List of best-selling fiction authors

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" refers to the estimated number of copies sold of all fiction books written or co-written by an author. To keep the length of the list manageable, only authors with estimated sales of at least 100 million books are included. Authors of comic books are not included. For a few authors, including Miguel de Cervantes, Alexandre Dumas, père, Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Jack Higgins, Victor Hugo, Jules Verne and Leon Uris, no exact figure could be found, although there are indications that they too have more than 100 million copies of their work in print. They have not been included in the below table.

List of best-selling fiction authors

Author Min. estimated sales Max. estimated sales Original language Genre or title Number of books Nationality
Shakespeare, WilliamWilliam Shakespeare 2 billion[1] 4 billion[2] English Plays and poetry 44+ British
Christie, AgathaAgatha Christie 2 billion[3] 4 billion[2] English Detectives, Marple, Poirot 85 British
Cartland, BarbaraBarbara Cartland 500 million[4] 1 billion[5] English Romance 723 British
Steel, DanielleDanielle Steel 500 million[6] 800 million[7] English Romance 72 American
Robbins, HaroldHarold Robbins 750 million[8] 750 million[9] English Adventure 23 American
Simenon, GeorgesGeorges Simenon 500 million[10] 700 million[11] French Detectives, Maigret 570 Belgian
Sheldon, SidneySidney Sheldon 370 million[12] 600 million[13] English Suspense 19 American
Blyton, EnidEnid Blyton 300 million[14] 600 million[15] English Children's literature, Noddy, The Famous Five 800 British
Seuss, Dr.Dr. Seuss 100 million[16] 500 million[17] English Children's literature 44 American
Patten, GilbertGilbert Patten 125 million[18] 500 million[19] English Adolescent adventures 209 American
Rowling, J. K.J. K. Rowling 350 million[20] 450 million[21] English Harry Potter 7 British
Tolstoy, LeoLeo Tolstoy 413 million[22] Russian historical fiction, philosophy, Anna Karenina, War and Peace 48 Russian
Collins, JackieJackie Collins 250 million[23] 400 million[24] English Romance 25 British
Alger, Jr., HoratioHoratio Alger, Jr. 200 million[25] 400 million[26] English Dime novels 135 American
Stine, R. L.R. L. Stine 100 million[27] 400 million[28] English Goosebumps series, Fear Street series, Horror, Comedy 430+ American
Tellado, CorínCorín Tellado 400 million[29] 400 million[30] Spanish Romance 4,000 Spanish
Koontz, DeanDean Koontz 325 million[31] 400 million[32] English Thriller 91 American
Pushkin, AlexanderAlexander Pushkin 357 million[22] Russian Plays, poetry, prose, Eugene Onegin 17 Russian
King, StephenStephen King 300 million[33] 350 million[34] English Horror, Fantasy 70 American
L'Amour, LouisLouis L'Amour 230 million[35] 330 million[36] English Western 101 American
Gardner, Erle StanleyErle Stanley Gardner 100 million[37] 325 million[38] English Mystery, Perry Mason 140 American
Jin Yong 100 million[39] 300 million[40][41] Chinese Wuxia 15 Hong Kong Chinese
Akagawa, JirōJirō Akagawa 300 million[42] Japanese Mystery 500+ Japanese
Dailey, JanetJanet Dailey 300 million[43] 300 million[44] English Romance 93 American
Roberts, NoraNora Roberts 145 million[45] 300 million[46] English Romance 145 American
Wallace, EdgarEdgar Wallace 300 million[47] English Detective 175 British
Ludlum, RobertRobert Ludlum 110 million[48] 290 million[49] English Espionage, Jason Bourne 40 American
Dard, FrédéricFrédéric Dard 200 million[50] 290 million[51] French Detective, San Antonio 300 Swiss
Berenstain, Stan and JanStan and Jan Berenstain 200 million[52] 260 million[53] English Berenstain Bears 300+ American
Grisham, JohnJohn Grisham 100 million[54] 250 million[55] English Legal thriller 22 American
Grey, ZaneZane Grey 250 million[56] English Western American
Wallace, IrvingIrving Wallace 250 million[57] English Suspense American
Tolkien, J. R. R.J. R. R. Tolkien 200 million[58] 250 million[59] English The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, classical fantasy 36 British
Archer, JeffreyJeffrey Archer 120 million[60] 250 million[61] English Crime thriller 30 British
May, KarlKarl May 100 million[62] 200 million[63] German Western, Adventure 80 German
Spillane, MickeyMickey Spillane 100 million[64] 200 million[65] English Detective, Mike Hammer American
