March 1, 2000
Web posted at: 4:00 p.m. EDT

(CNN) -- Nelson DeMille had his first major novel, "By the Rivers of Babylon," published in 1978. He has been writing ever since. Using his experiences in Vietnam and a talent for research, he has written several best-selling thrillers. He wrote "The General's Daughter," which was recently made into a movie starring John Travolta. "Plum Island," about a New York homicide detective, was so popular with readers, that he brought the character back in his just released, "The Lion's Game."

DeMille joined CNN.com for a Book chat on Tuesday, February 22, 2000, via telephone from New York to discuss "The Lion's Game" and his other work. CNN.com provided a typist. The following is an edited transcript of that chat.

Chat Moderator: Please welcome Nelson DeMille!

Nelson DeMille: Hello!

Chat Moderator: Can you tell us a little about "The Lions Game?"

Nelson DeMille: The "Lion's Game's" main protagonist is John Corey, which was introduced in my last novel, "Plum Island." John Corey is now working for the federal anti-terrorist task force. He is on the trail of a Libyan terrorist who has come to America.

Chat Moderator: What experiences in your life do you use to assist you in writing your novels?

Nelson DeMille: Some of my novels have Viet Nam settings. I was in Nam in 1968 in the army. Otherwise, experiences would include my stint as an insurance investigator. I learned some detective work during that time. I think normal life experiences of dealing with men and women in different occupations, which I do as a writer, have assisted me. The rest is made up. :)

Chat Moderator: What do you like best about writing for a living?

Nelson DeMille: I can write at my own pace, make my own hours. I run my own life. I answer to no one, except my readers. I can write in my underwear. :)

Chat Moderator: What inspired you to write?

Nelson DeMille: I think my experience in Viet Nam was probably the inspiration for me to sit down and chronicle my years in Viet Nam. I was trying to write the Great American War Novel in 1970 when I got out of the Army. Although I've never written that novel, it did get me into the writing process. I was very influenced by Norman Mailer and Ernest Hemingway when I was younger.

Question from Candyce: I've always wondered if a writer sees everything in his or her everyday life as a potential story.

Nelson DeMille: I guess I do. I do like to observe what goes on around me. I see situations that, although they wouldn't be a plot of a novel, would be interesting to incorporate into a novel. I would say that people are endlessly fascinating. Most good novelists are observers of people.

Question from mudslideI: Will you continue with John Corey?

Nelson DeMille: I have no plans to continue with John Corey. I don't want to create a series character, the way, for instance Clancy does with Jack Ryan, or Cussler with Dirk Pitt. This is the first time I’ve brought back a character in any of my books. I don't see John Corey returning in the immediate future.

Question from Jd: Of all of the characters you've created, what prompted you to bring back John Corey, but no others?

Nelson DeMille: What prompted me to bring back John Corey was mostly readers' mail. Probably the good reception that "Plum Island" got, when I first introduced John Corey, helped. Also, John Corey fit nicely as a protagonist to the book I was working on when "Plum Island" became a bestseller. So, John Corey had a second career as a federal officer, after his career as a New York homicide cop in "Plum Island."

Question from Pinkey: What are the advantages and disadvantages to repeating characters in your books?

Nelson DeMille: The main advantage is that readers feel comfortable and familiar with the character, the way they do with any series character from Sherlock Holmes to Jack Ryan. The disadvantage is that the character can start to become boring to the writer, and the writer doesn't have an opportunity to explore different and more interesting characters. Also, the character in one book needs to be the same character in the following book, which means none of the main character's mannerisms or speech patterns can change from book to book.

Question from MudslideI: What are you working on now, and when do you anticipate release?

Nelson DeMille: I'm working on a book whose main protagonist is Paul Brenner, who was the hero of "The General's Daughter." He was played by John Travolta in a movie by the same name.

In this story, Brenner returns to Viet Nam after 30 years, to investigate a murder that took place during the Viet Nam war. The Brenner character, who was a criminal investigation divisions officer, has been called out of retirement and asked to solve this murder. The book should be published in the fall of 2001. It is yet untitled. Paramount, who made "The General's Daughter," would like to make the sequel of the Brenner character, starring again, John Travolta.

Question from Cathy: How much were you involved in "The General's Daughter," when it went to screen?

Nelson DeMille: Most novelists have no involvement with the movie version of their book. But I did consult on the script. I don't want to be involved with the movie version beyond script consulting.

Question from MrsA: How long does it take you to research each book?

Nelson DeMille: My research in all my novels is very extensive. Most books take six to nine months of research, followed by ongoing research as I'm writing the book.

Question from ChatDeWorm: Is there different pressure to write a novel that you know will be a movie?

Nelson DeMille: No, I think my publishers are very supportive of me writing a novel for the sake of the novel. Most of my books are difficult to adapt into film. When I write, I rarely think of the movie angles in the book. I think on one level. Hollywood appreciates buying a fully developed novel, where they can use it as a basis for a film. Although, as I say, my books are long and complex, and the screenwriters have always had a difficult time writing a screenplay from the book.

