>>> HIS NOVELS ARE DRIPPING WITH ACTION AND THRILLING INTERNATIONAL ADVENTURE.

CLIVE CUSSLER HAS CALLED HIM THE FINEST ADVENTURE WRITER ON THE SCENE TODAY.

BEST-SELLING AUTHOR JACK DU BRUL IS MY GUEST NEXT ON "PROFILE."

>>> JACK DU BRUL WAS BORN AND RAISED IN HE ATTENDED THE WESTMINSTER SCHOOL AND WENT ON TO GRADUATE FROM GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY.

DU BRUL RETURNED TO VERMONT AFTER A BRIEF STINT IN FLORIDA TO WRITE AND WORK FOR HIS FATHER IN CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT.

HIS FIRST PHILIP MERCER BOOK, "VULCAN'S FORGE," WAS WELL RECEIVED, SO HE PERSEID FULL-TIME WRITING AND HAS SINCE PUBLISHED SEVEN NOVELS IN THE SERIES.

DU BRUL LIVES IN SOUTH BURLINGTON WITH HIS WIFE.

IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> WHEN DID YOU KNOW YOU WANTED TO BE AN ADVENTURE WRITER?

>> ALMOST MY ENTIRE LIFE.

PROBABLY ABOUT 15 OR 16 YEARS OLD, I DISCOVERED READING AND JUST REALLY, REALLY ENJOYED IT.

I LOVE THE WORLD IT TAKES YOU TO, AND I STARTED TRYING TO WRITE MY FIRST BOOK ACTUALLY IN HIGH SCHOOL.

GOT ABOUT 600 PAGES INTO IT, REALIZED IT WAS UNPUBLISHABLE GARBAGE, BUT IT WAS A GREAT LEARNING LESSON.

RIGHT AFTER COLLEGE, I STARTED WRITING MY FIRST BOOK THAT DID GET PUBLISHED, "VULCAN'S FORGE."

>> SO YOU DROPPED THE FIRST BOOK.

>> I LOOK AT IT SOMETIMES AND JUST CRINGE.

>> [LAUGHTER] >> AT GEORGE WASHINGTON, YOU GOT THIS DEGREE IN ENTERAL AFFAIRS -- INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.

>> I DID AN INTERNSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND REALIZED I COULD NEVER WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT.

IT WAS JUST TOO DEPRESSING BASICALLY.

I TRIED MY HAND AD WRITING.

I PROMISED MY PARENTS, AFTER THE MONEY THEY SPENT ON MY EDUCATION, IF I WASN'T PUBLISHED BY 30, I WOULD GET A REAL JOB.

>> WHEN DID YOU GET YOUR FIRST BREAK?

>> 29.

[LAUGHTER] >> AND HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT?

WAS IT A MATTER OF WRITING THE RIGHT BOOK OR KNOWING THE PEOPLE TO GO TO?

>> I HAD THE BOOK FINISHED, AND IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS ABOUT THE WORLD BEING A SMALL PLACE BUT I WOULDN'T WANT TO PAINT IT.

A FRIEND OF A FRIEND WAS A BOOK PUBLISHER, WAS GETTING INTO BECOMING A LIT TRAIR RYE AGENT -- LIT RATHER RYE AGENT.

HE HATED IT, HE SAID.

CULL TO FIND OUT, HE HAD READ THE WRONG BOOK.

WE ASKED HIM TO PLEASE READ MINE.

HE CALLED THREE DAYS LATER TO SAY, I WANT TO BE YOUR AGENT.

AND SIX WEEKS AFTER THAT, WE GOT A PUBLISHING DEAL.

>> WOW!

THAT'S FANTASTIC.

AT WHAT POINT DID YOU FEEL YOU COULD REALLY GIVE UP THE CAR PEN TREE AND MOVE BACK TO BURLINGTON HERE?

>> BASICALLY THE MONEY I WAS MAKING ON THE FIRST COUPLE BOOKS REALLY WASN'T THAT MUCH.

THE FIRST BOOK SOLD FOR $75.

MY THIRD, THEY WERE PAYING ENOUGH I COULD LIVE ON IT.

>> SO YOU WERE STILL JUGGLING.

HOW DO YOU JUGGLE TWO JOBS LIKE THAT?

