Best Selling Authors
Best Selling Books by Best Selling Authors
I'm a big reader, but when I get stuck for what book to read next, I check out the list of The New York Times best selling books by best selling authors. I don't always want to read every book on the list, but I can always find a book or two that I want to read.
I've attended numerous author book signings to get an up close look at authors and hear them speak about writing. A few of the authors I've gone to see are Elizabeth Berg, John Irving, James Lee Burke, Ann Rule, C.J. Box, Laura Lippman, and Kent Haruf.
I'm always fascinating to see the authors in real life and listen to them answer questions about their writing from the audience.
This is a photo of me (the dorky one standing) with Ann Rule, best selling true crime writer, at a book signing in Denver several years ago.
Photo from Peggy Hazelwood personal collection.
Best Selling Author Laura Hillenbrand - Unbroken and Seabiscuit
Laura Hillenbrand is a best selling nonfiction author of two books: Seabiscuit and Unbroken. I just finished reading Unbroken, and it was wonderful. I'd recommend it to anyone. It's part history, part biography, all terrific. I've seen the movie Seabiscuit but will read it now after having read Unbroken.
Jane Lynch -- Best Selling Nonfiction Author - Need a laugh? Take a look!
Jane Lynch - Happy Accidents
Jane Lynch is best known for her role as Sue Sylvester, cheerleading coach. But watch out! She's written a book, Happy Accidents.
I recently read Happy Accidents, and it was a happy accident running across it!
Are you a big reader?
What do you prefer reading?
Ann Rule -- True Crime Writer - Books into Movies
True crime books aren't for everyone, but I love them. I fondly call them slashers. And Ann Rule is the queen of slashers. She digs deep into one story of a murder (or murders) and tells the nitty gritty details.
Several of her books have been made into television movies, such as Too Late to Say Good-Bye, And Never Let Her Go, Dead by Sunset, and Small Sacrifices.
First Time Non-fiction Author Rebecca Skloot - The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
The story of the immortal HeLa cells is told in the fascinating book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. The name of cells comes about from taking the first two letters of the person's names (He for Henrietta and La for Lacks, HeLa) that the cells come from. HeLa cells were the first immortal human cell line grown in culture.
Jodi Picoult, Popular Novelist - Author of 18 Novels
Some of the quotes praising her writing from her Web site:
Picoult writes with unassuming brilliance." - Stephen King; "It's hard to exaggerate how well Picoult writes." - Financial Times; "Picoult is a master of the craft of storytelling " - Book Review, AP news wire.
Gone Girl
Gillian Flynn's book Gone Girl is currently
(as of August 2015) No. 5 on the
New York Times Bestsellers List and has
been on the list consistently since its debut in 2012.
Gone Girl is excellent reading!
Erik Larson, Master Storyteller - Nonfiction Writing at Its Best
I am a huge fan of Erik Larson. He wrote Devil in the White City, Thunderstruck, Isaac's Storm, and now his nonfiction book In the Garden of Beasts is on the New York Times best sellers list.
Best Selling Author J.A.Jance - Best Selling Mystery Writer
J.A. Jance is a mystery writer who writes novels in four series: J.P. Beaumont, Ali Reynolds, Joanna Brady, and The Walker Series. Her novel Betrayal of Trust debuted at number nine on the New York Times best sellers list.
Best Selling Authors on Book Signings - They Write About Speaking About Writing
I scope out my favorite authors online. As I come across best selling authors writing about their book tours, I'll post a link here.
- Ann Patchett
- Ann Patchett- NY Times Of Bugs and Books
Of Bugs and Books By ANN PATCHETT Published: August 27, 2011 Ann Patchett is the author of “State of Wonder.” HERE in Nashville, the spring wasn’t so good. It was the season of the 13-year cicadas, which meant small holes opened up in the earth and
James Patterson, Best Selling Author - Author of More Than 70 Books
James Patterson is a popular best selling author. He often works with a co-author. When asked by Time magazine how the collaboration process with co-authors works, he said, "If I'm working with a co-writer, they'll usually write the first draft. And then I write subsequent drafts."
News About Best-Selling Authors
- What Do Best-Selling Authors Have in Common?
Dee Power writes "In writing The Making of a Best-Seller: Success Stories From Authors and the Editors, Agents, and Booksellers Behind Them, (Dearborn Trade, 2005), Brian Hill and Dee Power wanted to find out what separates the publishing industry el - List of best-selling fiction authors - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This page provides a list of best-selling fiction authors to date and in any language. While a precise number for any given author is near impossible, the list is based on approximate numbers provided or repeated by reliable sources. "Best-selling" r - AMAZON BEST SELLERS
Amazon.com's best selling books.
Stephen King, Master Storyteller - Best Selling Author of Fiction Books
Stephen King is a best selling author of horror books that are highly readable. He is quoted as saying, "I recognize terror as the finest emotion and so I will try to terrorize the reader. But if I find that I cannot terrify, I will try to horrify, and if I find that I cannot horrify, I'll go for the gross-out. I'm not proud."
And another fine Stephen King quote is "I am the literary equivalent of a Big Mac and fries."
Current New York Times
Best Sellers (August 2013)
All Fiction:
BURN, by Maya Banks
MISTRESS, by James Patterson and David Ellis
THE CUCKOO'S CALLING, by Robert Galbraith
HIGH HEAT, by Lee Child
HOTSHOT, by Julie Garwood
All Nonfiction:
ZEALOT, by Reza Aslan
PROOF OF HEAVEN, by Eben Alexander
ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK, by Piper Kerman
THIS TOWN, by Mark Leibovich
LEAN IN, by Sheryl Sandberg with Nell Scovell
Stan and Jan Berenstain - Yes, The Berenstain Bears Authors
It shouldn't be surprising that Stan and Jan Berenstain make it here. They were the husband / wife team that wrote and illustrated the beloved Berenstain Bears books. Stan died in 2005, and Jan continued to work with their son, Michael, until her death in 2012.
Which of these best sellers is your favorite?
Pick your favorite best-selling author highlighted here.
Upcoming Book Signings and Events - of some great best selling authors
- Events for Erik Larson : Best-selling Author of The Devil in the White City
Upcoming book signings Fall 2011 by Erik Larson: Fort Knox, KY; Federal Way, WA; St. Paul, MN; Lone Tree, CO; Palo Alto, CA; and Mukilteo, WA. - New Events for Rebecca Skloot
Rebecca Skloot is an award-winning writer, and a contributing editor at Popular Science magazine. She has numerous upcoming book signings and speaking engagements through April 2012.