John Grisham's contributions to the world of popular culture in the late twentieth century are enormous. Not only is he largely responsible for the elevation of legal thrillers to a level of popularity never before seen in literary circles, but he has also transcended that genre as his books are eagerly anticipated by those in the movie industry. Ironically, the best-selling author did not find instant success. While working as a lawyer and a Mississippi state legislator, Grisham took four years to write his first novel, A Time to Kill. When he finished in 1987, he sent the manuscript to 16 agents, finally connecting with agent Jay Garon. Over two dozen publishers rejected the book before Wynwood Press accepted it. Wynwood decided on a small print run, only 5000 copies, and paid Grisham a mere $15,000 for what many believe to be his finest book. This, however, would...