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Sunday, January 24, 2010

What Makes a Book a Bestseller?


“I've been bragging for over 25 years that my first New York Times bestseller was a book I copied from the U.S. Government Printing Office!”—Matthew Lesko

Authors dream about writing a bestseller. Major publishers rejected The Shack who told the author, William P. Young, his book was

  • “too edgy” (religious publishers)
  • "too secular" (religious publishers)
  • "it has too much Jesus in it" (secular publishers)
  • "too religious" (secular publishers)

And there lies the rub for many Christian authors unfettered by theological or religious stereotypes or telling a story from an original perspective.

After rejection by 26 publishers, Young and some friends self-published The Shack in 2007. Eleven thousand copies sold out in four months, fuelled entirely by word-of-mouth. The Shack became number one on the June 2008 New York Times trade paperback fiction best-seller list. And today after 7 million copies sold, The Shack remains on The New York Times paperback fiction bestseller list.

The Shack’s bestseller status surprised Christian publishers and even The New York Times. And everyone has an opinion—pro or con—about this book, including Mark Driscoll, (known as the cussing pastor), Pat Robertson (known for his argumentative opinions) and even Jay Leno (NBC removed Jay’s comments from Utube).

What Makes a Book’s Sales Snowball?

Platform? Clever marketing? Favorable Press? Timing? Story? Word of mouth?

No one really knows. If writers owned the “bestseller key,” they’d open the door to fame and wealth. Just as William P. Young was an accidental author, writing for publication is an accidental profession. Or is it?

I believe it’s the convergence of a writer’s passion, faithfulness and God’s timing.

Christianity Today's Book Awards

For two decades, the annual Christianity Today Book Awards have recognized outstanding volumes that shed light on people, events, and ideas that shape evangelical life, thought, and mission. This year, the judging process began with 472 titles submitted by 72 publishers. CT editors selected finalists in twelve categories. Click here to view the 12 winners (including two ties) and 11 notables.

The Christian Bestseller List

If you want to stay abreast each month of which Christian books rank as best sellers, click on this link. Based upon actual sales in Christian retail stores in the United States, these lists published by CBA uses CROSS:SCAN as the source for the data collection.

Coding:

  • p. designates paper binding;
  • c, cloth
  • l, leather
  • b, board
  • +, tie

FEBRUARY 2010 CBA Top 50 BEST SELLERS

Crazy Love, Francis Chan & Danae Yankoski, David C. Cook, p, 9781434768513; Oasis, CD, 9781598593969

Fearless, Max Lucado, Thomas Nelson, c, 9780849921391; Nelson, CD, 9780849963971

Jesus Calling, Sarah Young, Thomas Nelson, c, 9781591451884; ChristianAudio, CD, 9781596447370

Going Rogue, Sarah Palin, Zondervan, c, 9780061939891; HarperAudio, CD, 9780061990731

The Love Dare, Stephen Kendrick & Alex Kendrick, B&H Publishing Group, p, 9780805448856; Brilliance, CD, 9781441807410

The Love Dare Day by Day, Stephen Kendrick & Alex Kendrick, B&H Publishing Group, c, 9781433668234

The Shack, William P. Young, Windblown Media, p, 9780964729230; Oasis, CD, 9781598594195

Jesus, Light of the World, Thomas Nelson, p, 9781404187627

Shades of Blue, Karen Kingsbury, Zondervan, p, 9780310266228; Zondervan, CD, 9780310324195

Forgotten God Francis Chan, David C. Cook, p, 9781434767950; Oasis, CD, 9781598595765

Imagine Your Life Without Fear, Max Lucado, Thomas Nelson, p, 9780849920202

The Purpose of Christmas, Rick Warren, Howard (Simon & Schuster), c, 9781416559009; Simon & Schuster Audio, CD, 9780743581783

The Love Dare, Stephen Kendrick & Alex Kendrick, B&H Publishing Group, l, 9780805448658; Brilliance, CD, 9781441807410

Love and Respect, Emerson Eggerichs, Thomas Nelson, c, 9781591451877; Oasis, CD, 9781589267107

