James Patterson is the UK's Favorite Author

America's #1 storyteller, James Patterson, whose books sold 19 million copies in the United States last year alone and whose worldwide sales are more than 150 million, has become the UK's most popular author. The Daily Telegraph reports, "Judging by last year's public library loans ... the writer that British readers are most desperate to get their hands on is one James Patterson."

According to the Telegraph, "His 1.5 million library loans here last year, which beat old favorites like Catherine Cookson, Patricia Cornwell, and Danielle Steel to the top spot, testify that his appeal lies way beyond US airports." The remarkable figure is in contrast with the overall decline in the number of books borrowed in the UK in 2007.

In keeping with Patterson's US advertising and marketing strategies, his new UK Publisher, Random House, launched an ambitious wide-reaching campaign to reintroduce the Patterson brand to UK readers. The plan, which began with Patterson's 7th Heaven, the seventh installation of his Women's Murder Club series, included a week of TV advertising, a hefty London underground billboard campaign, and the launching of a Women's Murder Club fan Web site (http://www.womensmurderclub.co.uk/), which offers book previews, exclusive interviews with Patterson, character profiles, and more. The campaign also included significant retail and publicity components. For Patterson, his books' successes come down to their emotionality. "The thing about my books," he says, "is that they're a roller-coaster ride, but at the end you get relief. It all gets sorted out."

Patterson's sales and popularity continue to grow despite an overall downward trend in the book marketplace. In the United States, one in every fifteen hardcover original fiction novels sold in 2007 was a Patterson title. In 2008, Patterson will release seven new hardcover original titles. They are: 7th Heaven, the next in the Women's Murder Club series; The Final Warning and The Dangerous Days of Daniel X, both James Patterson PageTurners for readers of all ages; Sundays at Tiffany's, a love story; Sail, a summer thriller; Against Medical Advice, a harrowing true story; and Cross Country, the next in his beloved Alex Cross series.

James Patterson published his first thriller in 1976. He has won an Edgar Award - the mystery world's highest honor - and his novels Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider were made into feature films starring Morgan Freeman. He has seen more books onto the New York Times bestseller list than any other author, and his charity, the James Patterson PageTurner Awards, has given hundreds of thousands of dollars to individuals and groups that promote the excitement of books and reading. He lives in Florida with his wife and son.

Author's website: http://www.jamespatterson.com/