AUTHOR E.L. JAMES EARNED $95 MILLION FOR "FIFTY SHADES" ACCORDING TO FORBES

E.L. JAMES

E.L. James, author of the “Fifty Shades” trilogy, is publishing’s biggest star according to a list published by Forbes earlier today.
James, whose three “Twilight”-inspired books of sex and bondage have all become massive best sellers, debuted atop the magazine’s lineup of the world’s top-earning authors.

According to the list, the London-based author earned $95 million between June 2012 and June 2013, putting her $4 million clear of her nearest rival, James Patterson.

Also, on the roster are such established writers as Diane Steele (number five), Stephen King (ten), and J.K. Rowling (15).

The list was determined by taking into account “sales data, published figures and information from industry sources” gathered during the designated time period, the magazine said.

That James tops the list should come as no surprise, with her series having sold over 70 million copies during the first eight months they were on sale in the U.S.

Unlike the other scribes on the list, James wasn’t an established publishing presence until recently, with some of the other top earners having written more titles in the last year, than she has in her entire career.

James is currently at work on a new novel.