‘Defeated’ author gives update after becoming best-seller overnight following empty book signing

An author who has become a best-seller since a TikTok of him sitting alone with nobody buying his book went viral has given an update on how things are going.

The internet fell in love with author Shawn Warner pretty much instantly after a TikToker thought he looked 'super defeated' and went up to have a chat with him.

He explained that he'd written his 'debut novel', Leigh Howard and the Ghost of Simmons-Pierce Manor, about a teenage girl who tries to solve her parent's murders with the help of a ghost.

The TikToker Red, known as @internetfamouslol, posted the video online where it went viral, turning Warner's book into a best-seller overnight.

It's a testament to how the internet can be a force for good and the author has since hopped on the old TikTok himself to give fans a bit of an update into how things have been going since he went viral.

TikTok/@shawnwwrites

Shawn had plenty of updates to get through and plenty of thanks to offer people who'd bought his book since they'd seen the video of him.

He said: "The love and kindness just keeps pouring in, you'd think as a writer I'd have words for it but I don't. Just thank you.

"For those of you asking about an audio book I talked to my publisher this morning and one is in the works. There's also a hardcover edition that they're working on."

"Just stay tuned, I'll keep you updated on what's happening with all of that. When Red came up and talked to me I was just so eager to talk to anybody at that point 'cause there was a lull in my sales."

"It was just an amazing thing that happened after that and it's all on you for your kindness and generosity, thank you."

The book itself has become a best-seller since the author went viral and by all accounts it's an excellent read which really deserves the success it's currently achieving.

Leigh Howard and the Ghost of Simmons-Pierce Manor boasts pages of great reviews calling it a 'great YA murder mystery' and a 'phenomenal' read.

People who'd bought the book after Shawn went viral on TikTok have been pleasantly surprised to find that the book was fantastic.

Plenty said they were hoping the author would come out with a sequel or that they couldn't wait to see what he would write next, so it sounds like pretty much everyone is coming away from this a winner.

Topics: US News, Viral, Books, Social Media, TikTok

Joe Harker

Joe graduated from the University of Salford with a degree in Journalism and worked for Reach before joining the LADbible Group. When not writing he enjoys the nerdier things in life like painting wargaming miniatures and chatting with other nerds on the internet. He's also spent a few years coaching fencing. Contact him via [email protected]

@MrJoeHarker