Authors
Career leaders on NYT Hardcover Fiction, ranked by Dominance. Click a column to re-sort.
Ranked by Dominance, part of the ChartReign Power model — not a list published by anyone else. How it works →
| # | Author | Career Power | Peak Power | Peak Year | Weeks at #1 | Top-five weeks | Longevity | Dominance | Comebacks | Markets | Charting span |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | J. K. Rowling | 1,648 | 29.00% | 1,289 | 57 | 68 | 97 | 31.04% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1998 → 2013 |
| 2 | Rebecca Yarros | 1,769 | 21.82% | 868 | 56 | 93 | 133 | 30.78% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2023 → 2026 |
| 3 | Robert James Waller | 1,913 | 21.18% | 904 | 67 | 106 | 174 | 24.03% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1992 → 2002 |
| 4 | James Hilton | 1,599 | 16.49% | 545 | 27 | 113 | 155 | 22.85% | 4 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1934 → 1954 |
| 5 | Stephen King | 8,547 | 16.03% | 730 | 169 | 568 | 986 | 22.57% | 12 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1977 → 2025 |
| 6 | Callie Hart | 148 | 7.48% | 148 | 3 | 9 | 17 | 22.57% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2025 → 2026 |
| 7 | Dan Brown | 3,183 | 19.20% | 901 | 102 | 222 | 269 | 21.49% | 4 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2003 → 2026 |
| 8 | Nora Roberts | 1,708 | 6.29% | 138 | 28 | 98 | 229 | 20.56% | 1 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1996 → 2026 |
| 9 | Kristin Hannah | 1,657 | 13.65% | 659 | 20 | 102 | 214 | 19.93% | 4 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2001 → 2025 |
| 10 | Matt Dinniman | 399 | 11.59% | 373 | 6 | 21 | 49 | 19.84% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2025 → 2026 |
| 11 | James Redfield | 1,558 | 14.29% | 679 | 22 | 99 | 165 | 18.61% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1994 → 1997 |
| 12 | Nick Bantock | 352 | 8.96% | 281 | 1 | 16 | 55 | 18.01% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1992 → 1994 |
| 13 | John Grisham | 8,538 | 12.27% | 530 | 193 | 575 | 905 | 17.94% | 2 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1991 → 2026 |
| 14 | Jeneva Rose | 97 | 3.91% | 66 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 17.05% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 0 | 2023 → 2025 |
| 15 | J.R.R. Tolkien | 740 | 13.72% | 543 | 24 | 46 | 85 | 16.77% | 1 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1977 → 2018 |
| 16 | Caro Claire Burke | 293 | 12.16% | 293 | 5 | 22 | 22 | 16.60% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2026 → 2026 |
| 17 | James Patterson | 6,719 | 9.84% | 352 | 41 | 374 | 1,137 | 16.47% | 2 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1993 → 2026 |
| 18 | Abby Jimenez | 109 | 4.72% | 77 | 0 | 6 | 13 | 16.12% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 0 | 2025 → 2026 |
| 19 | Danielle Steel | 8,152 | 11.02% | 501 | 108 | 514 | 1,034 | 16.06% | 2 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1980 → 2026 |
| 20 | Sarah A. Parker | 40 | 2.54% | 28 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 16.04% | 1 | 1 · #1 in 0 | 2024 → 2026 |
| 21 | Kathryn Stockett | 1,047 | 12.41% | 547 | 10 | 78 | 126 | 15.97% | 1 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2009 → 2026 |
| 22 | Sheila Masterson | 24 | 2.23% | 24 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 15.78% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2026 → 2026 |
| 23 | H.M. Wolfe | 28 | 2.62% | 28 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 15.73% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2026 → 2026 |
| 24 | Mary Higgins Clark | 3,300 | 8.76% | 300 | 50 | 199 | 449 | 15.64% | 6 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1978 → 2023 |
| 25 | Riley Sager | 127 | 2.46% | 29 | 1 | 6 | 22 | 15.61% | 1 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2018 → 2026 |
| 26 | Janet Evanovich | 1,959 | 7.39% | 237 | 44 | 113 | 271 | 15.57% | 2 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1999 → 2025 |
| 27 | Daniel Silva | 1,105 | 4.83% | 84 | 19 | 68 | 145 | 15.45% | 2 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1997 → 2026 |
| 28 | John Sandford | 1,841 | 6.49% | 114 | 21 | 119 | 256 | 15.41% | 1 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1991 → 2026 |
| 29 | Franz Werfel | 744 | 13.04% | 477 | 15 | 56 | 64 | 15.38% | 1 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1934 → 1946 |
| 30 | Stark Young | 351 | 12.94% | 343 | 11 | 24 | 28 | 15.31% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1934 → 1935 |
| 31 | Sandra Brown | 1,269 | 5.35% | 119 | 6 | 66 | 194 | 15.30% | 1 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1991 → 2026 |
| 32 | Patricia Cornwell | 1,825 | 8.66% | 254 | 36 | 105 | 221 | 15.24% | 3 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1994 → 2025 |
