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{{short description|British author}}
{{short description|British author}}
{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox writer/doc]] -->
{{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox writer/doc]] -->
| image = E. L. James - 2019 (cropped).jpg
| image = E. L. James - 2019 (cropped).jpg
| caption = E. L. James at the [[London Book Fair|2019 London Book Fair]]
| caption = E. L. James at the [[London Book Fair|2019 London Book Fair]]
| pseudonym = E. L. James <br/> Snowqueens Icedragon
| pseudonym = E. L. James <br/> Snowqueens Icedragon
| birth_name = Erika Mitchell
| birth_name = Erika Mitchell
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|03|07|df=y}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|03|07|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Willesden]], [[London]], England
| birth_place = [[Willesden]], London, England
| citizenship =
| citizenship =
| education = [[Wycombe High School]]
| education = [[Wycombe High School]]
| alma_mater = [[University of Kent]]
| alma_mater = [[University of Kent]]
| occupation = [[Author]]
| occupation = Author
| genre = [[Romance novel|Romance]], [[erotica]], [[fan fiction]]
| genre = Romance, [[erotica]], [[fan fiction]]
| years_active = 2011&ndash;present
| years_active = 2011&ndash;present
| website = {{URL|eljamesauthor.com}}
| website = {{URL|eljamesauthor.com}}
| spouse = {{marriage|Niall Leonard|1987}}
| signature =
| spouse = {{marriage|Niall Leonard|1987}}<ref name="Brennan" />
| children = 2
| children = 2<ref name="Brennan" />
| signature =
}}
}}


'''Erika Mitchell''' (born 7 March 1963),<ref name="Brennan" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-el-james-2015-2|title=Meet the author behind the steamy 'Fifty Shades Of Grey' phenomenon|work=[[Business Insider]]|date=13 September 2016|access-date=26 May 2018}}</ref> known by her [[pen name]] '''E. L. James''', is a British author. She wrote the best-selling [[erotic romance novels|erotic romance]] [[Fifty Shades trilogy|trilogy]] ''[[Fifty Shades of Grey]]'', ''[[Fifty Shades Darker]]'', and ''[[Fifty Shades Freed]]'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/22/books/fifty-shades-of-grey-by-e-l-james-in-demand-at-libraries.html?pagewanted=all|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=21 May 2012|title=Libraries Debate Stocking 'Fifty Shades of Grey' Trilogy|author=Julie Bosman}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.time.com/2012/03/29/the-shy-british-mum-behind-50-shades-of-grey/|work=Time Magazine|title=The Shy British Mum Behind 50 Shades of Grey | date=29 March 2012}}</ref> along with the companion novels ''[[Grey: Fifty Shades of Grey as Told by Christian]]'', ''[[Darker: Fifty Shades Darker as Told by Christian]]'', and ''[[Freed: Fifty Shades Freed as Told by Christian]]''. Prior to this, she wrote the ''[[Twilight (novel series)|Twilight]]'' fan fiction "Master of the Universe" that served as the basis for the ''[[Fifty Shades]]'' trilogy under the web name '''Snowqueens Icedragon'''. In 2019, her first book to not be a part of the Fifty Shades trilogy, ''[[The Mister]]'', was published, to negative critical reception.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/apr/17/el-james-the-mister-fifty-shades-of-grey-sex-romance-immigrant|title=EL James's The Mister – turns out books and sex can be this bad|first=Sian|last=Cain|date=17 April 2019|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://jezebel.com/e-l-jamess-the-mister-fucks-a-duck-1834456299|title=E.L. James's The Mister Fucks a Duck|first=Kelly|last=Faircloth|website=Jezebel}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/04/e-l-james-the-mister-review/587515/|title=The Indelible Awfulness of E. L. James's 'The Mister'|first=Sophie|last=Gilbert|date=18 April 2019|website=The Atlantic}}</ref>
'''Erika Mitchell''' (born 7 March 1963),<ref name="Brennan" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Acuna |first=Kirsten |date=13 September 2016 |title=Meet the author behind the steamy 'Fifty Shades Of Grey' phenomenon |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-el-james-2015-2 |access-date=26 May 2018 |work=[[Business Insider]]}}</ref> known by her pen name '''E. L. James''', is a British author. She wrote the best-selling [[Fifty Shades (novel series)|''Fifty Shades'' series]] of [[erotic romance novels]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bosman |first=Julie |date=21 May 2012 |title=Libraries Debate Stocking 'Fifty Shades of Grey' Trilogy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/22/books/fifty-shades-of-grey-by-e-l-james-in-demand-at-libraries.html?pagewanted=all |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Luscombe |first=Belinda |date=29 March 2012 |title=The Shy British Mum Behind 50 Shades of Grey |url=http://entertainment.time.com/2012/03/29/the-shy-british-mum-behind-50-shades-of-grey/ |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref> which spawned [[Fifty Shades|a multimedia franchise]] including a [[Fifty Shades (film series)|film trilogy of the same name]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Belloni |first=Matthew |date=20 February 2013 |title=Universal Chairman Wants 'Fifty Shades' for Summer 2014, More 'Bourne' and 'Van Helsing' Reboot (Q&A) |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/universal-chairman-wants-fifty-shades-422217 |access-date=18 June 2013 |work=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> Prior to this, she wrote the ''[[Twilight (novel series)|Twilight]]'' fan fiction "Master of the Universe" that served as the basis for the ''Fifty Shades'' series under the web name '''Snowqueens Icedragon'''. In 2019 she published her first book unconnected with the fictional world of ''Fifty Shades'', ''[[The Mister]]'', to negative critical reaction.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cain |first=Sian |date=17 April 2019 |title=EL James's The Mister – turns out books and sex can be this bad |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/apr/17/el-james-the-mister-fifty-shades-of-grey-sex-romance-immigrant |work=The Guardian |via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Faircloth |first=Kelly |date=15 May 2019 |title=E.L. James's The Mister Fucks a Duck |url=https://jezebel.com/e-l-jamess-the-mister-fucks-a-duck-1834456299 |website=Jezebel}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gilbert |first=Sophie |date=18 April 2019 |title=The Indelible Awfulness of E. L. James's 'The Mister' |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/04/e-l-james-the-mister-review/587515/ |website=The Atlantic}}</ref>


