President of Outskirts Press

The Top 10 Best Books of 2023

Toward the end of every year, the Amazon Books editorial team convenes in Seattle for a literary showdown. Gathering from various locations across the nation, each editor undertakes the mission of distilling a plethora of books they’ve read into a definitive list of the best books of the year. Senior manager Al Woodworth describes it as a day of spirited discussion, passionate advocacy, and intense deliberation. “It’s the best day of the year. We get to do what we do best, which is advocate for these books and these authors. It’s such an honor, and we take it very seriously.”

The result is a curated list of the year’s finest books. Sarah Gelman, editorial director of Amazon Books, emphasizes the intentional diversity of the list, encompassing both fiction and nonfiction, spanning tales of romance and murder. The common thread among these selections is their remarkable ability to captivate readers and hold their attention until the very end.

This year, a unanimous victor claimed the top spot, but if you’re looking to add some new books to your 2024 reading list, you really can’t go wrong with any of these:

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters
Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession by Michael Finkel
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
King: A Life by Jonathan Eig
Wellness by Nathan Hill
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
Holly by Stephen King
Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson
Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane

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self publishing, self publishing a book

DO YOU WANT TO BE A PUBLISHED AUTHOR?

Self-Publishing Questions Asked & Answered identifies the most common questions concerning self publication today and answers them clearly and concisely. What is the difference between “independent” self-publishing, “free” self-publishing, and “full-service” self-publishing? What should I title my book? How do I price my book? What is an ISBN and why is it important? How do I get book reviews on Amazon? These are just a small sample of the top 25 questions Ernest & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Semi-Finalist and self-publishing expert Brent Sampson has been asked over the years and now answers thoroughly and completely in this book.

About the Author

Ernest & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Semi-Finalist Brent Sampson is the award-winning and bestselling author of Sell Your Book on Amazon and The Book Marketing COACH. As the founder, president and chief marketing officer of Outskirts Press, Brent has helped writers from around the world experience the joy and satisfaction of bringing their high-quality, professional, and award-winning books into the marketplace. Learn more at OutskirtsPress.com.

About the Free Publishing Kit

Your complimentary Publishing Kit from Outskirts Press contains:

Self-Publishing Questions Asked & Answered
Publish Your Passion
7 Tips to Self-Publish Like a Pro
Book shepherd one-sheet: Meet Your Publishing Consultant
Author success white paper: 7 Highly Effective Rules for the Perfect Book Title
Author guide: Author Photo & Biography Guide
Author tip sheet: The Top 7 Marketing Elements to Include in Your Book
Author guide: Which Book Format Should I Choose?
Author white paper: How to Price Your Book
Publishing white paper: Diving into Self-Publishing

About Outskirts Press

Since 2002, Outskirts Press has helped thousands of authors just like you develop, publish, and market thousands of high-quality, award-winning books featuring…

exceptional cover design
professional interior formatting
high-quality printing
award-winning publishing
worldwide distribution
and extensive book marketing services

Outskirts Press is the only A+ rated and #1-rated self-publishing company according to the Better Business Bureau and Top Consumer Reviews, respectively, because we deliver outstanding customer service, affordable pricing, and industry-leading royalties.

* #29 overall Amazon bestseller, 2007. Royal Palms Literary Awards, Best Book of the Year 2007

Movies

Top 10 Most Popular Horror Movies from the Past 10 Years

Given the current state of the world, we don’t need one single day in October to be scared, but nevertheless, Halloween is a perfect day to highlight the top 10 highest-grossing horror movies released in the past ten years. And they are:

It (2017) – $701,842,551
It Chapter Two (2019) – $473,093,228
The Nun (2018) – $365,550,119
A Quiet Place (2018) – $340,952,971
The Conjuring 2 (2016) – $320,392,818
The Conjuring (2013) – $319,494,638
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2017) – $312,242,626
Annabelle: Creation (2017) – $306,515,884
A Quiet Place Part II (2020) – $297,372,261
Us (2019) – $255,745,157

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Movies

Top 10 Most Successful Sci-Fi Movies Of All Time

Last posting’s topic was the top 10 most successful video games of all time, timed with the release of the most highly-anticipated video game of the year: Starfield, an epic science fiction, open-world role-playing game. If you noticed an uptick in sci-fi related content on your newsfeeds or social media platforms over the past few months, that game might be part of the reason why.

In fact, even NASA got the memo (or perhaps it was the other way around), because NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft delivered almost 9 ounces of dust and rocks from the asteroid Bennu to the Utah desert on September 24, 2023, at approximately 4:42 a.m. MDT. It marks the first time we have collected material from space since the moon landings. How cool is that?

Seems like a good time to list the 10 most successful sci-fi movies of all time. And they are:

Avatar – $2,923,706,026 (2009)
Avatar: The Way of Water – $2,320,250,281 (2022)
Star Wars: The Force Awakens – $2,068,223,624 (2015)
Jurassic World – $1,670,516,444 (2015)
Star Wars: The Last Jedi – $1,332,539,889 (2017)
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom – $1,308,467,944 (2018)
Transformers: Dark of the Moon – $1,123,794,079 (2011)
Transformers: Age of Extinction – $1,104,054,072 (2014)
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – $1,074,144,248 (2019)
Jurassic Park – $1,058,054,230 (1993)

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Video Games

Top 10 NBA Finals Championship Teams

The NBA Finals are currently underway, but do you know which NBA teams have the most championships?

