Trey Gowdy, a former Republican lawmaker and now a host on Fox News, just made a big splash in the book world. His first novel, “The Color of Death,” landed at number two on the New York Times best-seller list. But Gowdy says he did not do it all alone. His publisher, Fox News Books, played a huge role. This small group puts out books by Fox stars and uses the network’s TV shows to sell them fast. It’s a smart way to reach fans who love the hosts. But some in the book business worry it makes things unfair for other writers with conservative ideas. In a tough market for new books, Fox’s plan stands out. Let’s look at how it works and what it means for everyone.
From TV Hosts to Top Authors: The Fox News Book Boom
Fox News Books started five years ago. Since then, all 16 books they released hit national best-seller lists. That’s every single one. They put out three to five books each year. The covers often have a badge like the Fox logo. HarperCollins, part of Fox’s parent company News Corp, handles the printing and sales.
The books fit what Fox viewers like. Topics include faith, family, love for country, crime courts, and army stories. Fox bosses use surveys to pick hot ideas. They match topics to hosts who know the subject. Then comes the big push: lots of TV spots to sell the book.
- Trey Gowdy’s big win: His crime story follows a lawyer in a small South Carolina town solving a killing. Gowdy, who was a real prosecutor, says the plot came from his old job. On “Fox & Friends,” he told hosts, “I lived it.” He went on “The Five” and “Hannity” too. This was Fox’s first try at a made-up story, not real-life tales.
- Dana Perino’s fun guide: This spring, the Fox anchor wrote “I Wish Someone Had Told Me,” full of tips for life. She popped up on many shows. Once, they even brought a mariachi band to party for it. The book stayed on the Times list for nine weeks and sold over 100,000 copies.
- Johnny Joey Jones honors heroes: His summer book “Behind the Badge” cheers police and firefighters. He hit “Fox & Friends,” “The Will Cain Show,” and a special on Fox Nation. It shot to number one on the Times list.
Gowdy says no politics sneaks into his book. “Not a word,” he notes. “You can’t guess any character’s views.” This soft touch helps in a world where hard news books sell less. People feel swamped by daily stories, so lighter reads win out.
How Fox Turns Airtime into Book Sales
Fox knows its crowd. Viewers read a lot, and stars like hosts already sell books from other places. Now, Fox makes its own hits. Boss Suzanne Scott saw how guests soared to lists after shows. She started the line to keep wins in-house.
Lauren Petterson runs it from Fox Nation. She says the jump was easy: “Our fans love books, and talent sells them.” First book “Modern Warriors” tied to a TV special on troops. Host Pete Hegseth, now defense boss under Trump, led it. It sold 200,000 copies alone.
Some hosts sign deals giving Fox first pick on their ideas. Shannon Bream got the nudge for “Women of the Bible Speak” in 2021. It blew up, so she made two more. One comes next year. Fox pushed hard, and friends on air helped. Bream says she books co-workers too: “I’ll have them on my podcast or show.”
This team work shines. Chat shows like “The Five” and “Fox & Friends” give tons of time. In today’s media, few books get such buzz. Fox cut back on book chats overall, so spots are gold.
Past Stars Paved the Way for Fox’s Own Line
Before Fox News Books, hosts still crushed sales. Bill O’Reilly’s “Killing” books moved 18 million copies through Macmillan. Mark R. Levin’s works from Simon & Schuster’s right-lean group top lists. Brian Kilmeade’s history picks from Penguin’s Sentinel sold a million since 2013.
Jason Klarman calls the first hit “lightning in a bottle.” Now, they plan more types: kids’ books and funny ones. Gowdy’s novel kicked off stories. He teamed with writer Christopher Greyson after Scott urged him on. When it dropped, every show said yes. “Not one no,” Gowdy laughs.
Is It Fair? Other Publishers Cry Foul
Fox’s edge worries rivals. Agent Thomas Flannery says Fox authors have “a huge advantage.” In right-wing books, TV sells best. But Fox fills air with its own, leaving less for others.
Adam Bellow at Post Hill Press says Fox stopped being a fair start for non-Fox conservatives. Jonathan Karp of Simon & Schuster notes his writers still go on, but Fox favors HarperCollins books. “It isn’t fair and balanced,” he jokes. From watching, their covers get more face time.
This shift hurts in a flat market. Political and fact books stall. Fox skips that by going soft on social stuff. But agents fear less room for outside voices.
What Lies Ahead for Fox Books and the Industry
Fox eyes growth. More books mean more cash and fan ties. For authors inside, it’s a dream: built-in promo from fans who trust the brand. Gowdy says no other spot beats Fox for reach.
But for the book world, it’s a wake-up. Big media owns publishing now. News Corp links Fox and HarperCollins. This blend boosts sales but squeezes small presses. Conservative spots outside Fox fight for air.
In the end, Fox turns stars into scribes with ease. Gowdy’s dog-day photo in his yard hints at normal life behind the buzz. Yet his path shows how TV rules books today. As fall heats up, watch for more Fox hits. Will they crowd out others? Time will tell in this packed shelf.
