The Writer's Life 3/23 - Tops

I recently read somewhere that Agatha Christie was the top selling author of all-time. I was surprised. I expected it to be Danielle Steel or James Patterson. They've had remarlable careers, but each has a long way to go to catch up to the dynamic duo that share the top spot. Here's Wiki's list up to Patterson. These are the high end estimates. In Bold are authors with whom I'm unfamiliar:
1. William Shakespeare: 4 billion estimated. 
2. Agatha Christie: 4 billion estimated. 85 books.
3. Barbara Cartland: one billion. Romance, 723 books.
4. Danielle Steel: 800 million, 120 books, the top American.
5. Harold Robbins: 750 million. Adventure, 23 books.
6. Georges Simenon: 700 million, French Detectives, 570 books, Belgian.
7. Sidney Sheldon: 600 million, Suspense. 21 books, American.
8: Enid Blyton: 600 million, Children's literature, 800 books, British.
9: Dr. Seuss: 500 million, Children's literature, 44 books, American.
10: Gilbert Patten: 500 million, Adolescent adventures, 209 books, American.
11. J. K. Rowling: 450 million.
12: Leo Tolstoy: 413 million, 48 books, Russian.
13. Corín Tellado: 400 million, Romance 4,000 books, Spanish.
14. Jackie Collins: 400 million, Romance, 25 books, British.
15. Horatio Alger, Jr.: 400 million, Dime novels, 135, American.
16: R. L. Stine: 400 million, Horror, Comedy 430+ books, American.
17. Dean Koontz: 400 million, Horror, Thriller, Science fiction, 91 books, American.
18. Nora Roberts: 400 million, Romance, 200+ books, American.
19. Alexander Pushkin: 357 million, Plays, poetry, prose, 17 books, Russian.
20. Stephen King: 350 million, 70 books.
21. Louis L'Amour: 330 million, Westerns 101 books.
22. Erle Stanley Gardner: 325 million, Mystery, 140 books, American.
23. Jin Yong: 300 million, Hong Kong, Chinese.
24. Jirō Akagawa: 300 million, Mystery, 500+ books, Japanese.
25. Janet Dailey: 300 million, Romance, 93 books, American.
26. Edgar Wallace: 300 million, Detective, 175 books, British.
27. Robert Ludlum: 290 million, Espionage, 40 books, American.
28. James Patterson: 275 million, Thrillers, 98 books, American.
Vic Fortezza: estimated 796, Novels, American.


Several years ago I looked up the top selling novel of all time. According to Wiki, The Lord of the Rings has supplanted The Little Prince. The movie version must have boosted its numbers.

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Vic's Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx
Vic's Short Story Collection: http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tiny.cc/0iHLb Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kx3d3uf
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tinyurl.com/pdxwsnt

Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp

Vic's Horror Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3f

Vic's Blog: http://vicfortezza.blogspot.com/

Vic's Web Site: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/