONDERING, "COULD I DO A CHILDHOOD MEMOIR A PAINTED HOUSE?

CAN I DO HUMOR?

I LOVE HUMOR SO I TRIED SKIPPING CHRISTMAS.

NOW THEY DON'T AUTOMATICALLY PUBLISH EVERYTHING I WRITE.

I'VE SENT THEM SOME REAL GARBAGE BEFORE AND THEY SENT IT BACK.

SO, THEY HAVE SAID, "NO."

>> Edwards: IT TAKES SOME NERVE.

>> Grisham: IT WAS PRETTY BAD STUFF.

( laughter ) >> Edwards: WHAT WAS IT ABOUT?

>> Grisham: LAWYERS-- THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF BOOKS.

NOT BIG BOOKS.

OCCASIONALLY I'LL SNEAK IN SOMETHING-- A SHORT BOOK LIKE SKIPPING CHRISTMAS.

THIS WAS A SHORT LEGAL BOOK THAT WAS DREADFUL AND THEY KICKED IT BACK TO ME.

I SENT IT JUST TO SEE OF THEY WOULD SEND IT BACK AND THEY DID.

>> Edwards: SO, ARE YOU CONSTANTLY THINKING ABOUT TRYING SOMETHING NEW, BECAUSE YOU ARE DOING A BOOK ABOUT SPIRITUALITY?

>> Barr: YES... >> Edwards: WHICH HAS NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH THE MYSTERIES YOU WRITE.

>> Nevada Barr, Author: NO, I'M ON THE ONE A YEAR MYSTERY BOOK IN A SERIES.

SO EVERYTHING IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME.

I'VE BEEN HAVING A BALL WITH IT BUT THIS SPIRITUAL BOOK JUST CAME OUT OF THINGS I'VE BEEN THINKING AND FEELING.

AND WITH IT CAME THE ABSOLUTE TERROR-- "THEY BOUGHT IT AND NOW IT'S GOING TO BE PUBLISHED."

SUDDENLY I'M FACED WITH SOMETHING WHERE I'VE ACTUALLY PUT OUT THAT IS SO MUCH OF MYSELF THAT IT'S MUCH SCARIER THAN THE ANNA PIGEON WHO I'M VERY HAPPY WITH.

>> Edwards: YOUR EXPERIENCES IN DURANGO AND BEING EATEN BY THE TIGER AND ALL THAT.

>> Barr: YES!

>> Edwards: AND ALL THAT BUSINESS IS OUT THERE FOR EVERYBODY TO SEE.

IT'S NOT A CHARACTER YOU ARE MAKING UP.

>> Barr: NO, MY HOPE IS THAT NOBODY WILL BUY IT AND I'LL BE ALL RIGHT.

>> Grisham: DON'T QUOTE HER ON THAT.

I HOPE YOUR PUBLISHER DOESN'T HEAR THAT.

>> Barr: THAT'S TRUE.

I'LL GET A CALL WHEN WE GET HOME.

>> Edwards: DID YOU HEAR THAT A LOT WITH THE PAINTED HOUSE THAT THIS WAS YOUR STORY?

PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS YOUR STORY.

>> Grisham: SURE, SURE.

I MEAN, I PUBLISHED IT AS FICTION BUT THERE'S A LOT OF AUTOBIOGRAPHY IN THE BOOK.

BUT THERE WERE WONDERFUL STORIES I WANTED TO TELL.

STORIES I'VE HEARD MY WHOLE LIFE FROM MY FATHER AND GRANDFATHER, OLD FAMILY LEGENDS THAT WERE HANDED DOWN.

THEY WERE PROBABLY ALL FICTION TO BEGIN WITH BUT I WANTED TO COLLECT THEM EVEN FICTIONALIZE THEM MORE INTO THIS WONDERFUL LITTLE CHILDHOOD MEMOIR.

BUT I WASN'T WORRIED ABOUT REVEALING TOO MUCH OF MYSELF.

>> Edwards: WELL YOU STARTED IT OUT AS A SERIAL IN A MAGAZINE.

>> Grisham: YEAH.

I DID THAT ONE TIME.

I PROBABLY WON'T DO THAT AGAIN.

>> Edwards: DID STEPHEN KING TALK YOU INTO DOING THAT?

BECAUSE THAT WAS HIS IDEA, WASN'T IT?

TO SERIALIZE-- THAT WAS PROBABLY YEARS AGO.

>> Grisham: HE SERIALIZED SOMETHING ON LINE DIDN'T HE?

>> Iles: YEAH, IT DIDN'T WORK OUT.

>> Grisham: IT DIDN'T WORK.

YEAH, HE'S TRIED A COUPLE OF THINGS ON LINE AND THEY DIDN'T WORK.

>> Iles: PEOPLE WOULDN'T PAY.

THEY WOULDN'T SEND A DOLLAR.

>> Edwards: AND YOU WRITE THESE SCARY, SCARY THINGS.

>> Iles: YOU KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

I FINALLY PUSHED THE ENVELOP ALMOST TOO FAR.

THE PUBLISHER ALMOST SENT THIS ONE BACK.

IT'S WRAPPED IN THE CLOTHING OF A THRILLER BUT IT'S ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF THE UNIVERSE, GOD AND QUANTUM PHYSICS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

SO THIS WILL BE A TEST.

WILL READERS ACCEPT THIS OR NOT.

>> Edwards: AND WHAT DID THEY SAY TO YOU WHEN YOU SENT IT?

>> Iles: THEY SAID, "OH, MY GOD.

WHAT IS THIS?"

( laughter ) >> Iles: AND WE'VE COME TO SOME SORT OF AN AGREEMENT AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

I'VE FELT LIKE I'VE HAD AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF FREEDOM AND IT'S A MIRACLE THAT I GET IT PUBLISHED.

I'LL GO BACK TO SOMETHING MORE COMMERCIAL AFTER THIS BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO.

BUT IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW FAR YOU CAN DEPART FROM THE MAIN LINE OF WHAT MADE YOU SUCCESSFUL.

>> Edwards: ARE YOU ALWAYS TRYING TO GET AWAY WITH SOMETHING?

>> Barr: WELL, THERE'S AN ASPECT OF THAT, THAT IS SORT OF ENTERTAINING.

BUT FOR THE MOST PART, NOT REALLY.

I'M ALWAYS TRYING TO KEEP MYSELF AMUSED.

>> Grisham: I DON'T THINK YOU WANT TO STEP OUTSIDE OF WHAT YOU DO BEST UNTIL YOU'VE PUBLISHED SEVERAL OF THOSE AND YOU'VE GOT YOUR TRACK RECORD AND YOUR PUBLISHER AND YOUR READERS KNOW THAT YOU CAN DELIVER.

THEN YOU CAN DO SOMETHING LIKE WE ARE ALL TALKING ABOUT, SOMETHING THAT'S DIFFERENT.

AGAIN YOU'VE GOT TO BE ESTABLISHED.

>> Edwards: THEN YOU CAN STRETCH THE LIMITS A LITTLE BIT.

>> Grisham: ALSO I DON'T GET BORED WRITING BOOKS.

BUT YOU DO THINK, "COULD I DO SOMETHING ELSE?"

"COULD I TRY SOMETHING ELSE?"

SO YOU TRY IT.

SOMETIMES IT WORKS.

SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T.

>> Edwards: WHEN DID YOU HAVE THE SENSE THAT YOU HAD BEGUN TO FIND YOUR RHYTHM-- THAT YOU HAD BEGUN TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DO EVERYDAY TO MAKE THIS WORK?

