Arlington author goes from ‘defeated’ to bestselling after viral TikTok

An Arlington author who seemed to be having trouble ginning up interest for his book now has an overnight hit on his hands.

Shawn Warner was promoting his debut book at a Kroger in north Fort Worth when a TikToker, Jerrad “Red” Swearengin, stopped to make conversation.

On a TikTok posted earlier this week, Swearengin said Warner looked “super defeated” over the lack of attendees at his signing. Swearengin approached Warner, who was sitting alone with a stack of his books on a table, and recorded the author describing his debut novel, Leigh Howard and the Ghosts of Simmons-Pierce Manor (Black Rose Writing).

“It’s about a teenage girl who teams up with a ghost of multiple personalities to solve the mystery of her parents’ murder,” Warner told Swearengin, who goes by @internetfamouslol.

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Swearengin video has since amassed over 16 million views, making Warner an overnight sensation and an Amazon bestselling author.

Warner’s book soared to the top of Amazon’s bestseller list and remained No. 1 as of Wednesday afternoon.

In much the same way that bestselling Sulphur Springs author Colleen Hoover gained big numbers from her novels’ sales, Swearengin and Warner used the #booktok tag.

“TikTok has a way of being a driving force behind these grassroots movements,” said Lewis Parry, marketing director of Interabang Books in Dallas.

Warner attributed the response to the “power of kindness.”

“One person did a a nice thing,” he said Wednesday. “Red came up to talk to me in the grocery store because I didn’t have anyone to talk to at the time. And that just inspired a tsunami of people to pour out their generosity.”

Swearengin, who said he bought two copies of Warner’s book after their conversation, emphasized that the video isn’t sponsorship; he “just wanted to show a stranger some kindness.”

“I imagined all the times I worked so hard and never got any recognition,” the TikToker notes.

On his Amazon author page, Warner wrote: “My life has been, and remains a fantastic adventure.” He lists a wife and two adult children. He said he’s been a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, a therapist and an engineer.

In a video that he posted on his own TikTok account, Warner said he’s looking forward to more book signings, but he isn’t sure where. He participates in the Kroger’s Authors in Grocery Stores program. He’s also working on building up inventory for more signings.

“I don’t keep that large an inventory at my house because I just don’t have the space for it,” he said. “I need to make sure that I have enough books to cover people who show up for book signings. It’s unfair to have people come out and see me and then it’s like, ‘Oh, sorry, but I got nothing for you.’ "

Warner’s video has drawn more than 6,400 comments, including an offer from a new Kennedale bookstore to set up a signing.

Kimberly Reed, the owner of the newly opened Infinity Bookshop in Kennedale, talked with Warner about a book signing at her store. Reed said Warner wasreceptive to the idea and she ordered his books for him to sign.

“We haven’t done any events yet, so this would be the first kind with a local author,” she said. “We’re hoping for the end of July.”

Warner has another book in the works. He said the book is in the final editing stages and should come out in a few months. He’s not sure what to expect.

“We’ll just see what happens,” he said. “You just have to write them ... and see where they take you.”