The Big, Big, Biggest Bestsellers

Since 2001, that is. And you have to take it into account that James Patterson is a book-production machine, not a Real Person.  But look at the money they have made -- even if it is just 10% of the earnings ....

WORLD'S 10 BEST-SELLING AUTHORS (WITH BIGGEST-SELLING BOOK) SINCE 2001

• 1: James Patterson (1st to Die)

• 2: JK Rowling (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire)

• 3: Nora Roberts (Red Lily)

• 4: Dr Seuss (Oh, the Places You'll Go!)

• 5 John Grisham (A Painted House)

• 6: Stephenie Meyer (Twilight)

• 7: Dan Brown (The Da Vinci Code)

• 8: Nicholas Sparks (The Notebook)

• 9: Janet Evanovich (One for the Money)

• 10: Jeff Kinney (Diary of a Wimpy Kid)

List compiled by Nielsen (US) Book Data

UK'S 20 BEST-SELLING AUTHORS BY VOLUME (WITH VALUE LISTED) 2001-MARCH 20, 2014

• 1 JK Rowling – £209,722,338

• 2 Julia Donaldson – £84,236,523

• 3 Dan Brown – £89,430,433

• 4 Jacqueline Wilson – £81,944,149

• 5 Roger Hargreaves – £30,746,661

• 6 James Patterson £86,534,077

• 7 EL James – £48,787,532

• 8 Jamie Oliver – £131,031,085

• 9 John Grisham – £71,111,424

• 10 Terry Pratchett – £79,091,038

• 11 Stephenie Meyer – £57,488,542

• 12 Daisy Meadows – £33,333,081

• 13 Enid Blyton – £38,525,177

• 14 Francesca Simon – £42,459,107

• 15 Danielle Steel – £50,268,720

• 16 Martina Cole – £54,414,431

• 17 Roald Dahl – £42,987,766

• 18 Alexander McCall Smith – £48,535,939

• 19 Lee Child – £44,312,245

• 20 Ian Rankin – £48,171,091

UK figures courtesy of www.nielsenbook.co.uk

With thanks to Dale Williams