The May 2024 bestseller lists are now available, free to everyone. Points of interest in May:
- Self-published ebook bestsellers: Freida McFadden has seven titles on the list, most of them backlist titles; Lucy Score has five. Both authors partner with Sourcebooks.
- Self-published print book bestsellers: Guided journals hit the list in a big way, likely due to recommendations for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day gifts. Mom, I Want to Hear Your Story by Jeffrey Mason ranks number two; the same book for Dad ranks number three. Author Korie Herold makes the list as well for similar books.
- Hidden Gems (traditional + self-pub books, print sales only): Aside from the guided journals, this month features five deluxe editions, typically limited in supply. The number-three bestseller is the deluxe edition of Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland (Entangled), which has sprayed edges with stenciled artwork, exclusive endpapers by Juho Choi, and a luxe metallic hardcover jacket.
Jane Friedman has spent her entire career working in the publishing industry, with a focus on business reporting and author education. Established in 2015, her newsletter The Bottom Line provides nuanced market intelligence to thousands of authors and industry professionals; in 2023, she was named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World.
Jane’s expertise regularly features in major media outlets such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, NPR, The Today Show, Wired, The Guardian, Fox News, and BBC. Her book, The Business of Being a Writer, Second Edition (The University of Chicago Press), is used as a classroom text by many writing and publishing degree programs. She reaches thousands through speaking engagements and workshops at diverse venues worldwide, including NYU’s Advanced Publishing Institute, Frankfurt Book Fair, and numerous MFA programs.
