Facts & Quotes
Facts
- Married to Renee Jones Grisham (since May 8, 1981).
- The Grishams have two children, Ty (born in 1984; a 2005 graduate of U.Va.) and Shea (born in 1986).
- John Grisham is 6’ 1” (1.85 m) tall.
- Graduated Southaven High School in Southaven, MS in 1973.
- Received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Mississippi State University in 1977.
- Earned his degree in law from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1981.
- Was a member of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the oldest, largest and most selective all-discipline honor society for land-grant and public colleges in the United States.
- Was a lawyer before becoming a writer.
- Sold “A Time to Kill” to a small publisher, Wynwood Press, who did a 5000-copy print run, then he bought the remaindered copies, which he sold himself.
- Served two terms in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1983 to 1990.
- Has contributed over $345,000 to Democratic candidates since 1996.
- Donated $4,600 to the Hillary Clinton campaign and $1,000 to the Barack Obama campaign in the 2008 presidential campaign.
- Organized and coaches Little League baseball in Virginia.
- The Grishams have six baseball fields on their property that they use for charity games and disadvantaged children.
- Books have sold 235 million copies worldwide, making him the best-selling author of the 1990s.
- Holds the title for authoring a number one bestselling novel of the year for seven consecutive years, from 1994 to 2000.
- Has casting approval rights for movies based on his novels.
- Is a board member of The Innocence Project.
- Is Oxford American magazine’s publisher, financier and patron saint since 1994.
- Favorite author is John Le Carre.
- Hotel Savoy in Florence is reported to be his favorite hotel in Italy (he wrote his novel “Playing for Pizza” at the hotel during an extended stay).
Quotes
- “I find myself taking long walks on my farm with my wife, Renée, wondering what in the world happened.”
- “My success was not planned, but it could only happen in America.”
- “I grew up in a very small, close-knit, Southern Baptist family, where everything was off-limits. So I couldn’t wait to get to college and have some fun. And I did for the first two years. And I regret a lot of it, because my grades were in terrible shape. I never got in serious trouble, except for my grades.”
- “Everthing I’m thinking about writing now is about politics or social issues wrapped around a novel.”
- “Ten years from now I plan to be sitting here, looking out over my land. I hope I’ll be writing books, but if not, I’ll be on my pond fishing with my kids. I feel like the luckiest guy I know.”
- “I’m a famous writer in a country where nobody reads.”
Book dates and ISBNs
- A Time to Kill (1989) ISBN 0385470819
- The Firm (1991) ISBN 0385416342
- The Pelican Brief (1992) ISBN 0385421982
- The Client (1993) ISBN 038542471X
- The Chamber (1994) ISBN 0385424728
- The Rainmaker (1995) ISBN 0385424736
- The Runaway Jury (1996) ISBN 0385442943
- The Partner (1997) ISBN 0385472951
- The Street Lawyer (1998) ISBN 0385490992
- The Testament (1999) ISBN 0385493800
- The Brethren (2000) ISBN 0385497482
- A Painted House (2001) ISBN 0385472951
- Skipping Christmas (2001) ISBN 0385506244
- The Summons (2002) ISBN 0385503822
- The King of Torts (2003) ISBN 0385508042
- Bleachers (2003) ISBN 0385511612
- The Last Juror (2004) ISBN 0385510438
- The Broker (2005) ISBN 0385510454
- The Innocent Man (2006) ISBN 0385517238
- Playing For Pizza (2007) ISBN 0385525001
- Untitled Legal Thriller (2008) ISBN 0385515049
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I would love to talk to John or Johnny as we knew him in school in Parkin. I have pictures of us all in school. I wonder if he remembers me. The redhead. We had fun in Ms. Davidson’s and Ms. Horne’s classroom. I cannot remember is he was in my 4th grade class. I had Ms. Greenwood. Please tell me hello and give him my email address. Or my phone number 479-409-8957 Thanks. Dianne
I greatly enjoy your writing style and themes and I always have. In fact I remember in high school that even though you hated writing, you seemed to express yourself quite well and it semmed to be your greatest subject. I hope to be able to continue reading your works and to possibly talk to you again. Sincerely, Wade Bush
Hey John,
You’re the man! I just finished An Innocent Man; that book should be mandatory reading for all district attorneys. I think that power corrupted Bill Petereson. I have prayed for Ron and I wish Dennis Fritz all the best.
I admire that you promote themes of social justice in your work, and I enjoyed your interview last night with Bill Moyers. But you’re not backing the presidential candidate who stands most strongly in line with your values on the war, social justice, and reengaging with the world: John Edwards.
I have read all your books andenjoyed all.I am a Child Psychiatrist with special interest in chilhood traumas.AS a child,did you witness someone being killed?? this is a re-occurring theme in all your books. I would love to discuss this with you. CHF- Professor of Psychiatry,University of So.Carolina,School of Med.
John,
I use to sit next to you in Study Hall at Southaven High School.
I am so thrilled you made it as a writer. Just wanted to say hello.
I am a designer in Huntsville Al.
Best wishes.
Hello Mr J,
Thanks for your wiitty ideas and for your thought provoking books. Just want to tell you that you are one of the best writer I have come across and believe me I have been oppurtuned to read many.
Keep the witty scopes alive and stay lively.