Here is a list of the top 10 NBA teams based upon their number of championships:

Boston Celtics – 17
Los Angeles Lakers – 17
Chicago Bulls – 6
Golden State Warriors – 6
San Antonio Spurs – 5
Philadelphia 76ers – 3
Detroit Pistons – 3
Miami Heat – 3
New York Knicks – 2
Houston Rockets – 2

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Movies

Top 10 Shark Movies

The Meg 2: The Trench premiered in theaters this weekend, bringing back Jason Statham to battle the giant Megalodon shark. The sequel to the 2018 film was met with mixed reviews, with some critics praising the action and visuals while others found it to be too derivative.

Here is a list of the top 10 best shark movies ever, in no particular order:

Jaws (1975)
Meg (2018)
Deep Blue Sea (1999)
Open Water (2003)
Shallows (2016)
47 Meters Down (2017)
The Reef (2010)
Bait (2012)
Sharknado (2013)
Finding Nemo (2003)

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Vacations

Top 10 Most Popular Disney Attractions

The new Haunted Mansion movie opened last Friday, but where does the Haunted Manion ride appear on a list of the ten most popular Disneyland/World attractions? Let’s take a look..

Pirates of the Caribbean
This classic dark ride is a must-do for any Disney fan.
Board a boat and sail through the Caribbean Sea, where you’ll encounter all sorts of swashbuckling pirates.
The ride is full of humor, adventure, and even a few surprises.
Space Mountain
This indoor roller coaster is a thrill ride for the ages.
Blast off into space and race through the darkness at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour.
The ride is full of twists, turns, and drops that will leave you breathless.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
This wild-west themed roller coaster is a fun and exciting ride for all ages.
Board a runaway mine train and careen through the Old West, dodging boulders and avoiding cave-ins.
The ride is full of twists, turns, and drops that will leave you breathless.
Splash Mountain
This log flume ride is a wet and wild adventure.
Board a log and float down a river, past Br’er Rabbit and other characters from Song of the South.
The ride culminates in a 50-foot drop that will get you soaked.
It’s a Small World
This slow-moving boat ride is a heartwarming and nostalgic experience.
Float through a series of dioramas that represent different countries around the world.
The ride is full of singing dolls and twinkling lights, and it’s sure to put a smile on your face.
The Haunted Mansion
This spooky dark ride is a classic Disney experience.
Board a Doom Buggy and take a tour of a haunted mansion, where you’ll encounter all sorts of ghosts and ghouls.
The ride is full of surprises and special effects, and it’s sure to give you a few chills.
Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
This motion simulator ride takes you on a wild adventure through the Star Wars galaxy.
Board a Starspeeder 3000 and blast off on a mission with R2-D2 and C-3PO.
The ride is full of twists, turns, and surprises, and it’s sure to leave you feeling like you’re in the middle of a Star Wars movie.
Soarin’ Around the World
This flight simulator ride takes you on a breathtaking journey around the world.
Soar over some of the world’s most iconic landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, the Great Wall of China, and the Taj Mahal.
The ride is full of stunning visuals and special effects, and it’s sure to take your breath away.

Avatar Flight of Passage
This immersive flight simulator ride takes you on a journey to the planet Pandora.
Mount a banshee and soar through the bioluminescent forest, encountering all sorts of amazing creatures.
The ride is full of stunning visuals and special effects, and it’s sure to leave you feeling like you’re in the Avatar universe.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
This interactive dark ride lets you take control of the Millennium Falcon.
Choose your role as pilot, gunner, or engineer and help Han Solo and Chewbacca on a smuggling mission.
The ride is full of action and adventure, and it’s sure to be a blast for Star Wars fans of all ages.

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Singers

Taylor Swift Fans Cause Earthquake

Last weekend, Taylor Swift’s Seattle concert caused the equivalent of a 2.3 magnitude earthquake, beating the previous record set by Seahawks fans in 2011. The “Swiftquake” is the first time that a concert has caused seismic activity equivalent to a magnitude 2.3 earthquake. The shaking was likely caused by the combined weight of the crowd and the vibrations from the music. What music? Probably these ten songs, among others…

Shake It Off
I Don’t Want to Live Forever
We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
Love Story
Look What You Made Me Do
You Belong With Me
Wildest Dreams
Cardigan
You Need to Calm Down
Style

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Singers

Top 10 Tony Bennett Songs

Tony Bennett was born Anthony Dominick Benedetto in Astoria, New York, in 1926. He began his career in the late 1940s after serving in World War II. He released his first album, “Because of You,” in 1951. Over the next seven decades, he released over 60 albums and won 20 Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award. He was also a two-time Primetime Emmy Award winner. Tony Bennett died on July 21, 2023, at the age of 96. Here are ten of his most popular songs.