| John Grisham was born on February 8, 1955 in | | | | John Grisham became an advocate for the |
| Jonesboro Arkansas to a cotton farmer and an | | | | abolishment of the death penalty while researching |
| itinerant construction worker father and a mother | | | | for his book, "The Chamber". He does not believe in |
| who was a homemaker. As a child, he dreamed of | | | | state sanctioned killings. He believes that it is morally |
| being a professional baseball player, but it was not to | | | | wrong and there are too many individuals that are |
| be. He attended Mississippi State University where he | | | | wrongly accused. He wrote about such a case in "An |
| majored in accounting. He graduated with a law | | | | Innocent Man, A true Story". This non-fiction, murder |
| degree from University of Mississippi in 1981. | | | | mystery and legal thriller, tells the story of the |
| John married Renee Jones in 1981 and they have | | | | botched investigation, trial and wrongful conviction of |
| two children, Ty and Shea. He practiced criminal and | | | | Ron Williamson from Ada, Oklahoma. He wants to |
| civil law in Southaven, Mississippi for 10 years. He was | | | | make people question the death penalty. |
| also a State Representative of Mississippi from 1983 | | | | John Grisham books have been translated into over |
| until 1990. They make a farm near Oxford, Mississippi | | | | 29 languages and there are over 245 million books in |
| and a plantation near Charlottesville, Virginia there | | | | print worldwide. So far eleven of his works have |
| home. | | | | been made into movies. John also wrote the original |
| John published his first book, "A Time to Kill", in 1989. | | | | screenplay, "Mickey", and served as producer. The |
| He said that it took him three years to write. He | | | | movie hit the screen in 2004 and starred Harry |
| would get up early in the morning to write before | | | | Connick, Jr. The film, "The Gingerbread Man" was |
| going to work at his law office. | | | | based on one of John Grisham's short stories. |
| In 1994 he became the publisher of a magazine, The | | | | John writes about six months a year and, when not |
| Oxford American. He helped save this struggling | | | | writing, he supports many charitable causes. He has |
| magazine from financial ruin. | | | | helped raise 8.8 Million dollars for Gulf Coast Relief, |
| After his second book, "The Firm", was published and | | | | following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. He also |
| Paramount bought the movies rights for the book, | | | | serves as the local Little League Commissioner. He is |
| John retired from law and took up writing full time. | | | | also a board member of The Innocence Project. This |
| He has generally published one book per year ever | | | | organization promotes the use of DNA testing on |
| since. About his books, he says that he builds fiction | | | | death row inmates to determine innocence. |
| on top of facts. | | | | |