The ''Fifty Shades'' novels have sold over 125&nbsp;million copies worldwide, over 35&nbsp;million copies in the United States and set the record in the United Kingdom as the fastest selling paperback of all time.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fifty Shades of Grey author EL James now worth £37m|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jun/27/fifty-shades-of-grey-el-james-fortune|newspaper=The Guardian|date=2 April 2017}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121126170101/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2128881_2128882_2129207,00.html Who Should be Time's Person of the Year 2012? E.L. James].</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.salon.com/2013/01/10/fifty_shades_of_grey_coming_in_hardcover/ |title="Fifty Shades of Grey" coming in hardcover |work=Salon.com |date=10 January 2013 |access-date=6 July 2013}}</ref> In 2012, [[Time magazine|''Time'']] magazine named her one of "The World's 100 Most Influential People."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120419071848/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2111975_2111976_2112140,00.html The World's 100 Most Influential People].</ref> The novels were subsequently adapted into the films ''[[Fifty Shades of Grey (film)|Fifty Shades of Grey]]'', ''[[Fifty Shades Darker (film)|Fifty Shades Darker]]'', and ''[[Fifty Shades Freed (film)|Fifty Shades Freed]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Belloni|first=Matthew|title=Universal Chairman Wants 'Fifty Shades' for Summer 2014, More 'Bourne' and 'Van Helsing' Reboot (Q&A)|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/universal-chairman-wants-fifty-shades-422217|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=18 June 2013|date=20 February 2013}}</ref>
The ''Fifty Shades'' novels have sold over 150&nbsp;million copies worldwide, over 35&nbsp;million copies in the United States and set the record in the United Kingdom as the fastest selling paperback of all time.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-03-08 |title=EL James' 'Freed,' as told by Christian Grey, coming in June |url=https://eu.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/books/2021/03/08/fifty-shades-freed-christian-grey-e-l-james/4627923001/ |work=[[The Detroit News]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Doward |first=Jamie |date=2 April 2017 |title=Fifty Shades of Grey author EL James now worth £37m |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jun/27/fifty-shades-of-grey-el-james-fortune |work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Luscombe |first=Belinda |title=E.L. James - Who Should be Time's Person of the Year 2012? |url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2128881_2128882_2129207,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121126170101/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2128881_2128882_2129207,00.html |archive-date=2012-11-26 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=10 January 2013 |title='Fifty Shades of Grey' coming in hardcover |url=http://www.salon.com/2013/01/10/fifty_shades_of_grey_coming_in_hardcover/ |access-date=6 July 2013 |work=Salon.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> In 2012, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine named her one of "The World's 100 Most Influential People".<ref name="Time100">{{Cite magazine |title=The World's 100 Most Influential People |url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2111975_2111976_2112140,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419071848/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2111975_2111976_2112140,00.html |archive-date=2012-04-19 |magazine=Time}}</ref>