BASEBALL PLAYERS FIND THEIR RHYTHM AT A CERTAIN POINT AND SO DO GOLFERS.

THEY KIND OF FIGURE OUT HOW TO PLAY THE GAME.

WHEN DID YOU BEGIN TO FIGURE OUT THAT YOU HAD FIGURED OUT HOW TO PLAY THE GAME?

HOW MANY BOOKS IN WERE YOU?

>> John Grisham, Writer: FOR ME, I THINK IT WAS SO GRADUAL THAT I DIDN'T REALIZE IT.

I WROTE THE FIRST TWO BOOKS A TIME TO KILL AND THE FIRM BACK TO BACK OVER A FIVE YEAR PERIOD.

AND MOST OF IT WAS WRITTEN EARLY IN THE MORNING AT THE LAW OFFICE BEFORE 8:00 , BECAUSE I HAD A REAL JOB THAT TOOK UP A LOT OF TIME.

A TIME TO KILL DID NOT SELL.

THE FIRM SOLD REAL FAST, ALMOST OVERNIGHT.

I KNEW I COULD WRITE SOMETHING.

I COULD WRITE A BOOK THAT THE PAGES WOULD TURN.

THAT'S MY GOAL EVERY TIME I START WRITING.

I WANT THE PAGES TO TURN FAST.

I KNEW THAT THE FIRM DID THAT.

IN FACT, THE FIRM MAY BE THE BEST ONE, IN TERMS OF SHEER SUSPENSE.

WHEN I WROTE THE BOOK I KNEW IT WORKED.

>> Nevada Barr, Writer: I WROTE A LOT OF BOOKS BEFORE I CLICKED IN.

I'D WRITTEN ONE AND IT HADN'T SOLD.

THEN I WROTE-- THE FIRST BOOK I EVER PUBLISHED WHICH MY BOSS AT MORGAN STANLEY WAS THE FIRST GUY THAT EVER READ IT AND HE DUBBED IT A NEO-GOTHIC LESBIAN WESTERN.

IT SOLD ABOUT 12... ( laughter ) >> Grisham: THAT'S MY FAVORITE KIND OF BOOK!

>> Barr: IT'S A REAL NARROW GENRE.

>> Edwards: I HAVE A WHOLE SHELF OF THOSE KIND OF THINGS!

( laughter ) >> Barr: IT SOLD 1,200 COPIES.

MAMA BOUGHT MOST OF THEM.

THEN I CONTINUED WRITING FOR 10 YEARS AND DIDN'T SELL ANYTHING.

WHEN I WROTE THE FIRST ANNA PIGEON BOOK IT WAS THE DISCOVERY OF THE CHARACTER.

I HAD WRITTEN A LOT OF WORDS BY THEN.

AND WHEN I DISCOVERED THE CHARACTER DOWN IN WEST TEXAS IT WAS LIKE SUDDENLY I WASN'T SUCKING PLOTS AND STORIES THROUGH A SKINNY STRAW.

THAT WALL WENT DOWN AND STUFF STARTED TO FLOW.

I STILL SCREW UP AND I STILL GET BORED AND I STILL WRITE BAD STUFF.

BUT IT'S NOT SO HARD ANYMORE.

IT GOT EASY.

IT GOT FUN.

>> Edwards: YOU THOUGHT, "I CAN SPEND A LOT OF TIME..." >> Barr: IT BEGAN TO WORK.

>> Grisham: UH HUH.

>> Edwards: WAS SHE SOMEBODY THAT YOU KNEW?

>> Barr: JUST LOOSELY BASED ON-- I WAS UP IN THE BACK COUNTRY TRACKING MOUNTAIN LIONS SO I MADE MYSELF TALLER, AND STRONGER, AND SMARTER, AND BRAVER.

>> Iles: DON'T YOU LOVE FICTION?

>> Grisham: DON'T YOU LOVE FICTION?

>> Edwards: AND YOU?

>> Iles: I INITIALLY WROTE A MASSIVE PLOT DRIVEN NOVEL.

I THINK WITH THE SECOND BOOK I WROTE BLACK CROSS.

IN A WAY IT WAS A SEQUEL TO THE FIRST NOVEL BUT IT WAS MORE A CHARACTER DRIVEN BOOK.

I STARTED TO REALIZE THAT THE STORY COULD GROW OUT OF WHAT WAS IN THE PEOPLE RATHER THAN SOMETHING OUTSIDE OCCURRING TO THE PEOPLE.

SOMETIME BETWEEN THAT BOOK MORTAL FEAR-- I REALIZED WHAT I WAS WRITING ABOUT.

EVEN THOUGH I WAS WRITING ABOUT DIFFERENT SUBJECTS AND DIFFERENT MILIEUS, I WAS REALLY WRITING ABOUT EVIL.

NO MATTER WHAT MY BOOKS ARE ABOUT, I'M SORT OF OBSESSED WITH LEARNING WHY GOOD PEOPLE DO BAD THINGS.

YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING IS NOT BLACK AND WHITE.

I WRITE ABOUT GREY AREAS.

WHEN I FIGURED OUT WHAT I WAS WRITING ABOUT I FOUND MY RHYTHM.

>> Edwards: WHAT DO PEOPLE IN NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI THINK ABOUT THIS STRANGE MAN THAT IS OBSESSED WITH EVIL IN THE WORLD?

>> Iles: THEY DON'T MIND THAT AS LONG AS I DON'T WRITE TOO MUCH ABOUT NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI.

( laughter ) >> Barr: AS LONG AS YOU GO TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY THEY DON'T CARE WHAT YOU DO ABOUT EVIL.

>> Edwards: HAVE YOU HAD THAT EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE ACTUALLY YOU'VE HAD ONE, TWO, THREE-- THREE SETTINGS IN NATCHEZ?

>> Iles: ACTUALLY WITH QUIET GAME I WAS AFRAID BECAUSE I HAD WRITTEN ABOUT AN ACTUAL CIVIL RIGHTS MURDER THAT WAS UNSOLVED AND I THOUGHT IT MIGHT NOT BE WELL RECEIVED.

BUT THE SOUTH HAS COME A VERY LONG WAY AND I THINK THE PEOPLE IN THE NORTH DON'T GIVE US CREDIT FOR THAT.

I THINK THE KIND OF REACTION I ANTICIPATED NEVER HAPPENED.

I THINK WE'RE MUCH FURTHER ALONG THAN ANYONE THINKS.

>> Edwards: YOU FOUND YOURSELF PLUCKED UP AND PUT DOWN HERE ON THE NATCHEZ TRACE.

>> Barr: YES.

>> Edwards: THAT'S WHY YOU FIRST WROTE ABOUT THIS PLACE, RIGHT?

>> Barr: I LOVED THIS PLACE.

I CAME HERE BASICALLY THINKING I'D GET MY GOVERNMENT STATUS AND GET THE HECK OUT OF MISSISSIPPI.

I MEAN, I'D NEVER BEEN HERE.

NOBODY I EVER KNEW HAD BEEN HERE.

IN FACT, MY SISTER WAS AN AIRLINE PILOT FOR U.S. AIR AND SHE SAID, "WE DON'T EVEN LAND IN MISSISSIPPI."

( Grisham laughing ) >> Barr: AND I CAME OUT HERE AND I COULDN'T RESIST THE CHARACTERS.