Praying God’s Word Day by Day, Beth Moore, B&H Publishing Group, c, 9780805444209

Daily Guideposts 2010, Andrew Attaway, Ideals, c, 9780824947835

Green, Ted Dekker, Thomas Nelson, c, 9781595542885; Oasis, CD, 9781598595796

Uncommon, Tony Dungy & Nathan Whitaker, Tyndale, c, 9781414326818; Tyndale, CD, 9781414326832

The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren, Zondervan, p, 9780310276999; Zondervan, CD, 9780310247883

What in the World Is Going On?, David Jeremiah, Thomas Nelson, c, 9780785228875; Oasis, CD, 9781598595666

It’s Your Time, Joel Osteen, Simon & Schuster, c, 9781439100110; Simon & Schuster Audio, CD, 9780743596855

Give this Christmas Away, Matthew West, Tyndale, c, 9781414336442

Miracles, Karen Kingsbury, FaithWords (Hachette), c, 9780446557955

The Five Love Languages, Gary Chapman, Moody, p, 9781881273158; Oasis, CD, 9781589269064

Same Kind of Different as Me, Ron Hall & Denver Moore, Thomas Nelson, p, 9780849919107; Nelson, CD, 9780849963957

Game Plan for Life, Joe Gibbs, Tyndale, c, 9781414329796; Tyndale, CD, 9781414329819

2012, the Bible, and the End of the World, Mark Hitchcock, Harvest House, p, 9780736926515; Oasis, CD, 9781598597141

Jesus Lives, Sarah Young, Thomas Nelson, c, 9781404186958

Streams in the Desert, L.B. Cowman & Jim Reimann, Zondervan, l, 9780310285892

The Power of Praying for Your Adult Children, Stormie Omartian, Harvest House, p, 9780736920865

A Lineage of Grace, Francine Rivers, Tyndale, p, 9780842356329; Oasis, CD, 9781589266452

Voices of the Faithful 2, Beth Moore & Kim Davis, Thomas Nelson, c, 9780849920714; Oasis, Mp3, 9781598596441

90 Minutes in Heaven, Don Piper & Cecil Murphey, Revell (Baker), p, 9780800759490; Baker, CD, 9780800744366

Wild at Heart, John Eldredge, Thomas Nelson, p, 9780785287964; Oasis, CD, 9781589263703

Living With Confidence in a Chaotic World David Jeremiah, Thomas Nelson, c, 9780849919626; Oasis, CD, 9781598596472

The Jesus You Can’t Ignore John MacArthur, Thomas Nelson, c, 9781400202065; Nelson, CD, 9781400202287

The Magnificent Obsession, Anne Graham Lotz, Zondervan, c, 9780310262886; Zondervan, CD, 9780310289036

Captivating, John & Stasi Eldredge, Thomas Nelson, p, 9780785289098; Oasis, CD, 9781589268555

The Noticer, Andy Andrews, Thomas Nelson, c, 9780785229216; Nelson, CD, 9780785229230

Redeeming Love, Francine Rivers, Multnomah (WaterBrook), p, 9781590525135

What God Wants for Christmas Family Life, FamilyLife Publishing, bx, 9781572299313

What Difference Do It Make? Ron Hall & Denver Moore, Thomas Nelson, c, 9780849920196

The Glory of Christmas, Max Lucado & Charles Swindoll, Thomas Nelson, c, 9781404187597

The Power of a Praying Wife, Stormie Omartian, Harvest House, p, 9780736919241; Harvest House, CD, 9780736919869

The Beginner’s Bible, Zondervan, c, 9780310709626

The Hole in Our Gospel Richard Stearns, Thomas Nelson, c, 9780785229186; ChristianAudio, CD, 9781596440272

The Beginner’s Bible With Bible, Zondervan, *, 9780310718574 Cover Pack Ltd. Edition

The Missing, Beverly Lewis, Bethany House (Baker), p, 9780764205729; Oasis, CD, 9781598596243

