American Author Who Barely Sold Any Book in Over 10 years Becomes Top Seller After Daughter Makes TikTok Video

• A novel has become the top-selling book on Amazon after its author’s daughter featured it in a TikTok video that went viral
• According to a TikTok video filmed and shared by Mr Richards’s daughter earlier this month, Mr Richards spent 14 years writing the novel
• He was happy to see it finished and published, even though sales were modest — until his daughter shared the clip in question online

Lloyd Devereux Richards, a 74-year-old father of three from Vermont, has become a bestselling author more than a decade after publishing his first novel, "Stone Maidens".

The book does not gain traction

The thriller was inspired by a series of crimes that occurred in the mid-1970s while he attended law school at Indiana University.

However, the road to success was difficult, as the book did not initially gain much traction among readers.

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It wasn't until his daughter, Marguerite Richards, decided to start a TikTok account on her father's behalf with the goal of promoting his novel that things took a turn for the better.

"It was such a great book, and I knew how important it was to him," Marguerite, 40, told the Post, later adding, "I thought maybe it's just because nobody knows about the book."

The first TikTok she created about her father's story was viewed more than 43 million times and received more than 9.6 million likes,

Bestselling book

This resulted in Stone Maidens selling out on Amazon and reaching No. 1 on the site's bestseller list.

"These last couple of days, I can't understand it," he says while the pair drink milkshakes in celebration. "I feel blessed, you know?"

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Lloyd has been reflecting on his sudden success in TikTok videos posted by his daughter and is grateful for her support. He is also working on a sequel to his bestselling novel.

According to his author biography, Richards was born in New York City.

He worked as a law clerk for an Indiana Court of Appeals judge, researching and writing drafts for dozens of published opinions, including the appeal of a serial killer sentenced to death.

Kakwenza charged with communication offences

Award-winning author and critic of President Yoweri Museveni, Kakwenza, was in January 2022, charged with communications offences related to tweets critical of the head of state and his son.

He was charged with offensive communication; the prosecution alleged he used his Twitter handle to disturb the peace of Museveni and his son Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

The charge sheet cited tweets posted in December, but Rukirabashaija pleaded not guilty to the charges, local media report.

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"Rukirabashaija committed offensive communications and wilfully and repeatedly used his Twitter handle … to disturb the peace of his Excellency the president of Uganda, General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, with no purpose of legitimate communication," the charge sheet read.

Source: TUKO.co.ke