Posts Tagged ‘authors’
Highest earning novelists revealed
J.K. Rowling (PA)
American high society rag Forbes has released what it deems to be the top 10 highest paid authors today.
Released last month there are few surprises as to who tops the list. J.K. Rowling took the number one slot earning an estimated $300 million with her closest rival, detective novelist, James Patterson (Along came a Spider) earning only $50 million.
Writing mainstays Stephen King, Tom Clancy and Danielle Steel make up the rest of the top five, proving their books are as popular than ever (and as predictable and dusty to – Ed). Could this be down to the fact they are half price every Christmas in the WH Smiths sale?
Will Rowling rake in the same amount next year now her Harry Potter series has come to a close? One thing is certain, she has set a president for high earnings in the literary world.
Here is the top 10:
- JK Rowling, $300m
- James Patterson – $50m
- Stephen King – $45m
- Tom Clancy – $35m
- Danielle Steel – $30m
- John Grisham – $25m (tie)
- Dean Koontz – $25m (tie)
- Ken Follett – $20m
- Janet Evanovich – $17m
- Nicholas Sparks – $16m
For all you Harry Potter fans out there, and we know there must be some, we have pinched and pasted all five parts from the amazing documentary about the author by James Runcie below. The filmmaker spent a year following the author as she penned the final installment in the Potter series. Enjoy:
Discussion:
So does JK Rowling justify earning so much from her work? Is Harry Potter really all that good or is it simply media generated hype assisted by the Hollywood machine?
Words: Seamus Swords
The Scribbler 