John Grisham's short stories long on characters
11/4/2009 12:33 AM
By HILLEL ITALIE
Associated Press
NEW YORK -- It's hard to sell a book of short stories. But not if you're John Grisham.
The author of "A Time to Kill," "The Client" and other blockbusters has written his first collection of short fiction, "Ford County," set in the Mississippi community he has used often in his fiction.
Grisham's latest - much of it based on his years as a criminal defense and personal litigation lawyer - includes tales of a dull, dumped husband redeemed by gambling, a ruthless attorney confronted by old victims, and a bunch of buddies who plan to give blood to a hospitalized friend, but have a few drinks along the way.
Wearing a checked brown blazer and light blue shirt - no tie - the author met with The Associated Press on Tuesday and discussed short stories, lawyers and being turned down by The New Yorker.
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Q: What made you decide to publish a book of short stories?
A: There are a lot of notes that I take and still do and these ideas, these stories I thought were going to be full-length novels and they just didn't make it. They're not long enough, not complicated enough, whatever. So I kept them and I guess about a year ago got serious about finishing the stories.
Q: Many of the stories don't have a very uplifting view of lawyers.
A: The truth of it is that most of the lawyers I knew way back then, and still know, are honest, hardworking people who don't make a lot of money, in a small town. Nobody wants to read about those guys. That's pretty dull.
Q: Do you read a lot of short fiction?
A: As a kid I recall reading short stories by Mark Twain and Charles Dickens and even as a young student, the great authors - Faulkner and Eudora Welty and Flannery O'Connor. Hemingway. I had a teacher in college, freshman comp, who loved Hemingway.
Q: Do you dream of getting a short story in The New Yorker?
A: Well, we submitted some of these and they said they're too long. So I guess if I can cut some words out, maybe.
11/4/2009 12:33 AM
By HILLEL ITALIE
Associated Press
NEW YORK -- It's hard to sell a book of short stories. But not if you're John Grisham.
The author of "A Time to Kill," "The Client" and other blockbusters has written his first collection of short fiction, "Ford County," set in the Mississippi community he has used often in his fiction.
Grisham's latest - much of it based on his years as a criminal defense and personal litigation lawyer - includes tales of a dull, dumped husband redeemed by gambling, a ruthless attorney confronted by old victims, and a bunch of buddies who plan to give blood to a hospitalized friend, but have a few drinks along the way.
Wearing a checked brown blazer and light blue shirt - no tie - the author met with The Associated Press on Tuesday and discussed short stories, lawyers and being turned down by The New Yorker.
--------
Q: What made you decide to publish a book of short stories?
A: There are a lot of notes that I take and still do and these ideas, these stories I thought were going to be full-length novels and they just didn't make it. They're not long enough, not complicated enough, whatever. So I kept them and I guess about a year ago got serious about finishing the stories.
Q: Many of the stories don't have a very uplifting view of lawyers.
A: The truth of it is that most of the lawyers I knew way back then, and still know, are honest, hardworking people who don't make a lot of money, in a small town. Nobody wants to read about those guys. That's pretty dull.
Q: Do you read a lot of short fiction?
A: As a kid I recall reading short stories by Mark Twain and Charles Dickens and even as a young student, the great authors - Faulkner and Eudora Welty and Flannery O'Connor. Hemingway. I had a teacher in college, freshman comp, who loved Hemingway.
Q: Do you dream of getting a short story in The New Yorker?
A: Well, we submitted some of these and they said they're too long. So I guess if I can cut some words out, maybe.
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