I FOUND WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT-- WHERE I WROTE THE FIRST BOOK ON THE NATCHEZ TRACE-- IT WAS SET IN CLINTON AND SO FORTH.

AND I THOUGHT, "I'M GOING TO GET CRUCIFIED FOR THIS."

THERE'S SUCH A TRADITION OF STORY TELLING HERE THEY WERE MUCH MORE ACCEPTING OF IT THAN I'VE FOUND IN OTHER PARKS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

BECAUSE YOU KNOW DOWN HERE IF YOU'VE GOT TO EMBELLISH THE TRUTH A LITTLE... >> Edwards: LAUREN GARRET...

WRITING IS SUCH A SOLITARY ACTIVITY DO YOU FIND YOURSELF SUITED FOR THE VERY OPPOSITE EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN THE LIMELIGHT ONCE YOUR WRITING GAINED RECOGNITION?

IN OTHER WORDS, WERE YOU BLIND SIDED BY FAME?

>> Grisham: WELL, BY THE TIME I GOT PUBLISHED I'D BEEN AN ELECTED OFFICIAL FOR SIX-- SEVEN YEARS.

I'D BEEN THROUGH TWO CAMPAIGNS FOR THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

I'D BEEN A LOCAL ATTORNEY WITH A TALENT FOR STICKING MY NOSE IN THE WRONG PLACES.

SO, MY SKIN WAS PRETTY THICK.

>> Edwards: THERE'S STILL NO WAY TO BE READY... >> Grisham: IN MY CASE IT HAPPENED REAL FAST AND WE WERE COMPLETELY AMBUSHED BY IT.

WE WERE JUST NOT READY FOR THE SUDDEN DOSE OF FAME WE FOUND OURSELVES DEALING WITH.

WE DIDN'T REALIZE HOW MUCH WE VALUED OUR PRIVACY UNTIL WE BEGAN TO LOOSE IT.

ONCE WE REALIZED IT WAS SLIPPING AWAY FROM US WE FOUGHT BACK AND WE SAID, "WE ARE NOT GOING TO BECOME PUBLIC PEOPLE.

WE ARE GOING TO LIVE VERY QUIET PRIVATE LIVES."

WE HAVE MANAGED TO DO THAT.

>> Edwards: TOUGH ON THE RELATIONSHIP?

>> Grisham: WITH WHO?

>> Edwards: WITH YOUR WIFE.

>> Grisham: IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY.

NO, IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY, BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE APPROACH HER BECAUSE OF ME AND SHE GETS TIRED OF THAT.

YOU CAN SEE THROUGH IT.

MY KIDS HAVE GROWN UP WITH IT.

I THINK THEY HANDLE IT OKAY.

I WORRY ABOUT IT CONSTANTLY, BUT I THINK THEY HANDLE IT FAIRLY WELL.

>> Edwards: DO YOU FIND YOURSELF TRYING TO SHIELD YOU KIDS AND PROTECT YOUR KIDS FROM IT?

>> Grisham: ABSOLUTELY.

AT THE SAME TIME WE'VE TRIED TO TEACH THEM THAT THE GOOD OUT WEIGHS THE BAD, AND TO THOSE WHO HAVE A LOT, MUCH IS EXPECTED.

WHATEVER THEY DO, WHETHER IT'S GOOD OR BAD, IT'S GOING TO BE AMPLIFIED-- EXAGGERATED.

SO, IT'S UP TO THEM.

IT'S A WAY OF LIFE.

THEY CAN'T CHANGE THEIR NAME.

AND IF I STOP WRITING BOOKS RIGHT NOW MY KIDS ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE KNOWN FOR SOMETHING ELSE.

>> Edwards: AS THE GRISHAM KIDS.

>> Grisham: YEAH.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE CONFRONTED.

AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, AS A NORMAL PARENT YOU WILL DO ANYTHING TO PROTECT THEM BUT I THINK THEY'VE GOTTEN PRETTY TOUGH WITH IT.

>> Iles: I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING BEFORE WE GO ON.

THERE IS SOMETHING I THINK MISSISSIPPIANS DON'T UNDERSTAND ABOUT JOHN.

THAT IS, BECAUSE HE WAS IN THE STATE FOR A LONG TIME THEY KNOW HIM AS A FAMOUS AUTHOR.

BUT I DON'T' THINK THEY REALIZE QUITE WHAT HE'S ACCOMPLISHED IN PUBLISHING.

BASICALLY ONCE EVERY TEN YEARS AN AUTHOR COMES ALONG-- LUDLUM, CLANCY-- WELL LUDLUM, KING, CLANCY, JOHN, J. K. ROWLING-- THAT'S BEYOND BEING A FAMOUS AUTHOR.

IT'S BEING A WORLD WIDE MEDIA PERSONALITY.

IT'S JUST DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE DO.

THERE'S NO WAY TO RELATE HIS SITUATION TO OUR SITUATION.

HE'S AT THE LEVEL OF TOM CRUISE OR SOMEBODY.

THAT SOUNDS LIKE A JOKE BUT HE IS.

HE PROBABLY HAS THAT MUCH AWARENESS LEVEL.

>> Edwards: WHAT, 60 MILLION BOOKS?...

MORE THAN THAT?

>> Grisham: IT'S 61, BUT WHO'S COUNTING?

>> Barr: AND PEOPLE KNOW YOUR FACE BECAUSE OF THE JACKET PHOTO.

YOU'RE ALSO VISUALLY IDENTIFIABLE.

>> Grisham: THOSE HAVE GOTTEN SMALLER, TOO, IF YOU'LL NOTICE.

I PUBLISHED A PAINTED HOUSE AND SKIPPING CHRISTMAS WITH NO AUTHOR PHOTO.

I GOT BY WITH IT.

I'D LIKE TO DO IT EVERY TIME NOW.

>> Edwards: AND YOU DO VERY LITTLE TELEVISION.

>> Grisham: JUST DON'T WANT TO.

IT'S NOT-- I JUST DON'T WANT TO BE A CELEBRITY.

I DON'T WANT TO BE A CELEBRITY.

I ENJOY WRITING BOOKS.

I ENJOY DOING THINGS LIKE THIS WITH FRIENDS.

>> Edwards: BUT PEOPLE HAVE TO WANT YOU TO BE INVOLVED IN CIVIC ACTIVITIES-- "GIVE US THIS."

>> Grisham: I HAVE LOTS OF INVITATIONS.

BUT I SAY NO TO ALMOST ALL OF THEM.

IT'S EASY TO JUST SAY NO.

IT'S HARD TO LEARN TO DO THAT.

ESPECIALLY LIVING IN NATCHEZ, THE TOWN WHERE YOU GREW UP, SAYING NO TO YOUR MOTHER'S GARDEN CLUB.

BUT YOU HAVE TO DO THINGS LIKE THAT, IF YOU WANT A NORMAL LIFE, AND I LEARNED THAT LESSON THE HARD WAY.

>> Iles: I THINK I GET ASKED THE THINGS JOHN USED TO GET ASKED FOR.

THERE'S SOMETHING THIS WEEK FOR THE FEDERAL JUDGES OR TRIAL LAWYERS OR SOMETHING.

YOU'D LIKE TO DO IT.

YOU KNOW SOME OF THE PEOPLE.

>> Edwards: "WE'RE HAVING THE 'SO AND SO' FESTIVAL.

WOULD YOU PLEASE COME?"

>> Iles: YEAH, YOU JUST CAN'T COMMIT TO THOSE THINGS.

