'Twilight': How Stephenie Meyer's dream became a global phenomenon

At the time that she wrote what would eventually become "Twilight" over the course of three months in the summer of 2003, Meyer — a Chaparral High School graduate — was a stay-at-home mom with three sons in Glendale, Arizona. She's pictured here at her home in 2005.

Then-unknown author Stephenie Meyer — pictured here at a book signing in Mesa in April 2006 — had a three-book deal in 2003 with Little, Brown Children’s Books for $750,000.

By November 2012, Meyer had published four books in the "Twilight" series, and Summit Entertainment and Lionsgate released five movies based on the novels.

She also published three companion books, "The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner," "The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide" and "Midnight Sun.

According to a Publishers Weekly article from March 2021, 160 million copies of the "four core ('Twilight') novels and three companion volumes" have sold worldwide since 2005.

The "Twilight" series includes: "Twilight," "New Moon," "Eclipse" and "Breaking Dawn," as well as companion novels "Midnight Sun" and "The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner." "Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined" is a gender-swapped retelling of the first book in the "Twilight" series.

Reimagined covers for the "Twilight" books released in early 2022.

"Twilight" published on Oct. 5, 2005.

“Twilight” takes fifth place among the 150 best-selling print books between 2004 and 2021, according to Publishers Weekly.

"New Moon" published on Aug. 21, 2006.

"Eclipse" published on Aug. 7, 2007.

Changing Hands Bookstore and Faith Hochhalter — an employee who developed a close friendship with Stephenie Meyer — are included in the acknowledgments of Stephenie Meyer's 2007 novel, "Eclipse", photographed on Nov. 14, 2022, in Tempe.

"Breaking Dawn" published on Aug. 2, 2008.

Stephenie Meyer's novella "The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner," based on a character introduced in "Eclipse" — the third book in the "Twilight" series — published June 5, 2010.

Stephenie Meyer published an official illustrated "comprehensive handbook" to the "Twilight" series on April 13, 2011.

In August 2020, Meyer published the much-anticipated "Midnight Sun," the story of "Twilight told in Edward Cullen's perspective.

Though Meyer — pictured here at her home in Cave Creek in July 2008 — is a graduate of Chaparral High School, she revealed while doing press for "Midnight Sun" in 2020 that Bella had attended Horizon High School in Scottsdale.

"I have a lot of social anxiety," Meyer (pictured here in July 2008) said during a video chat with two fans while promoting "Midnight Sun" in 2020. "It is something that I live with.

Stephenie Meyer, pictured here at Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe on Aug. 8, 2006, has done several promotional events with the Arizona-based bookstore chain since "Twilight" published in 2005, including for her 2016 adult thriller, "The Chemist.

Stephenie Meyer was a promising author promoting her books at Changing Hands Bookstore (pictured here on Nov. 14, 2022) before she became a household name with the "Twilight" books.

The five "Twilight Saga" films, based on Meyer's (pictured here in June 2007) four "Twilight" books, grossed $1.37 billion in total (domestic), according to IMDB's Box Office Mojo.

"Twilight" released on Nov. 21, 2008, exceeding expectations as the $37 million movie earned more than $407 million worldwide, $70 million of which was from the U.S. opening weekend alone.

Catherine Hardwicke (left) was the only female director to work on the five "Twilight" films. She is pictured here with the movie's protagonist, Bella (Kristen Stewart, center) and Stephenie Meyer on the set of "Twilight."

Many were surprised by the movie's commercial success. It ultimately grossed $407,187,715 internationally, according to IMDB's Box Office Mojo.

The sequel to "Twilight," "The Twilight Saga: New Moon," released on Nov. 20, 2009. It was the grossed $709,827,462 internationally.

The third film in the franchise, "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse," released on June 30, 2010. It grossed $698,491,347 internationally.

"Eclipse's" release date bucked the fall release trend. It's not certain whether the release of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" on Nov. 19 of that year had an impact on "Eclipse's" release.

"The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1" released on Nov. 18, 2011. It grossed 
$712,205,856 internationally.

The finale, "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 2," released on Nov. 16, 2012. It grossed $829,746,820 internationally.

Stephenie Meyer (pictured here in August 2008) isn't sure whether she will revisit the "Twilight" series. But she does have other characters in the periphery of Edward and Bella's story that can be explored.