For the longest time, there’s been a hypothesis surrounding self-published works proposing authors who self-publish aren’t as successful as those who publish traditionally. Self-publishing has only recently become a more popular option for writers. Interestingly, self-publishing has a long history and has been tapped by some of the most cherished authors.
Here are eight authors with self-publishing success stories, showcasing novels that became best-sellers and award-winning screenplays.
#1 – Fifty Shades of Grey (E.L. James)
E.L. James drew inspiration from Twilight fanfiction. The author removed Master of the Universe from her fanfiction sites owing to derogatory comments regarding the sexual temperament of the plot. She revised Master of the Universe into an extended three-part version, James altered the characters’ names to Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele from Edward and Bella, and “Fifty Shades” of Grey was born.
An Australian-based virtual self-publishing platform, “The Writers’ Coffee Shop,” released the first installment of Fifty Shades of Grey in both digital and paperback editions. The sultry manuscripts’ sales were boosted by blogs and word of mouth. The second and third parts were released in 2012 and 2013, respectively.
In 2012 whispers morphed into screams, and Fifty Shades of Grey went viral. Networks in the U.S. testified to the trilogy’s viral popularity, and due to the intensifying awareness, Vintage Books snatched the license and redistributed Fifty Shades later that year. In 2015, the first novel of the provocative trilogy was brought to life on the silver screen.
#2 – The Tale of Peter Rabbit (Beatrix Potter)
It’s hard to believe this childhood classic was on the verge of never being published. Beatrix Potter received an onslaught of criticism and rejection when she first presented the Peter Rabbit manuscript to publishers. They would request more color illustrations, demanding a longer story, while others recommended it be shortened.
Beatrix Potter opted to ignore the naysayers and self-publish the novel in 1901. The first 250 copies were distributed to her loved ones. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle even procured a copy for his children.
Frederick Warne & Co. reevaluated the novel, and Potter dropped her guard to colored illustrations. She agreed to an initial commercial publication of 5,000 copies. Pre-sale orders in 1902 had already reached 8,000 copies.
#3 – Rich Dad Poor Dad (Robert Kiyosaki)
Robert Kiyosaki failed miserably to secure a publisher, turned down by every single publishing house he contacted. Kiyosaki self-published “Rich Dad Poor Dad” in 1997. His wife, Kim, assisted in printing 1,000 copies of the manuscript.
His close friend bought 976 copies, selling them at his car wash business. Just years later, for the first time in history, Kiyosaki’s self-published book makes the New York Times Best Seller list. Warner Books seized the opportunity to publish this incredible personal finance book.
#4 – Wool (Hugh Howey)
Amazon KDP helped Hugh Howey publish this post-apocalyptic sci-fi novel in 2011. Howey was an author who enjoyed the freedom self-publishing offered. More episodes of the series were required when it became popular.
In 2012 he solicited international publishing rights, securing a print-only deal for $500,000 with Simon & Schuster. 20th Century Fox happily acquired the rights to the film. With all its success Howey preserves full distribution rights online.
The novel is based on a community living in a giant underground silo hundreds of levels deep. The regulations are in place to protect them until Sherriff Holsten asks permission to go outside, resulting in the unraveling of extraordinary occurrences.
#5 – The Joy of Cooking (Irma Rombauer)
Irma Rombauer lost her husband at age 52, destitute with a measly $6,000 to survive for the rest of her life. As a suggested coping mechanism by her children, she scripted her recipes and thoughts.
Rombauer paid the A.C. Clayton Printing Company $3,000 to produce 3,000 copies of “The Joy of Cooking: A Compilation of Reliable Recipes with a Casual Culinary Chat” in 1930. Two years later, most copies had sold, but Rombauer began considering a new publisher.
From 1936, spanning over the next few decades, The Bobbs-Merrill Company would release numerous new editions of the best seller.
#6 – Still Alice (Lisa Genova)
Lisa Genova’s self-published 2007 novel, “Still Allice,” wasn’t well received by publishing houses. The neuroscientist and writer sold copies of the manuscript from her car and threw herself into marketing the book solo. She scheduled two book events monthly, regularly renovated her website, and targeted the most popular reading websites.
Genova’s persistence paid off because the novel drew attention from the press seven months later, and she hired a publicist. Nine months after, an adoring agent auctioned the book to Simon & Schuster. “Still Alice” revolves around a woman who experiences early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, adapted in 2014 to an award-winning motion picture starring the talented Julianne Moore.
#7 – The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield)
In 1993 The Celestine Prophecy, self-published by James Redfield, was turned down by all literary agents he approached. Redfield marketed his work from the trunk of his car, successfully selling 100,000 copies, and was spotted by Warner Books, who agreed to publish it.
165 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller list, prompted a film adaptation of “The Celestine Prophecy” in 2006. The novel takes the reader on a journey with the main character to understand nine insights from an ancient Peruvian manuscript.
#8 The Martian – (Andy Weir)
As the son of an electrical engineer and particle physicist, Andy Weir has a strong understanding of computer science. Weir left no stone unturned when he began writing “The Martian” in 2009. He wanted the novel to be as tangible as possible, performing in-depth research on existing technology.
Previous books and literary pieces were previously declined by literary agents, so Weir took matters into his own hands. He elected to publish one chapter at a time for free on his website. His fans requested an Amazon Kindle version, and “The Martian” promptly rose to the top of Amazon’s bestselling sci-fi titles. It sold 35,000 copies in three months.This was enough to grab the attention of publishers, and Weir sold the rights to Crown in 2013. The novel debuted as a New York Times Best Seller and became an award-winning film starring Matt Damon.