JK ROWLING (Estimated global
sales: 400 million)
The story
of how a single mother living in Edinburgh began writing the children’s books
which would become the biggest publishing phenomenon of modern times in two
southside cafes has passed into legend. The Harry Potter series of fantasy
novels came to an end in 2007, but the books continue to sell in huge numbers
and inspire a generation of young readers. “We cannot sing the praises of
Rowling high enough,” Charlie Griffiths, director of the National Literacy
Association, told the Scotsman in 2003. “Anyone who can persuade children to
read should be treasured and what she’s given us in Harry Potter is little
short of miraculous. To see children queuing outside a store, not for concert
tickets or computer games, but for a book, is brilliant.” Rowling has since published
four novels aimed at adults, including three under the pen name Robert
Galbraith.
IAN RANKIN (30 million)
The
first Inspector Rebus novel, Knots and Crosses, was published in 1987 and the
most recent, Even Dogs in the Wild, hit the shelves last week. Rankin (55) was
raised in Cardenden, Fife, and was a postgraduate student at the University of
Edinburgh living in Marchmont when he first had the idea of writing a crime
novel based in his adopted city.
ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH (20 million)
McCall Smith is Emeritus Professor of Medical
Law at the University of Edinburgh and an authority on medical law and bioethics.
Not content with reaching the top in one profession, he has since become a
globally successful author. The first book in The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective
Agency series was published in 1999 and was soon a best seller. Set in
Gaborone, Botswana, it has been followed by 15 more books - a rate of one per
year. McCall Smith has also written a number of children’s novels, as well as
the 44 Scotland Street series, which was first published as short stories in
the Scotsman.
VAL McDERMID (10 million)
Kirkcaldy
native McDermid began her working life as a journalist and published her first
novel, Report for Murder, in 1987. She began writing fiction full-time in 1991
and is now one of the most successful crime writers of modern times. Her series
of novels featuring psychological profiler Dr Tony Hill was adapted by ITV as
the hit drama Wire in the Blood.
IRVINE WELSH (2 million)
Welsh
grew up in Muirhouse, Edinburgh, and worked in a variety of jobs before the
publication of his first novel, Trainspotting, in 1993. That title has now sold
more than one million copies in the UK alone, thanks in part to the success of
the 1996 film adaptation by Danny Boyle. Welsh’s 10th full length novel, A
Decent Ride, was published in April.
CHRISTOPHER BROOKMYRE (2
million)
Brookmyre’s
debut novel, Quite Ugly One Morning, introduced the world to investigative
journalist Jack Parlabane in 1996 and was followed by the best seller Country
of the Blind a year later. Brookmyre, who grew up in Barrhead, has since
published 18 further works of fiction. He can call upon a variety of singular
protagonists in his novels, which are known for their gripping narratives,
black humour and social comment.
TWENTY7 SIGNS
DEBUT CRIME THRILLER SERIES
BY SCREENWRITER SIMON BOOKER
Bonnier Publishing Fiction's new imprint
Twenty7 has acquired two crime novels from screenwriter Simon Booker. Booker's
TV credits include The Inspector Lynley
Mysteries and The Mrs Bradley
Mysteries for BBC1 and ITV thrillers The
Blind Date and The Stepfather.
Without Trace is the first in a series of
psychological thrillers featuring single mother Morgan Vine, an investigative
journalist who specialises in miscarriages of justice. Without Trace will be
published as an ebook in January 2016 and as a paperback in June.
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