Fifty Shades Of Grey author E.L. James is on top of the world. The literary world, at least, as Forbes magazine announced the list of top earners. She made $95 million this past year.
“Mommy porn,” as the genre is known in some quarters, sells, and this is proof.
James’ best-selling erotic novels have made her richer than many life long literary powerhouse names such as Stephen King and steamy romance novel author Danielle Steele last year.
The author’s earnings include $5 million for the movie rights, which is currently casting for the main roles. No announcements on that front as yet.
The Fifty Shades novels started as online fan fiction based on the Twilight series, by Stephanie Meyer. From there she self-published and was picked up by Vintage.
If you haven’t heard of the plot because you’re not interested or have been living under a rock, the story centers around Anastasia Steele, a recent college graduate. Fifty shades, a.k.a. known as Christian Grey is a young millionaire business man.
They start a relationship, which is vividly and explicitly depicted in the story. This has created controversy, with some quarters saying that what is told in the book amounts to sexual violence against women .
But this hasn’t stopped the books from selling. Part two, Fifty Shades Darker and the last book Fifty Shades Freed, tell readers how the relationship evolves.
Each of the three books has reached the category of best-sellers.
In second place on Forbes list is crime thriller author James Paterson ($91 million), third place went to romance novelist Suzanne Collins ($55 million), in fourth the magazine lists Fox host Bill O’Reilly ($28 million), and rounding the top five is another romance author, Danielle Steele ($26 million).
What do you think of how much money E.L. James has made selling Fifty Shades Of Grey?