How author Ken Follett sold nearly 200 million books | BBC News 

This is how I’ve spent my life. I love this. A physical representation of his entire career. I love his fall of giants series. A huge shout out to his narrator, John Lee, who is so brilliant as well.

What an incredible interview, an absolute masterclass for budding authors. Ken Follett is such an intelligent and articulate guy.

A remarkable man who has brought so much joy to so many. I knew Ken and his wife Barbara, and they were always kind to me.

His voice is so magnetic. I could listen to this man for hours. He's a role model for the industry.

I read many books by Ken Follett and love all of them. I am in the process of reading all of his books. Ken Follett is my all time favorite author. I am so glad to have discovered him. So many hours of pleasure and learning about the past.

So wonderful to hear and see him. I read one of his espionage book many years ago. I picked it up in a used book paperback on the cheap. It was so good, I will never forget it. I've picked up a few more since. I had no idea I've been reading such a best selling authors.

I have read everything he's ever written. He's my favourite author by a million miles! I have every single one of his books on my bookshelf and I'm halfway through his latest, 'The Armour of Light.' The reason he's sold so many books is because he is so talented and tells wonderful stories. By the way - he spells properly in BRITISH ENGLISH! Well done, Ken.

Follett I love. Enjoyed every one of his books! Just finished reading Never after a long break from Follett. Absolutely brilliant as usual.

*MY FIRST BOOK* took me 5 hours a day, 6 days a week for 18 months - and then the editor threw 65% of it in the bin and reduced it from 300,000 words to 100k and make it WAY better. When I got my first Amazon review and it was 5* and glowing I cried my eyes out and it took me a year to stop crying at the reviews - me, the dyslexic kid who could not read or write at 13, the kid who took 5 attempts to pass his English "O" Level had written a book and people LIKED IT. The key is dedication and consistency - write 1000 words a day no excuses was my mantra.

I've been a fan of Follett since reading Eye of the Needle in the early 80s. Outstanding writer.

Thanks a lot for this interview. In my younger years I read a lot of books and no other author spoke to me more than Ken Follett when it got to well written suspenseful thrillers. He was and probably still is my most read single author. The man from St Petersburg is the one I remember liking the most. Can still replay several passages in my mind despite it being 40+ years, since I first read it. Very nicely designed cover by Adrian Purkis on the first Swedish edition from 1982 which I still cherish. Great translation even if I soon after that began getting the English editions instead. What an initial run it was with Eye of the needle, Triple, The key to Rebecca and then The man from St Petersburg. No wonder I got hooked as a teenager.

I’ve got my first Ken Follett book out from the library at the moment (The Pillars of the Earth) and I’m super looking forward to reading it. This interview has made me even more excited.

I love his work and the fact that he shows no arrogance. He is one of my favorite writers and I enjoyed all of his books so far.

T Ken Follett book was eye of the needle. It was so amazing I was hooked on his books from then on.

Great interview! I really enjoyed that.

I read his thrillers when I was in middle school and high school. I'm currently working my way through his Kingsbridge series by reading "The Evening and the Morning," then rereading "The Pillars of the Earth," then on to the other three.

I was recently lent a copy of 'The armour of light' and I was immediately hooked. I loved the book and I am now close to finishing 'The pillars of the earth'. I absolutely love it. I will certainly read more of Ken's brilliant work.

Oh the Readers Digest book of short stories. We had them too. Love the behind the scene conversation on how he writes, the process and three monitors. That is a hell of alot of work dedication for a long period of time. I must be his age and I can no longer keep my train of thought for very long. I would love a readers digest book of his with four short stories.

Wonderful interview ❤

I love his books, The Century Trilogy novels are some of my favorites. The world building, different perspectives so well told...too much I could say, but brilliant works!

Excellent interview. Really loved this discussion. I've just started reading his books! 🙂

Remarkably good interview. Thank you!

Wonderful interview with Mr. Follet, it makes me feel very badly for not having read more of his work. I do have the medieval novels on my tbr list though, so there's hope for me.

all three popular writers Ken Follett, Jeffrey Archer and Forsyth sold millions in India in the 80s. They are still hugely popular. eye of the needle was a great adaption on screen and pillars of the earth had a great Ian McShane performance

Wonderful interview

Thanks for sharing this video. Ken Follet is one from my favorite writer even though I didn’t read all his books. The dangerous Fortune was a great story, (repeatedly read 3x in every silent time), the Third twin was also good. Peace on Earth. Happy Christmas.

0:23: 📚 An author discusses her journey from writing novels in her spare time to becoming a bestseller. 3:31: 📚 Paul McCartney discusses his reaction to his old music and Ken Follett talks about the success of his historical novel. 6:57: 📚 The author discusses the magic of literature, the importance of plot in popular fiction, and the development of characters in novels. 10:28: 📚 The video discusses the themes of labor rights and oppression in society, as well as the portrayal of strong women in historical fiction. 14:48: 📚 Ken Follett discusses his childhood, upbringing, and the influence of his religious parents on his writing career. 17:40: 📚 Ken Follett discusses his methodical approach to writing and the process of creating his books. 20:27: 📝 The author discusses the process of writing, including doubts and the love for the work. Recap by Tammy AI

This is incredible! Ive always wanted to be a writer ❤

You the grace, you have the right attitude. You are inspiring mate, simply inspiring.

What a great guy and what an informative interview. Thanks for posting. I was mad for gothic cathedrals in the 70s and 80s, so crazy that I moved to France so I could see them and sketch them and crawl all over them. And then this guy from Britain writes a novel about the buildings I loved! I couldn't believe it. It was so cool to see in a novel the details of medieval construction that I'd learned in John Fitchen's book. And to read a great story. Long may Follett flourish.