YOU DON'T HAVE TIME.

>> Edwards: SO, HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH IT?

>> Iles: YOU JUST SAY, "NO."

>> Edwards: HOW DO YOU HELP YOUR KIDS AND FAMILY DEAL WITH IT?

>> Iles: YOU MOVE TO A LITTLE MORE RESTRICTIVE AREA AND YOU STAY HOME MORE.

I'M SORT OF A HERMIT.

>> Edwards: REALLY?

>> Iles: BUT NEVADA AND I HAD INCREMENTAL SUCCESS.

WE WEREN'T BLINDED OVERNIGHT.

>> Barr: WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING EARLIER THAT I THINK WITH JOHN IT'S A MEGADOSE, AND WITH YOU IT'S BECOMING A MEGADOSE AND IT'S THE WHOLE MOVIE THING.

BECAUSE I CAN LIVE IN MY LITTLE HOUSE.

I DON'T HAVE ANY KIDS SO THAT DOESN'T FACTOR IN, BUT AS SOON AS YOU GO OUT INTO THAT MOVIE WORLD, THEN YOU DO BECOME THE TOM CRUISE SITUATION.

IT'S HAPPENED TO YOU MASSIVELY AND IT'S BEGINNING TO HAPPEN TO YOU WHERE YOU'RE JUST NOT SOME WRITER WHOSE FACE IS NOT KNOWN AND YOUR BOOKS SELL WELL.

>> Iles: THE IRONY IS IT'S NOT MANY PEOPLE READ BOOKS.

AS MANY BOOKS AS JOHN HAS SOLD HE SELLS TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AND THAT'S THE ONLY BOOK THEY READ THE WHOLE YEAR.

AS A RULE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE READING BOOKS IS DECLINING.

BUT MOVIES AND FILM THAT'S THE DOMINANT AMERICAN ART FORM.

>> Edwards: ONCE THE MOVIE IS MADE... >> Iles: THAT'S RIGHT, YOU'RE SOMEBODY ELSE.

>> Grisham: YEAH.

>> Edwards: THE GAME CHANGES.

>> Barr: AND SOME MAGIC HAS TOUCHED YOU.

>> Grisham: SURE.

>> Barr: THE HOLLYWOOD MOVIE MAGIC.

PEOPLE WANT TO GET NEXT TO THAT.

>> Grisham: I'M NOT GOING TO UNDER ESTIMATE THE IMPACT THE MOVIES HAVE MADE ON THE CAREER BECAUSE THE MOVIES STARTED COMING OUT SHORTLY AFTER THE BOOKS DID AND IT WAS HUGE.

>> Edwards: ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY.

>> Grisham: YEAH.

JUST LIKE A YEAR AFTER THE FIRM WAS PUBLISHED THE MOVIE CAME OUT.

AND IT WAS A HUGE-- STILL THE BIGGEST MOVIE OF ALL OF THEM.

WE DID FIVE OF THEM AND WE BACKED OFF.

WE BACKED AWAY.

WE GOT A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH ATTENTION.

NOW WE ARE EASING BACK INTO IT.

IT'S EASY TO EXAGGERATE THE LEVEL OF CELEBRITY.

I'VE MADE THE STATEMENT BEFORE.

I'M A VERY FAMOUS WRITER IN A COUNTRY WHERE FEW PEOPLE READ.

THIS IS NOT TOM CRUISE OR MICHAEL JORDAN TYPE NOTORIETY.

>> Barr: WELL, YOU CAN'T GO OUT TO A RESTAURANT.

>> Grisham: I COULD WALK DOWN A STREET IN PICK A CITY, CHICAGO, TOMORROW AND PROBABLY NOBODY IS GOING TO SAY A WORD.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BOTHER THEM.

IN THIS AREA WHERE I'M FROM OBVIOUSLY IT'S DIFFERENT.

BUT I GO TO MOST AREAS AND EVEN OTHER COUNTRIES AND NEVER GET RECOGNIZED.

>> Iles: CAN YOU SIT IN A RESTAURANT IN CHICAGO AND NOT GET BOTHERED?

>> Grisham: PROBABLY.

>> Edwards: YOU MIGHT HAVE A FEW PEOPLE WHISPERING.

>> Grisham: NEW YORK ACTUALLY IS A PLACE WHERE I GET RECOGNIZED MORE THAN YOU WOULD IMAGINE OR THINK.

>> Barr: SUCH A PUBLISHING TOWN.

>> Grisham: YEAH.

>> Edwards: DID YOUR EXPERIENCE IN THEATER HELP YOU?

>> Barr: OH YEAH, BECAUSE I DO A LOT OF TOURING AND A LOT OF PUBLIC SPEAKING AND SO FORTH.

I'VE BEEN TO SOME GIGS THAT WERE RAISING MONEY FOR SOME BACK PLACE IN DENVER AND THEY HAD A PULITZER PRIZE WINNING AUTHOR THERE, WHOSE NAME I WON'T MENTION.

BUT HE COULD WRITE ME UNDER THE TABLE ANY DAY OF THE WEEK AND THE POOR GUY WAS TERRIFIED TO SPEAK.

I MEAN, IT WAS TORTURE-- IT WAS TORTURE FOR HIM.

SO I THINK THAT THE THEATER EXPERIENCE HAS HELPED ME WITH-- I LIKE PUBLIC SPEAKING.

I ENJOY IT, AND IF I DIDN'T, IT WOULD BE A REALLY LONG WINTER.

>> Edwards: DO YOU LIKE THE NOTORIETY?

>> Barr: AT THIS LEVEL I LIKE IT.

BECAUSE I GET TREATS THAT I WOULDN'T ORDINARILY GET.

PEOPLE GIVE ME STUFF.

>> Edwards: SO WHAT HAPPENS IF M.G.M.

COMES TO YOU AND SAYS, "WE WANT TO DO AN ANNA PIGEON SERIES OF MOVIES AND HERE'S A BILLION DOLLARS?"

>> Barr: I SUPPOSE FOR A BILLION DOLLARS I WOULD TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN, YEAH.

YOU KNOW FOR HUGE MONEY YOU TAKE IT BECAUSE IT'S FUN.

BUT I THINK THAT I WOULD LOOSE-- I'M NOT BIG ENOUGH THAT I WOULD HAVE ARTISTIC CONTROL.

I WOULD LOOSE THAT AND THEY COULD DO ANYTHING THEY WANTED WITH IT AND MY FEAR IS THAT THEY WOULD CASTE PAMELA ANDERSON AS ANNA PIGEON.

>> Grisham: WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT?

>> Barr: SHE'S A VERY TALENTED WOMAN BUT I JUST... >> Grisham: IT WOULD BE A BIG BOX OFFICE HIT.

>> Barr: IT WOULD BE.

BUT I THINK THAT WOULD CHANGE MY VIEW OF THE LITTLE WORLD I HAVE WITH MY LITTLE CHARACTER.

>> Edwards: DO YOU HAVE THE SAME FEARS WITH YOUR FILM?

>> Iles: OOH... >> Edwards: BECAUSE YOU WROTE THE SCREENPLAY OF... >> Iles: SURE, I'VE LEARNED.

I'VE HAD GOOD AND BAD EXPERIENCES WITH THAT.

BUT SOMETHING ELSE, I THINK PEOPLE HAVE THE IMAGE THAT BECAUSE WE ARE BEST-SELLING AUTHORS THAT WE ARE ONLY WRITING FOR THOSE THINGS, YOU KNOW, THE FAME, THE MONEY AND ALL THAT.

