It has been proven over the decades that art & literature is not confined to the imagination and creativity of men. In fact, some of the finest authors in the world are women, who have influenced millions of readers with their ideas and words. Listed here are the 5 most powerful authors in the world who have captivated their readers with suspense and drama, tales of fantastical worlds, fresh takes on various social issues, and thorough insights into the complexities of cultures and minority experiences…needless to say, a wealth of recognition and prestigious awards like Pulitzer and Nobel, and book sales up to 800 million copies!

1. Danielle Steel
With a record of 800 million books sold, Danielle Steel is the best-selling author alive today and the 8th best selling writer of all time. She is best known for drama and romance. Her novels have spent more than 390 consecutive weeks on the New York Times list of bestseller, among which 22 have been adapted for television serials.

2. J.K. Rowling
With over 450 million books sold and the brain behind the famous book series Harry Porter, J.K. Rowling is one of the most powerful and popular women authors in the world today. She has captured millions of young hearts and imaginations with her magical world of Harry Potter, which has been adapted as a film and bagged billions of dollars from box offices around the world. Her books are not only exceptional popular, but touch the readers with themes of love, acceptance and courage. She has earned many prestigious awards like Booksellers Association Author of the Year, British Book Awards, Lifetime Achievement Award, Author of the Year and more.

3. Stephenie Meyer
With her famous vampire romance series, Twilight, Stephenie Meyer has become one of the best-selling and most powerful women authors of all time. She has recorded over 100 million book sales and quickly gained global recognition with tales that invoke the imagination of romanticism, love, sacrifice and immortality. Film adaptations of her most famous novel “Twilight” have bagged sales of over 2 billion dollars so far.

4. Toni Morrison
A professor, novelist and editor, Toni Morrison is a Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winner, globally acclaimed for her works like Song of Solomon, The Bluest Eye, and Beloved. The latter was also adapted into a popular film, which was universally recognized for its storyline. Her works touch the readers emphasizing the ugly and unflinching face of black experience in America. She is one of the most powerful and influential women author in the world today and is also known for her struggles against racial discrimination and for women empowerment.

5. Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou, globally recognized for her series of 6 autobiographical volumes, epitomizes resilience and wisdom due to the poignancy, depth and honesty of her words. She has been called as “America’s most visible black female autobiographer” by scholar Joanne M. Braxton. A powerful author, Maya Angelou has been recognized with countless awards like National Medal of Arts, Lifetime Achievement Award for Literature and Presidential Medal of Freedom.