==Early life==
==Early life==
Erika Mitchell was born on 7 March 1963 in [[Willesden]], [[Middlesex]] to a [[Chile]]an mother and a Scottish father who was a [[BBC]] cameraman.<ref name="Brennan"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=UApJq4E1badbCI3ImSD02g&scan=1|title=Index entry|access-date=14 February 2018|work=FreeBMD|publisher=ONS}}</ref> She was brought up in [[Buckinghamshire]].<ref name="Brennan">{{cite news|last=Brennan|first=Zoe|title=EL James: The shy housewife behind Fifty Shades of Grey|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/9381428/EL-James-The-shy-housewife-behind-Fifty-Shades-of-Grey.html|issue=7 July 2012|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=6 February 2015}}</ref>
Erika Mitchell was born on 7 March 1963 in [[Willesden]], [[Middlesex]] to a Chilean mother and a Scottish father who was a [[BBC]] cameraman.<ref name="Brennan" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Index entry |url=http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=UApJq4E1badbCI3ImSD02g&scan=1 |access-date=14 February 2018 |website=FreeBMD |publisher=ONS}}</ref> She was brought up in [[Buckinghamshire]].<ref name="Brennan">{{Cite news |last=Brennan |first=Zoe |date=6 February 2015 |title=EL James: The shy housewife behind Fifty Shades of Grey |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/9381428/EL-James-The-shy-housewife-behind-Fifty-Shades-of-Grey.html |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |issue=7 July 2012}}</ref>


James was educated at the independent [[Pipers Corner School]] and at [[Wycombe High School]], a state grammar school for girls in the town of [[High Wycombe]] in Buckinghamshire, followed by the [[University of Kent]] in [[South East England]] where she studied History.<ref name="Brennan"/>
James was educated at the independent [[Pipers Corner School]] and at [[Wycombe High School]], a state grammar school for girls in the town of [[High Wycombe]] in Buckinghamshire, followed by the [[University of Kent]] in [[South East England]] where she studied history.<ref name="Brennan" />


After leaving university, James became a studio manager's assistant at the [[National Film and Television School]] in [[Beaconsfield]].
⚫
==Career==
After leaving university, James became a studio manager's assistant at the [[National Film and Television School]] in [[Beaconsfield]]. She married Niall Leonard, a screenwriter, in 1987, and they have two sons. As of 2012, they reside in [[Brentford]], [[West London]].<ref name="Brennan"/><ref name = "Chicago">[http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-05-03/entertainment/ct-ent-0502-50-shades-of-grey-20120501_1_fan-fiction-book-signing-event-fans-bond Who is E L James?] ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' Retrieved 31 May 2012</ref>


⚫
==Career==
⚫
===''Fifty Shades'' trilogy===
{{main|Fifty Shades trilogy}}
{{main|Fifty Shades trilogy}}
⚫
James says the idea for the ''Fifty Shades'' trilogy began as a response to the vampire novel series ''[[Twilight (novel series)|Twilight]]''. In late 2008, James saw the movie ''[[Twilight (2008 film)|Twilight]]'', and then became intensely absorbed with the novels that the movie was based on. She read the novels several times over in a period of a few days, and then, for the first time in her life, sat down to write a book: basically a sequel to the ''Twilight'' novels. Between January and August 2009, she wrote two such books in quick succession. She says she then discovered the phenomenon of [[fan fiction]], and this inspired her to publish her novels as Kindle books under the pen name "Snowqueens Icedragon". Beginning in August 2009, she then began to write the ''Fifty Shades'' books.<ref name = "Chicago"/><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120302022206/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/46590258/ns/today-books/t/triple-x-trilogy-novels-has-women-talking-quietly/ Triple-X trilogy of novels has women talking (quietly)]. msnbc. Retrieved 31 May 2012</ref>