>> IT WAS TOUGH.

I'D WORK ALL DAY LONG ON CONSTRUCTION, THEN COME HOME AND WRITE UNTIL 11:00 AT NIGHT.

MY GIRLFRIEND THEN, WIFE NOW, IT WOULD DRIVE HER NUTS.

THURSDAY ESPECIALLY WAS MY WRITHING DAY.

DON'T CALL ME.

LEAVE ME ALONE.

>> AND SOMEHOW YOU ALSO FOUND THE TIME AND MONEY TO TRAVEL QUITE EXTENSIVELY.

I HAVE TO READ ONE OF THE JACKETS.

DU BRUL HAS CLIMBED MASADA AT NOON, SWUM IN THE OCEAN AT POINT BARROW, EXPLORED WAR-TORN ARTRAYA, CAMPED IN GREENLAND, BEEN GNAWED BY PIRANAS IN THE AMAZON RIVER.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE ADVENTURE?

>> ALL OF THEM.

I'VE ALWAYS LOVED TRAVEL.

AGAIN, MAYBE THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO WORK FOR THE STATE DEPARTMENT, TO GO OVERSEAS.

ONE OF THE THINGS IN FICTION WRITING IS, AT SOME POINT IN A BOOK, YOU'RE LYING TO YOUR AUDIENCE.

YOU'RE MAKING STUFF UP.

BUT YOU WANT TO KEEP AS MUCH OF IT GROUNDED IN FACT AS YOU CAN, AND THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT IS TO GO TO THESE PLACES SO YOU CAN SPEAK WITH AUTHENTICITY ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE SEEING.

I GOT A LETTER FROM A GENTLEMAN STATIONED IN ARASTRAYA IN THE '50s, AND HE SAID IT TOOK HIM RIGHT BACK 40 YEARS TO WHEN HE WAS THERE.

>> HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE AREAS FOR YOUR NOVELS?

>> I KNEW FROM THAT STORYLINE IT NEEDED TO BE ETHIOPIA OR ARATRAYA.

>> DID YOU HAVE ANY CLOSE CALLS WHILE YOU WERE THERE?

>> NOTHING.

I'VE NEVER HAD A SINGLE PROBLEM TRAVELING.

>> IN THE CAM MA DON, HOWEVER, WERE YOU -- IN THE AMAZON, HOWEVER, WERE YOU SWIMMING WITH THE PIRANAS?

>> WHEN I WAS LIVING IN FLORIDA, I GOT MY FIRST TAX REFUND EVER, $1800, AND THERE WAS AN AD IN THE PAPER AMAZON ADVENTURE, $1800.

IT WAS A BOAT NOT MUCH BIGGER THAN THE AFRICAN QUEEN.

BASICALLY IT WAS A BACKPACKING TRIP.

NO SHOWERS.

YOU'D JUST HOP IN THE RIVER.

THERE WERE PIRANAS GOING BY.

IT WAS NO BIG DEAL.

>> OK.

PHILIP MERCER, YOUR SMART, TOUGH, SENSITIVE, GUN-BEARING GUY OF SEVEN NOVELS, HE GETS HIMSELF INTO HAPPIES OF TROUBLE, INTERNATIONAL INTRIGUE.

HE'S SAVED THE WORLD FROM SOMETHING PRETTY DISASTEROUS SEVERAL TIMES.

HOW DID THIS GUY COME UP?

>> ORIGINALLY, IN THE LATE '80S, IT WAS GOING TO BE AN ESPIONAGE STORY.

WHEN THE BERLIN WALL CAME DOWN, HUH-OH, NOW WHAT?

I LOOKED AT THE PLOTLINE AND REALIZED IT HAD A LOT OF GEOLOGY IN IT, SO I THOUGHT WHY NOT MAKE THE LEAD CHARACTER A GEOLOGIST?

>> HAS ANYONE ELSE EVER DONE THAT?

IT'S BRILLIANT.

>> AS FAR AS I KNOW, NO.

IF IT DID BECOME A SERIES OF BOOKS, GEOLOGISTS HAVE AN EXCUSE TO BE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

HE HAD A REASON TO BE IN ARATRAYA OR AFRICA.

