Australian Jessa Hastings published the book independently before it ‘exploded’ on the social network; plot arrived in Brazil by Intrinsic
For those who believed that the literature and the social media they didn’t walk together, BookToknickname given to the literary “side” of Tick tock, has come to prove the opposite. The online community has been largely responsible for the success of Magnolia ParkAustralian book Jessa Hastings arrived in Brazil last April 17 from the publisher intrinsic.
The plot follows the troubled relationship between Magnolia Parks, BJ Ballentine and their friends, young men in their twenties who are part of the upper elite of London, UK. The story is often compared to the series gossip Girlwhich was one of the biggest hits of American broadcaster The CW between 2007 and 2012, and follows wealthy teenagers in New York, United States.
“It’s funny, although I completely understand the parallel with gossip Girl AND [os personagens] Blair and Chuck, I didn’t have them in mind when I wrote this. A lot of who Magnolia is and how she interacts with boys is based on a much younger, less therapeutic version of me,” Jessa reveals.
In an interview with Stadium, the writer says that the first version of the book was ready about six years ago and that, for a long time, she tried to sell it to publishers and agents in the traditional way. At the end of 2020 she rewrote the original manuscript and, in the following months, she has already prepared two sequels of the story.
With that, she decided to try her luck and self-publish the book: “I was tired of not being able to go on and had a feeling the story would be well received by readers if they got a chance to read it, so we seized the opportunity.”
With the help of her husband and a friend, who had just opened a marketing agency, Jessa invested in the aesthetics and promotion of the book. The gamble paid off and the story fell in favor of many literary influencers on TikTok, who boosted the book’s sales.
“I didn’t know about BookTok when I wrote Magnolia,” Jessa reveals. The author says she doesn’t have a very strong presence on TikTok—”I’m 34, I feel very old,” she jokes—but she says she’s grateful for the way the community has supported her and her characters.
“I didn’t know there was this incredibly loud and passionate group of people on the Internet who fight for the books they love. Fortunately, Magnolia Park it found its way there on its own,” he says.
So far, there are more than 24 million views on publications with the book name hashtag. The videos range from reviews and excerpts of the work to fan quoting artists they imagine as characters and make edits with visuals that represent the aesthetics of the story.
@bookss_addict
#booktok #booktoker #booktokfrance #books #reading clubdeslecteurs #bookish #pinterest #aesthetic #bookaesthetic #bjballentine #magnoliaparks
paparazzi – Speduplvr
Finally, Jessa received an offer from British publisher Orion Fiction, which has already published four of the author’s books, all in the universe of Magnolia Park. Intrinseca confirmed at Stadium which will bring the rest of the series to Brazil, but do not yet have a release date.
“TikTok is completely changing the publishing market, because in many ways you can ignore publishers. They are game changers,” says the writer. “It is people who ask for what they want to read and consume, as opposed to publishers who say, ‘Here is a book to love and consume.’
History
Magnolia Park it is written from two points of view. In one chapter the reader accompanies the character who gives the book its name and, in the other, sees the situation from the thoughts of BJ, the protagonist’s ex-boyfriend.
“I think the personal nature of the content demanded that it be told from the characters point of view. I think the story told this way means you are invited to feel alongside them. My goal and intention as a writer is always to make sure that people feel something,” explains Jessa Hastings.
Magnolia is, according to the plot synopsis, “a gorgeous, wealthy, self-absorbed socialite”, while the young man is described as “Britain’s most popular and most photographed bad boy”. The duo’s relationship is troubled, as the two are always together, but they constantly have attitudes that hurt each other.
The author defends that the relationship is not “toxic”, as, for her, it is “an oversimplification of the characters”. “They’re both so nuanced and so broken, and they once had a love that was so intense, something neither of them wanted to let go. So when that love is taken away, the fight is often the only kind of intimacy they have.” .” “, she points out.
In addition to the jealousy between the former couple and their relationship with other people in the group of friends, these quarrels are also caused by factors that are not directly related to the previous relationship. BJ, for example, has a history of drug abuse, something Magnolia is very concerned about throughout the storyline. It’s worth pointing out that the topic can generate triggers for some readers.
“To me, the show is about humans, and humans are messed up. Their lives are almost never perfect. There are complications, devastation, triumphs, disappointments, emotions, and tender moments, so I don’t look at it like, ‘wow, there are a lot of heavy experiences in my books.’ It’s more like ‘there’s a lot of life in my books,'” says Jessa.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