⚫
James says the idea for the ''Fifty Shades'' trilogy began as a response to the vampire novel series ''[[Twilight (novel series)|Twilight]]''. In late 2008, James saw the movie ''[[Twilight (2008 film)|Twilight]]'', and then became intensely absorbed with the novels that the movie was based on. She read the novels several times over in a period of a few days and then set out to write a sequel to the books. Between January and August 2009, she wrote two such books in quick succession. She says she then discovered the phenomenon of [[fan fiction]], and this inspired her to publish her novels as Kindle books under the pen name "Snowqueens Icedragon". Beginning in August 2009, she then began to write the ''Fifty Shades'' books.<ref name="Chicago" /><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120302022206/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/46590258/ns/today-books/t/triple-x-trilogy-novels-has-women-talking-quietly/ Triple-X trilogy of novels has women talking (quietly)]. msnbc. Retrieved 31 May 2012</ref>
⚫
James has spoken of her shock at the success of the books. "The explosion of interest has taken me completely by surprise" she said.<ref>[http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2012/07/16/fifty-shades-of-grey-author-e-l-james-exclusive-interview/ "Fifty Shades of Grey author E L James – Exclusive interview"] (16 July 2012) ''Shropshire Star''. Retrieved 16 July 2012</ref> James has described the ''Fifty Shades'' trilogy as "my [[midlife crisis]], writ large. All my fantasies in there, and that's it."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120420041235/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/47066520/ns/today-books 'Fifty Shades' author 'stunned' at success of erotic trilogy] TODAY MSNBC</ref> She did not start to write until January 2009, as she revealed while still active on [[FanFiction.Net]]: "I started writing in January 2009 after I finished the Twilight saga, and I haven't stopped since. I discovered Fan Fiction in August 2009. Since then I have written my two fics and plan on doing at least one more. After that... who knows?"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/fifty-shades-of-grey-wayback-machine_b49124|title=The Lost History of Fifty Shades of Grey|work=mediabistro.com|access-date=30 June 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140727045638/http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/fifty-shades-of-grey-wayback-machine_b49124|archive-date=27 July 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> In August 2013, James topped the ''[[Forbes]]''{{'}} list of the highest-earning authors due to her book sales<ref>{{cite web|title=E.L. James Seals A Spot On List of Britain's Richest Authors|url=http://www.themoviefiftyshades.com/e-l-james-earns-over-33m-in-one-year-for-fifty-shades-and-seals-a-spot-on-list-of-britains-richest-author/|publisher=[[Lia]]|access-date=23 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714213248/http://www.themoviefiftyshades.com/e-l-james-earns-over-33m-in-one-year-for-fifty-shades-and-seals-a-spot-on-list-of-britains-richest-author//|archive-date=14 July 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> with earnings of $95m which included $5m for the film rights to ''Fifty Shades of Grey''.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23681220 | title=Fifty Shades makes EL James top-earning author | work=BBC News | access-date=15 August 2013 | date=13 August 2013}}</ref> On 1 June 2015 James announced the upcoming release of ''Grey: Fifty Shades of Grey as Told by Christian'', which was released into stores on 18 June 2015. ''Darker: Fifty Shades Darker as Told by Christian'' was released 28 November 2017.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=E.L. James teases Fifty Shades Darker from Christian's point of view|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2016/09/13/el-james-fifty-shades-darker-christian-point-view|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]| access-date = 9 December 2016}}</ref>


