In April 2012, James recalled to both ABC News and Today that she typed out most of the erotic novel on her phone.
"I used to write a lot of it on my way to work on my Blackberry," James told ABC's Elizabeth Vargas. "I used to beam it into my Mac when I'd get home, and then I'd write."
James told the Today show she "didn't do anything else for two years" while writing the first novel.
Her tenacity paid off.
Since the release of "Fifty Shades of Grey" in 2011, the book has sold over 100 million copies and has been published in 52 languages.
In 2013, James was called Forbes' top-earning author making an estimated $95 million from June 2012 to June 2013.
The movie has made over $266 million worldwide, and at least two more installments are expected.