E.L. James Reveals 'Humbling' Experience Writing '50 Shades Of Grey'

E.L. James, the author of 50 Shades of Grey and its subsequent entries, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Free, discussed her reaction to the current year and her upcoming plans in a recent interview with USA Today.

James, USA Today’s Author of the Year, revealed how she was surprised by the way her books have united women. "How these books bring women together — into book clubs, by word of mouth, the spread of the success," James said. "Some fans tell me they haven't read a book in X number of years — 28 years — then tell me, 'I've read all of your books in three weeks.' It's very humbling."

It has been a roller coaster year for James, who nabbed a spot on Time’s 100 Most Influential People in the World, received a UK National Book Award and was named one of Barbara Walters's 10 Most Fascinating People of 2012.

James’s next novel will actually be a revised version of her first, unpublished book that she wrote in 2009. She anticipates it will be the first of two, however she has yet to set a publication date. And as for who will play Christian and Ana in the 50 Shades of Grey movie, even James doesn’t know yet.

During this brief lull between novels, fans should read James’s favorite book of the past year, Shadow of Night, by Deborah Harkness.