⚫
James has spoken of her shock at the success of the books. "The explosion of interest has taken me completely by surprise", she said.<ref>[http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2012/07/16/fifty-shades-of-grey-author-e-l-james-exclusive-interview/ "Fifty Shades of Grey author E L James – Exclusive interview"] (16 July 2012) ''Shropshire Star''. Retrieved 16 July 2012</ref> James has described the ''Fifty Shades'' trilogy as "my [[midlife crisis]], writ large. All my fantasies in there, and that's it."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120420041235/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/47066520/ns/today-books 'Fifty Shades' author 'stunned' at success of erotic trilogy] TODAY MSNBC</ref> She did not start to write until January 2009, as she revealed while still active on [[FanFiction.Net]]: "I started writing in January 2009 after I finished the ''Twilight'' saga, and I haven't stopped since. I discovered Fan Fiction in August 2009. Since then I have written my two fics and plan on doing at least one more. After that&nbsp;... who knows?"<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Lost History of Fifty Shades of Grey |url=http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/fifty-shades-of-grey-wayback-machine_b49124 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140727045638/http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/fifty-shades-of-grey-wayback-machine_b49124 |archive-date=27 July 2014 |access-date=30 June 2015 |website=mediabistro.com}}</ref>
In a June 2020 blog post, James mentioned working on ''Freed: Fifty Shades Freed as Told by Christian''. She also stated the book does not yet have a release date, but has since been announced to release on 1 June 2021.<ref>{{cite web |last1=James |first1=E.L. |title=Happy Birthday, Christian Grey!|url=https://www.eljamesauthor.com/happy-birthday-christian-grey/ |website=Eljamesauthor.com |date=18 June 2020|access-date=7 August 2020}}</ref>


In August 2013, James topped the ''[[Forbes]]''{{'}} list of the highest-earning authors due to her book sales<ref>{{Cite web |title=E.L. James Seals A Spot On List of Britain's Richest Authors |url=http://www.themoviefiftyshades.com/e-l-james-earns-over-33m-in-one-year-for-fifty-shades-and-seals-a-spot-on-list-of-britains-richest-author/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714213248/http://www.themoviefiftyshades.com/e-l-james-earns-over-33m-in-one-year-for-fifty-shades-and-seals-a-spot-on-list-of-britains-richest-author// |archive-date=14 July 2014 |access-date=23 June 2014 |publisher=[[Lia]]}}</ref> with earnings of $95m which included $5m for the film rights to ''Fifty Shades of Grey''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 August 2013 |title=Fifty Shades makes EL James top-earning author |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23681220 |access-date=15 August 2013 |work=BBC News}}</ref>
==Charity work==

James was one of the British celebrities, including [[Tom Hiddleston]], [[Benedict Cumberbatch]] and [[Rachel Riley]], to design and sign her own card for the UK children's charity kornbash [[Thomas Coram Foundation for Children]].<ref name="Coram">[http://www.coram.org.uk/news/stars-get-creative-making-'cards-keeps'-coram-0 "Celebrity card auction raises over £8,500 for Coram"]. Coram.org. Retrieved 16 February 2015</ref> The campaign was launched by crafting company Stampin' Up! UK and the cards were auctioned on [[eBay]] during May 2014.<ref name="Coram"/>
==Personal life==
James married Niall Leonard, a novelist and screenwriter from [[Northern Ireland]], in 1987. They have two sons. As of 2012, they live in [[Brentford]], [[West London]].<ref name="Brennan" /><ref name="Chicago">{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Steve |title=Who is E L James? |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-xpm-2012-05-03-ct-ent-0502-50-shades-of-grey-20120501-story.html |access-date=31 May 2012 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref>