BUT SINCE DOING A SCREENPLAY I'VE BEEN OFFERED A LOT OF THINGS.

WHAT THEY CALL A SCRIPT DOCTOR WHERE YOU TAKE A MOVIE IN PRODUCTION AND THEY PAY YOU A LOT OF MONEY TO RE-WRITE IT AND I'VE TURNED DOWN EVERY SINGLE ONE EVEN THOUGH... >> Edwards: WHY?

>> Iles: BECAUSE THAT'S NOT REALLY WHAT I WANT TO DO.

IT'S MONEY BUT IT'S NOT REALLY SELF EXPRESSION.

IT'S NOT REALLY WHAT WE DO.

WE MIGHT WRITE COMMERCIAL NOVELS BUT THERE'S A LOT OF JOHN GRISHAM IN THOSE NOVELS.

THERE'S A LOT OF GREG ILES AND NEVADA BARR IN THOSE NOVELS.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY DO.

>> Edwards: WHAT'S THE WORST JOHN GRISHAM MOVIE?

>> Grisham: THE CHAMBER.

>> Edwards: COME RIGHT OUT WITH IT.

>> Grisham: THE CHAMBER WAS A TRAIN WRECK FROM THE DAY IT STARTED AND A LOT OF IT WAS MY OWN FAULT.

IT NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO BE A GOOD MOVIE.

I'VE BEEN LUCKY.

I'VE HAD SIX MOVIES MADE AND FIVE WERE FUN TO WATCH.

>> Edwards: WHAT WAS THE BEST?

>> Grisham: RAINMAKER.

FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA DID IT-- A WONDERFUL ADAPTATION.

ONE OF MATT DAMON'S EARLY MOVIES... DANNY DEVITO...

I LOVED THE MOVIE.

IT CAME OUT THE WEEKEND BEFORE TITANIC.

SO, NOBODY WENT TO SEE IT.

>> Iles: WHAT DID YOU HAVE TO DO WITH GINGERBREAD MAN?

>> Grisham: WELL, I WROTE THE SCRIPT-- THE ORIGINAL SCRIPT.

I WASN'T VERY GOOD.

IT LAY AROUND FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

I NEVER COULD GET THE ENDING RIGHT.

WHEN THE BOOK STARTED SELLING THERE WAS A RUMOR OF AN OLD SCRIPT AND WE EVENTUALLY SOLD IT TO A COMPANY THAT GOT ROBERT ALTMAN TO DO THE MOVIE.

BUT BY THEN THE SCRIPT WAS SO FAR GONE I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE IT.

THEY BROUGHT THE MOVIE TO ME AND SHOWED IT TO ME IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA AND I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THE STORY.

I SAID, "THIS IS REALLY NOT SOMETHING I WANT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH."

BUT IT WAS AN EARLY EFFORT, ABOUT THE TIME THE FIRM CAME OUT.

IT WAS AN EARLY EFFORT TO WRITE A SCREENPLAY TO SEE IF I COULD DO IT.

>> Edwards: YOU WANT TO DO IT AGAIN?

>> Grisham: NO.

SCREEN WORK IS A DIFFERENT SET OF MUSCLES.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I...

I'VE WRITTEN TWO OR THREE.

>> Edwards: WHAT ABOUT MICKEY?

>> John Grisham, Author: WELL, MICKEY IS AN ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY THAT BECAME A MOVIE THAT I PRODUCED AND FINALLY WE CAN'T FIND A DISTRIBUTOR FOR IT, SO IT'S DYING A SLOW DEATH.

AGAIN IT'S A BASEBALL MOVIE THAT STARTED OFF AS A NOVEL AND I FOUND IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DESCRIBE ACTION, YOU KNOW A BASEBALL GAME, IN SIMPLE PROSE.

A GROUND BALL-- HOW DO YOU WRITE ABOUT THAT?

IT WAS MUCH EASIER, I THOUGHT, THROUGH A CAMERA.

I THOUGHT I KNEW WHAT I WAS DOING.

WE MADE THE MOVIE AND NOW WE CAN'T FIND A DISTRIBUTOR FOR IT.

IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO COME OUT THIS SUMMER IN LIMITED RELEASE.

>> Edwards: ONE OF OUR PEOPLE IN LINE, MAGGIE LOWERY: WHY DO YOU THINK OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI IS HOME?

( all groan, "OOH...") >> Iles: CAN WE LEAVE THAT?

>> Edwards: TO SO MANY AUTHORS...

I THINK IT'S PERFECTLY FAIR TO ASK, ESPECIALLY THE TWO OF YOU.

ESPECIALLY YOU-- YOU MOVED HERE.

>> Barr: I CAN'T ANSWER THAT, BECAUSE I'M NOT FROM HERE.

>> Edwards: WHY DID YOU MOVE?

>> Grisham: SHE'S FROM NEVADA-- SOME PLACE OUT WEST.

>> Barr: I GOT A JOB!

>> Edwards: WHAT IS IT THAT'S FASCINATING ABOUT THIS PLACE?

>> Barr: THEY HAD A JOB WITH MEDICAL, DENTAL, A PLACE TO LIVE AND RETIREMENT.

>> Edwards: PERFECTLY GOOD.

THEN WHAT IS IT THAT KEEPS YOU AROUND?

>> Barr: I MARRIED MY BOSS.

>> Edwards: THERE YOU GO.

>> Grisham: WE GET HIT WITH THAT QUESTION ALL THE TIME.

ANYTIME YOU PUBLISH A BOOK IN THIS STATE THEY ARE GOING TO ASK YOU, "HOW DOES A STATE, SMALL STATE, POOR STATE, STATE WITH THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ILLITERACY IN THE COUNTRY, PRODUCE SO MANY AUTHORS?"

I'VE NEVER SEEN A DECENT ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.

>> Edwards: IF YOU GO ON LINE AND THE MISSISSIPPI WRITERS PAGE THERE'S JUST... >> Iles: MY OLD AGENT USED TO SAY, "IT'S BECAUSE GREAT SUFFERING PRODUCES GREAT ART."

NOW I DON'T KNOW IF I BELIEVE THAT.

WHAT I REALLY THINK... >> Edwards: HAVE YOU SUFFERED THAT MUCH?

>> Iles: NO.

BUT I'M IN A PLACE WHERE THERE HAS BEEN SUFFERING.

>> Barr: WE HAVE AMBIENT SUFFERING.

>> Iles: THE REAL ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION WITHOUT GETTING ALL LITERARY, IS SIMPLE.

MOST OF AMERICA IS BEING RAPIDLY HOMOGENIZED AND HAS BEEN FOR MANY YEARS-- POST WAR.

MISSISSIPPI STILL RETAINS ITS SENSE OF PLACE.

I GREW UP AROUND PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN ON THAT LAND FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, AND I'M SURE JOHN DID, TOO.

YOU KNOW, HE HAD WHAT HE WROTE ABOUT THE PAINTED HOUSE, IN HIS BACKGROUND, THE COTTON.

MY MOTHER GREW UP ON A COTTON FARM WHERE SHE DIDN'T HAVE ELECTRICITY UNTIL SHE WAS 14.

A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY BY THE TIME OF OUR GENERATION DON'T HAVE THAT TIE TO LAND-- TO PLACE.

