If you watched PBS’s recent show, The Great American Read, you’re probably aware that Diana Galbaldon came in second with her Outlander series, and To Kill a Mockingbird came in first. Other historicals that made the top ten were Pride & Prejudice, Gone with the Wind, and Jane Eyre. Is the Outlander book series truly a great American read compared to its hefty competition of literary classics? Honestly, ladies, just admit you’ve fallen in love with Jamie Fraser as portrayed in the Starz series. Being his lass is all you really want whether it’s a book or film.
Nevertheless, as I check the Amazon author rank just now, I see Diana Galbaldon is now number one in historical romance, even though she doesn’t consider her series a true historical romance. Regardless, her recent win has pushed her to the top…again.
So who else is there? Since I haven’t checked in a while, there a few regulars but also some new ones have appeared. Of course, like the shifting sands of the desert, the wind blows and changes appear to the top ten of this genre as authors spend money on advertising or have a hot new release. If you can show the $$$ in marketing, you can inch your way upward. I once ended up in the top because of a huge sale. Should have taken a screenshot of my one day of glory.
Nevertheless, drum roll, please.
- Diana Gabaldon – The Outlander Series
- Kathryn Le Veque
- Dragonblade Publishing (Elizabeth Ellen Carter, Maggie Anderson, Violetta Rand, Anna Markland)
- Mary Lancaster
- Christi Cladwell
- Fiona Valpy
- Sharon Ihle
- Patricia Bracewell
- Jane Goodger
- Carolyn Brown
Here are some of their works.
Like shifting sands on a beach, so are the top-ten historical romance authors on Amazon. Much of the move has to do with sales, of course, having pushed them upward into higher ranks.