Shawn Warner’s story illustrates the power of social media. The man from Texas became a bestselling author because of a viral video.
Social networks are often demonized. But almost as often they provide touching stories. As in the case of Shawn Warner.
TikTok turns downcast man into bestselling author
The American wrote his first book at the age of 58, although friends kept telling him that he didn’t earn anything with it. “I was stupid enough to listen to it,” he explains on his website. Until he decided to follow his passion and published the young adult book “Leigh Howard And The Ghosts Of Simmons-Pierce Manor”.
Last weekend, Warner wanted to promote his work and sat down for a reading in a supermarket in his native Texas. Alone. Because no one seemed particularly interested in his book. Except for TikToker Jerrad Swearenjin, who noticed Warner’s sad expression.
PAID TIktok Filter 21.15
viral video
“This new author seemed very down when I first walked past him. Before I left the store I decided to go back,” Swearenjin wrote on a video on his channel (“internetfamouslol”) and filmed the conversation with Warner. The author explained to him what his book was about and signed an issue.tiktok
What happened next, nobody expected. Swearenjin’s video went viral. Over 17 million people watched the clip of the dejected but at the same time passionate writer. Before the video went viral, Warner had only received two reviews on Amazon. Thanks to the viral TikTok, he shot to the top of the Amazon book charts – and can now call himself a bestselling author.
“I am absolutely amazed! (…) Thank you for the love and support! It means so much to me. Thank you for making me a bestseller and number 1 in my genre,” Warner wrote himself on the platform, who made him famous. More than 125,000 people now follow the writer there.
source: tik tok