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One of five (5) Grand Prizes: an iPad Mini 4 and a free digital copy of “The Whistler."

One of five (5) Runner-Up prizes, an autographed copy of "The Whistler"

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Long before his name became synonymous with the modern legal thriller, John Grisham was working 60-70 hours a week at a small Southaven, Mississippi law practice, squeezing in time before going to the office and during courtroom recesses to work on his hobby—writing his first novel.

Born on February 8, 1955 in Jonesboro, Arkansas, to a construction worker and a homemaker, John Grisham as a child dreamed of being a professional baseball player. Realizing he didn't have the right stuff for a pro career, he shifted gears and majored in accounting at Mississippi State University. After graduating from law school at Ole Miss in 1981, he went on to practice law for nearly a decade in Southaven, specializing in criminal defense and personal injury litigation. In 1983, he was elected to the state House of Representatives and served until 1990.

One day at the DeSoto County courthouse, Grisham overheard the harrowing testimony of a twelve-year-old rape victim and was inspired to start a novel exploring what would have happened if the girl's father had murdered her assailants. Getting up at 5 a.m. every day to get in several hours of writing time before heading off to work, Grisham spent three years on A Time to Kill and finished it in 1987. Initially rejected by many publishers, it was eventually bought by Wynwood Press, who gave it a modest 5,000 copy printing and published it in June 1988.

That might have put an end to Grisham's hobby. However, he had already begun his next book, and it would quickly turn that hobby into a new full-time career—and spark one of publishing's greatest success stories. The day after Grisham completed A Time to Kill, he began work on another novel, the story of a hotshot young attorney lured to an apparently perfect law firm that was not what it appeared. When he sold the film rights to The Firm to Paramount Pictures for $600,000, Grisham suddenly became a hot property among publishers, and book rights were bought by Doubleday. Spending 47 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list, The Firm became the bestselling novel of 1991.

The successes of The Pelican Brief, which hit number one on the New York Times bestseller list, and The Client, which debuted at number one, confirmed Grisham's reputation as the master of the legal thriller. Grisham's success even renewed interest in A Time to Kill, which was republished in hardcover by Doubleday and then in paperback by Dell. This time around, it was a bestseller.

Since first publishing A Time to Kill in 1988, Grisham has written one novel a year (his other books are The Firm, The Pelican Brief, The Client, The Chamber, The Rainmaker, The Runaway Jury, The Partner, The Street Lawyer, The Testament, The Brethren, A Painted House, Skipping Christmas, The Summons, The King of Torts, Bleachers, The Last Juror, The Broker, Playing for Pizza, and The Appeal) and all of them have become international bestsellers. There are currently over 225 million John Grisham books in print worldwide, which have been translated into 29 languages. Nine of his novels have been turned into films (The Firm, The Pelican Brief, The Client, A Time to Kill, The Rainmaker, The Chamber, A Painted House, The Runaway Jury, and Skipping Christmas), as was an original screenplay, The Gingerbread Man. The Innocent Man (October 2006) marked his first foray into non-fiction.

Grisham lives with his wife Renee and their two children Ty and Shea. The family splits their time between their Victorian home on a farm in Mississippi and a plantation near Charlottesville, VA.

Grisham took time off from writing for several months in 1996 to return, after a five-year hiatus, to the courtroom. He was honoring a commitment made before he had retired from the law to become a full-time writer: representing the family of a railroad brakeman killed when he was pinned between two cars. Preparing his case with the same passion and dedication as his books' protagonists, Grisham successfully argued his clients' case, earning them a jury award of $683,500—the biggest verdict of his career.

When he's not writing, Grisham devotes time to charitable causes, including most recently his Rebuild The Coast Fund, which raised 8.8 million dollars for Gulf Coast relief in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. He also keeps up with his greatest passion: baseball. The man who dreamed of being a professional baseball player now serves as the local Little League commissioner. The six ballfields he built on his property have played host to over 350 kids on 26 Little League teams.

Photo © Billy Hunt

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THE WHISTLER SWEEPSTAKES OFFICIAL RULES

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE DOES NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.

TIMING: The Whistler Sweepstakes (the "Sweepstakes") entry period begins at 12:00:00 AM Pacific Time ("PT") on October 1, 2016 and ends at 11:59:59 PM PT on November 15, 2016 (hereinafter, "Sweepstakes Period").

