John Grisham is a national phenomenon. He was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas, on February 8, 1955. He eventually moved to Southaven, Mississippi, in 1967. In 1977 John was able to receive a degree in accounting from Mississippi State University. Next, he attended the University of Mississippi to earn his law degree in 1981. That same year he married his loving wife Renee Jones.

After the marriage he started a law firm in Southaven. He practiced most any kind of law including criminal and civil law cases. In 1983, John was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives. In 1989 John published his first novel, A Time to Kill. This book received a few brief reviews but only sold moderately well. A few years later that book would become a motion picture.

John's next book would be a completely different story. Finished in 1988, The Firm became a breakout hit. In 1990 the book was published and sold to Paramount Pictures for $600,000. This big success made John realize he would move to a small farm right outside of Oxford, Mississippi.

Since his first big preview with the public John Grisham has become a great husband, father, and one of Mississippi's best writers.

Back to Top

Back to Gritzley's LiterBEARy Portraits