Color Me Confused: The Rise of Adult Coloring Books

One of the themes I explore in my upcoming book, Paperback Writer: Now Appearing at Bingo Night, is the meteoric rise of adult coloring books. Yes—grown adults, sitting quietly, coloring. Not inmates. Not kindergarteners. Adults. With credit cards and mortgages.

People keep asking me what’s in the book, and I mention it’ll be illustrated like an adult coloring book. Then I get this blank look—like I just said the book comes with a side of kale.

But somebody knows what they are. Since 2015, adult coloring books have outsold cookbooks on Amazon. Which means more people were stress-coloring unicorns than learning how to roast a chicken. That’s a cultural pivot right there.

Now, I get it. Life is stressful. Coloring is soothing. But have you seen the categories? Sure, there are flowers, horses, butterflies... but venture deeper and you’ll find the racier stuff: adult coloring books full of explicit drawings and angry, profanity-laced affirmations like Go Bleep Yourself in Cursive..
And these naughty niches? They’re booming.

​Hey, I selflessly did the research so you don't have to be exposed to the seamier side of life.  But if you do take a look...be prepared...some of these illustrations might melt your Crayolas.

Meanwhile, Artificial Intelligence is quietly taking over the world. But we’re too busy blending burnt sienna and mauve on a unicorn’s mane to notice.

So yes—my book has a lot to say about technology, midlife reinvention, and personal decline...in a funny way, of course. Why not laugh? But it also asks the big question:

How many boxes of crayons can I sell? Because that's where the real money is.

Coming soon: Paperback Writer: Now Appearing at Bingo Night.

Crayons sold separately.