WE ARE NOT NECESSARILY WRITING ABOUT THOSE THINGS ALL THE TIME BUT IT'S IN US.

IT'S IN THE WAY WE LOOK AT THE WORLD.

WE ARE GROUNDED IN REALITY, IN THE LAND, IN THE BLACK EXPERIENCE, THE MUSIC.

I THINK THAT'S THE REAL ANSWER.

>> Edwards: WOULD YOU BE THE SAME WRITER IF YOU LIVED IN A BIG CITY?

>> Iles: WE'D HAVE THE ABILITY, THE GENETIC ABILITY, BUT WOULD BE HAVE THE SAME VOICE?

NO, AND THAT'S WHAT BEING A WRITER IS.

THAT'S WHAT SEPARATES JOHN GRISHAM FROM EVERY LAWYER OUT THERE THAT WANTS TO BE JOHN GRISHAM IS VOICE, A POINT OF VIEW, A CERTAIN AUTHORITY OF VOICE AND THE ABILITY TO TELL A STORY.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES YOU A WRITER WHEREVER YOU ARE.

>> Edwards: YOU DIDN'T?...

>> Grisham: DON'T LOOK AT ME, MAN.

I'VE TRIED TO ANSWER THE QUESTION BUT I TEND TO AGREE WITH YOUR FIRST AGENT.

IT'S A TROUBLED LAND AND A TORTURED HISTORY.

ANYTIME YOU HAVE A PLACE WITH A GREAT DEAL OF SUFFERING THEN YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE LOT OF CREATIVE PEOPLE.

IT'S NOT JUST BOOKS.

IT'S THE MUSIC THAT THIS STATE HAS PRODUCED IS PHENOMENAL.

THERE IS SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT OUR HERITAGE.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A FACT OF GROWING UP IN MISSISSIPPI WE HAD-- I HAD THE BENEFIT OF SOME REALLY, REALLY GOOD ENGLISH TEACHERS IN SCHOOL.

THEY PROMOTED THIS GREAT PRIDE WE HAVE IN OUR AUTHORS HERE.

SO WE READ EUDORA WELTY AND FAULKNER AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS... >> Edwards: YOU REALLY READ FAULKNER?

>> Grisham: IT'S A STATE LAW, ARE YOU KIDDING, WE HAD TO.

IT'S A STATUTE YOU HAVE TO READ FAULKNER IF YOU GROW UP IN MISSISSIPPI.

THAT'S WHY I LOVE STEINBECK.

I HAD FAULKNER IN ONE HAND AND STEINBECK IN THE OTHER AND I JUST CAME TO ADORE JOHN STEINBECK.

WE ARE NOT WRITING SOUTHERN LITERATURE HERE.

I THINK WE ALL ASPIRE TO WRITE A HIGH QUALITY OF POPULAR FICTION.

I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE OTHER TWO BUT THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO.

WE ALL MAY CHASE A LITERARY BENT EVERY NOW AND THEN, BUT WE ALL KNOW WHY WE ARE HERE.

>> Edwards: BUT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.

>> Grisham: NO.

>> Barr: YOU SEE, I LOVE THE STORY TELLING.

I GREW UP WITH COWBOYS AND THEY WERE STORYTELLERS.

I LOVE TO LISTEN TO STORIES.

I LOVE TO READ STORIES.

I LOVE TO WATCH MOVIES.

I JUST LOVE STORYTELLING.

AND I THINK DOWN HERE-- WELL, OUT IN THE WEST WHERE I GREW UP THERE WERE A LOT OF COWBOYS AND THEY WERE BIG STORYTELLERS.

AND DOWN HERE PEOPLE TELL STORIES ALL THE TIME AND YOU JUST HEAR THEM.

>> Edwards: THE SAME KIND OF STORYTELLING TRADITION.

>> Barr: YEAH.

YOU KNOW PEOPLE GOING DOWN TO THE MALL AND IT'S THIS WHOLE LITTLE STORY WITH THE VOICES AND ALL THE ACTIONS AND STUFF.

I LOVE THAT.

>> Edwards: EVERYTHING BECOMES A STORY.

TELL ME ABOUT THIS BOOKSTORE.

WHAT IS IT THAT'S SPECIAL ABOUT-- WE'RE IN LEMURIA IN JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI.

>> Barr: OOH, CAN I START?

>> Grisham: YES, PLEASE.

>> Barr: YAY!.

NOT JUST THIS BOOK STORE...

I LOVE THE INDEPENDENTS.

BECAUSE LIKE GREG AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT WE GREW UP INCREMENTALLY.

NOBODY WANTS YOU WHEN YOU ARE A LITTLE BABY EXCEPT THE INDEPENDENT BOOK STORES WHO READ-- THEY ACTUALLY READ YOUR BOOK FOR ONE THING.

>> Edwards: THE FIRST RUN OF YOUR FIRST BIG... >> Barr: 7,500 BOOKS MAYBE AND IT WAS HAND SOLD.

SO THE INDEPENDENT BOOK STORES I LOVE THEM BECAUSE THEY LET ME GROW UP TO BE A BIG ENOUGH FISH THAT BARNES & NOBLE WILL NIBBLE NOW.

BUT MOSTLY I LIKE THEM BECAUSE I CAN GET RECOMMENDATIONS.

I CAN ASK ALMOST ANYBODY HERE WHAT'S GOOD IN A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT AREAS AND THEY WILL TELL ME.

>> Edwards: AND IMMEDIATELY THEY WILL KNOW?...

>> Barr: BECAUSE THEY'VE READ THE BOOKS.

THEN I CAN GO DIGGING AROUND IN THE STACKS AND FIND THEM.

>> Edwards: SO YOU COULD SPEND DAYS IN HERE.

>> Barr: OH, YEAH.

>> Iles: I JUST HAD A MEMORY.

YOU ASKING ABOUT INDEPENDENT BOOK STORES AND I HAVE ONE ABOUT LEMURIA, ACTUALLY WHEN IT WAS IN THE OTHER PLACE.

>> Grisham: ACROSS THE STREET OVER THERE.

>> Iles: UH HUH.

I WAS IN COLLEGE WHEN I WAS FIRST THINKING ABOUT WRITING MY FIRST NOVEL, YEARS BEFORE I EVER DID.

I WALKED IN AND I REMEMBER JOHN EVANS SAYING-- THRUSTS A BEER IN MY HAND.

HE'S NEVER SEEN ME IN HIS LIFE AND HE SAYS, "IT'S PAPA'S BIRTHDAY, HAVE A BEER."

IT'S HEMINGWAY, YOU KNOW.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOU IN A CHAIN BOOK STORE.

>> Grisham: HE'S STILL PUSHING BEER, TOO, BY THE WAY.

>> Barr: YEAH.

>> Iles: YOU KNOW INDEPENDENT BOOK STORES... >> Edwards: STILL CELEBRATING THOSE BIRTHDAYS.

>> Grisham: IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH FOR JOHNNY TO GET THE BEER OUT.

>> Iles: IT'S A DIFFERENT PLACE.

IT'S A PLACE WHERE WORDS ARE REVERED IF NOT WORSHIPED AND PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEY'RE SELLING.

THEY STOCK THINGS YOU DON'T FIND IN CHAIN STORES.

THEY KNOW AUTHORS PERSONALLY.

THEY WANT TO KNOW AUTHORS PERSONALLY.

IT'S JUST A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE.