Fathered by God, John Eldredge, Thomas Nelson, p, 9781400280278; Oasis, CD, 9781598596854 The Bible Promise Book KJV Barbour, l, 9780916441432

FEBRUARY 2010 CBA Christian Living BEST SELLERS

Crazy Love, Francis Chan & Danae Yankoski, David C. Cook, p, 9781434768513

Fearless, Max Lucado, Thomas Nelson, c, 9780849921391

The Love Dare Day by Day, Stephen Kendrick & Alex Kendrick, B&H Publishing Group, c, 9781433668234

Forgotten God, Francis Chan, David C. Cook, p, 9781434767950

Imagine Your Life Without Fear, Max Lucado, Thomas Nelson, p, 9780849920202

Love and Respect, Emerson Eggerichs, Thomas Nelson, c, 9781591451877

The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren, Zondervan, p, 9780310276999

The Five Love Languages, Gary Chapman, Moody, p, 9781881273158

The Power of Praying for Your Adult Children, Stormie Omartian, Harvest House, p, 9780736920865

Wild at Heart, John Eldredge, Thomas Nelson, p, 9780785287964

Living With Confidence in a Chaotic World, David Jeremiah, Thomas Nelson, c, 9780849919626

The Jesus You Can’t Ignore, John MacArthur, Thomas Nelson, c, 9781400202065

The Magnificent Obsession, Anne Graham Lotz, Zondervan, c, 9780310262886

Captivating, John & Stasi Eldredge, Thomas Nelson, p, 9780785289098

The Power of a Praying Wife, Stormie Omartian, Harvest House, p, 9780736919241

The Hole in Our Gospel, Richard Stearns, Thomas Nelson, c, 9780785229186

Fathered by God, John Eldredge, Thomas Nelson, p, 9781400280278

Prayers That Rout Demons, John Eckhardt, Charisma (Strang), p, 9781599792460

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, Donald Miller, Thomas Nelson, c, 9780785213062

Praying God’s Word, Beth Moore, B&H Publishing Group, p, 9780805464337

Heaven, Randy Alcorn, Tyndale, c, 9780842379427

Fasting, Jentezen Franklin, Charisma (Strang), c, 9781599792583

Fear Not Promise Book, Max Lucado, Thomas Nelson, c, 9781404187757

You Were Born for This Bruce Wilkinson, WaterBrook, c, 9781601421821

Believing God Day By Day, Beth Moore, B&H Publishing Group, c, 9780805447989

3:16 Max Lucado, Thomas Nelson, c, 9780849901935

How to Reach Your Full Potential for God, Charles Stanley, Thomas Nelson, c, 9781400200924

Have a New Husband by Friday, Kevin Leman, Revell (Baker), c, 9780800719128

Have a New Kid by Friday, Kevin Leman, Revell (Baker), c, 9780800719029

Love and War, John Eldredge & Stasi Eldredge, Random House, c, 9780385529808 CHRISTIAN LIVING

FEBRUARY 2010 CBA Fiction BEST SELLERS

The Shackm William P. Young, Windblown Media, p, 9780964729230

Shades of Blue, Karen Kingsbury, Zondervan, p, 9780310266228

Green, Ted Dekker, Thomas Nelson, c, 9781595542885

A Lineage of Grace, Francine Rivers, Tyndale, p, 9780842356329

Redeeming Love, Francine Rivers, Multnomah (WaterBrook), p, 9781590525135

The Missing, Beverly Lewis, Bethany House (Baker), p, 9780764205729

An Amish Christmas, Beth Wiseman & Kathleen Fuller, Thomas Nelson, c, 9781595548214

Intervention, Terri Blackstock, Zondervan, p, 9780310250654

Take Two, Karen Kingsbury, Zondervan, p, 9780310266174

The Secret, Beverly Lewis, Bethany House (Baker), p, 9780764205712

The Sound of Sleigh Bells, Cindy Woodsmall, WaterBrook, c, 9780307446534

Burn, Ted Dekker & Erin Healy, Thomas Nelson, c, 9781595544711

White Christmas Pie, Wanda Brunstetter, Barbour, p, 9781597899376

Kelly’s Chance, Wanda Brunstetter, Barbour, p, 9781602608900

Take One, Karen Kingsbury, Zondervan, p, 9780310266167

Kiss, Ted Dekker & Erin Healy, Thomas Nelson, p, 9781595548191

The Silent Gift, Michael Landon & Cindy Kelley, Bethany House (Baker), p, 9780764203633