==Awards and honours==
==Awards and honours==
*2012 [[Time 100]] by [[Time (magazine)|''Time'']] magazine, "The 100 Most Influential People in the World"<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120419071848/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2111975_2111976_2112140,00.html The 100 Most Influential People in the World] Time Magazine. Retrieved 31 May 2012</ref>
*2012 [[Time 100|''Time'' 100]] by ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine, "The 100 Most Influential People in the World"<ref name="Time100" />
*2012 ''[[Publishers Weekly]]'' "Publishing Person of the Year".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/dec/03/el-james-publishing-person-of-the-year |title=EL James wins 'publishing person of the year' for making erotic fiction 'hot' |work=[[The Guardian]] |author=Alison Flood |date=3 December 2012 |access-date=3 December 2012 |location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/Books/chapter-and-verse/2012/1203/E-L-James-as-Publishing-Person-of-the-Year-draws-outcry-from-literary-world |title=E L James as 'Publishing Person of the Year' draws outcry from literary world |work=[[The Christian Science Monitor]] |author= Molly Driscoll |date=3 December 2012 |access-date=5 December 2012}}</ref>
*2012 ''[[Publishers Weekly]]'' "Publishing Person of the Year".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Flood |first=Alison |date=3 December 2012 |title=EL James wins 'publishing person of the year' for making erotic fiction 'hot' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/dec/03/el-james-publishing-person-of-the-year |access-date=3 December 2012 |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Driscoll |first=Molly |date=3 December 2012 |title=E L James as 'Publishing Person of the Year' draws outcry from literary world |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/Books/chapter-and-verse/2012/1203/E-L-James-as-Publishing-Person-of-the-Year-draws-outcry-from-literary-world |access-date=5 December 2012 |website=[[The Christian Science Monitor]]}}</ref>
*2012 [[Specsavers National Book Awards|National Book Award]] (UK), "Popular Fiction Book of the Year", ''Fifty Shades of Grey''<ref name=flood2012>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/dec/05/el-james-national-books-award |title=EL James comes out on top at National Book awards |work=[[The Guardian]] |author=Alison Flood |date=5 December 2012 |access-date=5 December 2012 |location=London}}</ref>
*2012 [[Specsavers National Book Awards|National Book Award]] (UK), "Popular Fiction Book of the Year", ''Fifty Shades of Grey''<ref name="flood2012">{{Cite news |last=Flood |first=Alison |date=5 December 2012 |title=EL James comes out on top at National Book awards |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/dec/05/el-james-national-books-award |access-date=5 December 2012 |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London}}</ref>
*2012 [[Specsavers National Book Awards|National Book Award]] (UK), "Book of the Year", ''Fifty Shades of Grey''<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-20599930 | title=EL James wins at National Book Awards| work=[[BBC News]]| date=4 December 2012| access-date=14 January 2013}}</ref>
*2012 [[Specsavers National Book Awards|National Book Award]] (UK), "Book of the Year", ''Fifty Shades of Grey''<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 December 2012 |title=EL James wins at National Book Awards |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-20599930 |access-date=14 January 2013 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref>


==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==
⚫
===''Fifty Shades'' trilogy===
*''[[Fifty Shades of Grey]]'' (2011)
*''[[Fifty Shades of Grey]]'' (2011)
*''[[Fifty Shades Darker]]'' (2012)
*''[[Fifty Shades Darker]]'' (2012)
*''[[Fifty Shades Freed]]'' (2012)
*''[[Fifty Shades Freed]]'' (2012)

===''Fifty Shades as Told by Christian'' trilogy===
*''[[Grey: Fifty Shades of Grey as Told by Christian]]'' (2015)
*''[[Grey: Fifty Shades of Grey as Told by Christian]]'' (2015)
*''[[Darker: Fifty Shades Darker as Told by Christian]]'' (2017)
*''[[Darker: Fifty Shades Darker as Told by Christian]]'' (2017)
⚫
*''[[The Mister]]'' (2019)
*''[[Freed: Fifty Shades Freed as Told by Christian]]'' (2021)
*''[[Freed: Fifty Shades Freed as Told by Christian]]'' (2021)

===''Mister and Missus'' duology===
⚫
*''[[The Mister]]'' (2019)
*''The Missus'' (2023)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bond |first=Emily |date=22 June 2023 |title='Fifty Shades of Grey' Author on Why So Many Romance Novels Don't Get What They Deserve |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/el-james-the-missus_n_64920532e4b041b71a126ad4 |website=[[Huffington Post]]}}</ref>