Question from Will: Who are favorite authors to read?

Nelson DeMille: Tom Wolfe, Truman Capote, Graham Greene, Ernest Hemingway, Steinbeck, Somerset Maugham, and Agatha Christie. I should put Conan Doyle in there, too. Those are my favorites.

Question from MrsA: Any hope of "The Cathedral" being made into a movie?

Nelson DeMille: "The Cathedral" is optioned by Hollywood Pictures/Disney. But, the project seems to be stalled at the moment. The movie would be difficult to shoot, because of the locale, which is New York City during the Saint Patrick's Day parade. A gunfight in St. Patrick's Cathedral would be expensive to shoot.

Question from PRR: How did you research the inner rivalries and attitudes of feds vs. locals in law enforcement? People must have talked to you very openly.

Nelson DeMille: They did talk to me. I had some good access to the joint terrorist task force located in New York City. While the NYPD and FBI were very open in some situations, they were very secretive in others. It was a difficult subculture to access, but it's been three or four months on and off, winning their confidence.

Question from Pace: What kind of research went into "The Charm School?" It seems like it would have been very difficult to get that much insight into Russian everyday life.

Nelson DeMille: Lots of research questions! I spent a month in Moscow, and I had some help from the American Embassy there. I had some help from bureau chiefs at the "Washington Post" and "New York Times" who lived in Moscow. This, too, was a difficult subject to research, especially in the old Soviet Union. But I think any novelist, just like any reporter, who is persistent, will eventually get the information they need.

Question from Candyce: Did you receive any negative feedback about "The General's Daughter," about exposing loyalty at the expense of truth?

Nelson DeMille: The Army, who would normally cooperate on the making of a film about the Army, did not cooperate in this case. The Pentagon, who had helped the producer of "The General's Daughter," Mace Neufeld, when he made the Clancy books into movies, refused cooperation on the General's Daughter.

Question from Verone: With most of your novels having some military/government focus, how did you come up with the "Spencerville" topic, which is slightly different and one of my favorites?

Nelson DeMille: "Spencerville" was what I call a "post cold war" novel. I wrote it with the idea of representing a country that had just won a war. In this case, the Cold War. So, although it wasn't about the military, it was about the end of a conflict. It was a novel of homecoming and a love story about a soldier who returns to find his childhood sweetheart.

Question from Frisian: Have any of your books been translated in other languages?

Nelson DeMille: All of my books have been translated into every major language in the world, with the exception of Arabic. Most American novels are not translated into Arabic, because Muslim nations often find American novels are sexually graphic. But all of my ten novels are in print throughout the world in everything from Hebrew to Indonesian.

Question from Please: Will "Plum Island" and "Lion's Game" be making it to the big screen?

Nelson DeMille: Yes... Columbia Motion Pictures has just optioned both "Plum Island" and "The Lion's Game."

Question from Zank: Was "General's Daughter" based on any real events or is it totally fiction?

Nelson DeMille: "The General's Daughter" was mostly fiction, but based on an incident that did happen at West Point when West Point went coed.

Chat Moderator: What is your favorite book that you've written?

Nelson DeMille: My favorite is "The Gold Coast," followed by "The Charm School," followed by "Word of Honor."

Question from Kimber: Do your books come to you all at once, or evolve as you write?

Nelson DeMille: All my books evolve as I write them. I don't work from an extensive outline. At some point, I let the characters take over the plot.

Question from Verone: Do you develop your characters before you develop the plot?

Nelson DeMille: Yes, I do. All my books are character-driven. I like to know who they are before I get them involved with a complicated plot. I usually start with a premise, and some locales, and the plot follows.

Question from SarahB: I noticed a definite change in voice between your hero and your antagonist in "The Lion's Game." Was it difficult to stay with that method throughout the book?

Nelson DeMille: It was difficult to create two distinct and strong voices. John Corey is presented in the first person, the way he was in "Plum Island," and Asad Khalil is presented in a third person voice, which is not as intimate or immediate as the hero's voice. Alternating first and third person is not common in novels, but it worked in this case.

Question from ChatDeWorm: Are you ever working on two novels at once?

Nelson DeMille: I never work on two novels at once. One is enough. :) But, I do think about the next book, and I do collect information, magazine articles, and newspaper clippings, to be used as research for the book I intend to write next.

Question from SarahB: I noticed that the writing was "darker" for the character of Asad as well. How do you put yourself into a mindset to move from one character to another?

Nelson DeMille: It was very difficult to create two very different and distinct personalities. It was difficult to get into the mindset of a Libyan terrorist. But, the men and women I spoke to on the Joint Terrorist Task Force were very helpful in portraying the kinds of people they interrogate regularly.

Question from MudslideI: Do you have plans to write any non-fiction, or historical fiction?