IT LENDED ITSELF WELL TO BECOMING A SERIES AS WELL.

>> AND IT WAS INTERESTING THAT OF COURSE IN PLACES OF CONFLICT I NEVER WOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF A GEOLOGIST.

VOLCANOS OF COURSE A FAVORITE, A LOT OF VOLCANOS POPPING UP IN YOUR BOOKS.

ARE THE EVIL CHARACTERS MORE FUN TO WRITE AND DEVELOP?

>> YES AND NO.

THE REAL -- THE HENCHMEN ARE A LOT MORE FUN, 'CAUSE THEY'RE JUST HIRED.

THEY'RE EVIL GUYS.

BUT TO GET A CREDIBLE VILLAIN, PEOPLE AREN'T GENERALLY EVIL FOR EVIL'S SAKE.

YOU HAVE TO WONDER WHY THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING DETRIMENTAL TO THE REST OF THE WORLD.

THE VILLAIN IN THIS BELIEVES THE WORLD IS OVERPOPULATED AND INTENDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

THAT WAS FUN TO COME UP WITH.

>> YOU GIVE THEM SUCH PERSONAL THINGS LIKE INDIGESTION.

>> TACK A HIRONISHI WAS UNABLE TO EAT FOOD BUT LIKED TO TASTE IT.

HE'D EAT AND SPIT IT OUT.

IT'S SUCH A GROSS IMAGE, YOU AUTOMATICALLY HATE THIS GUY RIGHT AWAY.

>> [LAUGHTER] >> IT DOES ADD TO THAT.

YOUR NOVELS AREN'T REALLY A REALITY BASED LIKE A TOM CLANCY.

THEY'RE MORE LIKENED TO INDIANA JONES, DOUBLE 07, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THEY CAN BE PRETTY FANTASTIC.

>> THEY CAN.

I DO STRETCH THE RULES OF CREDIBILITY, BUT I DON'T THINK I BREAK TOO MANY OF THEM.

I TRY TO KEEP THINGS AS REALISTIC AS I CAN IN THIS KIND OF FANTASTIC REALM.

>> WHAT IS YOUR PHILOSOPHY ABOUT WALKING THAT VERY LINE FINE BETWEEN TRUTH AND FANTASY?

>> ALMOST LIKE THE INDIANA JONES TEST.

IF INDIANA JONES COULD DO IT, MERCER COULD DO IT, TOO.

[LAUGHTER] >> OK.

I'D HAVE TO GIVE THAT SOME THOUGHT.

IT IS GROUNDED ENOUGH IN REALITY.

>> MM-HMM.

>> YOUR WEAPONS AND OTHER TECHNOLOGY SEEM VERY DEEPLY RESEARCHED.

>> YES.

>> BUT YOU'VE EVEN ALSO MADE UP THINGS LIKE THE M.M.S.s.

>> IT'S ACTUALLY BASED ON A REAL SYSTEM BEING DEVELOPED FOR EVACUATING WOUNDED SOLDIERS WITH HARRIER JUMP JETS.

I NEEDED TO INFILTRATE A TEAM OF COMMANDOS INTO A MONASTERY HIGH IN THE MOUNTAINS, SO THEY FLY OVER IN A STEALTH BOMBER AND EACH BOMB IS A MAN.

THEY GET EJECTED OUT OF THE STEALTH BOMBER, THE POD COMES DOWN OUT OF A PARACHUTE, AND OUT THEY COME.

>> AND IT'S DIRECTED AS THE SMART BOMB.

>> EXACTLY.

>> YOU EVEN HAVE THIS TELEFORRATION IN ONE.

THAT'S STARTING TO BE ON A FINE LINE.

YOU'VE RESEARCHED IT TO A CERTAIN DEGREE AND THEN -- >> AT THE ME I DID THAT BOOK, "DEEP FIRE RISING," A LOT OF FICTION ADVENTURE WRITERS WERE GETTING A LITTLE MORE FONTASTIC IN THEIR HE WILL -- FANTASTIC IN THEIR ELEMENT, AND I THOUGHT MAYBE THAT WAS THE TREND THE MARKET WAS GOING.

BUT SINCE THEN IT'S PULLED BACK MORE TOWARDS REALITY.