Some of my favourite books,

Wow thank you so much 💗 your speaking 🔊 or history❤❤ sir

What an inspiring interview! When they talk about him writing at night, after work… that’s exactly what I’ve been doing. I hope I manage to write a book 10% as good as Pillars of the Earth 😂. What an amazing book.

What a blessed man ❤

I've read lots of novels by Ken Follet and I was never disappointed. He is a real best seller writer, whatever he wrote - it was successful.😊 God bless You, Ken! Greetings from Hungary.❤😊

Great to see he is still alive. My Mom used to read me his books when I was younger, my favorites were the one with boy who lives inside inside a giant plum and also the one with the giant in it.

Mr Follett, I love your style of writing but I love even more your last words in this interview 🙌🏻

What a wonderful visit of a novelist

Eye of the Needle. The book that was wow! Turned me into a reader. It's the book that started my reading journey. I think I was 17 or 18 years old.

What a delightful human being.

Best Interview

Thank you all for this!

After talking about pillars of the Earth, why didn't she mentioned his follow-up book world-without-end?

I know someone who died suddenly, was holding pillars of the earth at funeral home viewing and was buried with the book. Ultimate compliment. I agree it is great book, brings medieval history alive. Great interview KK!

200 million copies sold, including 29 million copies of The Pillars of the Earth alone; what a deserved success 👏🏿✍🏿📚👏🏿

I'm writing a historical romantasy novel right now, modeling my style after a mixture of his, GRRM's, RA Salvatore's, and Stephen King's

His plots were great and his characters were okay. Feel like he's one of the best at thriller style novels set in a mostly historically accurate setting. He definitely chose plot convenience over historical accuracy when the two clashed though which presumably helped sell copies whilst annoying historical pedants! Still, an easy read while learning about medieval churches was neat and definitely unique. Thanks Follet!

I love his books, but Pillars of the Earth is the best book for me. Thank you for continuing to write Mr. Follet

He's a really, very good writer....

Loved the key to Rebecca.

Eye of the Needle got me hooked to Ken Follet

Really like him!

❤❤❤

Just looking at those shelves stacked with his published works made me think about how I haven't even READ that many books far less written them. And he's not that much older than me. I guess you've either got it (whatever IT is) or you don't.

Never heard of him and I'm an avid reader...guess it slipped me by. I'll get one of his books soon

Lovely man! Great talent! Not sure why but he reminds me of Charles Schulz the creator of Peanuts! Perhaps it's his sweetness

what a fine man!

Mr Ken follet can a research project be published?

Did he just tell me William hanleigh dies before i finished the book ?! Iv only got 200 pages left

*KEN FOLLET IS TOTALLY FORMULAIC* he found a formula people like and has repeated it again and again, BUT what sets him apart is the vast amount of research he does into every scenario. A lesser author you would notice the formula after two books and quickly get bored. I am in no way criticising, quite the opposite, to having a super basic formula that gripping, yet no one notices and to repeat it for 40 books is astonishing. I'm writing my first fictional novel and I hope to be able to emulate the level of research he puts in. Follet taught me world building is everything...

Hi everyone it's Amazing library

I bet the pages are very absorbent!

I'm one of them who bought his books. 😊

Its depressing how such a talented and appealing man doesn't seem capable of challenging the mainstream norms in the age he happens to have been born into.

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Ken Follet is a very interesting writer.

Paul McCartney was only 21 when he wrote She Loves You. At 27, Paul wrote Get Back. So it is more accurate to say Paul was 28 when The Beatles split up. Follett was 27 with his first success.

Not enough rich people in broken Britain

"S" IT WING IS GOING

Never knew he was born in Cardiff, why aren’t Wales celebrating him?

EVM

BIGGEST LARGEST KINGS RULE🌏

We want Justice we want democracy Bangladesh we want voting rights we want human rights in Bangladesh

His voice and accent very similar to Michael Caine.

Yet I don't know him

LIKE!

PEGASUS

4 now u assume ure over watchin

Officially applying for war correspondent!

how? he wrote bbc is best. then bbc, i will write all good things so make me best author of century

Loved Pillars of the Earth. Didn't like World Without End largely because of its libertarian bent and minor thievery of Ayn Rand style and ideas - it became tiresome. It's been a long time since I've read either. Maybe time for another read to see if my take is accurate.

PIN POINT SILENCE DONE📺💻☎📝

BIG 👫👫👫 BIG PROBLEM LESS 👫👫👫 LESS PROBLEM

Effluential... How to groom the middle class.

BBC has lost the news again.

In the second half of 2023, China's economic growth getting slow down! China is about to enter the Japanese moment!

"black as coal" is the worst way to describe a vile character in your imaginations. Okay

I’m so glad I don’t have the talent or desire to become a writer. It is such a lottery. Most authors don’t get published. The majority of published books don’t make money. Unless you can become a Follett or Patterson it is really hard to make any money writing. I play a major role in publishing. I purchase and read books. Mask On Nurse Marty (Ret)

ISRAEL

he's not that humble

the Golden Era of selling Books is long over I advice any writer to do it ONLY as a Hobby...

Poor BBC. Always stuck for news. I expect he managed to sell 200 million books because 200 million people bought them. That appears to be the most likely reason.

the total carbon footprint of the publishing industry at 12.4 million metric tons CO2 equivalents for the 4.15 billion books produced in the U.S. in 2006, or, around 3 kg CO2 equivalent per book. You should listen to books on your phone instead.

200 million woke books or proper books?

Your news channel is a danger to the world

The man from St.Petersburg is the worst book I have ever read. I read it just because I had nothing to do at the airport and aboard the plane. Graphomania it is called. Sorry.

free Palestine

I love Eye of the Needle 🪡

Effluential... How to groom the middle class.

BBC has lost the news again.