{{short description|American novelist (born 1967)}} {{Infobox writer | image = Mark Greaney 2020.jpg | caption = Greaney in 2020 | alt = | pseudonym = | birth_name = Mark Strode Greaney | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|07|11}}<ref name="ClearedHot"/> | birth_place = Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | children = | occupation = Writer | period = | genre = Thriller, war fiction | notableworks = {{plainlist| ''The Gray Man''<br/>''Locked On''}} | website = {{URL|http://markgreaneybooks.com}} }}
'''Mark Greaney''' (born July 11, 1967)<ref name="ClearedHot">{{cite AV media | people=Andy Stumpf; Mark Greaney | title=Cleared Hot Podcast with Mark Greaney | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fKH_OWaIiE&t=4200s | publisher=YouTube | medium=Podcast | access-date=2026-03-10 | time=1:10:00 }}</ref> is an American author. He is known for his Gray Man series of action thriller novels, which feature assassin and CIA operative Court Gentry. Greaney is also known for co-authoring Tom Clancy’s final works and for continuing the Ryanverse after his death in 2013 and until 2017.
==Early life and education== Born in Memphis, Tennessee, he is the son of Ed Greaney, a presence at WMC-TV Memphis for over 50 years<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Gill |first=Leonard |date=2010-09-29 |title=Mark Greaney: The Back Story |url=http://www.memphisflyer.com/BookBlog/archives/2010/09/29/mark-greaney-the-back-story |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101006025651/http://www.memphisflyer.com/BookBlog/archives/2010/09/29/mark-greaney-the-back-story |archive-date=2010-10-06 |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=Memphis Flyer |publisher=Contemporary Media, Inc.}}</ref> and the namesake for the station's current newsroom. Greaney has degrees in political science and international relations, subjects which became major focuses of his writing career.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|last1=Rubinstein|first1=Mark|title=Tom Clancy, 'Full Force and Effect': A Talk With Mark Greaney|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-rubinstein/tom-clancy-full-force-and_b_6290544.html|website=HuffPost|date=9 December 2014|accessdate=15 January 2017}}</ref>
==Career==
===The Gray Man=== {{Main|The Gray Man (novel)|l1=The Gray Man (novel)}} Greaney previously worked as a waiter and bartender for ten years,<ref name="auto"/> then later in a surgical technology company, while working on two novels in his spare time. After finishing one of them, titled ''Goon Squad''<ref name="auto1">{{cite news |last=Steck |first=Ryan |date=2018-02-11 |title=AGENT IN PLACE: A Conversation with Mark Greaney |work=The Real Book Spy |url=https://therealbookspy.com/2018/02/11/agent-in-place-a-conversation-with-mark-greaney/ |accessdate=2018-03-01}}</ref> and was primarily about the aftermath of the Bosnian civil war, he gave the first 20 pages of his work to his favorite author Ralph Peters's agent, Scott Miller, in a book conference in September 2006. Miller liked the book but later did not go forward with it, saying that "it was unmarketable," according to Greaney. But he urged Greaney to write another one based from a character in ''Goon Squad'' named Court Gentry,<ref name="auto1"/> which would later be ''The Gray Man''. After finishing this novel, Miller agreed to represent him, and later found a publisher, Jove Books.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{cite news |last1=Gill |first1=Leonard |title=Mark Greaney: Good Aim |work=Memphis Flyer |publisher=Contemporary Media, Inc. |publication-date=2009-10-04 |url=http://www.memphisflyer.com/BookBlog/archives/2009/10/04/mark-greaney-good-aim |url-status=dead |accessdate=2023-07-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091008171923/http://www.memphisflyer.com/BookBlog/archives/2009/10/04/mark-greaney-good-aim |archive-date=2009-10-08}}</ref>
The national success of ''The Gray Man'' made Greaney quit his job in the medical devices company and make the transition to becoming a full-time writer. He was later given a three-book deal by his publisher in 2009.<ref name=":1" /> In addition, ''The Gray Man''{{'}}s success spawned an equally successful series, with 14 more sequels as of 2026.