>> SO YOU WATCH THOSE MARKET TREND?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I DID WANT TO DO A DAN BROWN KNOCKOFF.

>> GOING BACK TO THE WEAPONS PIECE, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT AFTER 9/11 -- AND I THINK I READ THIS ONCE -- YOU HAD A LITTLE TROUBLE GETTING THE KIND OF INFORMATION YOU WERE LOOKING FOR.

>> IT BECAME A LOT MORE DIFFICULT.

EVEN HOTELS WOULDN'T DISCUSS THEIR SECURITY OR ANYTHING ABOUT THEIR BUILDINGS.

IT WAS STRANGE.

IT WAS A VERY PARANOID TIME.

IT HAS BECOME EASIER SINCE THEN BUT, FOR THE FIRST COUPLE YEARS AFTER 9/11, NO ONE WOULD TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.

>> DO YOU STILL TRY TO GO TO THE GOVERNMENT OR DO YOU KIND OF SKIP THAT RECENTLY AND FIND OUT WHERE -- THAT REALM AND FIND OUT WHERE ELSE YOU CAN GO?

>> I GENERALLY SKIP THAT REALM.

>> YOUR DAD DIED FIVE YEARS AGO QUITE YOUNG AND TRAGICALLY, AND YOUR MOTHER PASSED AWAY WITHIN A YEAR AND A HALF OF THAT.

>> YEP.

>> SO SORRY.

THEY WERE BOTH REALLY QUITE YOUNG.

>> YEAH.

THEY WERE BOTH IN THEIR 60s.

>> HOWS THAT HAS -- HOWS THAT WHAT AFFECTED YOUR LIFE?

>> IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.

WRITING HAS BECOME A REFUGE.

>> SO YOU'VE KEPT THAT ON -- YOU'RE STILL RUNNING HIS BUSINESS NOW?

>> MY WIFE MOSTLY.

THANK GOD FOR HER.

THE SMARTEST MOVE I EVER MADE WAS MARRYING MY ACCOUNTANT.

[LAUGHTER] >> FANTASTIC.

AND YOUR DAD WAS A MARINE, WASN'T HE?

>> YES, HE WAS.

>> DEINFLUENCE ANY OF YOUR CHARACTERS DO YOU THINK?

>> I WOULD SAY NO.

HE HAD A VERY STRONG SENSE OF RIGHT AND WRONG, AND THAT'S THE ONE THING THAT MERCER HAS AS WELL.

THERE'S NO ANDBY GUYTY -- AMBIGUITY.

THERE'S NEVER ANY GRAY.

THERE WASN'T FOR MY FATHER, AND THERE'S NONE FOR MYSELF.

>> HARRY WHITE IS A CRUSTY, HARD-DRINKING 80 SOMETHING-YEAR-OLD GUY.

WHY IS HE SUCH A FAVORITE WITH YOUR READERS?

>> I HAVE NO IDEA OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT I THINK HARRY IS WHO I WILL END UP BEING AT SOME POINT IN MY LIFE, AND SO I CAN REALLY WRITE HIM MUCH MORE REALISTICALLY THAN ANY OF THE OTHER CHARACTERS.

HE CHANNELS THROUGH ME.

I'VE GONE BACK TO REREAD SOME OF MY BOOKS CANNED WILL LAUGH OUT LOUD AT SOME OF THE THINGS HE SAYS BECAUSE I DON'T REMEMBER WRITING THAT.

HE'S SUCH A FUN, CANTANKEROUS, UNP.C.

CHARACTER THAT IT'S SO REFRESHING.

>> I'M SURE PEOPLE ARE CURIOUS ABOUT WHETHER ANY OF YOUR CHARACTERS COME FROM -- I CAN UNDERSTAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF CARS.

YOU HAVE SOME REALLY GREAT CARS IN HERE.

BUT ARE YOU CAREFUL ABOUT THAT?

>> I'VE ACTUALLY HAD A FEW LOCAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY AS CHARACTERS IN MY BOOK, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE MIGHT REMEMBER GEORGIE BUDETTE WHO WAS KIND OF THE TOWN DRUNK IN THE OTIS SENSE FROM THE OLD ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW.