Lewis, C. S.C. S. Lewis 100 million[66] 200 million[67] English The Chronicles of Narnia, fantasy, popular theology 38 British
Nishimura, KyotaroKyotaro Nishimura 200 million[68] Japanese Mystery 400+ Japanese
Dickens, CharlesCharles Dickens 200 million[69] English Literature British
Martin, Ann M.Ann M. Martin 172 million[70] 180 million[71] English The Baby-sitters Club 335 American
Shiba, RyōtarōRyōtarō Shiba 180 million[72] Japanese Historical 350 Japanese
Hailey, ArthurArthur Hailey 150 million[73] 170 million[74] English Thriller 11 British/Canadian
Villiers, Gérard deGérard de Villiers 150 million[75] French Detectives, SAS 170 French
Potter, BeatrixBeatrix Potter 100 million[76] 150 million[77] English Peter Rabbit 23 British
Crichton, MichaelMichael Crichton 150 million[78] 150 million[79] English Techno Thriller 25 American
Scarry, RichardRichard Scarry 100 million[80] 150 million[81] English Illustrated children's books 250 American
Patterson, JamesJames Patterson 100 million[82] 150 million[83] English Thriller 48 American
Cussler, CliveClive Cussler 40 million[84] 150 million[85] English Adventure, Dirk Pitt 37 American
McLean, AlistairAlistair McLean 150 million[86] English Adventure,Thriller Wartime stories 32 British
Lindgren, AstridAstrid Lindgren 100 million[87] 145 million[88] Swedish Children's literature 100 Swedish
Macomber, DebbieDebbie Macomber 60 million[89] 140 million[90] English Romance American
Brown, DanDan Brown 120 million[91] English Thriller 5 American
Yoshikawa, EijiEiji Yoshikawa 120 million[92] Japanese Musashi 7 Japanese
Cookson, CatherineCatherine Cookson 100 million[93] 120 million[94] English Romance 103 British
Meyer, StephenieStephenie Meyer 100 million[95] 116 million[96] English The Twilight Saga, The Host, Romance 6 American
Bridwell, NormanNorman Bridwell 100 million[97] 110 million[98] English Clifford the Big Red Dog 80 American
Baldacci, DavidDavid Baldacci 110 million[99] English Thriller 25 American
Coelho, PauloPaulo Coelho 92 million[100] 100 million[101] Portuguese Literature, The Alchemist Brazilian
Dahl, RoaldRoald Dahl 100 million[102] 100 million[103] English Children's literature 50 British
Hunter, EvanEvan Hunter 100 million[104] 100 million[105] English Detective (Ed McBain) 94 American
Neiderman, AndrewAndrew Neiderman 100 million[106] 100 million[107] English V. C. Andrews, The Devil's Advocate 60 American
Hargreaves, RogerRoger Hargreaves 100 million[108] 100 million[109] English Children's literature, Mr. Men British
Rice, AnneAnne Rice 75 million[110] 100 million[111] English Thriller, vampires, Interview with the Vampire (The Vampire Chronicles) 27 American
Cook, RobinRobin Cook 100 million[112] 100 million[113] English Medical Thriller 27 American
Smith, WilburWilbur Smith 80 million[114] 100 million[115] English African Adventure 32 Zambian
Caldwell, ErskineErskine Caldwell 80 million[116] 100 million[117] English Literature 25 American
Hibbert, EleanorEleanor Hibbert 100 million[118] 100 million[119] English Romance, historical, suspense 200 British
Carroll, LewisLewis Carroll 100 million[120] English Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Absurdist literature 5 British
Robins, DeniseDenise Robins 100 million[121] English Romance 200 British
Cao, XueqinXueqin Cao 100 million[122] Chinese Dream of the Red Chamber Chinese
Fleming, IanIan Fleming 100 million[123] 100 million[124] English James Bond 14 British
Hesse, HermannHermann Hesse 100 million[125] 100 million[126] German Literature German-Swiss
Stout, RexRex Stout 100 million[127] 100 million[128] English Nero Wolfe 50 American
Golon, AnneAnne Golon 100 million[129] 100 million[130] French Angélique 14 French
Follett, KenKen Follett 90 million[131] 100 million[132] English Spy Thriller, Historical Thriller 30 British
Slaughter, Frank G.Frank G. Slaughter 100 million[133] English Medical 62 American
Burroughs, Edgar RiceEdgar Rice Burroughs 100 million[134] 100 million[135] English Tarzan, Barsoom, Pellucidar, other science fantasy American
Creasey, JohnJohn Creasey 100 million[136] English Crime thriller 600 British
Michener, JamesJames Michener 100 million[137] English Historical 47 American
Uchida, YasuoYasuo Uchida 100 million[138] Japanese Mystery 130+ Japanese
Morimura, SeiichiSeiichi Morimura 100 million[138] Japanese Mystery 350+ Japanese