| 33 | Thornton Wilder | 783 | 11.44% | 320 | 9 | 57 | 78 | 15.20% | 3 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1935 → 1974 |
| 34 | Louise Penny | 393 | 3.21% | 62 | 12 | 22 | 59 | 15.16% | 1 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2011 → 2026 |
| 35 | Emily Henry | 464 | 9.79% | 200 | 9 | 29 | 52 | 15.13% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2023 → 2025 |
| 36 | Michael Crichton | 2,075 | 10.10% | 234 | 19 | 120 | 280 | 15.12% | 12 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1969 → 2024 |
| 37 | Sarah J. Maas | 199 | 4.68% | 85 | 3 | 10 | 29 | 15.12% | 1 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2020 → 2024 |
| 38 | Thomas Harris | 397 | 8.84% | 177 | 2 | 18 | 63 | 15.04% | 4 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1975 → 2019 |
| 39 | Sidney Sheldon | 3,050 | 12.35% | 353 | 51 | 184 | 342 | 15.03% | 11 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1974 → 2000 |
| 40 | Jodi Picoult | 1,166 | 7.04% | 138 | 23 | 55 | 173 | 14.97% | 5 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2004 → 2024 |
| 41 | Terry McMillan | 674 | 9.81% | 283 | 4 | 43 | 86 | 14.97% | 3 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1992 → 2020 |
| 42 | Edna Ferber | 936 | 10.04% | 266 | 6 | 77 | 94 | 14.97% | 6 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1931 → 1958 |
| 43 | Thomas Wolfe | 499 | 9.60% | 267 | 9 | 37 | 46 | 14.97% | 1 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1935 → 1941 |
| 44 | Rachel Gillig | 74 | 3.02% | 59 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 14.96% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2025 → 2026 |
| 45 | Liane Moriarty | 460 | 5.75% | 128 | 5 | 21 | 79 | 14.94% | 5 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2013 → 2026 |
| 46 | Virginia Evans | 431 | 11.73% | 431 | 8 | 25 | 45 | 14.93% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2025 → 2026 |
| 47 | Dean Koontz | 1,682 | 7.00% | 156 | 18 | 97 | 246 | 14.93% | 5 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1993 → 2019 |
| 48 | Anne Rice | 1,661 | 8.49% | 231 | 12 | 102 | 224 | 14.91% | 7 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1985 → 2018 |
| 49 | Charles Frazier | 646 | 13.63% | 555 | 18 | 41 | 75 | 14.91% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1997 → 2018 |
| 50 | SenLinYu | 210 | 7.85% | 210 | 1 | 14 | 27 | 14.91% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2025 → 2026 |
| 51 | Lloyd C. Douglas | 2,307 | 14.35% | 695 | 52 | 173 | 233 | 14.91% | 4 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1932 → 1954 |
| 52 | Alex Aster | 94 | 3.93% | 56 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 14.90% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2025 → 2026 |
| 53 | Freida McFadden | 88 | 4.30% | 88 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 14.88% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2025 → 2026 |
| 54 | Percival Everett | 339 | 9.75% | 283 | 3 | 21 | 52 | 14.86% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2024 → 2025 |
| 55 | David Baldacci | 3,496 | 8.30% | 259 | 42 | 220 | 488 | 14.85% | 1 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1996 → 2026 |
| 56 | Brynne Weaver | 37 | 1.73% | 34 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 14.85% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2024 → 2026 |
| 57 | Ann Patchett | 699 | 8.75% | 170 | 3 | 37 | 106 | 14.83% | 5 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2007 → 2026 |
| 58 | Robert Galbraith | 320 | 8.35% | 171 | 7 | 21 | 35 | 14.83% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2013 → 2025 |
| 59 | Tom Clancy | 3,813 | 12.16% | 504 | 70 | 260 | 432 | 14.82% | 6 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1985 → 2014 |
| 60 | Michael Connelly | 1,477 | 5.89% | 138 | 13 | 79 | 222 | 14.82% | 2 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1998 → 2026 |
| 61 | Elin Hilderbrand | 936 | 7.44% | 148 | 13 | 60 | 131 | 14.82% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2009 → 2025 |
| 62 | Nicholas Sparks | 3,405 | 9.58% | 351 | 34 | 219 | 462 | 14.78% | 6 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1996 → 2026 |
| 63 | J. D. Robb | 1,164 | 3.97% | 83 | 15 | 74 | 158 | 14.78% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2003 → 2026 |
| 64 | Jacquelyn Mitchard | 241 | 9.31% | 237 | 6 | 13 | 31 | 14.78% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1996 → 2003 |
| 65 | Sue Grafton | 1,210 | 6.43% | 112 | 15 | 76 | 155 | 14.77% | 13 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1990 → 2017 |
| 66 | Alaina Urquhart | 56 | 2.27% | 26 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 14.76% | 2 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2022 → 2026 |
