Fifty Shades Of Grey Author E L James Launches U.S. Book Tour

A Miami book store was flooded Sunday with young school teachers, middle aged nurses and even elderly folks. All of whom were intent on attending a meet and greet with the author of the bestselling erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey by E L James.

The book signing drew in more than five-hundred men and women during the morning. James later spoke to the sold-out crowd at the historic Biltmore Hotel. This was only her second book signing, but the size of the crowd was massive.

Mitchell Kaplan, the owner of Books & Books, an independent bookstore where James had been signing books, was quoted by Y! News having said:

“This is a literary phenomenon. E L struck a nerve, and her storytelling speaks to so many people.”

In just a couple of months, James has picked up a seven figure contract from Viking Books, and even Universal Pictures and Focus Films recently decided to purchase the rights to all three books as they’re intentions are to produce a trilogy depicting the unusual romantic relationship between a college student and a wealthy young businessman.

The books have such labels as “mommy porn” for the sexual content and large female fan-base, although men were also receiving autographs at the Fifty Shades of Grey book signing.

James began writing the “Twilight” series which resulted in the manifestation of a cult like fan base of her own. The stories were first published online, with a word of mouth concept, and spread quickly. Most readers had not been traditional readers of erotic or romantic fiction. Her writings were downloaded numerous times on iPad and Kindle e-book readers.

Anne Messitte, the publisher of Viking Books, indicated that the astonishing response to James’ second book signing, and the first ever in her tour, was unprecedented for a new writer.

Emilia Diaz came with a group of friends consisting of four women, the oldest being Sousa-Druckman’s 87-year-old mother, Cathy Perkins. Cathy Perkins, who had been married for 60 years, said she typically reads Danielle Steele, but wanted to try a new novel and chose Fifty Shades of Grey and its two follow-up novels. She had a copy of the second book, Fifty Shades Darker, ready to be autographed by author E L James.