Reader Q&A

READER: What is one book from your earlier books you would like to write a sequel to? Do you plan to bring back past characters in future novels?

JOHN GRISHAM: I brought back Jake Brigance from A Time To Kill for two other novels,  Sycamore Row and A Time for Mercy, and I brought back Mitch McDeere of The Firm for The Exchange.  As of today I have no plans to follow up the earlier books or revisit the characters.

READER: Which of your character(s), across all your books, do you most relate to and identify with the most and why?

JOHN GRISHAM: Jake Brigance is very autobiographical. When I wrote A Time To Kill I was living very much like Jake – a  struggling lawyer in a small town in Mississippi dreaming of a big trial.

READER: Would you ever explore the idea of combining some of your famous lawyers in a book? Can an older Jake Brigance meet Mitch McDeere?

JOHN GRISHAM: No, I’ve never thought about that and I’m not sure it would work.

READER: What made you want to write about lawyers?

JOHN GRISHAM: You write about what you know.  I’m a lawyer.  I would never have written the first novel had I not been a lawyer.  I’m still fascinated by the law.

READER: How has practicing law shaped your writing?

JOHN GRISHAM: Very much so.  Lawyers witness amazing stories.

READER: How was the title “The French Illusion” chosen? What does it mean and were there any other titles in the running?

JOHN GRISHAM: I’m lousy with titles.  I usually write the entire book without a good title, then scramble at the end to find one.  Renee, my wife, chose The French Illusion.

READER: Why did you decide to set your new novel in France?

JOHN GRISHAM: We go there often and dream of going there even more.  And, I have a great French publisher.

READER: Which character from your books surprised you the most? Do your characters ever change the storyline of your books?

JOHN GRISHAM: It’s always surprising when a minor character appears and takes over the story. And, often the main story line will change because of an evolving character.

In The Judge’s List, an unplanned character named Gunther appears and takes charge of the second half of the book.

READER: How long does it take to write an outline for a novel? How extensive are your outlines and do they ever change as you write?

JOHN GRISHAM: All outlines are works in progress that hang around for months, often years. Most eventually fall away, but the good ones stick and become the novels. I have outlines I’ve tinkered with for years.  I start with Chapter 1 and write a paragraph, and so on. By Chapter 40 I should be finished, so the outlines are fairly extensive.

READER: What is your daily writing routine? Do you follow the same writing routine every time?

JOHN GRISHAM: I write 5 days a week, from 7:00 – 7:30 AM to 11 AM. I write in only one place – my desk in my writing cabin on the farm.  Same place, same desk, same coffee cup, same brand of coffee.  No phones, no fax, on internet, no music, very few interruptions. The goal is day is 1000 words.

READER: How long does it take for you to write a book? Does much change during the editing process?

JOHN GRISHAM: Six months to write the book. Two months for the editing and revisions. There are very few big changes in the story, but lots of little stuff.

READER: When your wife questions part of a manuscript, does that automatically lead to revision or do you debate the issue?

JOHN GRISHAM: Oh, it’s no fun if we can’t debate!!   We’ve had some rather vigorous discussions, but she’s usually right.

READER: If you could revise one of your books to alter a character or an ending, which would it be?

JOHN GRISHAM: I never look back so I don’t think in terms of changing something.  There are too many good stories to write to worry about what’s already been published.

READER: What, in your opinion, are key elements in a successful, compelling thriller?

JOHN GRISHAM: The protagonist must be likeable, maybe not at first but as the story develops. And he or she has to make a questionable decision that leads to danger.  The danger comes from bad people – the bad guys often carry the story.  Then, the protagonist has to barely escape.  The pages must turn faster as the story unfolds.

READER: When you plan a novel, does the story ever evolve in an unexpected direction? What is the farthest you have gotten into a book before deciding it was not working?

JOHN GRISHAM: I once wrote 100 pages of a brilliant novel that my wife couldn’t stand.  We had long decisions. When she threw the manuscript in the floor I figured it was toast.

READER: How many half-written or unfinished stories do you have archived?

JOHN GRISHAM: Every writer has a drawer full of incredible novels that never quite get finished. I have a couple.

READER: What was the hardest and most enjoyable part about writing The French Illusion?

JOHN GRISHAM: The hardest part was learning the basics of spying and espionage. The most enjoyable part was eating numerous lunches on sidewalk cafes in Paris.

READER: How do you research unfamiliar legal, medical, procedural, and international details?

JOHN GRISHAM: Well, I first try to avoid them. Then, I start with Google to get the basics. Then I order a dozen books on the subject and start reading.

READER: Who or what inspired you to become a writer? What inspires you to keep writing?

JOHN GRISHAM: I was a dissatisfied lawyer and needed to make a buck doing something on the side. My plan was to write a legal mystery, try to get it published, maybe sell a few, then do it again and again until I had a readership.  My dream became writing full time.

READER: How often are your novels inspired by true events, news stories, or real legal experiences?

JOHN GRISHAM: Every one of them.

READER: Is there a favorite theme you like writing about, like government involved plots, legal plots, or international plots?

JOHN GRISHAM: I write two types of books – entertainments and issues.  The issue books are more serious and I’ve dealt with many topics.

READER: Do you travel to any of the places you write about?

JOHN GRISHAM: Sure, travel is a real perk.  Paris and France,  Rome, Florence, Milan, many places in Italy.  Brazil, Honduras, Belize,  all over the Caribbean.  London, Dublin, the UK.

READER: If you could sit anonymously on one jury from history, or your books, which case would you choose and why?

JOHN GRISHAM: Great question, never thought about it before.  The Lindbergh baby case comes to mind. The world was riveted by the first “Trial of the Century.”

READER: What advice would you give a young reader considering law school?

JOHN GRISHAM: Get the degree and put it to good use with a non-profit organization.

READER: What advice do you have for aspiring writers?

JOHN GRISHAM: Read, read, read.  Read the kind of books you want to write. Write at least one page per day, every day, no exceptions.

READER: Which five people would you invite to a dream dinner party?

JOHN GRISHAM: Mark Twain, Charles Dickens, Harper Lee, James Baldwin, Walt Whitman

READER: If you were to suggest one book of yours to someone who wants to start reading your works, what book would it be?

JOHN GRISHAM: Start at the beginning with A Time To Kill.