Higgins Clark, MaryMary Higgins Clark 100 million[139] 100 million[140] English Thriller American

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Times Online on William Shakespeare: "Christie sold more than two billion books, translated into 103 languages. Only the Bible and Shakespeare’s works are said to have sold more." (September 14, 2005)
  2. ^ a b Times Online on William Shakespeare and Agathe Christie: "Christie wrote 80 detective novels mostly featuring Poirot or Marple and it has been suggested that only the Bible and Shakespeare’s canon have outsold an estimated 4 billion copies of her books. " (15 September 2008)
  3. ^ News.com.au on Agatha Christie: "With more than two billion copies of her 80 crime masterpieces sold there is a ready-made audience for television adaptations." (8 February 2008)
  4. ^ The Telegraph on Barbara Cartland: "Barbara Cartland, who, we are informed (on www.condor-sj.com), 'is the most widely read author in the world with more than 500 million books in print'?" (25 February 2007)
  5. ^ CBS News on Barbara Cartland: "Dame Barbara Cartland, 98. Considered the world's most prolific author and Britain's queen of romantic fiction, with total sales of 1 billion books." (December 20, 2000)
  6. ^ CBC on Danielle Steel: "The reclusive Steel, who lives in San Francisco and Paris, has published more than 70 bestselling romance novels, which have sold more than 500 million copies worldwide." (21 April 2010)
  7. ^ Forbes on Danielle Steel: "Yes, you read that right, 800 MILLION copies sold. Best known for romance and drama, Danielle Steel’s novels have spent over 390 consecutive weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and 22 have been adapted for television." (6 June 2011)
  8. ^ The Independent on Harold Robbins: "During his 50-year career (he died in 1997) he sold an estimated 750 million books and, in the process, transformed himself into a brand." (23 September 2008)
  9. ^ USA Today on Harold Robbins: "Starting in 1948, he sold 750 million books, including megasellers such as The Carpetbaggers, A Stone for Danny Fisher and The Betsy." (9 October 2007)
  10. ^ The Age on Georges Simenon: "With worldwide sales of 500 million, he was the most widely read living writer of his era." (14 September 2003)
  11. ^ The Wall Street Journal on Georges Simenon: "In his lifetime Simenon published some 570 books, using 17 pen names, which have sold more than 700 million copies in 40 countries and were translated into 57 languages." (1 April 2003)
  12. ^ Variety on Sidney Sheldon: "A NEW MILESTONE FOR Sidney Sheldon, who has sold more than 370 million books" (6 October 1995)
  13. ^ The Columbus Dispatch on Sidney Sheldon: "He was one of the world's most translated authors, selling more than 600 million books in 180 countries." (January 31, 2007)
  14. ^ Encyclopædia Britannica on Enid Blyton: "By the late 20th century her books had sold more than 300 million copies and been translated into at least 90 languages." (24 November 2007)
  15. ^ The Huddersfield DailyExaminer on Enid Blyton: "She has been translated into 90 languages, is the sixth most popular writer worldwide according to UNESCO and almost equal to Shakespeare, and has sold 600 million copies." (25 August 2008)
  16. ^ The Daily Utah Chronicle on Dr. Seuss: "The Pulitzer Prize-winning Seuss wrote and illustrated 47 books and sold more than 100 million copies in 18 languages." (5 March 2001)
  17. ^ The New York Times on Dr. Seuss: "Today Dr. Seuss's 44 books have been translated into 21 languages, selling more than 500 million copies." (2 March 2004)
  18. ^ Susan Edgerton e.a. in Imagining the Academy: Higher Education and Popular Culture page 53, on Gilbert Patten: "It is estimated that at least 125 million copies of the Frank Merriwell series (which itself ran to at least 209 books) were sold." (2004)
  19. ^ LeRoy Ashby in With Amusement For All: A History of American Popular Culture Since 1830 page 145, on Gilbert Patten: "[...] the Merriwell brothers, the heroes of almost 250 children's books, whose total sales of 500 million copies surpassed those of the Bible between 1896 and 1918." (2006)
  20. ^ AFP on J. K. Rowling: "Rowling's stories of boy wizard Harry Potter have sold almost 350 million copies around the world in some 65 languages." (8 May 2008)
