Fourteen years is a long time to spend doing anything, but it’s an especially long time to write a book that no one reads.
In 2012, Lloyd Devereux Richards, a father of three, had his crime thriller Stone Maidens published by Amazon subsidiary Thomas & Mercer. It tells the story of an FBI forensic anthropologist investigating a serial killer who strangles women and dumps their bodies in the ravines of southern Indiana.
Lloyd Devereux Richards (left), who spent years pursuing his dream of writing a book, with his daughter Marguerite (right).Credit:Facebook
Richards spent 14 years working on the novel, but it was released to very little fanfare; shortly after publication, he returned to his job as a full-time attorney.
Stone Maidens might have remained a secret passion project had it not been for the intervention of Richards’ 40-year-old daughter, Marguerite, and the power of social media.
Last week Marguerite posted a 16-second TikTok video that briefly recounted her father’s journey as an author. She explained that her father worked tirelessly on his book while raising three children, and “he’s so happy even though sales aren’t great”.
The clip ended with a simple call to arms: “I’d love for him to get some sales.”
Cut to the next morning and Marguerite’s TikTok had gone viral. It’s now been viewed 44 million times and has received more than 9.6 million likes. This traction on social media translated to sales too, with Stone Maidens rocketing to the top of Amazon’s bestseller list (it has since dropped to number three).
The book is currently unavailable on Amazon in the US due to demand but could still be purchased on the Australian website for $21 at the time of writing.
Richards’ unexpected journey from part-time author to TikTok sensation has earned him global attention, with the 74-year-old telling The Washington Post he is “very happy” and “just can’t believe it”. In an interview with the BBC, he said, “the last week has been a whirlwind experience … truly mind-blowing.”
Following the social media explosion, Richards re-emerged on TikTok to celebrate his success over a chocolate milkshake. “These last couple of days… I just can’t understand it. I feel blessed,” he said.
The success of Stone Maidens is the latest example of how TikTok is transforming the publishing landscape, with the hashtag #BookTok helping unearth little-known authors.
#BookTok is essentially the digital equivalent of a real-life book club, where users post videos about their favourite authors and book picks.
The author celebrated his overnight success in the only way that made sense: a chocolate milkshake.Credit:TikTok
In recent years, US author Colleen Hoover saw her young adult novel It Ends With Us – first published in 2016 – become a global bestseller after being embraced by #BookTok. The book has now sold more than 4 million copies worldwide; attracted a movie deal; and led to a sequel, It Starts With Us. The two books are currently second and third on The New York Times bestseller list.
It remains to be seen whether Richards will emulate the achievements of Hoover. But if the reviews are anything to go by, he just might.
Stone Maidens currently has mostly positive reviews on Amazon (88 per cent of users have given it five stars), with readers calling it a “brilliant suspenseful thriller” that is “so deserving of recognition”.
Interestingly, Richards’ author bio on the Amazon seller page has been updated to list him as a “TikTok sensation”.
Unsurprisingly, with Richards looking to capitalise on his newfound profile, there is now a sequel in the works. However, it could be another long wait for fans.
The 74-year-old recently summed up his reaction to the overnight success on TikTok saying, “I’m ready for a nap”.
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