The most famous author you might not know

This article appeared as part of the Daily Sensemaker newsletter – one story a day to make sense of the world. To receive it in your inbox, featuring content exclusive to the newsletter, sign up for free here.

Shares in Bloomsbury Publishing rose by 20% after bestselling author Sarah J Maas announced two new novels in her A Court of Thorns and Roses saga. The publisher promised “romance, danger and intrigue”. Maas may not be as big a household name as JK Rowling, but the American is a phenomenon on TikTok. She began her series in 2015 but it took off in earnest during the pandemic thanks to ‘#BookTok’, a TikTok trend in which social media users recommend literature to their followers. Maas has sold 75m books worldwide and spearheads the ‘romantasy’ genre, which blends romance and fantasy. Her sales have been boosted by her own savvy use of social media. Last year she teased fans that a next instalment was on the way with a post featuring a popping champagne bottle and a caption: “First drafts done.”