HE WAS A CHARACTER IN ONE OF MY BOOKS AND USED TO LIVE IN THE BASEMENT OF THE MY DAD'S BUILDING.

THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF GEORGIE IN HARRY WHITE.

THERE'S ALSO A COUPLE OF MY FRIENDS AND COUSINS AS WELL.

>> SO YOU DO USE SOME FOLK?

>> OH, YEAH.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED THE HEIR TO THE BESTSELLER CLIVE CUSSLER.

HE THINKS YOU'RE A FANTASTIC WRITER AND SNAGGED YOU WAS A COWRITER.

>> CLIVE LIKES TO QUIP THAT HE GETS THE MONEY AND I DO THE WORK.

HE CREATED THESE CHARACTERS IN A SHIP CALLED "THE OREGON," A HIGH-TECH SPY SHIP DISGUISED AS AN OLD DERELICT FREIGHTER.

TWO OF THE BOOKS WERE WRITTEN BY CRAIG DERGO, AND THEN HE DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT ANY MORE, SO CLIVE APPROACHED ME.

HE ASKED ME TO COME UP WITH A PLOT FOR WHAT BECAME "DARK WATCH" AND A COUPLE SAMPLE CHAPTERS.

WE TWEAKEDDED IT QUITE A BIT.

AIDE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF INPUT ON THE PLOT.

THEN I WOULD TURN IN THE FIRST THIRD OF THE BOOK.

HE WOULD READ IT, MAKE SURE WE'RE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

IF CLIVE WASN'T A FICTION WRITER, HE'D BE BUN OF THE BEST EDITORS IN THE WORLD.

NO DETAIL ESCAPES HIM.

HE CHERISHES HIS FANS MORE THAN ANYTHING IN THE WORLD, AROUND SO HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE HE GIVES THEM THE BEST POSSIBLE PRODUCTS.

HE PUTS ME RIGHT TO TASK.

>> HE HAS CONVENTIONS AND EVERYTHING?

>> OH, YEAH.

WE JUST HAD ONE IN CHARLESTON.

THERE WAS A FAMILY WHO CAME FROM RUSSIA TO BE THERE, ANOTHER FROM ITALY.

HE'S GOT VERY STRONG FANS.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE REALLY WRITING.

YOU'RE DOING THE PLOT, WRITING THE BOOK.

>> YEP.

>> BUT HE'S OVERSEEING IT AND PUTTING HIS STAMP AND CERTAINLY HIS BEST SELLING NAME ON IT.

>> YEP.

AND OF COURSE HIS NAME SENDS.

TOM CLANCY OR CLIVE CUSSLER, THEY BECOME BRAND NAMES.

JAMES PATTERSON IS ANOTHER PERFECT EXAMPLE.

AND THAT BRAND-NEW SELLS.

NEW UPCOMING AUTHORS WON'T GET AS GOOD A CHANCE NOWADAYS BECAUSE THE PUBLISHING HOUSES ARE PUSHING THESE HUGE MEGASTARS.

>> IS THIS KEEPING YOU FROM KEEPING PHILIP MERCER?

I'M SURE SOME OF YOUR FANS ARE MISSING PHILIP MERCER.

>> THEY ARE.

I WAS WORKING ON IT, STARTED IT ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO, AND THE PUBLISHING HOUSE NOW WANTS ME TO DO ANOTHER CUSSLER BOOK.

MERCER WILL BE BACK, THOUGH.

>> WOULD YOU MAKE A LIMIT?

IF THESE KEEP WORKING AND CLIVE LOVES YOUR WORK AND THE PUBLISHERS LOVE YOUR WORK, ARE YOU TOO CONFLICTED OR, OK, WE'LL DO ONE MORE AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF THAT?

>> IF IT KEEPS GOING THE WAY IT'S GOING, THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE I MIGHT JUST SELL OVER THE REAL ESTATE OR TURN IT OVER TO OTHER COMPANIES SO I DON'T HAVE TO FOCUS ON THAT AT ALL.

THE REAL ESTATE TAKES UP A DAY AND A HALF OR TWO DAYS A WEEK, AND IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIMING.

>> RIGHT.

I IMAGINE THAT MANY FILM COMPANIES ARE INTERESTED IN YOUR BOOKS.