>> John Grisham, Author: IT'S WIDELY KNOWN AND PEOPLE HERE TAKE IT FOR GRANTED, BUT WHEN YOU ARE ON THE ROAD EVEN IN NEW YORK OR L.A. OR PLACES LIKE THAT WHERE YOU ARE AROUND PUBLISHING PEOPLE, THEY KNOW LEMURIA AND THEY KNOW SQUARE BOOKS.

THOSE TWO PLACES ARE LIKE... >> Edwards: AND EVERYBODY WANTS TO COME HERE.

>> Grisham: EVERY AUTHOR DOES, YEAH.

IT'S A VERY POWERFUL BOOKSTORE.

THE WAY JOHNNY RUNS IT YOU WOULDN'T THINK IT WAS A HEAVYWEIGHT.

>> Iles: BUT IT IS.

>> Edwards: SO, DO YOU HAVE SOME INSECURITY AND DOES THAT HELP, BECAUSE YOU NEVER HAD ANY WRITING CLASSES?

>> Grisham: NO I DON'T THINK I MISSED ANYTHING BY MISSING THE WRITING CLASSES.

I'M VERY SKEPTICAL OF THEM NOW.

NO, I DON'T HAVE DOUBTS OR FEARS.

I KNOW I CAN DO WHAT I DO.

>> Iles: I'LL SAY SOMETHING SCARY, TOO.

I WENT TO OLE MISS AND I GOT A DEGREE IN ENGLISH BUT I DON'T THINK THOSE CLASSES IN ENGLISH HELPED ME BECOME A WRITER.

I THINK I HAD ALL THE TOOLS I NEEDED BY THE TIME I WAS 17 YEARS OLD.

IT'S THOSE TEACHERS IN GRADE SCHOOL... >> Barr: WHO MAKE YOU DIAGRAM SENTENCES BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW THE LANGUAGE WORKS.

>> Grisham: YEAH.

>> Iles: YEAH.

>> Edwards: OKAY, SO I'LL GIVE YOU A CHANCE, TOO, WHAT QUESTIONS DO YOU WANT TO ASK?

>> Iles: I'LL ASK JOHN IF HE WILL EVER DIRECT A FILM.

>> Grisham: I HAVE NO DESIRE TO EVER DIRECT A FILM.

I HAVE FOUND FEW THINGS IN LIFE AS TEDIOUS AS HANGING AROUND A MOVIE SET.

I TYPICALLY GO TO EACH ONE ONCE OR TWICE TO MEET THE DIRECTOR AND MEET MAYBE ONE OF THE STARS AND HAVE LUNCH.

THEY HAVE GREAT LUNCHES ON A MOVIE SET.

THE CATERING IS ENORMOUS ON A MOVIE SET.

THEN I CAN'T WAIT TO GET AWAY FROM IT.

THEY FILMED THE RUNAWAY JURY IN NEW ORLEANS FOR TWO MONTHS-- FINISHED UP LAST MONTH AND I NEVER WENT TO THE SET.

I TRIED TO BUT JUST COULDN'T GET DOWN THERE.

AND THE FILM I HELPED PRODUCE-- MY LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL MOVIE-- WHICH WAS A FULL LENGTH TWO HOUR MOVIE AND THE BOREDOM AND TEDIUM WERE JUST NUMBING.

I COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW BAD IT WAS.

I COULD NEVER SEE MYSELF DIRECTING A MOVIE.

I HAVE NO DESIRE.

>> Edwards: NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

NEVADA?

>> Nevada Barr, Author: I HAVE NO QUESTIONS.

I HAVE FULSOME AND EMBARRASSING PRAISE.

I JUST LOVE BEING HERE TONIGHT.

AND I WANTED-- MY FULSOME AND EMBARRASSING PRAISE FOR GREG IS-- YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER FOREVER.

WE STARTED OUT KIND OF AT THE SAME TIME AND YOU BREAK ALL THE RULES AND WIN.

I'VE ALWAYS ADMIRED THAT IN COWBOYS AND WRITERS AND SO FORTH.

>> Iles: WELL, THANK YOU.

>> Barr: AND MEETING YOU HAS BEEN A TREAT.

FOR ONE THING IT'S EMBARRASSING TO BE FROM HERE AND PEOPLE SAY, "DO YOU KNOW JOHN GRISHAM?"

AND I HAVE TO SAY, "NO."

THAT'S THE BAD PART.

>> Grisham: I LIE.

I SAY, "SURE I KNOW NEVADA.

WE GO OUT TO DINNER ALL THE TIME."

>> Edwards: SHE WAS OVER AT THE HOUSE LAST WEEK.

>> Barr: ALSO YOUR BOOKS AND MOVIES-- I LOVE THEM.

I LOVE THE STORIES.

>> Grisham: ARE YOU GOING TO DIRECT?

>> Iles: I HOPE ONE DAY.

>> Grisham: YOU WANT TO DO THAT?

>> Greg Iles, Author: IT'S BEEN MENTIONED.

AND WHAT I FOUND IN MAKING MY MOVIE WAS THE DIRECTOR IS THE ONLY GUY WHO HAS CONTROL OVER WHAT HITS THE SCREEN.

AND EVEN HE DOESN'T HAVE ABSOLUTE CONTROL BECAUSE THERE ARE FAXES COMING FROM HOLLYWOOD EVERYDAY THAT YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE THE NERVE TO TEAR UP AND THROW IN THE TRASH CAN.

BUT I THINK I JUST HAVE A NATURAL AFFINITY FOR IT AND I THINK I WILL DO IT ONE DAY-- I WANT TO DO IT.

>> Grisham: ONCE YOU SEE IT DONE YOU REALIZE IT'S NOT TERRIBLY COMPLICATED.

AGAIN IT'S VERY GRUELING PHYSICALLY AND... >> Edwards: ESPECIALLY THE PLANNING... >> Grisham: YEAH PLANNING.

BUT IT'S ALSO WHEN YOU WRITE A SCENE IN A BOOK YOU'VE GOT-- IF IT'S AN OUTDOOR SCENE WHAT'S THE WEATHER LIKE, WHAT'S THE TEMPERATURE, WHERE ARE THEY, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

WHAT DOES THIS SCENE LOOK LIKE?

AND YOU TRY TO DESCRIBE THAT.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH A MOVIE.

WITH A CERTAIN A SCENE IN A MOVIE YOU ARE TRYING TO SEE SOMEBODY ELSE'S VISION.

I'M ALWAYS AMAZED WHEN I WATCH ONE OF MY MOVIES FOR THE FIRST TIME TO SEE SOMEBODY ELSE'S VISION OF WHAT I SAW.

>> Edwards: WHEN YOU SEE THE CHARACTERS IN THOSE MOVIES DO THEY LOOK LIKE WHAT YOU HAD IMAGINED THEY WOULD LOOK LIKE?

>> Grisham: SOMETIMES...

SOMETIMES.

>> Iles: WHEN YOU HAVE CASTING APPROVAL LIKE JOHN DOES THEY DO.

>> Grisham: I HAVE CASTING APPROVAL, BUT IT'S MORE LIKE CASTING VETO.

I LET THEM DO ANYTHING.

THERE'S JUST A HANDFUL OF ACTORS AND ACTRESSES I REALLY DON'T LIKE.

I DON'T MEAN PERSONALLY.

>> Edwards: YOU DON'T LIKE THEIR POLITICS?

>> Barr: THEY ARE JUST DEAD WRONG FOR THE ROLE.

>> Grisham: POLITICS IS NOTHING.

