Troy is a former sports agent who grew up in a small town in Texas. He left home to run track at the collegiate level but admits that he realized his freshman year he was only a stud in one county but he was no longer in that county. He figured if "he couldn’t beat ’em, he could manage ’em." He has traveled four continents and over 40 countries representing Olympic athletes and world champions. A former sports reporter and magazine columnist, he loves to convey a story. Eventually, Troy gave up sports management claiming 40 weeks of travel a year was "going to keep me single, and Texas had too many beautiful women for that to happen." He continued to act as consultant for events and federations but his creative side began to take over. Perhaps it was in his blood, Troy is distantly related to another author named John Grisham. He did eventually meet Debbie Arzola, a former national class distance runner and they married in 2005. They have a son, Joseph and two dogs. Troy is also a songwriter, history fan and amateur genealogist.