  21. ^ Times Live on J. K. Rowling: "Though it is all distinctlyun-Hollywood, these chilly sheds are where JK Rowling's books, which have so far sold more than 450-million copies, have been turned into films and where, this week, that process comes to its final, dramatic climax. " (28 November 2010)
  22. ^ a b New York Times February 15, 1987
  23. ^ The Chicago Tribune on Jackie Collins: "More than 250 million copies of her books have been sold to fans in more than 40 countries" (1 January 2007)
  24. ^ The Guardian on Jackie Collins: "One of the world's bestselling writers with more than 400 million books sold in over 40 countries. " (27 June 2004)
  25. ^ The Chinook Observer on Horatio Alger, Jr.: "Americans bought 200 million copies of his dime novels -- with intriguing titles like Raggedy Dick and Sink or Swim. " (30 March 2005)
  26. ^ Time magazine on Horatio Alger: "[...] that have sold from 100 million to 400 million copies, depending on which literary historian you believe." (12 February 1973)
  27. ^ The Hindu on R. L. Stine: "As R.L. Stine points out (and he should know, having sold over a 100 million copies of over 160 different spooky stories)" (7 September 2003)
  28. ^ Pittsburh Post-Gazette on R. L. Stine: "Altogether, Stine has sold more than 400 million books." (8 April 2007)
  29. ^ Latin American Herald Tribune on Corin Tellado: "In the course of her life she published more than 4,000 romance novels that sold 400 million copies, which earned her a place in the Guinness Book of Records where she has been a fixture since 1994." (11 April 2009)
  30. ^ AFP on Corin Tellado: "Corin Tellado, Spain's most prolific romantic novelist whose books sold over 400 million copies, died Saturday at the age of 81, three days after she finished her last novel, a hospital official said." (11 April 2009)
  31. ^ The OC Register on Dean Koontz: "Admitting to finally having found a great editor at Bantam, the author, who has sold 325 million books in 38 languages, talked about his craft. " (September 25, 2007)
  32. ^ Daily Pilot on Dean Koontz: "He's now the world's sixth most highly paid author, tied with John Grisham at $25 million in annual sales, and his novels have sold more than 400 million copies." (7 January 2011)
  33. ^ ABC Australia on Stephen King: "Stephen King, author of more than 40 novels with sales of around 300 million copies, [...]" (12 November 2006)
  34. ^ BBC on Stephen King: "But - after selling 350 million copies of his horror and suspense books - the author's latest work draws on a series of events which almost broke him." (22 November 2006)
  35. ^ Ray Broadmus Browne and Pat Browne in The Guide to United States Popular Culture page 473, on Louis L'Amour: "His books have sold over 230 million copies, making him one of the best- selling authors in modern literary history. " (2001)
  36. ^ The Jamestown Sun on Louis L'Amour: "More than 330 million copies of his books have been sold, translated into 27 languages." (29 October 2001)
  37. ^ The New York Sun on Erle Stanley Gardner: "Erle Stanley Gardner (whose Perry Mason stories sold more than a 100 million books)" (20 July 2005)
  38. ^ The New York Times on Erle Stanley Gardner: "Gardner's books continue to be reissued regularly both here and abroad. Sales to date exceed 325 million copies." (22 November 1992)
  39. ^ Macmillan on Jin Yong: "Jin Yong (1924-) is China's bestselling living novelist. His 15 books have sold more than 100 million copies worldwide..."
  40. ^ Shue Yan Newsletter on Jin Yong: "Professor Cha adopted ‘Jin Rong’ as his pen-name for his 15 martial arts novels of which over 300 million copies have been sold to-date. Although Professor Cha stopped writing martial arts novels almost forty years ago, they remain in print and have been translated into English, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese and other languages for his countless readers worldwide."
  41. ^ Lewis Manalo. "The Billion Copy Opportunity". Publishing Perspectives. http://publishingperspectives.com/2010/02/the-billion-copy-opportunity/. "Without rival, the twentieth century’s king of the genre is Louis Cha. Estimates of his book sales reach up to 300 million copies. One editor at the Far Eastern Economic Review estimated that, if one also counted the pirated copies, over 1 billion of Cha’s books have been sold. His fourteen novels have been adapted into countless comic books, television shows, and films." 
