SHE didn’t set out to be a published author – it happened by accident in many ways. While waiting for her youngest son to finish rehearsals for a local theatre production, she starting writing on a laptop she’d borrowed from a family member.
That tinkering turned out to be her debut novel, Slammed – and she had no idea then how it would change her life.
It was early 2012 and Colleen Hoover wanted to share the book with her mom, who’d just got an Amazon Kindle e-reader. She released it on Amazon’s then relatively new self-publishing platform, not expecting it to take off.
“I went into it so naively not knowing anything about the publishing industry,” Colleen says.
“I really thought, ‘Okay, just the people I want to read this are going to read it.’ I had no idea there were book communities forming out there and online.”
But forming they were and with no promotion whatsoever her young adult novel about a teen reeling from the death of her father became a New York Times bestseller.
And now, particularly thanks to TikTok, Colleen (43) has become one of the most successful writers in the world.
Last year the author, who’s from Texas in the US, sold more books than James Patterson and John Grisham combined and outsold The Bible by more than three million copies. Six of the top 10 bestselling books of 2022 were her novels, according to Forbes magazine.
She’s been dubbed “the most successful author that most people have never heard of ”. That’s because most of her sales are driven by online fans flocking to buy her books, which jump genres and include steamy romances, gothic suspense and thrillers.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der 23 February 2023-Ausgabe von YOU South Africa.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der 23 February 2023-Ausgabe von YOU South Africa.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL!
Kourtney Kardashian and other celebs are honouring the glory of new moms' postpartum bodies
LEON'S ORDEAL IS NO JOKE
Pain has dominated entertainer Leon Schuster's life after a serious back injury landed him in bed. But despite being depressed he remains hopeful he will recover so he can get back to work
'BREAK THE SILENCE'
That's the message of the Scottish comedian who turned his experience of stalking and sexual abuse into a hit Netflix show
A PLACE OF HOPE AND HEALING
Damaged people and abused dogs find a safe haven and a chance to start again at this farm in the Cape Winelands
FROM SPERM DONOR TO DAD OF 37
Peter Ellenstein's life took an unexpected turn when a message from a daughter he never knew he had led to him meeting dozens of his children and exploring what it means to be a father without ever having raised them
GRATEFUL FOR EVERY BREATH
A double lung transplant has given this chef a second chance at life - and he'll never forget the young man who made it possible
THE GAMES ARE GO!
Preparations are well under way in the City of Lights for the world's greatest sporting spectacle
MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT
We break down what the new rules are and what to expect for the seventh national elections later this month
TOM'S A TOP GIFTER
He's known to go ALL OUT for his movies and stunts, so it's no surprise TOM CRUISE also PULLS OUT ALL THE STOPS for his friends when it comes to GIFTS
TAMING THE BEAST
Recognising and managing your anger can make for a happier and healthier you