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Top 10 Most Talented Fiction Writers

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The World's Most Talented Fiction Writers

There are so many talented fiction writers in the world, many of whom have managed to become well recognised best selling authors, but there are ten fiction writers who stand out from the rest.

Presented in reverse order this is the Top 10 list of the world's most highly talented fiction writers. This Top 10 list has been compiled after reviewing many hundreds of authors work.

In the review an account was taken of the number of books which each author had written, how many books they have sold, how many became number one best sellers and how many years they have used their talent to delight readers.

Other factors were also taken into consideration, such as how many of their books were made into movies, how many literary awards they had received and how influential they had been with their writing.

What Is The Key To Their Fiction Writing Success?

Fiction can cover a varied set of subject matter, but it is worthy of noting that this list of the Top 10 most highly talented fiction writers have written novels that are historic, adventurous, mysterious and full of intrique.

Maybe this is the formula for their success and why they became the Top 10 Most Highly Talented Fiction Writers.

Important!

#10 Most Highly Talented Fiction Writer

Nicholas Sparks

Nicholas Sparks is an American novelist and screenwriter who has had international best sellers with the majority of his books being adapted into movies, including his last three novels which will be released as movies in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Important!

#9 Most Highly Talented Fiction Writer

Stieg Larsson

Stieg Larsson, a Swedish journalist and crime fiction writer died in 2004, but his Millennium Trilogy series of books were posthumously released to become worldwide best sellers in more than 40 countries and have all been adapted into movies.

Important!

#8 Most Highly Talented Fiction Writer

Stephenie Meyer

Stephenie Meyer, an American author who is now well recognised for her vampire romance series of books called Twilight, which have been sold worldwide with translations into 37 different languages. She is also a science fiction writer and her book The Host has become a best seller.

Important!

#7 Most Highly Talented Fiction Writer

James Herbert

James Herbert is an English author of horror fiction who has had really continuous success with his books by managing to write a new novel every year. His latest book, Ash will be released in 2011. He has received an OBE from the Queen in the 2010 Honours list.

Important!

#6 Most Highly Talented Fiction Writer

Dan Brown

Dan Brown is an American author of thriller fiction and his novel The Da Vinci Code which became a best seller in its very first week is now being credited as the most popular book of all time with 81 million copies sold worldwide.

Important!

#5 Most Highly Talented Fiction Writer

James Patterson

James Patterson, an American author of thriller novels has had 56 of his books on the New York Times #1 Best Seller list, with 19 of them being consecutive entries. This has put him in the Guinness Book of Records.

Important!

#4 Most Highly Talented Fiction Writer

J. R. R. Tolkien

J R R Tolkien, an English writer, poet and philologist is most famous for his epic fantasy fiction novels, Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings which are the legendary tales of Middle Earth. Forbes ranked him in 2009 as being the fifth highest earning dead celebrity.

Important!

#3 Most Highly Talented Fiction Writer

J K Rowling

J K Rowling is a British author of fantasy fiction and the creator of the Harry Potter character. All of her Harry Potter books have been made into blockbuster movies which have created a cult following across the world.

Important!

#2 Most Highly Talented Fiction Writer

John Grisham

John Grisham, an American author of legal thriller fiction has had nearly all of his books adapted into movies, the first being The Firm. His books have been translated into 29 languages and published worldwide, all of them becoming international best sellers.

Important!

#1 Most Highly Talented Fiction Writer

Stephen King

Stephen King, an American author is the world's greatest living horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction writer, with well over 500 million copies of his books being sold worldwide. Many of his novels have been made into movies.

Just Really Great Books

In Danger of Dying

by: James Chapman

Amazon Price: (as of 06/03/2012)

A spectacular bus crash, escaping convicts, hostage taking, armed bank siege and love are all included in this action filled suspense thriller with a twist at the end. Negotiator Scott Bradley has been assigned to secure the hostage's safe release but he has much more than just the convicts to watch out for in this pulsating crime thriller. With the scenes unfolding through his eyes you get the unique opportunity to peek inside the dark and dangerous world of hostage negotiation.

Maybe Tomorrow

by: James Chapman

Amazon Price: (as of 06/03/2012)

After tragic events cause her to lose the only love that she has known, Monica enters into a world of dark visions which threaten her survival and sanity, but she knows that she must not give up hope and perhaps eventually she will triumph. All she has to hold onto are her dreams and ambitions of how one day she will be successful and that maybe tomorrow it will happen for her. The story line is drawn from Monica's many diary entries which depict a tale of courage, determination and the winning of a fight against all the odds. Through Monica's sad eyes you will witness many events of sorrow, anger and frustration, as well as happiness and joy. And you will experience and share her raw emotions as she faces the fears that haunt her mind.

