<P> With the success of his first novel, he moved to New Bern, North Carolina . He subsequently wrote several international bestsellers, and several of his novels have been adapted as films: Message in a Bottle (1999), A Walk to Remember (2002), The Notebook (2004), Nights in Rodanthe (2008), Dear John (2010), The Last Song (2010), The Lucky One (2012), Safe Haven (2013), The Best of Me (2014), The Longest Ride (2015), and The Choice (2016). He has also sold the screenplay adaptations of True Believer and At First Sight . His 2016 novel, Two by Two, sold about 98,000 copies during the first week after release . 11 of Nicholas Sparks' novels have been #1 New York Times Best Sellers . </P> <P> Sparks and his then - wife Cathy lived together in New Bern, North Carolina with their three sons, Miles, Ryan, and Landon, and twin daughters, Lexie and Savannah, until 2014 . On January 6, 2015, Sparks announced that he and Cathy had amicably separated . They subsequently divorced . </P> <P> Sparks donated $9,000,000 for a new, all - weather tartan track to New Bern High School along with his time to help coach the New Bern High School track team and a local club track team as a volunteer head coach . </P> <P> Sparks contributes to other local and national charities, as well, including the Creative Writing Program (MFA) at the University of Notre Dame by funding scholarships, internships and annual fellowships . In 2008, Entertainment Weekly reported that Sparks and his then - wife had donated "close to $10 million" to start a Christian, international, college - prep private school, The Epiphany School of Global Studies, which emphasizes travel and lifelong learning . In his spare time, Sparks volunteers at his local retirement home . He was later sued by the headmaster of this school who accused Sparks of homophobia, racism and anti-semitism . </P>

Complete list of nicholas sparks books in order