• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World…Word by Word

The Steve Laube Agency

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World Word by Word

  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Interview with Steve Laube
    • Statement of Faith
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
  • Guidelines
  • Authors
    • Who We Represent
    • Awards and Recognition
  • Resources
    • Recommended Reading
    • Christian Writers Market Guide Online
    • Christian Writers Institute
    • Writers Conferences
    • Freelance Editorial Services
    • Copyright Resources
    • Research Tools
    • Selling What You Write
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Twitter
  • FaceBook
  • RSS Feed
  • Get Published
  • Book Proposals
  • Book Business
  • Writing Craft
    • Conferences
    • Copyright
    • Craft
    • Creativity
    • Grammar
  • Fun Fridays
Home » Publishing History

Publishing History

Bestselling Books of 2003

By Dan Balowon July 3, 2018
Share
Tweet
12

Another in a twice-yearly offering looking back at a certain year and its bestselling books. There’s no better way to get an idea where we are now than looking back to see from whence we came. Fifteen years ago this week:

New York Times Bestseller List, July 6, 2003

Fiction

  1. THE DA VINCI CODE, by Dan Brown. (Doubleday) Mega-selling book which became a blockbuster film in 2006 starring Tom Hanks with weird hair.
  2. THE LAKE HOUSE, by James Patterson. (Little, Brown) A 2006 film starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock.
  3. WHITE DEATH, by Clive Cussler with Paul Kemprecos. (Putnam)
  4. THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, by Lauren Weisberger. (Doubleday) Film released in 2006 starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway.
  5. THE LOVELY BONES, by Alice Sebold. (Little, Brown) Film released in 2009.
  6. THE FACE, by Dean Koontz. (Bantam)
  7. DIE IN PLAIN SIGHT, by Elizabeth Lowell. (Morrow)
  8. THE GUARDIAN, by Nicholas Sparks. (Warner)
  9. THE KING OF TORTS, by John Grisham. (Doubleday)
  10. THE DOGS OF BABEL, by Carolyn Parkhurst. (Little, Brown)
  11. NAKED PREY, by John Sandford. (Putnam) Fourteenth book in the “prey” series by Sandford. In April 2018, book #28 released.
  12. ARMAGEDDON, by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. (Tyndale) The 11th volume of the “Left Behind” series.
  13. FLIRTING WITH PETE, by Barbara Delinsky. (Scribner)
  14. THE SINISTER PIG, by Tony Hillerman. (HarperCollins)
  15. DEAD RINGER, by Lisa Scottoline. (HarperCollins)

Nonfiction

  1. LIVING HISTORY, by Hillary Rodham Clinton. (Simon & Schuster)
  2. A SHORT HISTORY OF NEARLY EVERYTHING, by Bill Bryson. (Broadway)
  3. MONEYBALL, by Michael Lewis. (Norton) Classic baseball book. Film starring Brad Pitt released in 2011.
  4. BEYOND BELIEF, by Elaine Pagels. (Random House) Author of “The Gnostic Gospels.”
  5. AN UNFINISHED LIFE, by Robert Dallek. (Little, Brown) A biography of John F. Kennedy.
  6. WHO’S YOUR CADDY? by Rick Reilly. (Doubleday) A sportswriter recounts his experiences caddying for famous people.
  7. THE TEAMMATES, by David Halberstam. (Hyperion) Baseball book focused on the Boston Red Sox in the 1940’s.
  8. OPEN, by John Feinstein. (Little, Brown) Book about golf.
  9. DERELICTION OF DUTY, by Robert (Buzz) Patterson. (Regnery) A retired Air Force colonel tell-all from his time in the Clinton White House.
  10. CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR, by George Crile. (Atlantic Monthly) Political intrigue in the 80’s made into a 2007 film starring Tom Hanks with a better haircut.
  11. OFF WITH THEIR HEADS, by Dick Morris. (ReganBooks/HarperCollins) Former White House insider.
  12. LEAP OF FAITH, by Queen Noor. (Miramax) An autobiography by the widow of King Hussein of Jordan.
  13. A PATRIOT’S HANDBOOK, selected by Caroline Kennedy. (Hyperion) Essays, letters, speeches, poems and song lyrics about America.
  14. REEFER MADNESS, by Eric Schlosser. (Houghton Mifflin) A study of society’s dark side.
  15. THE CLINTON WARS, by Sidney Blumenthal. (Farrar, Straus & Giroux) Political memoir by a senior adviser to President Clinton.