The Screwtape Letters, C. S. Lewis, Zondervan, p, 9780060652937

Plain, Pursuit Beth Wiseman, Thomas Nelson, p, 9781595547194

The Inheritance, Tamera Alexander, Thomas Nelson, p, 9781595546326

FEBRUARY 2010 CBA Inspirational/General Interest BEST SELLERS

Jesus Calling, Sarah Young, Thomas Nelson, c, 9781591451884

Going Rogue, Sarah Palin, Zondervan, c, 9780061939891

The Love Dare, Stephen Kendrick & Alex Kendrick, B&H Publishing Group, p, 9780805448856

Jesus, Light of the World, Thomas Nelson, p, 9781404187627

The Purpose of Christmas, Rick Warren, Howard (Simon & Schuster), c, 9781416559009

The Love Dare, Stephen Kendrick & Alex Kendrick, B&H Publishing Group, l, 9780805448658

Praying God’s Word Day by Day, Beth Moore, B&H Publishing Group, c, 9780805444209

Daily Guideposts 2010, Andrew Attaway, Ideals, c, 9780824947835

Uncommon, Tony Dungy & Nathan Whitaker, Tyndale, c, 9781414326818

It’s Your Time, Joel Osteen, Simon & Schuster, c, 9781439100110

Give this Christmas Away, Matthew West, Tyndale, c, 9781414336442

Miracles, Karen Kingsbury, FaithWords (Hachette), c, 9780446557955

Same Kind of Different as Me, Ron Hall & Denver Moore, Thomas Nelson, p, 9780849919107

Game Plan for Life, Joe Gibbs, Tyndale, c, 9781414329796

Jesus Lives, Sarah Young, Thomas Nelson, c, 9781404186958

Streams in the Desert, L.B. Cowman & Jim Reimann, Zondervan, l, 9780310285892

Voices of the Faithful 2, Beth Moore & Kim Davis, Thomas Nelson, c, 9780849920714

90 Minutes in Heaven, Don Piper & Cecil Murphey, Revell (Baker), p, 9780800759490

The Noticer, Andy Andrews, Thomas Nelson, c, 9780785229216

What Difference Do It Make? Ron Hall & Denver Moore, Thomas Nelson, c, 9780849920196

FEBRUARY 2010 CBA Children’s BEST SELLERS

The Beginner’s Bible, Zondervan, c, 9780310709626

The Beginner’s Bible With Bible, Zondervan, *, 9780310718574 Cover Pack Ltd. Edition

Read and Share Toddler Bible, Gwen Ellis, Thomas Nelson, c, 9781400314645

O Little Town of Bethlehem Ron, Berry, Ideals, b, 9780824965662

The Jesus Storybook Bible, Sally Lloyd-Jones, Zonderkidz, c, 9780310708254

Read With Me Bible, Zonderkidz, c, 9780310920083

The Berenstain Bears’ Christmas Tree, Stan Berenstain & Jan Berenstain, Zondervan, c, 9780310719403

The Legend of the Candy Cane, Lori Walburg, Zondervan, c, 9780310212478

Read and Share the Story of Christmas, Gwen Ellis, Thomas Nelson, c, 9781400314683

I Am Not Afraid, VeggieTales & Big Idea, Thomas Nelson, b, 9781400311583

FEBRUARY 2010 CBA Young Adult BEST SELLERS

God Girl, Hayley DiMarco, Revell (Baker), c, 9780800719401

Do Hard Things, Alex & Brett Harris, Multnomah (WaterBrook), c, 9781601421128

God Guy Michael DiMarco, Revell (Baker), c, 9780800719418

Lies Young Women Believe, Nancy DeMoss & Dannah Gresh, Moody, p, 9780802472946

Redefining Beautiful, Jenna Lucado & Max Lucado, Thomas Nelson, p, 9781400314287

The One Year Book of Josh McDowell’s, Josh McDowell & Bob Hostetler, Tyndale, p, 9780842343015 Youth Devotions