Nelson DeMille: The only non-fiction I intend to write, and have written, are some pieces on my experiences in Viet Nam, and my recent visit to contemporary Viet Nam. But I would never write a full-length book of non-fiction. Regarding historical fiction, I've always wanted to write a novel set in ancient Rome, but that would probably be some time in the distant future.

Question from ChatDeWorm: For "The Lion's Game," did you speak to any terrorists?

Nelson DeMille: No, I did not. But as I said, I did speak to men and women who spoke to terrorists. There were no terrorists available to speak to me. :)

Question from Please: Do you ever go on book tours and/or book signings?

Nelson DeMille: I'm currently on a book tour, which has taken me from New York, to Philadelphia, to Atlanta, to Miami, to Boca Raton, to Vero Beach, to Daytona Beach, to Dallas, to Denver, to Los Angeles, to San Francisco, and I'm currently in San Diego. I’m going tomorrow to Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Vancouver, Toronto, Pittsburgh, and then back to New York. I've done book signings at all those locations.

Question from SarahB: Where will you be in Portland?

Nelson DeMille: I will be at Powell's bookstore, the famous Powell's, at 7:30 p.m.

Question from Zank: Were you pleased with the screen adaptation of "General's Daughter?"

Nelson DeMille: Yes, I was. It didn't fully follow the novel, but it was entertaining, and powerful. My only objection was the gunfight scene with Travolta and a gun dealer, and the ending, which was too ambiguous.

Question from DF: Many of your main characters share a sharp wit that I really enjoy. Does that come naturally for you?

Nelson DeMille: Yes, it does. I have what my friends call a "New York mouth" -- sharp, sarcastic, and sometimes ironic.

Question from FoxFireJ2: I noticed that in the movie, in the DVD commentary, director, Simon West, pointed out the scenes that he changed from the book, so they would fit the movie better.

Nelson DeMille: In the DVD version, there are scenes restored that weren't in the video or movie. These are excellent scenes, but feature films are limited by their length. DVD is incredible technology.

Question from ChatDeWorm: Tell us about your daily writing schedule.

Nelson DeMille: I usually write from mid-afternoon to early evening, but when I'm on a deadline, I will write until past midnight. I write five days a week. I write longhand, with a pencil, on yellow legal pads. My typist transcribes it onto the computer or word-processor, whatever they call them. :) I generally type with three or four months off between books. That's my reward for 60-hour writing weeks.

Question from MudslideI: The plot for your current project and "Word of Honor" seems similar. It what ways does it differ?

Nelson DeMille: Good question, maybe I should do another book. :) In the case of the new novel, all the action takes place in Viet Nam. In "Word of Honor," all the action took place in the U.S.

Question from SarahB: Can we expect to see Asad, from "The Lion's Game," appear again in a future novel?

Nelson DeMille: I don't contemplate a sequel to "The Lion's Game," although there is room for a sequel based on the ending of "The Lion's Game." I think the only thing that would make me bring back John Corey and Asad would be one or two successful movies based on the John Corey character.

Question from Haley: Do you have your own website?

Nelson DeMille: No, I'm currently working on my website. For now, I'm on the Warner website.

Question from DF: What advice would you give to teachers about teaching writing?

Nelson DeMille: I don't believe that writing can be taught. People who want to write should do a great deal of reading. Writing is, to some extent, a natural talent. The basics can be taught, but the inspiration has to be within the individual.

Question from ChatDeWorm: Can one read "Lion's Game" without first reading "Plum Island?" Would it make sense?

Nelson DeMille: Yes, many people have read "The Lion's Game" first, then "Plum Island" afterwards. They're in chronological order, "Plum Island" taking place during the fall of that particular year, and "The Lion's Game" taking place the following April, but both books stand by themselves.

Question from Please: I liked how you referenced many of your other works in "The Lion's Game," as well as John Anderson's "Newsday" review. Was that your way of adding a little extra fun for your longtime fans?

Nelson DeMille: Yes! It gave me the opportunity to answer some of the movie critics who panned "The Lion's Game," and took the opportunity to pan me as well. I also referenced Janet Maslin of the "New York Times." I had fun critiquing movie critics. :) These people didn't like the movie, which is their right, but they also took a shot at me. I got back. :)

Question from SeanM: Who or what was the source of your inspiration for the Mafia character in "The Gold Coast?"

Nelson DeMille: I live on Long Island, not too far from the Gold Coast. I knew some of these people that moved into the great mansions. My Mafia character was a composite of several of these gentlemen.

Chat Moderator: Do you have any final comments you'd like to leave us with?

Nelson DeMille: I think that anybody who read "Plum Island," and there were many of them, should also enjoy "The Lion's Game." I just want to thank all my fans out there, who have been very supportive.

Chat Moderator: Thanks for joining us, Nelson DeMille!

Nelson DeMille: It's always a pleasure to be online, and I appreciate the opportunity to speak directly with my readers.