Living on the Lost Edge of Time

By James Chapman

Living on the Lost Edge of Time

by: James Chapman

Amazon Price: (as of 06/03/2012)

A dark and mysterious adventure turns the old house that is her home into a living nightmare for Jennifer as she moves through the rooms to discover what has entered her home and abruptly disturbed her deep peaceful sleep. The calm and tranquillity that she normally finds comfort in has been shattered and even her strong self confidence is being tested. Fear and uncontrollable panic consumes her every thought as the darkness slowly absorbs her. She is transported across time to the dark side of hell where she discovers a love which will change her life forever. This mystery thriller twists and turns as it takes you along with Jennifer through the dark passageways of the old house. You can feel her emotions as each step moves her closer to where only evil can exist. As much as she may hope for strength to overcome the fear that is gripping her, survival seems to be slipping away and then the unexpected happens.

Tell Me What You Think About The Top 10 Most Highly Talented Fiction Writers

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EastBayWriter May 24, 2012 @ 3:57 pm | delete

I understand how you landed on this list based on the criteria you used. Kudos for tackling a topic that is sure to invite a lot of discussion! I have enjoyed many of the books and authors on your list, but not as much as some smaller sellers whose books aren't as mainstream, or as lawrence01 said, wrote in earlier times when books couldn't sell on the scale they do today, or be turned into screenplays. Nonetheless, I enjoyed your list!

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PaulRyan Apr 24, 2012 @ 10:58 pm | delete

Clearly these are modern day authors, as there are bigger sellers (like lawrence01 mentioned). There are also some bigger sellers of romance (e.g. Danielle Steel) or Harold Robins (albeit died in the 90s). Agatha Christie obliterates all of them (books, films, TV shows, etc), if you want talented and major seller of recent times (well, 20th century). Mainly American bias with a token Swede and Brit.

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DebiJones Apr 4, 2012 @ 12:10 am | delete

Thanks for sharing this well done lens! I agree with lawrence01 in that I too, am surprised that more of the classic writers didnt make your top 10 list.

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m_massie Apr 3, 2012 @ 10:02 am | delete

I don't necessarily agree that these are the TOP best authors, but they are all certainly great authors and I would definitely read any book any of them wrote simply because it had their name on it (mark of a great author, I think). But as lawrence01 says, CS Lewis, etc, except I don't agree about Tom Clancy, that man puts way too many details that go right over my head and slow the pace of the book down in his writing. And I don't see any science fiction represented. Orson Scott Card? Cheez i think i need to make my own list...

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lawrence01 Feb 13, 2012 @ 5:12 am | delete

Excellent list. But a big surprise on who isn't there. CS Lewis, Shakespeare, Tom Clancy and Charles Dickens to name a few. Granted some of these won't have had the volume in sales of Books as they were too early, but their influence transcends the generations. Still a really good list. I've got Stephen King's book on the art of writing from the Library, bit more of an incentive to read it.

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writergrey Feb 7, 2012 @ 12:45 pm | delete

I agree with some of your picks - like Stephen King - but I'd have included Neil Gaiman and Michael Chabon, both highly original, imaginative writers. Meyer and Grisham (though I enjoy both) maybe not so much?

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Ericastanciu Dec 31, 2011 @ 11:19 pm | delete

All really great except for Grisham. Not that he isn't talented but I don't care fir his books. I would appreciate it if you or anyone else would like to take a look at my fiction lens. If not, I completely understand. Have a safe New Year.

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baby-strollers Dec 18, 2011 @ 7:28 pm | delete

King is definitely up there, no doubt about it.

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vikksimmons Nov 21, 2011 @ 2:21 am | delete

Great list. What I love about Sparks, although he's not one of my favorites, is that he got tired of not having a readership as a lit writer and decided to embrace his inner genre writer and made it the bestseller lists. Patterson was good. He's got such a factory going now it's hard to tell how much actual writing he's still doing but the concepts are no doubt all his.

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cgreen7090 Sep 21, 2011 @ 9:08 pm | delete

Love your list! Except I don't care much for J.K.

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alltoglory Sep 18, 2011 @ 5:02 pm | delete

Great list but I think Dean Koontz should have been in there somewhere.

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TruckersMarket Aug 15, 2011 @ 4:00 pm | delete

a fine list, but certainly up for debate - anyway, why debate underlying excellence - thanks!

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CDT Aug 15, 2011 @ 4:16 am | delete

You've chosen some amazing writers here - and explaining your selection criteria was a really nice touch! This lens has been blessed by this Squid Angel as part of the "Back To School Bus Trip"!

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LissaKlar Aug 14, 2011 @ 9:41 pm | delete

I like it. Great writers. For some reason, maybe because they're creepy, I could never get into Steven King. Great list.

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bames24 Aug 13, 2011 @ 11:10 pm | delete

I think Tolkien is one of the greatest fiction writers... I also love JK Rowling.... you have a great list :)
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