Chaos, Ted Dekker, Thomas Nelson, c, 9781595543721

The One Year Book of Devotions for Teens, Susie Shellenberger, Tyndale, p, 9780842362023

Guys Are Waffles Girls Are Spaghetti, Chad Eastham & Bill Farrel, Thomas Nelson, p, 9781400315161

Chosen, Ted Dekker, Thomas Nelson, c, 9781595543592

FEBRUARY 2010 CBA Biblical Studies/Theology/Ministry BEST SELLERS

What in the World Is Going On? David Jeremiah, Thomas Nelson, c, 9780785228875

2012, the Bible, and the End of the World, Mark Hitchcock, Harvest House, p, 9780736926515

What God Wants for Christmas Family Life, FamilyLife Publishing, bx, 9781572299313

Macarthur Bible Commentary, John MacArthur, Thomas Nelson, c, 9780785250661

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, B&H Publishing Group, c, 9780805428360

The Bare Bones Bible Handbook, Jim George, Harvest House, p, 9780736916547

Sparkling Gems From the Greek, Rick Renner, Teach All Nations, c, 9780972545426 New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance James Strong, Thomas Nelson, c, 9780785260967 of the Bible Super Saver

God Sightings: Learning to Experience God Every Day, Group Publishing, p, 9780764439254

More Than a Carpenter, Josh McDowell & Sean McDowell, Tyndale, p, 9781414326276

FEBRUARY 2010 CBA Children’s Bibles BEST SELLERS

Adventure Bible Revised (NIV) Zondervan

Adventure Bible for Early Readers (NRV) Zondervan

Teen Study Bible Revised Edition (NIV) Zondervan

Revolution the Bible for Teen Guys (NIV) Zondervan

True Images the Bible for Teen Girls Updated Edition (NIV) Zondervan

FEBRUARY 2010 CBA Study Bibles/Speciality Bibles BEST SELLERS

Every Day With Jesus Bible (CSB) B&H Publishing Group

Chronological Study Bible (NKJ) Thomas Nelson

Study Bible (ESV) Crossway

Life Application Study Bible Revised (NIV) Zondervan

God Sightings the One Year Bible (NLT) Tyndale

Daily Bible in Chronological Order 365 Daily Readings (NIV) Harvest House

God Sightings the One Year Bible (NIV) Tyndale

Study Bible (KJV) Thomas Nelson

Life Application Study Bible (NLT) Tyndale

Personal Size Giant Print Reference Bible (KJV) Thomas Nelson

2 comments:

Marylee said...

Who knows, maybe John (Reformedispy) MacArthur is right and the greatest Greek scholars (Google "Famous Rapture Watchers"), who uniformly said that Rev. 3:10 means PRESERVATION THROUGH, were wrong. But John has a conflict. On the one hand, since he knows that all Christian theology and organized churches before 1830 believed the church would be on earth during the tribulation, he would like to be seen as one who stands with the great Reformers. On the other hand, if you have a warehouse of unsold pretrib rapture material, and if you want to have "security" for your retirement years and hope that the big California quake won't louse up your plans, you have a decided conflict of interest - right, John? Maybe the Lord will have to help strip off the layers of his seared conscience which have grown for years in order to please his parents and his supporters - who knows? One thing is for sure: pretrib is truly a house of cards and is so fragile that if a person removes just one card from the TOP of the pile, the whole thing can collapse. Which is why pretrib teachers don't dare to even suggest they could be wrong on even one little subpoint! Don't you feel sorry for the straitjacket they are in? While you're mulling all this over, Google "Pretrib Rapture Dishonesty" for a rare behind-the-scenes look at the same 179-year-old fantasy.

Scoti Springfield Domeij said...

Ahhh, the great tribulation. It does spark debate. Personally, I'm a pantribulationist. Everything will pan out in the end.