A film adaptation of ''The Gray Man'' was released by Netflix in 2022, directed by Joe and Anthony Russo and starring Ryan Gosling as Gentry and Chris Evans as his antagonist Lloyd.<ref>{{cite web |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |title=Netflix Commits Largest Budget So Far For 'The Gray Man'; Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans Star, AGBO'S Joe & Anthony Russo Direct Mano A Mano Espionage Thriller |url=https://deadline.com/2020/07/netflix-the-gray-man-ryan-gosling-chris-evans-joe-russo-anthony-russo-directing-1202987267/ |website=Deadline |date=17 July 2020 |access-date=14 August 2020}}</ref> After its success on the streaming platform, a sequel and a spin-off have been announced with the Russo brothers and Gosling reprising their respective roles, with the spin-off to be written by Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bergeson |first1=Samantha |title='The Gray Man' Is Officially a Franchise: Netflix Announces Spin-Off and Sequel Starring Ryan Gosling |url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/netflix-the-gray-man-sequel-1234745392/ |website=IndieWire |date=26 July 2022 |access-date=2 May 2025}}</ref>
===Working with Tom Clancy=== Greaney has been a fan of Tom Clancy for years and has read all of his books, beginning with ''Patriot Games''.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Rankin |first1=Seija |title=What's in a Page: Mark Greaney previews the latest book in the Gray Man series |url=https://ew.com/books/author-interviews/whats-in-a-page-mark-greaney-sierra-six/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=17 May 2025}}</ref> So when Clancy was looking for a new co-author, Greaney found out that his editor at Berkley Books, Tom Colgan, was also Clancy's editor at G. P. Putnam's Sons. His editor later referred to his agent, who asked Greaney to be Clancy's co-author. Commenting on the experience, Greaney recalled: "I wish I could say I was excited, but the truth is, I was terrified. After I caught my breath, I offered to 'try out' because there were some other authors also in the running."<ref name="auto" /> Greaney wrote 25 pages, turned them in, and soon met with Clancy. They collaborated on his last three novels before his death in October 2013: ''Locked On'' (2012), ''Threat Vector'' (2013), and ''Command Authority'' (2013).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Burch |first=Peggy |date=2013-12-01 |title=The Gray Man returns |work=The Commercial Appeal |url=http://www.commercialappeal.com/entertainment/the-gray-man-returns |url-status=dead |access-date=2023-07-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140731023232/http://www.commercialappeal.com/entertainment/the-gray-man-returns |archive-date=2014-07-31}}</ref>
After Clancy's death and with the backing of his family and estate, Greaney continued the Jack Ryan character and the Ryanverse, writing four more novels.<ref name="auto" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Gillette |first=Felix |date=2014-07-17 |title=Support and Defend: Tom Clancy's Legacy Lives On |language=en |work=Bloomberg News |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-07-17/support-and-defend-tom-clancys-legacy-lives-on |access-date=2023-05-24}}</ref> Regarding the publisher's decision to feature Clancy's name at the top in massive letters and having his name in smaller letters for the covers of the post-Clancy novels, Greaney commented: "It really feels like a humongous honor to do it. I get pretty good billing. The Tom Clancy name is one thing you can put on your book that will make it stand out from across the room."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Burch |first1=Peggy |date=2014-12-18 |title=Memphis-based writer Mark Greaney keeps thrills alive in Tom Clancy universe |work=The Commercial Appeal |url=http://archive.commercialappeal.com/entertainment/books/memphis-based-writer-mark-greaney-keeps-thrills-alive-in-tom-clancy-universe-ep-799939070-324085591.html |url-status=live |accessdate=15 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116174521/http://archive.commercialappeal.com/entertainment/books/memphis-based-writer-mark-greaney-keeps-thrills-alive-in-tom-clancy-universe-ep-799939070-324085591.html |archive-date=2017-01-16}}</ref>
In 2017, Greaney announced that he will exit the franchise. He was succeeded by author Marc Cameron.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Steck |first1=Ryan |date=2017-02-20 |title=Exclusive: Big Changes Coming To The Tom Clancy Universe In 2017 |work=The Real Book Spy |url=https://therealbookspy.com/2017/02/20/exclusive-big-changes-coming-to-the-tom-clancy-universe-in-2017/ |accessdate=2017-02-20}}</ref> Greaney later said of his departure from the Jack Ryan universe:
{{cquote|The truth is that I was afraid I was going to run out of things to do. At that point, I had done six books in five years. I had plenty of macro story ideas. Big, overall ideas. But the micro ideas, you know like, here’s a guy following someone down a street. There’s only so many ways you can tell that and keep it fresh, and I did not want to overstay my welcome in the Clancy universe. So, after six books, my editor sort of talked me into doing a seventh, and I’m really glad I did. I’m glad I wrote ''True Faith and Allegiance'', but when that one was over, I knew it was time.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Steck|first1=Ryan|title=AGENT IN PLACE: A Conversation with Mark Greaney|url=https://therealbookspy.com/2018/02/11/agent-in-place-a-conversation-with-mark-greaney/|accessdate=1 March 2018}}</ref>}}
