Steve Berry

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QUESTIONS FROM READERS

BARBARJO@aol.com: How did you learn so much about the inner workings of the Vatican? Did you add a lot of fiction to your portrayal of the voting process?

Steve Berry: There are a multitude of research materials out there on Vatican protocol and history. I tried to convey all of that accurately. On the voting process, it is relatively accurate too, with just a little adjustment for dramatic license. The Writers Note in the back of the book explains where I drew the line between fact and fiction.

EdMall@aol.com: Is there any chance at all that the "secrets" revealed are anything near what you have them in the story?

Steve Berry: Impossible to say. All we know is that the third secret was sealed away for 83 years and it's ultimate revelation was, to say the least, anti-climatic. So it's entirely possible there's more out there and that "more" could be detrimental to the Church.

wilkinson8028@sbcglobal.net: The book will reach the bookstand just after we have seen the death of John Paul II and the installation of Benedict XVI. Although it is a novel, how do you think this will affect sales and readers?

Steve Berry: The world is fascinated by the Catholic Church. This is an institution that has survived for 2,000 years. Stories involving the Church have always been popular. Mine is particularly relevant (and curious) thanks to the similarities between my fictional pope and the new Benedict XVI. Given I wrote THE THIRD SECRET six years ago, those similarities are, if nothing else, a bit spooky.

DBurgess@unitrin.com: How do you prepare to write your novels. Do you use an outline, character sketches, etc.?

Steve Berry: I find something historical that's fascinating and interesting that folks may not know a whole lot about (me included), then I work on plotting a story around that. This usually takes several months to do. I don't outline the whole book, though I have a general idea where I want to go, but I do outline about five chapters ahead.

cmlanphere@msn.com: What's your next book about?

Steve Berry: The Knights Templar and a mysterious village in southern France that has a great mystery associated with it. Can't reveal any more.

kiuki_99@yahoo.com: I'm already intrigued by your next book's subject and am anxiously awaiting its publication. I'm also looking forward to film versions, although I doubt they can do justice to your work.

Steve Berry: Thank you. I appreciate the kind words.

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