What Defines a Bestseller?

While researching literary agents, I've come across something similar on many of their websites. When describing what they're looking for, quite a few mention they would like to find books "at the intersection of literary and commercial"

What does that mean? It sounds like a vague description of a book that reads like literary fiction, but enjoys commercial success. But how does an agent identify which manuscripts will sell well? I guess they guess.

Recently, agent Rachelle Gardner asked readers for questions she could answer on her blog. So I asked, "What are some examples of books that fall into the mysterious literary/commercial intersection?"

Today she answered.

Head over to Gardner's blog to see how she responded. The comments are interesting, with a lively discussion of what some consider to be good examples of this hard-to-define kind of book.

What do you think? Have you read books that seem like good examples of literary and commercial success? And do you think your manuscript would qualify?

2 comments:

  1. Um...not off the top of my head, no. No doubt I've read a few, but I can't think of them right now. Perhaps I'm at that time of year when all the books I've ever read are starting to blur into one big book? hehe

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  2. I might list The Book Thief as one, though I'm not sure how much commercial success it had. The Night Circus is on my list, though.

    ~Debbie

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