TikTok’s influence on book sales 📚
Good morning. Books are back in.
The latest social media craze is #BookTok. Books are being celebrated and shared on TikTok, creating a new-age community that is reminiscent of a book club. Many craft their must-read list based on #BookTok recommendations and the authenticity of the community has led to a serious uptick in book sales.
While the #BookTok community has helped amplify sales of newly published books, it has also led to a resurgence in sales of books published within the last decade. When examining numbers, print book sales have risen steadily from 693.7 millions print units sold in 2019 to 825.7 million in 2021. This increase cannot be wholly attributed to #BookTok, but many within the publishing industry are in agreement that organic social media impact like this is new and should not be ignored.
The success of the #BookTok community boils down to one thing: real people sharing books that have resonated deeply with them. Because at the end of the day, that is why authors write -- to share a story (perhaps their own story) in the hopes that people will connect with it.
If there is a takeaway lesson from the #BookTok community, it should be this: Boldly share with others what you have been reading and why you loved it.
Happy reading, everyone.
Upcoming Releases:
Application of Power by MJ Wilson
Soul is Waterproof by Matt Moseley
Winners Lose, Too by Tom Oberdorfer
The After Drop by Sarah Thomas
Nervous about missing upcoming news from CG Sports Publishing? Follow us on Instagram (@cgsportspublishing) and, of course, our newsletter.
Carla Albano is the author of Soul of a Swimmer, a book commemorating the life of 17-year-old Nicholas Dworet.
Who inspires you? The subject of my book, Nicholas Dworet
If you could eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Pasta
What have you read and enjoyed recently? The Underwater Window by Dan Stephenson
What is your favorite quote? "In life, forgiveness sets you free."
Sunrise or sunset? Sunrise
Beach or mountain? Beach
If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be? Eucalyptus
Click here to learn more about Albano.
Matt Moseley is the author of the upcoming new release Soul is Waterproof. Additionally, Moseley is a communications strategist, public speaker, and world record adventure swimmer.
Who inspires you? Major John Wesley Powell
If you could eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Tacos
What have you read and enjoyed recently? Haunts of the Black Masseur: The Swimmer as Hero by Charles Sprawson; The Feather Thief by Kirk Wallace Johnson
What is your favorite quote? "Buy the ticket. Take the ride." -- Hunter S. Thompson and "Do not look outside yourself for a leader; we are the ones we've been waiting for." -- Hopi prophecy
If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be? Cottonwood (sign of water) or an old oak tree draped with Spanish moss.
Click here to learn more about Moseley.
From the publisher's corner, where we take a peek behind the scenes at CG Sports Publishing. This time, we dig into editing...
You've probably heard us say it: At CG Sports Publishing, we're in the storytelling business. Well yeah..., you might think. You publish books!
True, but too often in publishing, the final product isn't exactly what the author had in mind. Somewhere in the editing process, the story gets hijacked. We're sensitive to that sort of thing, so when we say "storytelling," we mean it -- we let you tell your story -- and our editors are here to really listen to it.
I like to think of editing as a relationship, not a transaction. You and your editor are a team working toward the same end -- the best book we can product. Here are three ways you can get the most out of your editor:
Turn in your best work. If your editor is distracted by small but necessary fixes, they're less likely to see the big things you want them to catch.
Have the conversations. If your editor flags or questions a section in your manuscript, help your editor understand where you were coming from, so they can guide you to where you want to go.
Know that your manuscript is in good hands. It's like passing the baton on a relay -- when your manuscript moves to the editing phase, it's time to let your teammate do their job.
And here are three ways your editor will support you:
They will be a sounding board. Need to develop or revise an idea? Use your editor to sort out your thoughts and get them written down.
They will lend you their expertise, not only about your subject matter, but about the nuts and bolts of grammar and punctuation, so you don't need to know every comma rule. (Whew! Right?)