HAVE THEY BEEN OPTIONED?

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?

>> MY FIRST THREE BOOKS WERE OPTIONED.

NOTHING EVER CAME OF IT.

SINCE THEN, AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR, MY AGENT WILL CALL 8 H AND SAY TOM CRUISE'S PRODUCTION COMPANY IS SNIFFING AROUND.

VIN DIESEL'S COMPANY IS SNIFFING AROUND.

GEORGE CLOONEY WAS SNIFFING AROUND.

BUT NO ONE YET HAS PULLED THE TRIGGER.

HOLLYWOOD SHIES AWAY FROM BOOKS THAT WOULD COST SO MUCH TO MAKE MOVIES FROM.

>> THEY ARE SO VISUAL.

YOU CAN REALLY SEE IT, BUT IT'S TRUE IT WOULD BE BIG BUDGET.

>> IT WOULD BE HUGE.

>> DO YOU EVER FEEL CAUGHT UP BY THE CONVENTIONS OF A THRILLER, OF AN ADVENTURE NOVEL, THE HERO, THE GIRL OR DO YOU LIKE HAVING THAT FORM?

>> I LIKE HAVING THAT FORM.

I LIKE HAVING THAT STRUCTURE.

I JUST SAW A COMMENT ON THE INTERNET ABOUT ONE OF MY BOOKS THAT THEY'RE VERY FORMULA, AND THAT'S A GOOD THING.

FANS KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN THEY READ ONE OF MY BOOKS.

THERE ARE CERTAIN CONVENTIONS IN THRILLER WRITING, I THINK, YOU DO FOLLOW.

>> AND THAT WAY YOU DON'T FEEL RESTRICTED BY THAT?

>> I DON'T, NO.

THESE ARE THE BOOKS I ENJOY READING, AND I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYBODY TRY TO BREAK BEYOND THOSE TOO MUCH.

>> WHAT'S THE MOST FUN PART FOR YOU?

>> PLOFTING.

DOING THE PLOT.

IT USUALLY TAKES ME ABOUT THREE WEEKS TO DEVELOP AN IDEA AND PLOT OUT THE WHOLE BOOK, AND AT THAT POINT EVERYTHING'S WIDE OPEN.

NOD IDEA IS TOO CRAZY.

I CAN DO WHATEVER I FEEL LIKE DOING.

I'M NOT GOING TO BE WASTING TIME WRITING A FEW CHAPTERS THAT END UP GETTING TRASHED, SO IT'S THE MOST FUN.

>> DO YOU FIND YOU FOLLOW THAT FIRST IMPULSE OF THE PLOT THAT YOU CREATE?

>> GENERALLY I DO.

I'LL HAVE ALMOST LIKE A EUREKA MOMENT AND SAY "AHA," THOUGH WHEN I WROTE" PANDORA'S CURSE," THERE WAS A VISION IN MY HEAD THAT I'D NEVER SEEN IN A BOOK BEFORE, AND THEN I JUST KIND OF BUILT A PLOT AROUND THAT SCENE.

>> SO YOU'RE PROBABLY ALSO LOOKING FOR WHAT'S UNUSUAL, WHAT HAVEN'T PEOPLE DONE.

>> ALSO, YEAH.

>> ARE YOU READING LIKE CRAZY IN THE GENRE TO GET A SENSE OF THAT?

>> I DO, TO MAKE SURE I HAVEN'T DUPLICATED SOMEBODY ELSE'S WORK.

WHEN I DID "RIVER OF RUIN," ABOUT THREE MONTHS LATER, PATRICK ROBINSON'S BOOK CAME OUT ABOUT A TERRORIST ATTACK ON THE PANAMA CANAL.

"DEEP FIRE RISING" WAS ABOUT A VOLCANO ERUPTING IN THE CANARY ISLANDS.

FOUR MONTHS LATER, PATRICK ROBINSON HAD A BOOK ABOUT THE CANARY ISLANDS.

>> AT LEAST YOU'RE AHEAD OF THE WAVE HERE.

>> I FEEL LIKE WRITING HIM LETTERS AND SAYING, PLEASE STOP READING MY MIND.

IT IS TOUGH, BECAUSE THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY PLOTLINES OUT THERE, SO YOU WANT TO KEEP IT FRESH AND ORIGINAL.