SPONSOR: NEXT LEVEL MARKETING, INC. d/b/a Entertainment Marketing Group (the "Sponsor"), 1750 Ocean Park Blvd., Suite 204 Santa Monica, CA 90405. The Sponsor will be solely responsible for the operation of this Sweepstakes including, but not limited to, the hosting and management of the Sweepstakes website, collection of entries, selection of prize winners and the fulfillment of all prizes awarded in this Sweepstakes. Penguin Random House LLC is not responsible for the collection, submission or processing of entries, the administration of the Sweepstakes, the selection of potential prize winners or the fulfillment of prizes. Entrants are supplying their information to Sponsor and not to Random House, LLC. "Apple" and "iPad" are registered trademarks of Apple, Inc. Apple, Inc. is not a sponsor of this Sweepstakes, nor is Apple, Inc. in any way affiliated with this Sweepstakes.

ELIGIBILITY: SWEEPSTAKES ENTRANTS MUST BE U.S. CITIZENS WHO ARE LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE FIFTY (50) UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WHO ARE AT LEAST EIGHTEEN (18) YEARS OLD AT TIME OF ENTRY TO BE ELIGIBLE. SWEEPSTAKES VOID OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES AND WHERE OTHERWISE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Only natural persons may enter this Sweepstakes. Employees of Sponsor, Random House, LLC, Amplifier Corporation Pty Limited, each of their respective distributors, wholesalers and retailers, and each of their respective parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, agents, and advertising, promotion, fulfillment and/or judging agencies (hereinafter, collectively, "Sponsor and the Related Entities"), and the family members of each are not eligible to enter or win a prize in the Sweepstakes. For purposes of this paragraph, "family member" means a spouse, parent, sibling, child, son-in-law, daughter-in-law and all lineal descendants, including those by adoption. Sweepstakes subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

HOW TO ENTER: To enter the Sweepstakes: (i) if you have not already done so, download the John Grisham The Whistler Mobile Share App (hereinafter, "App") available for download for free during the Sweepstakes Period to your web-enabled mobile device; (ii) access the App; (iii) locate and click on the Sweepstakes tab; (iv) complete and submit the official entry form presented as directed (each, an "Entry"). Entrants will be required to submit their complete name, city, state and zip code of residence, and a valid email address. The Sweepstakes is limited to one (1) Entry per person/email address. Entries received in excess of the stated limitation will be void. All Entries must be received by 11:59:59 PM PT on November 15, 2016. Entrants must have Internet Access and be the "Authorized Account Holder" of the e-mail address submitted prior to October 1, 2016. The App is free of charge; however, entrants should contact their appropriate internet, wireless and/or phone service providers for complete details with respect to data rates. Entrants will be solely responsible for any and all applicable data charges. Use of the App is subject to terms and conditions described within the App. Mobile Share Apps/Shareable Apps™ are powered by Adapptr™, technology developed by Amplifier Corporation Pty Limited, Los Angeles, CA. Sponsor and the Related Entities are not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, stolen, misdirected Entries, or for Entries that are processed late or incorrectly. Use of robotic, automatic, or macro devices is not valid for Entry. Any Entry that is submitted with the use of a robotic, automated or macro device will be void. All Entries become the property of the Sponsor upon submission and will not be acknowledged or returned and the Sponsor has the right to dispose of the Entries at Sponsor's discretion.

PRIVACY: By submitting an Entry, entrant agrees to abide by and is subject to the terms of these Official Rules and Sponsor's Privacy Policy available at http://emgpromotions.com/?page_id=750. Sponsor may share your information with Penguin Random House LLC if you opt-in to receive additional information or for the purpose of prize fulfillment in the event you are chosen as a potential prize winners, which will use such information in accordance with its independent privacy policy posted at http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/privacy/.

RANDOM DRAWING/SELECTION OF WINNERS: Potential prize winners will be selected in a random drawing from among all eligible Entries received during the Sweepstakes Period. The random drawing will be conducted on or about November 22, 2016 and potential prize winners will be notified by email and/or by U.S. Mail on or about November 30, 2016. The random drawing will be conducted by Sponsor whose decisions on all matters relating to this Sweepstakes are final and binding. Sponsor shall have no liability for any potential prize winner notification that is lost, intercepted or not received by a potential winner for any reason. Proof of identify, age and/or legal residence may be required to claim a prize. Odds of winning a prize will depend upon the number of eligible Entries received during the Sweepstakes Period. Potential prize winners are subject to verification. Limit one (1) prize per household.