  42. ^ Nishi-Nippon Shinbun (Japanese Language, 25 February 2007)
  43. ^ BBC AudioBooks catalogue on Janet Dailey: "Janet Dailey has written more than 100 novels and is one of the world's topselling women writers, with more than 300 million copies of her books sold in nineteen languages in ninety-eight countries" (2007)
  44. ^ Pamela Regis in A Natural History of the Romance Novel page 159 on Janet Dailey: "There are 300 million copies of her books in print, making her the third best-selling author of all time" (2007)
  45. ^ BBC on Nora Roberts: "Nora Roberts currently has 145 million books in print." (6 June 2002)
  46. ^ The Herald-Mail on Nora Roberts: "There are nearly 300 million copies of her books in print." (4 May 2007)
  47. ^ The "American mystery and detective novels: a reference guide" on Edgar Wallace: "Christie alone has sold 500 million copies; Edgar Wallace, 300 million; Georges Simenon, 300 million; and Mickey Spillane, 150 million." (1999)
  48. ^ BBC on Robert Ludlum: "He has sold more than 110 million books in 40 countries and 32 languages." (13 March 2001)
  49. ^ BBC on Robert Ludlum: "The author, who died in 2001, has sold more than 290 million books worldwide." (11 August 2005)
  50. ^ The New York Times on Frédéric Dard: "Mr. Dard wrote almost 300 books, of which more than 200 million copies have been sold." (15 June 2000)
  51. ^ The Washington Post on Frédéric Dard: "Mr. Dard worked as a journalist in Lyon from 1942 to 1950 before dedicating himself to novels, theater and film. He used a number of pseudonyms, among them Frederic Charles, Kaput and L'Ange Noir (The Black Angel), and sold more than 270 million books." (9 June 2000)
  52. ^ The Daily Nebraskan on the Berenstains: ""They've sold over 200 million copies of their books," said director James Larson." (21 November 2005)
  53. ^ Variety on the Berenstains: "The company also is offering a new animated series based on the Berenstain Bears, the hugely popular children's brand that has sold more than 260 million books worldwide." (7 April 2002)
  54. ^ The New York Times on John Grisham: "Over the last 15 years, more than 100 million copies of Mr. Grisham's books have been published in hardcover and paperback worldwide." (19 January 2005)
  55. ^ BBC on John Grisham: "While legal thriller writer Grisham - who has sold more that 250 million books in his 20-year career - picked up a lifetime achievement award, Ian Rankin's The Naming of the Dead won best crime thriller." (28 March 2007)
  56. ^ The Payson Roundup on Zane Grey: ""Zane Grey had 250 million books published," Wolfe said." (22 November 2005)
  57. ^ The Writer's Almanac on Irving Wallace: "Although often scorned by critics, his 16 novels and 17 works of nonfiction have sold some 250 million copies worldwide." (19 March 2003)
  58. ^ USA Today on J. R. R. Tolkien: "Tolkien's franchise has resulted in more than 200 million books sold globally and $3.5 billion in box office revenue — not to mention tens of millions of DVDs sold." (23 April 2007)
  59. ^ Vancouver Sun on J. R. R. Tolkien: "Since its publication in the mid 1950s, the series (plus its prequel The Hobbit) has sold an estimated 250 million copies and has inspired legions of fans who revere the books." (November 20, 2008)
  60. ^ Hello Magazine on Jeffrey Archer: "To date he has notched up sales of over 120 million books worldwide." (2008)
  61. ^ The Sydney Morning Herald on Jeffrey Archer: "Earlier this month, in India, the man whose books have sold more than 250 million copies around the world tackled a queue of 1500 readers clutching their books, eager for him to inscribe them." (23 March 2011)
  62. ^ The Wall Street Journal on Karl May: "the best-selling German author of all time, with 100 million books" (1 January 2004)
  63. ^ Deutsche Welle on Karl May: "With sales of over 200 million books, Karl May remains a household name in today's Germany." (4 April 2001)
  64. ^ CBC obituary of Mickey Spillane: "He sold more than 100 million books, and Hammer inspired several TV series and movies." (18 July 2006)
  65. ^ The Washington Post on Mickey Spillane: "According to today's industry estimates, his 26 books have sold more than 200 million copies." (22 August 2001)
  66. ^ BBC on C. S. Lewis: "favourite Northern Irish author has sold over 100 million books and inspired the Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings novels." (8 February 2008)
  67. ^ The Daily Herald on C. S. Lewis: "C.S. Lewis may not be on the best-seller list, but it is estimated that his 38 books have sold more than 200 million copies worldwide and remain in print 38 years after his death." (20 October 2001)