Best Selling and other significant nonfiction Christian books in 2003 included:

Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller
Beauty for Ashes, Joyce Meyer
The Servant Leader, Ken Blanchard
Point Man, Steve Farrar
I Kissed Dating Goodbye, Joshua Harris
Don’t Waste Your Life, John Piper
Something Beautiful for God, Malcom Muggeridge
Max Lucado, several titles

Christian novelists doing well in 2003 included:

Lynn Austin
Terri Blackstock
Robin Jones Gunn
Liz Curtis Higgs
Jerry Jenkins & Tim LaHaye
Karen Kingsbury
Beverly Lewis
Janette Oke
Frank Peretti
Tracie Peterson
Francine Rivers
Bodie & Brock Thoene

Leave a Comment
Category: Publishing HistoryTag: bestseller list, Bestsellers, Publishing History

You Think The World is Bad Now?

By Dan Balowon January 16, 2018
Share
Tweet7
11

History has always fascinated me. Once you look deeply into it, you see the seeds of an important event being planted years, decades or even centuries before. Nothing happens out of thin air. For instance, it is widely agreed World War Two was a direct result of the way World War One ended. A hundred years ago, Adolph Hitler was a disgruntled corporal in the defeated and humiliated German army. …

Read moreYou Think The World is Bad Now?
Category: Publishing HistoryTag: Publishing History

1993: A Good Year for Books

By Dan Balowon January 9, 2018
Share
Tweet
7

Today we take a glimpse at early 1993 and the books defining culture and thought twenty-five years ago. It’s impossible to know where you are going if you don’t know from where you came…in life or publishing! The January 3, 1993 New York Times Bestseller List: Fiction DOLORES CLAIBORNE, by Stephen King. (Viking) A 1995 film starring Kathy Bates and a 2013 opera…yes, an opera. MIXED BLESSINGS, by …

Read more1993: A Good Year for Books
Category: Publishing HistoryTag: Bestsellers, Publishing History

Revolutionary Books

By Dan Balowon July 4, 2017
Share
Tweet
10

Today is Independence Day in the United States. Much of the inspiration for the American Revolution and eventual structure for the new country came from a book, Common Sense by Thomas Paine, first published January 10, 1776. It is the best selling book in the history of the United States, other than the Bible. Certainly there were rumblings of rebellion before the book was published, but as is …

Read moreRevolutionary Books
Category: Historical, Publishing HistoryTag: Publishing History, Revolutionary Books

Bestsellers in 1982

By Dan Balowon June 27, 2017
Share
Tweet
10

Continuing my twice-yearly focus on bestsellers from years gone by, today we stop the “way-back” machine thirty-five years ago. The New York Times Bestseller lists from June 27, 1982: Fiction The Parsifal Mosaic, by Robert Ludlum. (Spy novel with possible film being recently discussed, thirty-five years later!) The Man From St. Petersburg, by Ken Follett. (A pre-WWI thriller.) The Prodigal …

Read moreBestsellers in 1982
Category: Book Business, Book Review, Publishing HistoryTag: Bestsellers, Book Business, Publishing History

The Year 1908 and Being a Cubs Fan

By Steve Laubeon November 7, 2016
Share
Tweet
10

As you may know, last Wednesday saw the Chicago Cubs baseball team win the World Series, their first time since 1908. To put it in historical perspective, in 1908 Teddy Roosevelt was president of the U.S. (Taft was elected in November of that year). The Summer Olympics were moved to London because Rome was financially ruined by the eruption of Mt. Vesuius a couple years earlier. The first Model-T …