>> WHAT ELSE DO YOU READ FOR INSPIRATION?

>> A LOT OF SCIENCE MAGAZINES.

A LOT OF MY BOOKS ARE BASED ON SCIENCE, AND SO I'M JUST GOING TO SEE WHAT THE NEW TRENDS ARE, THE TECHNOLOGY THAT'S BEING DEVELOPED, WHAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT.

I'D NEVER HEARD OF THE LAPOMO VOLCANO UNTIL I WATCHED A TELEVISION SHOW ABOUT IT.

I THOUGHT, IT WOULD BE PERFECT.

>> YOU SEEM TO BE INTRIGUED WITH ANCIENT LEGEND AND HISTORY.

SOMETIMES THEY'RE RUSSIAN OR TIBETAN MONKS, BUT THIS WHOLE THING WITH LEGENDS, WHY IS THAT INTRIGUING FOR YOU?

>> THE ARC CE TYPE OF THE THRILLER NOVEL WAS HOMER'S "THE ADDISSY," AND -- ODYSSEY."

THE STORIES OF THE HEROES IS SOMETHING THAT'S ALWAYS FASCINATED ME.

I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO PAY AN HOMAGE TO THOSE IN MY BOOKS.

>> WILL YOU PROBABLY CONTINUE THAT?

ARE YOU ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THE LEGEND AS SOME PIECE OF THAT IN YOUR BOOKS?

>> I'M ACTUALLY GETTING AWAY A LITTLE BIT FROM THAT.

"HAVOC" WAS BASICALLY STRUCTURED ALMOST LIKE "THE ODYSSEY."

NO ONE WOULD BELIEVE MERCER WANTED TO GET HOME TO HARRY, BUT -- >> BUT OF COURSE HE DOES.

>> OF COURSE.

THERE'S A LOT OF REFERENCES TO "THE ODYSSEY".

I THINK I'M FINALLY GOING TO PUT THAT TO BED.

>> BUT THAT'S YOUR LATEST ONE.

>> YEAH.

>> ALTHOUGH YOU'RE BEGINNING TO WORK ON SOME.

YOU'RE SUCH A GOOD STORYTELLER.

WHERE DO YOU GET SOME OF THESE PLOTS OR IDEAS?

>> ANGELA PITSEGALLI WORKED WITH A TEAM TO INVESTIGATE AN AIRPLANE THAT HAD SUNK INTO THE ICE.

WHEN I WAS RESEARCHING "PANDORA'S CURSE," I WENT TO GREENLAND TO GIVE THAT AUTHENTICITY AND WANTED TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE AND WHAT IT WAS LIKE FOR THEM ACTUALLY STAYING FOR WEEKS ON END ON GREENLAND.

HOW DO YOU SURVIVE TENT LIFE, CAMP LIFE?

THESE GREAT GUYS ARE IN OUR BACKYARD.

>> WHEN YOU GO TO A LOCATION, HOW LONG DO YOU STAY AND WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR AND HOW DO YOU GET THE FEEL OF THE LAND?

>> I WAS IN ICELAND AND GREENLAND 10 DAYS.

ERA TRAYA, I WAS THERE FOR A WEEK, EGYPT FOR 10 DAYS.

JUST REALLY TO GET A SENSE OF ALMOST LIKE STREET LIFE DETAILS.

IN ARATRAYA, WHEN THEY TAKE THEIR GOATS TO MARKET, THEY WALK THEM LIKE WHEELBARROWS.

WHEN YOU PUT THAT INTO A BOOK, PEOPLE SAY, WELL, HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT.

YOU CAN GET A LOT OF INFORMATION OUT OF A TRAVEL GUIDE, BUT A DETAIL LIKE THAT, YOU COULDN'T.

>> SURE.

OR LIKE PANAMA, YOU HAD SUCH DETAIL THERE ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON.

DID YOU SPEND A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME THERE?

BETWEEN TRAVELOGS AND GOING THERE -- >> WITH THAT SCRIPT, IT WAS THREE WEEKS AFTER MY WEDDING I WENT ON A THREE-WEEK CRUISE WITHOUT MY WIFE THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL.

