She went viral overnight, landed a Penguin deal, and is somehow doing it all as a brand new mum.

Lauren Jackson is a Gold Coast romance author and BookTok creator whose path to publishing is one of the most exciting stories in Australian romance right now. She started by self-publishing, built a devoted readership one book at a time, and when Tierney Page featured her work on TikTok — everything changed.

In this episode, Lauren and I talk about her journey from self-published author to Penguin Books, what it was like to go viral and have the industry suddenly come knocking, how she's built such a genuine and loyal community online, and what life looks like now that she's navigating a creative career with a newborn in the mix.

This is a conversation about persistence, timing, and what happens when the right person discovers your book at the right moment.

If you're an author who watched the BookTok wave from the sidelines — this episode is for you.

I'm talking about what I missed, why I missed it, and whether it's too late to build a readership on TikTok in 2026. Spoiler: it's not. But the strategy has changed.

We cover:

• The real BookTok numbers — 59 million books sold in the U.S. in 2024 alone

• Why TikTok's fastest-growing demographic is women aged 25–50 (your readers are already there)

• An honest platform breakdown: TikTok vs Instagram vs Threads — where romance readers actually are right now

• Why your social following is borrowed land, and your email list is the only audience you truly own

• The mindset shift that changes how you think about every post you'll ever make

Whether you're a debut author or have been publishing for years — this episode will help you figure out where to show up, why, and what you're actually building toward.

What if your book cover isn’t just a marketing tool—but one of the most powerful storytelling elements you have?

In this episode of The Write Podcast, I’m joined by cover designer Holly Dunn for a behind-the-scenes look at what really goes into creating a cover that sells your story.

And here’s what makes Holly different: she actually reads the entire manuscript before she designs. (Yes—really.) Which means her covers aren’t just beautiful… they’re deeply aligned with the tone, emotion, and promise of the book itself.

We dive into her creative process, how she translates story into visual language, and what she’s looking for as she reads a manuscript. We also talk about the rise of AI in design—what it means for authors, where it can help, and where human creativity still matters most.

And of course, we explore the truth behind the phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover”… and why readers absolutely do.

If you’re an author who wants your book to stand out, connect with the right audience, and truly reflect the story you’ve written, this episode is a must-listen.

✨ In this episode, we cover:

• Why reading the book changes everything in cover design

• How to visually communicate tone, genre, and emotional promise

• The role of AI in publishing and creative work

• What makes a cover actually sell a book

• How to think about your cover as part of your storytelling

Find Holly online at: https://www.hollydunndesign.com/