Read moreThe Year 1908 and Being a Cubs Fan
Category: Personal, Publishing HistoryTag: Cubs, Publishing History, Steve Laube

Days The Writing Stopped

By Dan Balowon April 19, 2016
Share
Tweet
14

Four hundred years ago this week, it was a sad time in the history of literature. April 22-23, 1616 the two most important writers in Spanish and English history died. First, Miguel de Cervantes, best known for Don Quixote passed away. He had a substantial and lasting imprint on the Spanish language. He wrote novels, plays and poetry, making Spanish one of the “romance” languages of the world. The …

Read moreDays The Writing Stopped
Category: Book Business, Publishing HistoryTag: Publishing History

The ISBN Turns 50!

By Steve Laubeon October 19, 2015
Share
Tweet
3

Last year I wrote about the ISBN and I heard the yawns. But this past week a milestone was reached and I can’t help myself. The Standard Book Numbering system turned 50 years old. That seemingly simple group of digits has had a lasting impact on our industry. Book nerds of the world unite. Let’s celebrate a half century of the ISBN! The International ISBN Agency sent out a press …

Read moreThe ISBN Turns 50!
Category: Book Business, Publishing History, The Publishing LifeTag: Book Business, ISBN, Publishing History, The Publishing Life

Publishing in the Rear View Mirror

By Dan Balowon July 15, 2014
Share
Tweet
13

Every author, either self or traditionally published would like to write a book that sells today, but also tomorrow, next week and next year. Book publishing in all of it’s forms is the art of trying to predict what readers will want to buy in the future. I use the term “art” to describe publishing because no one who has been involved in book publishing for more than two weeks thinks it is 100% …

Read morePublishing in the Rear View Mirror
Category: Book BusinessTag: Book Business, Publishing History, The Publishing Life

Sidebar

Get Blog Updates

Enter your email address to get new blog updates delivered via email. You can unsubscribe at any time.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Grow as a Writer


Find Out More →

Popular Posts

Top Posts on Book Proposals
  • Hints for a Great Cover Letter
  • The Keys to a Great Book Proposal
  • What Steve Laube is Looking For
  • Book Proposals I’d Love to See – Tamela Hancock Murray
  • What I’m Looking for – Bob Hostetler
  • What I’m Looking for – Dan Balow
  • What I’m Looking for – Lynette Eason
  • What’s the Best Way to Submit My Self-Published Book?
  • What Is the Agent Doing While I Wait?
  • God Gave Me This Blog Post
Top Posts on The Business Side
  • When Your Book Becomes Personal
  • The Myth of the Unearned Advance
  • How Long Does it Take to Get Published?
  • What Are Average Book Sales?
  • Can You Plagiarize Yourself?
  • Never Burn a Bridge
  • Who Decides to Publish Your Book?
  • That Conference Appointment
  • Goodbye to Traditional Publishing?
  • Who Owns Whom in Publishing?
  • Ten Commandments for Working with Your Agent
  • Writers Beware! Protect Yourself
Top Series
  • Book Proposal Basics
  • Publishing A-Z
  • A Defense of Traditional Publishing
Top Posts on Rejection
  • The Slush Pile: Enter at Your Own Risk
  • Even the Best Get Rejected
  • Five Reasons Why You May Never Get Published
  • The Unhelpful Rejection Letter
  • Writers Learn to Wait

Blog Post Archives by Month

  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Interview with Steve Laube
    • Statement of Faith
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
  • Guidelines
  • Authors
    • Who We Represent
    • Awards and Recognition
  • Resources
    • Recommended Reading
    • Christian Writers Market Guide Online
    • Christian Writers Institute
    • Writers Conferences
    • Freelance Editorial Services
    • Copyright Resources
    • Research Tools
    • Selling What You Write
  • Blog
  • Contact

Copyright © 2025 · The Steve Laube Agency · All Rights Reserved · Website by Stormhill Media