John Ray Grisham Jr., born February 8, 1955, is an acclaimed American novelist, lawyer, and former member of the Mississippi House of Representatives. Remarkably known for his best-selling legal thrillers, Grisham has achieved significant milestones in his career, including writing 37 consecutive number-one fiction bestsellers, with his books amassing sales of over 300 million copies worldwide. He stands alongside Tom Clancy and J.K. Rowling as one of the only three anglophone authors to have sold two million copies on a book's first printing.

Grisham's academic pursuit led him to Mississippi State University, followed by obtaining a Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1981. His professional journey encompassed practicing criminal law for about a decade and serving in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1983 to 1990.

His debut novel, A Time to Kill, was published in June 1989, marking the start of a prolific writing career. His first bestseller, The Firm, sold more than seven million copies. It, along with seven other novels, including The Chamber, The Client, A Painted House, The Pelican Brief, The Rainmaker, The Runaway Jury, and Skipping Christmas, was adapted into films, showcasing the broad appeal and cinematic potential of his work.

Outside of writing, Grisham is deeply involved in advocating for criminal justice reform, serving on the board of directors of the Innocence Project and Centurion Ministries, organizations dedicated to exonerating wrongfully convicted individuals. His fiction frequently explores critical issues within the criminal justice system, earning him accolades such as the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction twice and the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award for Fiction.