John Grisham took an unexpected detour from his usual genre after discovering football in Italy. But it will not be another work of non-fiction, nor will it be about football. Can you give us any hints about what to expect? A: I really don't like to talk about a book until it's finished. Q: You have a new legal thriller coming in January 2008. Did you know when you started writing that Rick would get the girl? A: Of course. Q: Without giving away too much of the plot, your protagonist falls in love by the novel's end. What's your idea of the perfect Italian meal? A: First course: prosicutto and melon second course: stuffed tortellini third course: roasted stuffed capon, all served with a great Barolo wine. Q: Speaking of research, you write lovingly of Italian food and wine in this book. I met many of the Italian players and the story simply unfolded. The coach is an American who played at Illinois State, and he proved to be extremely valuable. What kind of research was involved in capturing how this American institution is played in small town Italy? A: The only way to research the book was to go to Parma and watch a game. Q: There is some great football writing in this novel. I couldn't believe that American football actually existed there, but the more I heard about it the more intrigued I became. One of my guides in the area played football for the Bologna Warriors for 10 years. What was the inspiration for Playing for Pizza? A: Three years ago when I was in Bologna researching 'The Broker', I discovered American football.

Playing for Pizza: A Q&A with John Grisham Q: American football in Italy seems like an unlikely subject for a John Grisham novel.

John grisham playing for pizza summary