Here are the rest of the top ten authors this week. Lots of interesting characters & life styles.
6-James Patterson. The former chair of J. Walter Thompson has applied all his marketing skills to producing a truly amazing number of books. And each thriller zooms to bestseller status. This month, it’s the next in the Women’s Murder Club series written with co-author Maxine Paetro. 7th Heaven (#6) hit the Library’s top ten in-demand titles, even before the books arrived on the premises. With sales of 130 million worldwide, Patterson oversees a well-run industry with various co-writers, merchandise offerings, film and television adaptations and, according to one of his co-authors, well-organized micro-managing. He founded the Page Turner Awards to which he has contributed over $600,000 for the promotion of books & reading. A graduate of Manhattan College, he lives in Palm Beach. For more.
7- Janet Evanovich. She claims to motivate herself to write by spending her money before she makes it. With all her published books, she must do a lot of shopping! Born and raised in New Jersey, she sets her stories in Trenton. Plum Lucky (#7) features Stephanie Plum, lingerie buyer from Trenton and Evanovich’s alter ego. She enjoys book tours, which in 2006 attracted about 3000 people. Her son and daughter manage her financial affairs and her website, as she continues to write for eight hours everyday. More.
8- Greg Mortenson. A different kind of world fame surrounds the subject of Three Cups of Tea (#8) Journalist David Oliver Relin has joined Mortenson to write about an adventure story that is also about good deeds and positive values. Mortenson failed to climb Pakistan’s K2, the world’s second highest mountain. Alone and hurt, he was cared for by people whom he then helped by turning his attention to the establishment of schools- mostly for girls- in some of the most remote parts of Pakistan & Afghanistan. More.
9-David Baldacci. Another prolific writer of thrillers, Baldacci has a law degree from University of Virginia and spent nine years as a corporate and trial attorney. His sixteen novels have been surefire bestsellers, including Stone Cold (#9) featuring series players Oliver Stone and the Camel Club. Baldacci’s family foundation, Wish You Well is devoted to promoting literacy. His cousin John Baldacci is the two-term Democratic governor of Maine. Visit his website.
10-Sara Gruen. A Canadian by birth, Gruen launched her novel writing career after she was laid off from her technical writing job. Her fondness for animals is evident in her novels, which enjoyed moderate success, until Water for Elephants (#10) - her third book. Her publisher initially turned it down; after she found another publisher, the book spent 12 weeks on the New York Times bestsellers list. It continues to be one of the most popular book club selections. Gruen and her husband share their home with a menagerie; her passion for animals is evident on her website.