| 67 | Carley Fortune | 68 | 4.46% | 68 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 14.75% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2026 → 2026 |
| 68 | Jean M. Auel | 1,318 | 11.67% | 392 | 25 | 87 | 164 | 14.74% | 5 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1980 → 2011 |
| 69 | James Finn Garner | 678 | 12.16% | 546 | 6 | 48 | 78 | 14.74% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1994 → 1996 |
| 70 | C. J. Box | 495 | 3.57% | 75 | 5 | 27 | 73 | 14.74% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2011 → 2026 |
| 71 | James A. Michener | 4,537 | 14.45% | 731 | 132 | 299 | 478 | 14.72% | 10 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1949 → 1993 |
| 72 | John le Carré | 3,345 | 14.27% | 647 | 78 | 225 | 370 | 14.72% | 10 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1964 → 2021 |
| 73 | Jack Carr | 87 | 2.04% | 20 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 14.72% | 1 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2020 → 2026 |
| 74 | TJ Klune | 57 | 2.70% | 36 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 14.72% | 1 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2021 → 2026 |
| 75 | Abigail Owen | 52 | 2.98% | 37 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 14.72% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2024 → 2025 |
| 76 | Robert Jordan | 572 | 6.04% | 100 | 6 | 28 | 97 | 14.69% | 6 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1991 → 2013 |
| 77 | Pat Conroy | 523 | 8.63% | 240 | 6 | 25 | 81 | 14.69% | 2 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1986 → 2009 |
| 78 | Devney Perry | 70 | 3.38% | 70 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 14.69% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2025 → 2026 |
| 79 | Paula Hawkins | 982 | 13.15% | 568 | 25 | 69 | 102 | 14.69% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2015 → 2024 |
| 80 | V. E. Schwab | 298 | 5.96% | 223 | 1 | 12 | 53 | 14.65% | 1 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2017 → 2025 |
| 81 | J. R. Ward | 247 | 2.36% | 51 | 5 | 13 | 36 | 14.65% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2009 → 2026 |
| 82 | Delia Owens | 1,391 | 13.99% | 704 | 57 | 94 | 132 | 14.63% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2018 → 2022 |
| 83 | Elizabeth George | 371 | 3.92% | 53 | 1 | 17 | 66 | 14.63% | 11 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1994 → 2022 |
| 84 | Henry Morton Robinson | 747 | 13.83% | 621 | 24 | 49 | 75 | 14.63% | 1 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1950 → 1960 |
| 85 | Donna Tartt | 589 | 10.89% | 483 | 5 | 43 | 74 | 14.63% | 1 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1992 → 2015 |
| 86 | Dean R. Koontz | 581 | 8.01% | 151 | 12 | 33 | 74 | 14.63% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1986 → 2008 |
| 87 | Haruki Murakami | 141 | 4.42% | 63 | 2 | 7 | 24 | 14.63% | 1 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2005 → 2024 |
| 88 | George Saunders | 173 | 5.29% | 76 | 3 | 11 | 23 | 14.62% | 2 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2013 → 2026 |
| 89 | Scott Turow | 1,249 | 12.03% | 462 | 19 | 75 | 163 | 14.62% | 3 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1987 → 2025 |
| 90 | Sue Monk Kidd | 415 | 7.89% | 194 | 4 | 29 | 57 | 14.62% | 1 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2005 → 2020 |
| 91 | Lev Grossman | 31 | 1.88% | 19 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 14.62% | 0 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2009 → 2014 |
| 92 | Mitch Albom | 1,872 | 11.45% | 588 | 21 | 125 | 230 | 14.60% | 5 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2003 → 2026 |
| 93 | Khaled Hosseini | 698 | 12.12% | 496 | 18 | 51 | 74 | 14.60% | 1 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2007 → 2018 |
| 94 | Neil Gaiman | 266 | 7.13% | 127 | 4 | 15 | 35 | 14.59% | 3 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2001 → 2017 |
| 95 | Hank Green | 38 | 2.62% | 28 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 14.59% | 1 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 2018 → 2020 |
| 96 | Taylor Caldwell | 3,842 | 12.20% | 460 | 9 | 240 | 524 | 14.53% | 10 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1938 → 1981 |
| 97 | Leon Uris | 3,838 | 14.30% | 725 | 66 | 260 | 405 | 14.53% | 7 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1953 → 1999 |
| 98 | Herman Wouk | 3,623 | 14.43% | 740 | 91 | 248 | 375 | 14.53% | 7 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1947 → 1994 |
| 99 | Robert Ludlum | 3,445 | 12.85% | 446 | 81 | 208 | 406 | 14.53% | 9 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1973 → 2006 |
| 100 | Daphne Du Maurier | 3,059 | 12.38% | 381 | 60 | 210 | 319 | 14.53% | 9 | 1 · #1 in 1 | 1936 → 1973 |