  68. ^ Famitsu.com (Japanese language, May 11, 2007)
  69. ^ Broadway.com on Charles Dickens (figures for A Tale of Two Cities only!): "Since its inaugural publication on August 30, 1859, A Tale of Two Cities has sold over 200 million copies in several languages, making it one of the most famous books in the history of fictional literature." (24 April 2008)
  70. ^ Benjamin M. Compaine and Douglas Gomery, 'Who Owns the Media?: Competition and Concentration in the Mass Media Industry' page 115"
  71. ^ The Wall Street Journal on Ann M. Martin: "A year earlier, however, the movie version of "The Baby-Sitters Club" -- based on a series of young-adult books that have sold more than 180 million copies -- sold only $10 million in tickets, barely exceeding its $6.5 million budget." (8 October 2004)
  72. ^ Japan Inc. on Ryōtarō Shiba: "Altogether, including such genres as dialogues with other authors, more than 180 million copies of his books have been printed" (22 June 2006)
  73. ^ The Age on Arthur Hailey: "Arthur Hailey , who has died at his home in the Bahamas aged 84, was one of the most commercially successful authors of all time, producing 11 books which sold more than 150 million copies, were translated into about 40 languages, and brought him tens of millions of dollars" (28 November 2004)
  74. ^ The Washington Post on Arthur Hailey: "He wrote 11 books, which were published in 40 countries and 38 languages, with about 170 million copies in print." (27 November 2004)
  75. ^ Sunday Herald on Gerard De Villiers: "De Villiers, now 78, claims to have sold an extraordinary 150 million books over his career - with every year a million more added to the total in France alone." (November 19, 2007)
  76. ^ Lucia Marginean in Collecting Beatrix Potter Figurines page 2, on Beatrix Potter: "Beatrix Potter's books have been translated into more than 35 languages and sold over 100 million copies. " (2008)
  77. ^ USA Today on Beatrix Potter: "Potter's story of the rabbit who is nearly killed after defying his mother's warnings to avoid the garden of a farmer named McGregor has sold more than 150 million copies in 35 languages." (23 June 2003)
  78. ^ The Telegraph on Michael Crichton: "His books have sold more than 150 million copies." (1 July 2007)
  79. ^ Wall Street Journal on Michael Crichton: "Although it is always difficult to gauge the total sales of any author, Mr. Crichton's Web site states that he has sold more than 150 million books, and that 13 of them have been adapted into movies." (16 November 2006)
  80. ^ Encyclopædia Britannica on Richard Scarry: "His "busy" books and dictionaries sold more than 100 million copies worldwide, and in 1989 eight of his books made the list of the top 50 best-selling children's books of all time." (2008)
  81. ^ Worldscreen on Richard Scarry: "More than 150 million books by Richard Scarry have been sold worldwide and translated into 30 languages." (2 April 2007)
  82. ^ The Times-Union on James Patterson: "The prolific novelist has more than 100 million books in print and has spent 150 straight weeks on USA Today's list of overall top-selling authors. " (February 26, 2006)
  83. ^ ABC News on James Patterson: "Interesting that James Patterson has sold nearly 150 million books." (13 March 2008)
  84. ^ The Rocky Mountain Collegian on Clive Cussler: "An audit later revealed the number of Cussler books sold was around 40 million at the time the contract was negotiated in 2000." (5 March 2007)
  85. ^ The Telegraph on Clive Cussler: "His widely popular novels - his new one, Golden Buddha, the first in an adventure series called The Oregon Files, is published next month - have sold 150 million copies in 40 languages and have made the author a very wealthy man." (23 February 2004)
  86. ^ Dominic Head in The Cambridge Guide to Literature in English page 431 on Alistair McLean: "Alistair Maclean's works have sold more than 150 million copies worldwide." (2006)
  87. ^ BBC on Astrid Lindgren: "Lindgren's books have sold over 100 million copies in some 80 languages." (28 January 2002
  88. ^ BusinessWeek on Astrid Lindgren: "True, Lindgren's books, which have sold more than 145 million copies the world over, remain bestsellers to this day and the films based on her scripts continue to be immensely popular." (16 November 2007)
  89. ^ Publishers Weekly on Debbie Macomber: "Last year her new books sold 2.8 million copies, bringing her total in print to more than 60 million." (19 June 2006)
  90. ^ The Minneapolis Star-Tribune on Debbie Macomber: "She is constantly on one bestseller list or another, and right now there are more than 140 million copies of her novels in print" (25 April 2010)
