10 Questions for John Grisham

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If everyone read A Time To Kill I think they would come away with a better understanding of racial relations. Was that your intention when you wrote the book? —Ed Turner, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Nah. When I wrote the book I didn't even know if it was going to get published. I had no idea what impact the book would have, especially among black Americans. I'm thrilled that it has. It's a very accurate portrayal of racial relations in the Deep South.

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John Grisham: The Bestseller

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Do you think your writing has changed over time? How would you compare A Time to Kill with A Painted House? —Julie Njeri, Nairobi, Kenya
There are moments when I seriously try to assess what I am writing and how I am writing. There has been no deliberate effort to change anything. I still aspire to write a high quality of popular fiction. If you read The Appeal and went back and read The Firm, I am not sure you could tell a difference in the writing style.

Would you ever consider writing a series? —Patricia Livingston, Atlanta, Ga.
After 12-15 books, you start thinking about writing something different. That is one reason I wrote Skipping Christmas, Bleachers and Playing for Pizza—books with no lawyers. I have thought about a series, but not seriously. I don't have the idea—I am waiting on the inspiration.

Do you ever get writer's block? —Julius Ogunro, Lagos, Nigeria
I have the opposite problem. Every year in late spring-when it is time to start writing a book-I have so many ideas. There are always a dozen bad ideas that never take place. If people knew how easy it came, they would really hate me. [Laughs.]

Would you ever write about the case in Mississippi involving Dickie Scruggs? —Brian Hansen, Baton Rouge, La.
It is really strange, because The Appeal—which comes out in two weeks—is about politics and sleazy legal stuff in Mississippi. The timing could not be worse. I would not write about those guys because I know all of them and I would never go there. Honestly, truth is far stranger than fiction. Nobody would have believed The Innocent Man if I had written it as a novel. And if I wrote the story that I think is unfolding down there as a novel, people wouldn't believe it.

What do you like to read for fun? —Martin Trafoier, Schlanders, Italy
My goal this year is to read every book by John Steinbeck. I read most of them years ago as a student. I just finished a Mark Twain binge. It's hard to read good fiction when I am writing, because if it is really good I catch myself sort of inadvertently imitating a great writer.

What is your favorite book? —J. Matts, Cleveland, Ohio
It is a tough one. For years I said it was A Time to Kill, because it was the first one. But I think the book that is going to stick with me forever is The Innocent Man.

My mom thinks you are better looking than Tom Cruise. Why didn't you star in The Firm instead? —Durriyyah Usman, Islamabad, Pakistan
It is very simple-I have no acting talent whatsoever. It is amazing what you can do with photography these days, so don't be too impressed.