AI Overview
Yes, many authors publish their original stories by using BookTok
to build an audience, gain viral popularity, and secure traditional publishing deals or achieve success as an independent author. Some authors post teasers or drafts of their stories on the platform, and the positive reception from followers can lead to immense sales or attract the attention of major publishers.
You can watch this video to learn how some authors use BookTok to grow their audience and sell books:
Related video thumbnail
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Write & Accelerate with Natalie Forslind
YouTube • Oct 25, 2025
Launching pad for new and self-published authors: BookTok has become a crucial platform for debut and indie authors. Many self-published authors have seen their books become overnight sensations through viral popularity on the app, leading to massive sales and a wide audience.
Securing traditional publishing deals: Viral success on BookTok can attract the attention of traditional publishers. In some cases, unpublished works that gain popularity on the platform have received publishing deals. Publishers are also actively monitoring BookTok trends to identify which types of stories are likely to be successful.
Directly promoting self-published books: Many authors use BookTok as a primary marketing tool to promote their own self-published works directly to readers. They post content that resonates with the BookTok community, which can drive sales and create a following for their books.
Examples of success:
Icebreaker by Hannah Grace and The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake both gained significant traction on BookTok, leading to increased sales and mainstream publishing deals.
Alex Aster's Lightlark is another example of an unpublished work that went viral on the app and resulted in a publishing deal.
Jacobs built a following by posting memes and teasers for their book, which led to HarperCollins UK reaching out with an offer to publish.
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How Money Is Made on BookTok - Medium
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ov 17, 2025 — Some BookTokers make hundreds monthly just from the platform. A LOT of authors use BookTok to push their own writing. ...
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