An author has gained millions of followers after he was filmed sitting alone at his book signing.
Shopper Taylor Mae was ‘heartbroken’ when she spotted Jonathan Stanley sitting alone at a Barnes and Noble store in the US for the launch of his new book.
Taylor posted a video the writer on TikTok which was seen by more than 75million people – many of whom then bought a book.
The mass exposure saw throngs of viewers rally behind the author who ended up selling so many copies of the book, he is now a bestseller on Amazon as people felt moved by the emotional clip.
Jonathan himself was ‘overwhelmed’ by the response to the 10-second clip and expressed his ‘gratitude before revealing that he ‘poured everything’ into writing the book after losing his job.
He said the exposure the video gave him ‘changed his life’ growing his account from just one follower to 208,000 in less than 24 hours and he’s been ‘moved to tears’ by the thousands of messages he has received.
The writer had only a handful of customers chat to him while he was promoting his freshly launched book Purposeful Performance: The Secret Mix of Connecting, Leading, and Succeeding before Taylor noticed him.
‘This sweet man is sitting at (Barnes & Noble) with a stack of his books he wrote and my heart is breaking every time someone passes him,’ the mum said in the video.
Rather than passing him by, Taylor bought the book and sent her four-year-old daughter Ella to ask Jonathan to sign it.
A shopper was ‘heartbroken’ when spotted author Jonathan Stanley sitting alone at a Barnes and Noble store for the launch of his book
‘Ella, The greatest gift you have to offer is you! Jonathan,’ he wrote on the title page.
Jonathan was touched by Ella’s gesture and even posted a message for her in a post about the launch on his LinkedIn page.
‘One moment stood out – a 4-year-old named Ella proudly told me she wants to be an author when she grows up,’ he wrote.
‘To Ella: Thank you for buying my book. If this message reaches you, I want you to know something important – you can accomplish anything. The greatest gift you have to offer the world is you.
‘And when your first book is published, I’ll be first in line to buy it—admiring your message, your voice, and your courage to share it.
‘You made my day, Ella. Thank you.’
Views on Taylor’s videos of Jonathan started skyrocketing and people from all over the world shared their sympathies and left thousands of encouraging words for the author.
‘Just followed Mr. Jonathan Stanley. Wishing you a tonne of success on your book,’ one woman said.
‘Ordered it IMMEDIATELY off Amazon. If he’s not on the NY bestseller list, I’m rioting,’ another wrote.
She posted a video of him on TikTok which amassed 75million viewed. The exposure saw throngs of viewers rally behind the author who ended upon Amazon’s bestseller list
The video has racked up more than 75 million views and prompted emotional reactions from people
‘I mean, if I saw an author sitting at a table, idk if I wanted the book or not, I’m buying an autographed copy. That takes guts to put yourself out there like that,’ a third commented.
‘How can one buy from Kenya? I’d very much want to support him,’ one reader replied and another said: ‘Dang I wish I could get an autographed copy. I would read it.’
One more said: ‘STOP IM ACTUALLY CRYING HE LOOKS SO SAD ILL BUY YOUR BOOK! I WONT READ IT BUT ILL BUY IT IDC.’
So many readers bought Jonathan’s book that just hours after the launch and Taylor posted her videos, he shot up into the bestseller list ‘in all categories on Amazon’.
The writer set up a TikTok account just to thank his new supporters.
‘I’ve received messages from all over the world and I can’t tell you how much this means to me,’ he said.
‘Your comments, your messages, your support, your love has deeply moved me and I can’t tell you how much it means to me you have changed my life.’
He continued saying the reaction has given him ‘hope for humanity’ and fought off tears thanking everyone from the ‘bottom of (his) heart’.
Jonathan has since opened up about losing his job and his struggles with depression on the app in an effort to inspire his new fans and tell them ‘they’re not alone’.