HOW I PULLED THAT YOU HAVE A IS A MYSTERY -- >> AND YOU'RE STILL MARRIED.

>> WE'RE STILL MARRIED.

AND I GOT PERMISSION FROM THE CRUISE LINE TO BE ON THE BRIDGE WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE CANAL AND SPOKE WITH THE CANAL PILOT THE ENTIRE TRIP THROUGH GETTING THOSE DETAILS YOU WOULDN'T GET NORMALLY.

>> DID YOU SAY YOU'RE A WRAIR AND YOU'RE RESEARCHING?

>> YEAH.

THEY SAID, OH, COME ON UP.

IN ICELAND, I SPENT TIME AT THE BLEW LAGOON SPA AND -- BLUE LAGOON SPA, AND THEY GAVE ME A FREE DAY AT THE SPA.

[LAUGHTER] WITH THE AMOUNT OF WORK I DO NOW, I CAN'T DO THE TRAVELING I USED TO.

THE BOOK "SKELETON COAST" TOOK PLACE ON THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA, A PLACE I'VE ALWAYS BEEN FASCINATED BY.

THE DESERT BUTTS UP AGAINST THE SEA.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY I DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME TO GO.

>> WHAT IS YOUR READER DEMOGRAPHIC?

IT SEEMS LIKE THESE ARE MEN'S NOVELS.

THERE'S SO MUCH THAT BLOWS UP.

BUT I COULD BE WRONG.

I MEAN, I WAS ENJOYING THEM.

I ENJOY MERCER.

HE'S AN INTERESTING GUY.

BUT THERE'S A POINT AT WHICH TORTURE AND GUNS AND BLOWING UP KIND OF GOT TO ME PERSONALLY, BUT I WAS STILL INTRIGUED AND INTERESTED IN DIVING INTO THE NEXT ONE.

IS THIS MAINLY GUYS THAT READ THIS?

>> I WAS ASTOUNDED TO FIND OUT NO.

MOSTLY WOMEN.

>> MOSTLY WOMEN.

>> MOSTLY WOMEN.

WE WENT TO THE CUSSLER CONVENTION.

IT WAS MOSTLY WOMEN.

MY FAN MAIL THAT I GET AT MY WEB SITE, AGAIN, IT'S MOSTLY WOMEN.

I WAS STUNNED.

>> ARE THERE MORE WOMEN READERS OR IS IT REALLY JUST MORE -- AND WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?

IS THAT OK?

>> I THINK IT'S FANTASTIC.

I DO KIND OF WRITE FOR MY AUDIENCE.

I HAD A COMMENT -- MY FIRST COUPLE BOOKS HAD A LOT OF PROFANITY IN THEM, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T LIKE THAT.

I SAID, I DON'T NEED THAT IN THERE, AND I TONED IT DOWN TREMENDOUSLY.

THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN GREAT.

I MAKE SURE MY FEMALE CHARACTERS ARE AS STRONG OR SOMETIMES EVEN STRONGER THAN MERCER.

>> HARRY AND MERCER ARE BOTH SERIOUS DRINKERS.

WHAT'S YOUR POISON?

>> BEER.

>> [LAUGHTER] >> WHEN I GO TO THE CONVENTION, I HAVE TO DRINK VODKA GAME LETS LIKE MERCY DOES.

>> DO YOU PEOPLE KIND OF MIX YOU UP OR DO YOU?

WE'RE JUST ABOUT OUT OF TIME.

>> HUH-OH.

>> YOU AND MERCER, HOW ARE YOU ALIKE OR DIFFERENT?

>> I ADMIRE HIM.

HE'S ALMOST THE KIND OF PERSON I WOULD LIKE TO BE, VERY SINGLE MINDED, VERY DEDICATED.

AGAIN, THE LOYALTY THAT HE SHOWS TO HIS FRIENDS, HIS FRIENDS SHOW TO HIM I THINK IS SOMETHING VERY RARE IN THIS WORLD, AND THAT REALLY INSPIRES ME.

>>> JACK "DIALOGUE," THANK YOU THANK YOUSO JACK DU BRUL, THANKH FOR COMING ON.

>> YOU CAN GO TO JACK DID YOU BRAWL BOOKS.ORG FOR MORE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

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