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