This document was last modified on Monday, 28-Aug-2006 10:35:50 EDT
Copyright © 1997, Virginia Festival of the Book, BITS
Resides in Charlottesville,Virginia, and Oxford, Mississippi. Prior to Oxford, lived for 23 years in Southaven, Mississippi. Born in Jonesboro, Arkansas, on February 8, 1955, the second child of Wanda and John Grisham, Sr. Married the former Renee Jones of Southaven on May 8, 1981, in Oxford. Two children: Ty, age 12, and Shea, age 9. Renee is a senior at Ole Miss majoring in English.
EDUCATION
Graduated from Southaven High School in 1973. Attended Northwest Mississippi Community College, Delta State University, and graduated from Mississippi State University in 1977 with a degree in Accounting. Entered law school at Ole Miss in the Fall of 1978, and graduated in May of 1981.
PROFESSIONAL
Admitted to the State Bar of Mississippi in 1981, and practiced in Southaven until 1990. Member, Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and American Inns of Court.Elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives in 1983, and served from January 1984 to September of 1990. From 1988 to 1990, served as Vice-Chairman of Committee on Apportionment and Elections. Member of State Democratic Executive Committee from 1988 to 1990.
PUBLISHING
Began writing A Time To Kill in 1984, and finished in 1987. The book was published by Wynwood Press in June of 1989, and 5000 copies. It was reissued as a Wynwood trade paperback in July of 1991, and sold 250,000 copies. It was reissued again as an Island/Dell mass market paperback in July of 1992, and has sold 7,500,000 copies through 25 printings. A Time To Kill was on the New York Times bestseller list for 98 weeks. Foreign rights have been sold in 36 languages. In November of 1993, Doubleday reissued a hardback edition of the book.
A movie adaption of A Time To Kill is presently being filmed. It is directed by Joel Schumacher for Warner Brothers, to be released in the summer of 1996. [ED. NOTE: A Time to Kill was released in 1996 by Warner Bros. and starred Matthew McConaughey and Sandra Bullock.]
The Firm was published by Doubleday in March of 1991, and sold 600,000 copies in hardback through 38 printings. Foreign rights have been sold in 36 languages. Island/Dell published the paperback of The Firm in January of 1992, and the book has sold 12,000,000 copies through 36 printings. The hardback spent 47 weeks on the New York Times list, and the paperback, 90 weeks - 38 weeks at number one. The Firm was also a bestseller in England, Italy and Germany. Film rights were purchased by Paramount, and the movie, starring Tom Cruise, was released in June of 1993.
The Pelican Brief was published in March of 1992 by Doubleday and debuted at number 1 on the New York Times list on March 15, 1992. To date, 1,400,000 copies have been sold in hardback through 27 printings, and foreign rights have been sold in 36 languages. The paperback edition was published by Island/Dell in January of 1993, and has sold to date 11,000,000 copies. Film rights were purchased by Alan Pakula for Warner Brothers, and the movie, starring Julia Roberts, was released December 17, 1993.
The Client was published by Doubleday in March of 1993, and has sold 2,900,000 copies to date. Foreign rights have been sold in 36 languages. Film rights were purchased by Warner Brothers. The movie was directed by Joel Schumacher and was released in the summer of 1994. The paperback was published by Island/Dell in January of 1994, and to date has sold over seven million copies.
The Chamber was published by Doubleday on May, 25, 1994. Foreign rights have been sold in 36 languages. It has currently sold 3.2 million copies in hardback. The paperback edition was published by Dell in March of 1995, and it has sold five million copies.The film rights were purchased by Universal Pictures. [ED. NOTE: The Chamber was released in 1996 by Universal/MCA and starred Chris O'Donnell and Gene Hackman.]
The Rainmaker was published by Doubleday in April of 1995, and has currently sold 2.8 million copies. The film rights were purchased by Reuther/Douglas. [ED.NOTE: The movie of The Rainmaker is currently in production, directed by Francis Ford Copolla.]
The Runaway Jury was published by Doubleday in 1996. It was best-selling book of 1996 (2.8 million hardback, 3.5 million paperback). [ED.NOTE: The movie version is currently in production.]
The Partner was published in February of this year (1997) by Doubleday. It debuted as #1 on the New York Times bestseller list with a first printing of 2.8 million.
COACHING
Served as an assistant coach to the 7 year old Raiders in 1990, with a record of 12 and 3. Was promoted to head coach the following year of the Reds, promptly went 1 and 12, considered retiring, especially at the urging of parents. Rallied somewhat in 1992 with Pirates, a 9 year old team that broke even. Back in the cellar in 1993 with the 10 year old Athletics, but for a few bad calls couldÕve gone 6 and 6 instead of 4 and 8. Masterfully guided the 1994 Marlins, 11 year olds, to the city championship game against the Astros, in which the Marlins led by five runs with two innings to go. Changed pitchers. Gave up six runs, lost. Blew it. Back again in 1995 with the Braves, a second place team with a record of 10 and 8. Big plans for next year.[ED.NOTE: Starting this summer (1997), John Grisham will trade coaching to become the commissioner of his six-field Little League baseball complex in southern Albemarle County, Virginia.]
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