PRIZES AND THEIR APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUE ("ARV"): FIVE (5) GRAND PRIZES: Each Grand Prize consists of one (1) Apple iPad 16GB Mini 4 pre-loaded with The Whistler, a novel by John Grisham. ARV of each Grand Prize: $399. FIVE (5) RUNNER-UP PRIZES: Each Runner-Up Prize consists of one (1) autographed edition of The Whistler, a novel by John Grisham. ARV of each Runner-Up Prize: $100. The total ARV of all prizes: $2,495. The ARV is determined as of the date of printing of these Official Rules. Any difference in the ARV of a prize as stated herein and the fair market value at time of prize notification, if any, will not be awarded. Each prize winner is solely responsible for any and all expenses associated with the acceptance and use of a prize, including but not limited to any and all federal, state and local taxes on prizes (or any portion thereof). No substitution, assignment, redemption for cash or transfer of any prize is permitted. Sponsor will have the right, if any prize or prize component cannot be awarded due to circumstances beyond Sponsor's reasonable control or for any other reason as determined by Sponsor, to award a substitute prize or prize component of equal or greater value as determined by Sponsor in Sponsor's sole discretion. All prizes are provided "as-is" and Sponsor has made no warranties, express or implied, in fact or in law, relative to the use or enjoyment of any prize, or any portion thereof, including, without limitation, its quality, merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Any and all warranties and/or guarantees on prizes are subject to the respective manufacturers' terms and prize winners shall look solely to such manufacturers for any such warranties and/or guarantees. Any prize details and restrictions not specified above will be determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion.

NOTIFICATIONS/RELEASES: Each potential prize winner will be required to complete and return a Prize Verification Form and Liability and (where permitted) a Publicity Release within fourteen (14) days from attempted date of notification. If (i) a potential prize winner is disqualified, (ii) a prize winner notification is returned as undeliverable, (iii) a signed prize winner notification is not received by Sponsor in a timely manner, (iv) a prize winner is ineligible, or (v) a prize winner declines his/her prize, that potential prize winner will be disqualified and that prize will be awarded to an alternate prize winner in a random drawing from among all remaining eligible Entries received during the Sweepstakes Period. Sponsor is not responsible for fraudulent calls or emails made to entrants not by Sponsor, or for any change of entrant's email, telephone or mailing address.