==Filmography==
==Filmography==
Line 79: Line 86:
|2018
|2018
|''[[Book Club (film)|Book Club]]''
|''[[Book Club (film)|Book Club]]''
|Cameo<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/may/31/book-club-review-simulated-sexcom-for-the-over-60s |title=Book Club review – simulated sexcom for the over-60s |author=Bradshaw, Peter |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=31 May 2018 |access-date=28 September 2018}}</ref>
|Cameo<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bradshaw, Peter |date=31 May 2018 |title=Book Club review – simulated sexcom for the over-60s |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/may/31/book-club-review-simulated-sexcom-for-the-over-60s |access-date=28 September 2018 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>
|}
|}


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{{wikiquote}}
{{wikiquote}}
{{commons category}}
{{commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.eljamesauthor.com/}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{IMDb name|1093317}}
* {{IMDb name|1093317}}


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[[Category:21st-century English women writers]]
[[Category:21st-century English women writers]]
[[Category:21st-century English novelists]]
[[Category:21st-century English novelists]]
[[Category:People from Buckinghamshire]]
[[Category:Writers from Buckinghamshire]]
⚫
[[Category:English women writers]]
[[Category:Women erotica writers]]
[[Category:Women erotica writers]]
[[Category:Women romantic fiction writers]]
[[Category:British women romantic fiction writers]]
[[Category:BDSM writers]]
[[Category:BDSM writers]]
[[Category:21st-century pseudonymous writers]]
[[Category:21st-century pseudonymous writers]]
⚫
[[Category:English women novelists]]
[[Category:British Book Award winners]]

Latest revision as of 12:30, 27 May 2024

E. L. James
E. L. James at the 2019 London Book Fair
E. L. James at the 2019 London Book Fair
BornErika Mitchell
(1963-03-07) 7 March 1963 (age 61)
Willesden, London, England
Pen nameE. L. James
Snowqueens Icedragon
OccupationAuthor
EducationWycombe High School
Alma materUniversity of Kent
GenreRomance, erotica, fan fiction
Years active2011–present
Spouse
Niall Leonard
​
(m. 1987)​
[1]
Children2[1]
Website
eljamesauthor.com

Erika Mitchell (born 7 March 1963),[1][2] known by her pen name E. L. James, is a British author. She wrote the best-selling Fifty Shades series of erotic romance novels,[3][4] which spawned a multimedia franchise including a film trilogy of the same name.[5] Prior to this, she wrote the Twilight fan fiction "Master of the Universe" that served as the basis for the Fifty Shades series under the web name Snowqueens Icedragon. In 2019 she published her first book unconnected with the fictional world of Fifty Shades, The Mister, to negative critical reaction.[6][7][8]

The Fifty Shades novels have sold over 150 million copies worldwide, over 35 million copies in the United States and set the record in the United Kingdom as the fastest selling paperback of all time.[9][10][11][12] In 2012, Time magazine named her one of "The World's 100 Most Influential People".[13]

Early life

Erika Mitchell was born on 7 March 1963 in Willesden, Middlesex to a Chilean mother and a Scottish father who was a BBC cameraman.[1][14] She was brought up in Buckinghamshire.[1]

James was educated at the independent Pipers Corner School and at Wycombe High School, a state grammar school for girls in the town of High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, followed by the University of Kent in South East England where she studied history.[1]

After leaving university, James became a studio manager's assistant at the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield.

Career

Main article: Fifty Shades trilogy

James says the idea for the Fifty Shades trilogy began as a response to the vampire novel series Twilight. In late 2008, James saw the movie Twilight, and then became intensely absorbed with the novels that the movie was based on. She read the novels several times over in a period of a few days and then set out to write a sequel to the books. Between January and August 2009, she wrote two such books in quick succession. She says she then discovered the phenomenon of fan fiction, and this inspired her to publish her novels as Kindle books under the pen name "Snowqueens Icedragon". Beginning in August 2009, she then began to write the Fifty Shades books.[15][16]

James has spoken of her shock at the success of the books. "The explosion of interest has taken me completely by surprise", she said.[17] James has described the Fifty Shades trilogy as "my midlife crisis, writ large. All my fantasies in there, and that's it."[18] She did not start to write until January 2009, as she revealed while still active on FanFiction.Net: "I started writing in January 2009 after I finished the Twilight saga, and I haven't stopped since. I discovered Fan Fiction in August 2009. Since then I have written my two fics and plan on doing at least one more. After that ... who knows?"[19]