===Other works=== In 2019, Greaney released a war novel titled ''Red Metal'', co-written with Lieutenant Colonel H. Ripley Rawlings IV, which has drawn comparisons to Clancy's novel ''Red Storm Rising'' (1986).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Steck |first1=Ryan |title=Exclusive: Mark Greaney's First Standalone Novel, Co-Authored with LtCol H. Ripley Rawlings IV, Coming July 2019 |url=https://therealbookspy.com/2018/10/17/exclusive-mark-greaneys-first-standalone-novel-co-authored-with-col-ripley-rawlings-iv-coming-july-2019/ |website=The Real Book Spy |date=17 October 2018 |accessdate=25 July 2019}}</ref>
In 2021, Greaney released the action thriller ''Armored'' as an Audible Original audio drama; it was released in book form the following year.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fleming Jr. |first1=Mike |title=Sony, Michael Bay & Erwin Stoff To Turn Mark Greaney Audible Novel 'Armored' Into Action Thriller Film |url=https://deadline.com/2020/05/sony-michael-bay-erwin-stoff-to-turn-mark-greaney-audio-novel-armored-into-action-thriller-film-1202939875/ |website=Deadline |date=20 May 2020 |access-date=2 May 2025}}</ref> It was optioned by Sony Pictures for a future film adaptation to be directed by Michael Bay and produced by Erwin Stoff as of 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Randall |first1=Mark |title=Mark Greaney talks 'Gray Man ' movie and latest action thriller 'Armored' |url=https://www.desototimes.com/lifestyle/mark-greaney-talks-gray-man-movie-and-latest-action-thriller-armored/article_7ade391a-0870-11ed-831e-df673e2decdd.html |website=DeSoto Times Tribune |date=20 July 2022 |access-date=2 May 2025}}</ref> Featuring a new character, high-risk military contractor Josh Duffy, it was followed by ''Sentinel'', released in 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=Author Mark Greaney Talks His New Book 'Sentinel' the Sequel to 'Armored' |url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2024-07-02-author-mark-greaney-talks-his-new-book-sentinel-the-sequel-to-armored/ |website=iHeart Radio |access-date=2 May 2025}}</ref>
==Personal life== Greaney continues to reside in Memphis with his wife Allison.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mayer |first=Karen Ott |date=2009-07-02 |title=Memphis' Mark Greaney pursues 'right idea' in first novel, lands sequels |work=The Commercial Appeal |url=http://www.commercialappeal.com/lifestyle/serial-thriller |url-status=dead |access-date=2023-07-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150625192642/http://www.commercialappeal.com/lifestyle/serial-thriller |archive-date=2015-06-25}}</ref>
Greaney is known for doing extensive research for his novels, including testing guns, traveling to foreign countries, and doing battlefield medicine.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Andrews |first1=Travis M. |title=Mark Greaney is the Tom Cruise of thriller writers |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2024/09/01/mark-greaney-gray-man-author/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=2 May 2025}}</ref>
==Published works==
===The Gray Man series=== {{div col}} * ''The Gray Man'' (2009) * ''On Target'' (2010) * ''Ballistic'' (2011) * ''Dead Eye'' (2013) * ''Back Blast'' (2016) * ''Gunmetal Gray'' (2017) * ''Agent in Place'' (2018) * ''Mission Critical'' (2019) * ''One Minute Out'' (2020) * ''Relentless'' (2021) * ''Sierra Six'' (2022) * ''Burner'' (2023) * ''The Chaos Agent'' (2024) * ''Midnight Black'' (2025) * ''The Hard Line'' (2026) {{div col end}}
===Jack Ryan series=== Featuring characters created by Tom Clancy {{div col}} * ''Locked On'' – with Tom Clancy (2011) * ''Threat Vector'' – with Tom Clancy (2012) * ''Command Authority'' – with Tom Clancy (2013) * ''Tom Clancy: Support and Defend'' (2014) * ''Tom Clancy: Full Force and Effect'' (2014) * ''Tom Clancy: Commander in Chief'' (2015) * ''Tom Clancy: True Faith and Allegiance'' (2016) {{div col end}}
===Armored series=== * ''Armored'' (2022) * ''Sentinel'' (2024)
===Standalone=== * ''Red Metal'' (with Lieutenant Colonel H. Ripley Rawlings IV) (2019)
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [http://markgreaneybooks.com Mark Greaney Books] * [http://www.blogtalkradio.com/modernsignedbooks/2016/12/06/msb--mark-greaney-true-faith-and-allegiance Audio Interview with Mark Greaney] Talking about "True Faith and Allegiance", 6 December 2016 * [http://www.blogtalkradio.com/modernsignedbooks/2017/03/17/mark-greaney-gun-metal-gray--msb Modern Signed Books BlogTalkRadio Interview with Mark Greaney] Talking about "Gun Metal Gray", 28 March 2017
{{The Gray Man}} {{Ryanverse}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Greaney, Mark}} Category:21st-century American novelists Category:American male novelists Category:Living people Category:21st-century American male writers Category:1967 births Category:20th-century American novelists Category:20th-century American male writers