GENERAL: The Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, at any time, to reject or disqualify any Entry that is deemed ineligible or for any reason that the Sponsor feels is necessary and/or appropriate, including without limitation, if that entrant has not complied with the Official Rules or has interfered, in Sponsor's sole opinion, with the proper conduct of the Sweepstakes. By participating, each entrant, on his/her behalf and on behalf of his/her respective heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns (collectively, the "Releasing Parties"), releases and agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Sponsor and the Related Entities, and all other persons or entities involved in the administration or advertising of this Sweepstakes or in the provision of any prize or prize component and the respective employees, officers, directors, members, shareholders, partners and agents of each (all of the foregoing, "Released Parties") from any and all actions, causes of actions, suits, claims and liability of whatever kind or nature, known or unknown, absolute or contingent, and whether or not fixed, that the Releasing Party ever had, now has or might in the future have arising in any way from or related to this Sweepstakes, including without limitation any claims, demands, injuries, costs, attorney fees, rights, liabilities or causes of action arising in any way from or relating to the entrant's participation in the Sweepstakes, the acceptance or use of any prize, the use by any of the Licensees (as defined below) of any Entry or any component thereof or any other exercise by any of the Licensees of the rights granted herein (including, but not limited to, any use of an entrant's name, likeness, voice and/or biographical information). The foregoing release includes, without limitation, a release of any and all liabilities, claims, actions, suits, proceedings or demands based upon or alleging any invasion of privacy, violation of right of publicity or infringement of any intellectual property or other personal or proprietary rights, or any personal injury or death to an entrant or any other person or any property damage or loss. Entrants assume all liability for and risk of any injury or damage caused, or claimed to be caused, by participation in this Sweepstakes or the acceptance or use of any prize. Each Releasing Party releases each of the Released Parties from any and all actions, causes of actions, suits, claims and liability arising from or relating to, and the Released Parties shall not be liable for, any: (1) late, lost, delayed, stolen, misdirected, incomplete unreadable, inaccurate, garbled or unintelligible Entries, (2) telephone system, telephone or computer hardware, software or other technical or computer malfunctions, lost connections, disconnections, delays or transmission errors; (3) data corruption, theft, destruction or loss (including, without limitation, loss of any Entry) or unauthorized access to or alteration of an Entry or other materials; (4) any injuries, losses or damages of any kind caused by the participation in the Sweepstakes; (5) any printing, typographical, administrative or technological errors in any materials associated with the Sweepstakes; (6) any unauthorized use of Entries by third parties; or (7) any other human or technical error of any kind relating to the submission, collection, storage or processing of entries or the administration of the Sweepstakes. The Sponsor disclaims any liability for and will not be liable for damage to any computer system resulting from participating in, or accessing or downloading information in connection with the Sweepstakes. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, modify or suspend the Sweepstakes should a virus, bug, computer problem, unauthorized intervention or other cause that corrupts or impairs the administration, security, fairness or proper play of the Sweepstakes. The Sponsor may disqualify any entrant if, in its sole discretion, it determines s/he is attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes by cheating, hacking, deception, or any other unfair playing practices of intending to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other entrants or the Sponsor, the judges or their respective representatives. The Sponsor shall not be responsible if the Sweepstakes or prize fulfillment cannot be implemented or does not take place for any reason including delays or interruptions due to acts of God, acts of war, strikes, governmental action, natural disasters, weather or acts of terrorism, including without limitation, or for any reason outside of the Sponsor's control. By participating, entrants acknowledge that Sponsor does not waive any rights to use similar or related ideas without any restriction whatsoever, or further obligation to entrant. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEB SITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE SWEEPSTAKES IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, THE SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES OR OTHER REMEDIES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON(S) RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATTEMPT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. In the event of a dispute as to the identity or eligibility of any Entry based on an email address, the Entry will be declared made by the Authorized Account Holder of the email address submitted at time of Entry. "Authorized Account Holder" is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, or other organization (e.g., business, education institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address. By participating in this Sweepstakes, entrants agree to be bound by the Official Rules and the decisions of Sponsor, which are final and binding in all respects. The Released Parties are not responsible for any typographical or other error in the printing of the offer, administration of the Sweepstakes or in the announcement of the prizes. In no event will more than the number of prizes stated in these Official Rules be awarded. By entering the Sweepstakes, entrants agree that (a) any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or connected with the Sweepstakes, or any prizes awarded, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action; and (b) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering the Sweepstakes, but in no event attorneys' fees; and (c) under no circumstances will any entrant be permitted to obtain any award for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, special, incidental or consequential damages and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses. Each entrant's sole and exclusive remedy with respect to any and all claims, causes of action and/or lawsuits relating to or arising out of the Sweepstakes shall be an action at law for the recovery of monetary damages only. Each entrant agrees that in no event shall the entrant have the right to enjoin or otherwise interfere with the exercise by Sponsor and the Related Entities, or any of the Licensees of any of their rights hereunder or to terminate or rescind any of the rights granted herein. Non-compliance with these Official Rules may result in disqualification. Any legal proceedings arising out of this Sweepstakes or relating to these Official Rules shall be instituted only in the federal or state courts located in Santa Monica County in the State of California, and the parties consent to jurisdiction therein with respect to any legal proceedings or disputes of whatever nature arising under or relating to these rules.

GRANT OF RIGHTS: By entering the Sweepstakes, each entrant irrevocably grants permission to Sponsor and its parent companies, subsidiaries and affiliates, each of their successors, and the respective agents and licensees of each of the foregoing and those each of them may designate from time to time (all of the foregoing, the "Licensees") to use and authorize the use of the entrant's name, likeness, voice and biographical information, in perpetuity, throughout the world, in all media and formats whether now or later known or developed, for commercial purposes (including, without limitation, advertising and promotion), without further compensation, unless prohibited by law.

WINNERS LIST/OFFICIAL RULES: To obtain a list of prize winners, (available after December 15, 2016), or a copy of the Official Rules, send a self-addressed, stamped #10 envelope to be received by December 30, 2016) to: The Whistler Sweepstakes, c/o Centra360, 1400 Old Country Rd. #420, Westbury, NY 11590. Please specify "Official Rules" or "Winners List" on the outer envelope.