Iva Cook
asked
John Grisham:
What drew you in to write Strawberry Moon, and what research did you do to bring this story believable?
John Grisham
The story takes place over a three hour period as young man is about to be
executed. The clock ticks, and he visits with his lawyer, the prison chaplain, the prison doctor, and a surprise guest, his only pen pal for the past 12 years. He has no family, no friends. I’ve been to death row in several states doing research. They are all incredibly different, yet in many ways the same. I’ve interviewed condemned men, their guards, lawyers, colleagues, families, and victims. I’ve sat in a gas chamber and an electric chair. I was offered the chance to witness an execution but chickened out.
executed. The clock ticks, and he visits with his lawyer, the prison chaplain, the prison doctor, and a surprise guest, his only pen pal for the past 12 years. He has no family, no friends. I’ve been to death row in several states doing research. They are all incredibly different, yet in many ways the same. I’ve interviewed condemned men, their guards, lawyers, colleagues, families, and victims. I’ve sat in a gas chamber and an electric chair. I was offered the chance to witness an execution but chickened out.
More Answered Questions
&
asked
John Grisham:
Hello Mr. Grisham. Your works seem to me to be the best legal thrillers. Rhythm and style in the construction of suspense is the winning bet that only a very small group of writers knows how to make. What is your crucial advice for a writer when it comes to building suspense? What exactly is the point at which the rest of the elements must circulate at all times?
Alicia
asked
John Grisham:
Titles can be a little deceiving like in “Testament” because it was more about the Redemption (of all three characters for a wide variety of reasons). So the first thing that comes to my mind when I read the tile “Sparring Partners” (with a hint that there are two brothers and their father in prison) I was Kain & Abel, but then I leaned towards Murdochs … lawyers instead of financiers… am I on the right track?
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