  91. ^ Variety on Dan Brown: ""Angels and Demons" has sold 39 million copies to date [...] Those sales lag behind "The Da Vinci Code," whose 81 million copies sold puts it behind the Bible but not much else." (20 April 2009)
  92. ^ The New York Times on Eiji Yoshikawa: "It has remained on the Japanese best-seller list ever since its initial publication as a novel in 1971, and has sold an estimated 120 million copies." (13 September 1981)
  93. ^ The Age on Catherine Cookson: "One hundred million copies of her 103 books have been sold worldwide." (6 October 2008
  94. ^ Hastings Chronicle on Catherine Cookson: "When Dame Catherine died, in June 1998, she had completed 103 novels, sold over 120 million books worldwide and had £20 million in the bank - all of which went to charities." (2008)
  95. ^ The Montreal Gazette on Stephenie Meyer: "In book form, "Twilight" and its sequels "New Moon," "Eclipse" and "Breaking Dawn", have sold 100 million copies worldwide, according to Little, Brown Book Group." (31 March 2010)
  96. ^ Publishers Weekly on Stephenie Meyer: "Little, Brown to Publish Official 'Twilight' Guide." (6 October 2011)
  97. ^ The Library of Congress on Norman Bridwell: "Now more than 80 Clifford books have been published, close to 100 million books are in print, and Clifford's adventures are published in several languages worldwide." (2002)
  98. ^ KRCB television on Norman Bridwell: "Scholastic’s beloved, best-selling children’s books by Norman Bridwell, with more than 160 titles and 110 million books in print." (2008)
  99. ^ The National on David Baldacci: "At last count, David Baldacci had sold 110 million copies of his incredibly popular thrillers." (9 August 2011)
  100. ^ AFP on Paulo Coelho: "He is the all-time best-selling writer in the Portuguese language, with a total of between 92 million and 100 million books sold." (May 31, 2008)
  101. ^ The Times on Paulo Coelho: "Coelho is estimated to have sold more than 100 million books since 1982, his work having been translated into 66 languages" (1 March 2008)
  102. ^ The International Herald Tribune on Roald Dahl: "Dahl's books, many of them darkly comic and featuring villainous adult enemies of the child characters, have sold over 100 million copies." (13 September 2006)
  103. ^ BBC on Roald Dahl: "Exhibitions and children's reading campaigns are being held to commemorate the life of Dahl, who died in 1990 and has sold more than 100 million books." (13 September 2006)
  104. ^ The New York Times on Ed McBain: "Ms. Gelfman, his agent, estimated that in 50 years of writing, he had sold more than 100 million copies of his work." (July 7, 2005)
  105. ^ The Hollywood Reporter on Ed McBain: "Evan Hunter, 78, a best-selling cop novel author who sold more than 100 million books under his own name and the pseudonym Ed McBain." (December 30, 2005)
  106. ^ The Sun Runner on Andrew Neiderman: "Aside from the fact that “The Devil’s Advocate” is a film classic featuring Al Pacino, Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron, Neiderman has over 100 million books in print and has been published in 95 countries. " (2005)
  107. ^ Authors' Den on Andrew Neiderman: "Neiderman has over 100 million books in print and has been published in 95 countries." (3 August 2006)
  108. ^ The Independent on Roger Hargreaves: "The popularity of the original characters led to a television series, sold 100 million books and created a business worth £130m" (22 January 2003)
  109. ^ News Australia on Roger Hargreaves: "The popular series featured characters like Mr Strong, Mr Tickle and Mr Muddle, and it has been estimated that more than 100 million books from the Mr Men range had been sold worldwide." (February 11, 2008)
  110. ^ The Dallas Morning News on Anne Rice: "All told, her books have sold more than 75 million copies worldwide, been made into movies and inspired a Broadway musical." (5 October 2008)
  111. ^ Tampa St. Petersburg Times on Anne Rice: "Her 27 novels have sold some 100-million copies." (5 October 2008)
  112. ^ Variety on Robin Cook: "Cook, who with more than 100 million books in print virtually owns the medical-thriller genre, appears to be branching out of his element by adding an extraterrestrial component." (2 May 1997)
  113. ^ Wesleyan University on Robin Cook: "He has sold more than 100 million books worldwide, which have been translated into approximately 40 languages." (2007)
  114. ^ The Telegraph on Wilbur Smith: "Translated into 26 languages, they have sold more than 80 million copies worldwide." (28 April 2007)
  115. ^ The Herald on Wilbur Smith: "He is the author of 25 best-sellers and claims in court papers to have sold about 100 million books." (21 May 2002)
