The Secret Garden author Johanna Basford bagged a massive 24 million yuan ($3.67 million) as copyright income from the Chinese market, making her China's most famous foreign author in 2015.  

The Foreign Writers Rich List, measured the total number of copies sold, the set price for each book and the royalty ratio, according to Wu Huaiyao, the list's lead researcher. In addition, he admittedthat it took him months to make sure the ratios were correct.

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The list included 30 international authors, with income ranging between one million to tens of million yuan.

"As our society opens up and keeps on making progress, the taste of Chinese readers is quite internationalized," Wu stated. "And I hope the list showcases trends of Chinese book market, and offers references to foreign publishers that are interested in selling books to the country full of zealous readers."

Meanwhile, the coloring book that features 264 characters has also topped the best-seller list across Chinese online bookstores such as Amazon, Dangdang and Jingdong. In a report early this year, Chen Lijun, Dangdang's publication division manager, said that sales of The Secret Garden reached a million copies three months since it hit the shelves, and total sales in 2015 are more than 1.5 million.

According to its buyers, the coloring book is its way of relaxing and gives them the pleasure of being artistic through painting, coloring and drawing.

"The book is more about participation and recreation," Zhang Yiwu, Peking University professor and cultural critic, told China Daily. "Its popularity suggests that the book is becoming an alternative for the young middle class Chinese to let out pressure."

TagsThe Secret Garden, Johanna Basford, coloring book, foreign authors, best seller book