Jessica Mendoza

So Penn refined her strategy. She made sure every post had details like what hashtags to use and a description of her series.

So Penn refined her strategy. She made sure every post had details like what hashtags to use and a description of her series.

So all of the time. Eventually, Penn found her footing on TikTok. Readers who were fans of other Romantasy books started picking up on her series.

So all of the time. Eventually, Penn found her footing on TikTok. Readers who were fans of other Romantasy books started picking up on her series.

So all of the time. Eventually, Penn found her footing on TikTok. Readers who were fans of other Romantasy books started picking up on her series.

A lot of this growth came from e-book sales. But Penn felt that if she wanted to get bigger, she needed to actually get her book into bookstores, which is really hard to do without a publisher.

A lot of this growth came from e-book sales. But Penn felt that if she wanted to get bigger, she needed to actually get her book into bookstores, which is really hard to do without a publisher.

A lot of this growth came from e-book sales. But Penn felt that if she wanted to get bigger, she needed to actually get her book into bookstores, which is really hard to do without a publisher.

one publisher caught Penn's eye, Atria, which is part of one of the biggest publishing houses, Simon & Schuster. Penn liked how Atria worked with social media. And Atria was into Penn, too. The brand was keeping an eye out for self-published authors who'd already built a big audience. In July of this year, they got together.

one publisher caught Penn's eye, Atria, which is part of one of the biggest publishing houses, Simon & Schuster. Penn liked how Atria worked with social media. And Atria was into Penn, too. The brand was keeping an eye out for self-published authors who'd already built a big audience. In July of this year, they got together.

one publisher caught Penn's eye, Atria, which is part of one of the biggest publishing houses, Simon & Schuster. Penn liked how Atria worked with social media. And Atria was into Penn, too. The brand was keeping an eye out for self-published authors who'd already built a big audience. In July of this year, they got together.

Atria would publish Penn's novels in print and get them in more bookstores. And so far, it's made the difference she hoped it would—

Atria would publish Penn's novels in print and get them in more bookstores. And so far, it's made the difference she hoped it would—

Atria would publish Penn's novels in print and get them in more bookstores. And so far, it's made the difference she hoped it would—

As publishers take note of success stories like Penn's, they're also recognizing that TikTok offers really precise information into what readers want. And that new insight is shaking up the publishing industry. That's next. BookTok has jolted the publishing industry, which is usually pretty stagnant.

As publishers take note of success stories like Penn's, they're also recognizing that TikTok offers really precise information into what readers want. And that new insight is shaking up the publishing industry. That's next. BookTok has jolted the publishing industry, which is usually pretty stagnant.

As publishers take note of success stories like Penn's, they're also recognizing that TikTok offers really precise information into what readers want. And that new insight is shaking up the publishing industry. That's next. BookTok has jolted the publishing industry, which is usually pretty stagnant.

Sirkana BookScan, a publishing tracker, says that in a typical year, overall print sales grow or shrink by about only 1% to 2%. And this year was no exception. But for BookTok authors, it's a different story. In the U.S., BookTok authors sold 20% more books in print this year than the year before. That's 55.4 million books.

Sirkana BookScan, a publishing tracker, says that in a typical year, overall print sales grow or shrink by about only 1% to 2%. And this year was no exception. But for BookTok authors, it's a different story. In the U.S., BookTok authors sold 20% more books in print this year than the year before. That's 55.4 million books.

Sirkana BookScan, a publishing tracker, says that in a typical year, overall print sales grow or shrink by about only 1% to 2%. And this year was no exception. But for BookTok authors, it's a different story. In the U.S., BookTok authors sold 20% more books in print this year than the year before. That's 55.4 million books.