'Wrapping a good story around it'

 

“Ialways try to tell a good story, one with a compelling plot that will keep thepages turning. That is my first and primary goal. Sometimes I can tackle anissue - homelessness, tobacco litigation, insurance fraud, the death penalty -and wrap a good story around it.” – John Grisham

 

Born in Mississippi on this date in1955, Grisham is the bestselling writer, attorney, politician, and activist bestknown for his popular legal thrillers. His books have been translated into 42 languages and published worldwide.  Yet, he almost didn’t become a writer.  “Writing was not a childhood dream,” hesaid.   “I always struggled with how toget started.” 

 

Grisham earned his law degree fromthe University of Mississippi and had been a lawyer for 5 or 6 years when hetried his hand at writing, inspired by a trial he had witnessed. It became thebasis for his first novel, A Time to Kill,which ironically was rejected by 28 publishers before one gave it achance.  The book – the first of over 50 bestsellershe’s now written – also was made into a feature film.

 

Ten of his books, in fact, have beenmade into films and another 5 into TV shows or series– a remarkablerecord.  He said he’s grateful for thatbecause it’s brought a lot more people into touch with his works, since he doesn’tthink being a writer in itself made him famous. 

 

 “Quite often I can be in a bookshop, standing beneatha great big picture of myself and paying for a book with a credit card clearlymarked John Grisham, yet no one recognizes me. I often say I'm a famous authorin a country where no one reads.”

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