They will save you from yourself. Sometimes a writer can be too close to the story and won't recognize problematic language, lapses in logic, or even gaping holes. Your editor is your first reader, and they will let you know when something doesn't ring right.
Great relationships are built on trust. We thank every CG Sports Publishing author for trusting us with their work and for being part of the team.
We want to hear from you! What's your best editing tip? Drop us a note. We appreciate your feedback!
Paralympic swimmer and author McKenzie Coan will never forget the day a child approached her and said, “You are my hero.”
She was at a signing event for her book, Breaking Free: Shattering Expectations and Thriving with Ambition in Pursuit of Gold, which was published last year, just before the Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
At the book signing, a girl about 7 years old approached Coan.
“She was holding the book and she started to cry and cry,” Coan recalled. “She came up to me and she goes, ‘You're my hero. I sleep with this under my pillow.’ Just that one moment made that entire experience worth it. All that hard work, all those months, was worth that one moment. I honestly was just hoping that this book could make a difference for one person, and to be told that, I mean, I would have done the experience 30 times over again.”
Click here to learn more about Coan and her story.
Holly Neumann, Director of Publishing: Life’s Too Short To Go So F*cking Slow by Susan Lacke
This one had all my favorites: friendship, mentorship, and sportsmanship against a backdrop of underdog athleticism, dark humor, and bad attitude. I knew from the outset that the story would end on a sad note; what I didn't expect was a parting, give-cancer-the-middle-finger moment that left me laughing and recommending this book to all who will listen.
Nicole Wurtele, Creative Director: The Expanse novel series by James S. A. Corey
For the last few months, I've been reading through The Expanse novel series and am currently on book 8 (of 9): Tiamat's Wrath. It is a sci-fi series set in a future where humanity has colonized a lot of the solar system. The series starts out like a mystery novel (a detective trying to find the whereabouts of a missing woman) and then expands (no pun intended) into themes of conspiracy, politics, and alien lifeforms. I like it because the story is really interesting and futuristic, but the way the author writes makes it feel real and plausible. I also like the way the author describes things that we have no experience of (like what it feels like to be in a fast moving space ship and traveling vast distances from planet to planet).
Matt Amerlan, Vice President & Partner: How Sports Became a Business by Matthew Futterman
This book is a fascinating read, telling the stories and vision of the people who transformed sports from a landscape where professionals work odd jobs in the off-season to the multi-billion dollar business that it is today.
Taylor Brien, Editor: The Man Who Died Twice: A Thursday Murder Club Mystery by Richard Osman
There is something uniquely perfect about murder mysteries being solved by septuagenarians in a peaceful retirement village. This book, the second in an anticipated four-book series, contains vibrant characters who are unabashedly enjoying their twilight years (and helping the police solve actual murder cases). With The Man Who Died Twice, you will laugh; you will cry; you will laugh so hard you cry.
Rachel Draffen, Sr. Manager of Customer Success: Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
This book was written as an interview, with recollections from each member of the band and relevant characters from their past, so the format was unique and shows such a variety of perspective in a book that you don't usually see.
Bonus read: Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance, Fred Sanders, et al.
Super relevant read, though it was published in 2015 and a lot has changed! It included Elon's own opinions and the insider view from Ashlee's perspective and experiences working with Elon on the book. It is also the life of one of the most extraordinary people alive today, and teaches so much about the world of business, entrepreneurship, and revolutionary tech, which I've never been able to fully grasp, but got a better idea of through this.
Cejih Yung, CEO and Founder: The Practice of Groundedness: A Transformative Path to Success That Feeds -- Not Crushes -- Your Soul by Brad Stulberg
Groundedness by Brad Stulberg came to me at the perfect time in my life. I found I was getting easily distracted by the many digital tools we use in our day to day lives. This book provided me with actionable steps to take towards being more present, patient, and self-accepting in order to establish a strong foundation to then build upon. I plan on reading it again soon because it was that helpful to me!