I DON'T CARE WHAT THEIR POLITICS ARE IT'S JUST-- FIRST OF ALL, ARE THEY VERY GOOD?

CAN THEY ACT?

CAN THEY CARRY A SCENE?

I'VE SAID, "NO," TO SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE.

BUT I DON'T WATCH ENOUGH MOVIES TO GO OUT AND CAST A MOVIE.

INVARIABLY THEY WILL CALL ME UP WITH A NAME FOR AN ACTOR IN A MOVIE AND I'LL SAY, "WHO?"

THEN THEY'LL SAY, "OKAY, WE'LL FED-EX YOU THE LAST THREE MOVIES."

THEN I HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND POP THOSE THINGS IN AND WATCH USUALLY THREE BAD MOVIES TRYING TO CAST-- IT GETS TO BE VERY FRUSTRATING.

>> Edwards: WELL STEPHEN KING SAYS HE'S QUITTING.

CAN YOU IMAGINE?

>> Grisham: WELL HE'S RETIRED BEFORE.

HE'S LIKE MICHAEL JORDAN.

HE JUST KEEPS COMING BACK.

>> Edwards: CAN YOU IMAGINE QUITTING, THOUGH?

>> Grisham: I CAN'T IMAGINE STEPHEN KING NOT WRITING FOUR PAGES A DAY.

HE WRITES FOUR PAGES EVERY DAY.

HE GOT RUN OVER BY A DODGE MINIVAN AND WAS PRACTICALLY DEAD AND STILL WRITING FOUR PAGES A DAY.

I CANNOT IMAGINE STEPHEN NOT WRITING.

HE'S GOING TO WRITE.

>> Edwards: BUT CAN YOU IMAGINE... YOU NOT WRITING?

>> Grisham: YEAH, SURE!

>> Edwards: YOU CAN.

>> Grisham: YEAH I CAN IMAGINE... >> Edwards: SO WHEN DOES IT RUN OUT?

>> Grisham: YOU KNOW, GREG MENTIONED SOME OF THE BIG WRITERS EARLIER AND POPULAR AUTHORS.

POPULAR FICTION GOES IN CYCLES AND NOBODY STAYS ON TOP FOREVER, IN MOVIES OR MUSIC OR WHATEVER, EVEN ATHLETICS.

AND AT SOME POINT THE BOOKS ARE NOT GOING TO BE WHAT THEY ARE NOW FOR WHATEVER REASON.

THE READING TASTES WILL CHANGE OR I'LL START TO SLIDE, OR WHATEVER.

WHEN THE BOOKS ARE NOT AS POPULAR AS THEY ARE NOW I HOPE I HAVE THE SENSE TO REALIZE IT AND NOT JUST KEEP CRANKING THEM OUT BECAUSE I CAN.

A LOT OF OVER THE HILL COMMERCIAL AUTHORS CRANK THEM OUT FOR A BUCK.

>> Edwards: BECOMES LIKE THE TELEVISION SERIES THAT GOES ON WAY AFTER IT SHOULD HAVE.

>> Grisham: THAT WILL HAPPEN ONE OF THESE DAYS.

AND TRUTHFULLY WHEN IT'S OVER, AND I DON'T KNOW WHEN-- I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD WRITE 15 BOOKS.

BUT WHEN IT'S OVER, I'VE ALWAYS SAID-- RENE AND I HAVE ALWAYS SAID WE HOPE WE CAN LOOK BACK AND SAY, "IT SURE WAS A WHOLE LOT OF FUN.

WE KEPT OUR FEET ON THE GROUND AND WE DIDN'T CHANGE.

WE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE WE WERE WHEN IT ALL STARTED."

THAT'S A WORTHY GOAL.

BUT I CAN SEE A DAY WHEN I'M NOT WRITING BOOKS.

I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO BE, BUT... >> Edwards: BUT WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH YOURSELF?

>> Grisham: I HAVE NO IDEA.

>> Edwards: THE KIDS AT THE LITTLE LEAGUE FIELD ARE GOING TO GET TIRED OF SEEING YOU.

>> Grisham: YEAH, THEY ARE GOING TO GET TIRED OF SEEING ME DOWN THERE ALL THE TIME.

I DON'T KNOW, I'LL WORRY ABOUT THAT WHEN IT HAPPENS.

>> Edwards: CAN YOU IMAGINE NOT WRITING?

>> Barr: I CAN IMAGINE NOT WRITING BOOKS.

I'D PROBABLY KEEP WRITING.

I WRITE SONNETS, YOU KNOW LISTS, WHATEVER STRIKES MY FANCY.

BUT I CAN EASILY IMAGINE NOT BEING AN AUTHOR.

TRAVELING, PAINTING, GOOFING OFF, GOING TO THE MOVIES.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS TO DO.

>> Iles: I THINK JOHN IS RIGHT.

BEING AN WRITER IS A LOT LIKE BEING AN ATHLETE.

YOU HAVE A PRIME.

YOU HAVE A CURVE OF VIABILITY.

YOU'RE BORN WITH A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PASSION, A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF INSIGHT.

YOU'VE ONLY LIVED A CERTAIN AMOUNT.

YOU EXPEND A LITTLE OF THAT WITH EACH BOOK.

EVEN WRITING COMMERCIAL NOVELS YOU HAVE SOME OF THESE PRECIOUS THINGS YOU REMEMBER AND YOU EXPEND THEM AS YOU GO.

SOME YOU HOARD AND SAVE.

BUT EVENTUALLY YOU COME TO AN END.

KING HASN'T REALLY SAID HE'S QUIT WRITING.

HE'S GOING TO QUIT PUBLISHING.

HE'LL KEEP WRITING.

HE QUITTING PUBLISHING BECAUSE HE FELT WITH ONE BOOK HE REALLY HAD STARTED TO REPEAT HIMSELF.

YOU KNOW WE ALL WILL SORT OF KNOW WHEN THAT TIME IS.

>> Edwards: IS THAT THE BIGGEST FEAR THAT YOU WILL START TO REPEAT YOURSELF?...

OR THAT THE WELL HAS GONE DRY?

>> Iles: NO, I KNOW I WON'T DO THAT.

SOMETIMES YOU LOOK IN THERE AND THERE'S LITTLE LESS WATER THAN THERE WAS.

I'LL KNOW WHEN.

WE'LL ALL KNOW.

>> Barr: THEN WE'LL FOIST TWO OR THREE MORE OFF ON AN UNSUSPECTING PUBLIC AND THEN WE'LL QUIT.

>> Iles: FOR A REALLY BIG CONTRACT.

>> Grisham: ONE BIG FOUR BOOK CONTRACT.

>> Barr: EXACTLY.

>> Grisham: WE'LL GO OUT IN A BLAZE OF GLORY.

>> Woman: WE LOVE JOHN GRISHAM AND WE LOVE LEMURIA, TOO.

>> 2nd Woman: YEAH, LEMURIA IS REALLY A GREAT PLACE.

>> Woman: WE REALLY THANK LEMURIA FOR HAVING THESE AUTHORS.

>> Man: WE ARE GRATEFUL HE STILL REMEMBERS LEMURIA BECAUSE JOHN EVANS HERE AT LEMURIA HELPED JOHN WHEN JOHN WAS TRYING TO GET GOING.

>> Woman: IT'S MY TENTH YEAR.

>> Man: I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT THEY CAN DO STUFF LIKE THIS.

( easy jazz playing ) [Captioned by Mississippi ETV]