TikTok is going crazy for a crime novel called Stone Maidens written by an American dad called Lloyd Devereux Richards.
He spent 14 years writing the book and the next 11 hoping it would take off and become a bestseller, but it never did – until now.
His daughter shared her dad’s story on TikTok at the start of February and said she’d love for his hard work to get some sales and recognition.
Little did she know, the clip would get almost 45 million views and the book would reach number one on Amazon as so many people bought it.
Here’s everything you need to know about the author…
Who is Lloyd Devereux Richards?
Lloyd is a 74-year-old retired attorney and father of three who lives with his wife Cameron and their two dogs in Montpelier, Vermont.
A biography on Amazon reveals he was born in New York City and traveled through Europe, Africa, and Central America before attending law school.
He served as a senior law clerk for an Indiana Court of Appeals judge, researching and writing drafts for dozens of published opinions.
However, he always had a dream of publishing a bestselling book, which has finally become a reality in 2023.
About his debut novel Stone Maidens
After decades in the works, Stone Maidens was published in 2012, but didn’t get much recognition at the time.
The “heart-pounding” novel follows the story of FBI agent Christine Prusik as she attempts to unmask a serial killer who has a terrifying connection to her own past.
She is the chief forensic anthropologist for the FBI’s Chicago field office and works lots of bizarre cases, but this is the eeriest of them all.
Right now, it’s number one on Amazon’s US Best Sellers list, beating three Colleen Hoover novels and Prince Harry’s autobiography Spare.
‘Truly mind-blowing’
In an interview with the BBC, the former attorney said the last week has been a “whirlwind experience” and “truly mind-blowing”.
“However, I earnestly believe that it is most important for a writer to never take no for an answer, to persevere, and never, never give up,” he added.
Lloyd also reacted to his new fame on TikTok, saying: “These last couple of days, I just can’t understand it. I feel blessed, you know.”
He is truly amazed by the power of social media, and so is everyone on TikTok.
In the comments of the viral video, one person wrote “I love this community” while another said: “Yay I love it when TikTok makes good things happen.”
“Moments like this are why I stay on this app,” someone else added, and another agreed: “This is why I love TikTok.”