  116. ^ Augusta Chronicle on Erskine Caldwell: "Mr. Caldwell's books have sold 80 million copies and have been published in 43 languages. " (11 February 2007)
  117. ^ The New York Times on Erskine Caldwell: "More than 100 million copies of his books have been printed around the world, and his short stories continue to be included in anthologies" (1 December 1982)
  118. ^ The Independent on Eleanor Hibbert: "She sold staggering amounts, in the region of 100 million copies." (28 September 2008)
  119. ^ The New York Times on Eleanor Hibbert: "Eleanor Hibbert, a prolific and popular novelist whose books, written under the pen names Jean Plaidy, Victoria Holt and Philippa Carr, sold more than 100 million copies, died on Monday aboard a Mediterranean cruise ship." (January 21, 1993)
  120. ^ The New York Times on Lewis Carroll: "Over 100 million copies of Carroll's book have been sold, Mr. Allen said." (18 April 1985)
  121. ^ The Miami Herald on Denise Robins: "Miss Robins' novels, translated into 15 languages, sold more than 100 million copies. " (3 May 1985)
  122. ^ China.org on Cao Xueqin: "Sun said that the book has sold over 100 million copies worldwide so far. " (14 December 2005)
  123. ^ The Times of India on Ian Fleming: "Faulks took up where Fleming left off in 1966 with Octopussy and the Living Daylights, the last of 14 Bond books which have sold 100 million copies since." (13 July 2007)
  124. ^ The New Zealand Herald on Ian Fleming: "Faulks took up where Fleming left off in 1966 with Octopussy and the Living Daylights, the last of 14 Bond books which have sold 100 million copies since." (July 11, 2007-
  125. ^ Eckhard Bernstein in Culture and Customs of Germany page 101 on Hermann Hesse: "Over 100 million copies of his works have been sold worldwide" (2004)
  126. ^ The International Herald Tribune on Hermann Hesse: "Hesse's novels appear in 68 languages and have been sold more than 100 million copies worldwide" (28 October 1999)
  127. ^ The Capital Journal on Rex Stout: "During his 88-year life, he had written about 50 books and 75 novellas and short stories, which had been translated into 26 languages and sold more than 100 million copies." (21 September 2003)
  128. ^ The Philadelphia Enquirer on Rex Stout: "Readers have snapped up more than 100 million copies of the books." (29 November 1986)
  129. ^ Dr. Jaap Van Ginneken in Screening Difference: How Hollywood's Blockbuster Films Imagine Race, Ethnicity and Culture page 124, on Anne Golon: "All together, they published thirteen titles, translated into forty-five languages and selling more than 100 million copies. " (2007)
  130. ^ The Age on Anne Golon: "Somehow, despite her books having sold more than 100 million copies in 45 countries, Golon is living in straitened circumstances" (13 November 2004)
  131. ^ CBS on Ken Follett: "In all, he's sold 90 million books." (7 October 2007)
  132. ^ The Telegraph on Ken Follett: "If you didn't know Ken Follett was a multimillionaire novelist, whose books have sold, according to his publishers, about 100 million copies, you could be forgiven for thinking him a second-hand car-dealer." (7 October 2007)
  133. ^ Kevin McCarthy's The Book Lover's Guide to Florida on Frank G. Slaughter: "Through 1990, Slaughter's books have averaged more than a million sales per title, totaling over 100 million copies." (1992)
  134. ^ Steven R. Serafin in The Continuum Encyclopedia of American Literature, p. 145, on Edgar Rice Burroughs: "[...] sales of his novels exceed 100 million copies." (2005)
  135. ^ Bret E. Carroll in American Masculinities: A Historical Encyclopedia, page 449, on Edgar Rice Burroughs: "The twenty-five novels that followed between 1912 and 1947 were a huge commercial success, with over 100 million copies sold" (2003)
  136. ^ Neil Shulman e.a. in Get Between the Covers: Leave a Legacy by Writing a Book, page 225, on John Creasey: "Over his lifetime, he managed to write over 600 novels and to sell approximately 100 million copies of his books worldwide." (2006)
  137. ^ Thomas D. Hamm in The Quakers in America page 208, on James Michener: "Michener produced a steady stream of books for the rest of his life, with total sales of over 100 million." (2003)
  138. ^ a b Zenkoku Shoten Shinbun (Japanese language, March 21, 2008)
  139. ^ The Deseret News on Mary Higgins Clark: "Mary Higgins Clark has been on the New York Times best-sellers list 27 times and has more than 100 million copies in print in the United States" (29 March 2009)
  140. ^ Forbes on Mary Higgins Clark: "Sales:100 million books sold" (6 June 2011)