In August 2013, James topped the Forbes' list of the highest-earning authors due to her book sales[20] with earnings of $95m which included $5m for the film rights to Fifty Shades of Grey.[21]

Personal life

James married Niall Leonard, a novelist and screenwriter from Northern Ireland, in 1987. They have two sons. As of 2012, they live in Brentford, West London.[1][15]

Awards and honours

Bibliography

Fifty Shades trilogy

Fifty Shades as Told by Christian trilogy

Mister and Missus duology

Filmography

Year Title Note(s)
2015 Fifty Shades of Grey Producer and Cameo
2017 Fifty Shades Darker Producer
2018 Fifty Shades Freed Producer
2018 Book Club Cameo[27]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Brennan, Zoe (6 February 2015). "EL James: The shy housewife behind Fifty Shades of Grey". The Daily Telegraph. No. 7 July 2012.
  2. ^ Acuna, Kirsten (13 September 2016). "Meet the author behind the steamy 'Fifty Shades Of Grey' phenomenon". Business Insider. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  3. ^ Bosman, Julie (21 May 2012). "Libraries Debate Stocking 'Fifty Shades of Grey' Trilogy". The New York Times.
  4. ^ Luscombe, Belinda (29 March 2012). "The Shy British Mum Behind 50 Shades of Grey". Time.
  5. ^ Belloni, Matthew (20 February 2013). "Universal Chairman Wants 'Fifty Shades' for Summer 2014, More 'Bourne' and 'Van Helsing' Reboot (Q&A)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  6. ^ Cain, Sian (17 April 2019). "EL James's The Mister – turns out books and sex can be this bad". The Guardian – via www.theguardian.com.
  7. ^ Faircloth, Kelly (15 May 2019). "E.L. James's The Mister Fucks a Duck". Jezebel.
  8. ^ Gilbert, Sophie (18 April 2019). "The Indelible Awfulness of E. L. James's 'The Mister'". The Atlantic.
  9. ^ "EL James' 'Freed,' as told by Christian Grey, coming in June". The Detroit News. Associated Press. 8 March 2021.
  10. ^ Doward, Jamie (2 April 2017). "Fifty Shades of Grey author EL James now worth £37m". The Guardian.
  11. ^ Luscombe, Belinda. "E.L. James - Who Should be Time's Person of the Year 2012?". Time. Archived from the original on 26 November 2012.
  12. ^ "'Fifty Shades of Grey' coming in hardcover". Salon.com. Associated Press. 10 January 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  13. ^ a b "The World's 100 Most Influential People". Time. Archived from the original on 19 April 2012.
  14. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  15. ^ a b Johnson, Steve. "Who is E L James?". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  16. ^ Triple-X trilogy of novels has women talking (quietly). msnbc. Retrieved 31 May 2012
  17. ^ "Fifty Shades of Grey author E L James – Exclusive interview" (16 July 2012) Shropshire Star. Retrieved 16 July 2012
  18. ^ 'Fifty Shades' author 'stunned' at success of erotic trilogy TODAY MSNBC
  19. ^ "The Lost History of Fifty Shades of Grey". mediabistro.com. Archived from the original on 27 July 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  20. ^ "E.L. James Seals A Spot On List of Britain's Richest Authors". Lia. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  21. ^ "Fifty Shades makes EL James top-earning author". BBC News. 13 August 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  22. ^ Flood, Alison (3 December 2012). "EL James wins 'publishing person of the year' for making erotic fiction 'hot'". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  23. ^ Driscoll, Molly (3 December 2012). "E L James as 'Publishing Person of the Year' draws outcry from literary world". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
  24. ^ Flood, Alison (5 December 2012). "EL James comes out on top at National Book awards". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
  25. ^ "EL James wins at National Book Awards". BBC News. 4 December 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  26. ^ Bond, Emily (22 June 2023). "'Fifty Shades of Grey' Author on Why So Many Romance Novels Don't Get What They Deserve". Huffington Post.
  27. ^ Bradshaw, Peter (31 May 2018). "Book Club review – simulated sexcom for the over-60s". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
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